Onean didn't deny this.

Erwin could tell from her expression that she wasn't in a very good mood, and he asked, "So? How did it go? Was everything pretty much just as you expected?" 

"How else could it have gone? Their plan is very simple and straightforward, there were no surprises at all," Onean replied as she turned to him with a faint smile. "If I agreed to stay with them, I would have to listen to everything they say and become a political puppet for them."

Erwin nodded in response, then pulled out the roast beef from inside the wooden container. "Have some, it's pretty delicious."

"Is this beef from the Zam Highlands?" Onean asked as she took a glance at him.

Erwin nodded in response.

"No wonder it smells so good." Onean picked up the fork inside the wooden container, then stabbed into a piece of roast beef before placing it into her mouth.

"By the way, have you ever heard of Fall Crystals before?" Erwin suddenly asked.

"Hmm?" Onean hadn't even had a chance to swallow the beef in her mouth yet, and she raised an eyebrow as she turned to Erwin with a quizzical expression.

"Looks like you haven't heard of it, either."

After swallowing the mouthful of beef, Onean asked, "Where did you hear about...