"This..."
Everyone looked at each other, hesitant and unsure.
Lucien's eyes narrowed, his voice rising with fury. "You dare defy my orders? Are you trying to rebel?"
Just then, Oliver pushed his way through the crowd.
"Don't listen to him!" he shouted. "This so-called Mayor Lucien is actually a vampire—a monster! He's not protecting you, he's farming you! This whole 'Blessed Grounds' sanctuary is a lie. He just wants to keep you penned up like livestock, feeding off your blood forever!"
A ripple went through the crowd. A few people looked shocked, even horrified—but most just stood there, blank-faced, their expressions tinged with quiet resentment.
No one moved.
"Huh?" Oliver glanced around, confused. He'd expected an uproar, panic, maybe even a riot. But instead, the crowd just stared back at him, unmoved.
"You're not surprised?" he asked, switching between languages, trying to reach them. "Come on! We should be standing together, fighting back!"
