Neither Veer nor his family looked particularly surprised by the girls' revelation. In this world, keeping secrets was just part of the course—especially when survival was at stake.
Still, they assumed the three girls were probably part of some small group, making up stories to protect their identity. When they first met, neither party was sure if Theo harbored any malicious intentions, so the idea of fabricated backgrounds wasn't far-fetched.
"You've been surviving alone?" Rani asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"They're quite lucky," Veer commented, his voice low and serious. "Most of the small groups I've known eventually vanished. Either they were absorbed by larger factions through so-called partnerships or were simply slaughtered for their resources." He gave the girls a hard look, scrutinizing their faces.
