Chapter 104: Chapter 104: System's Victims

Lucien stroked his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing as he considered Elio's discovery.

"Interesting," he finally said, breaking the tense silence. "If your suspicions are correct, this could give us a significant advantage. But acquiring a million mana points won't be easy, especially not in our current situation."

Elio leaned forward. "What options do we have?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucien paced, his mind racing through possibilities.

"Well," he began, choosing his words carefully, "I have access to approximately 1.2 million mana points, but that's designated for paying the soldiers and keeping the barrier functional. We could delay payments, but that might cause discontent among the ranks. It's a delicate balance."

Elio nodded, understanding the precarious nature of their position. He glanced at the book in his hands, the mysterious new page seeming to mock him with its potential.