Roland absorbed a wealth of information from Eric's words.

Eric had hurt Lucas, and given the Pettersons' disposition, not retaliating for such an attack didn't align with their usual style. Oddly, the Pettersons had refrained from any retaliation.

What struck Roland even more was Eric's mention of the impending collapse of the empire that the Pettersons had painstakingly built.

Wasn't this precisely the Pettersons' current predicament? Roland couldn't help but ponder how Eric had acquired s