Firstly, it was because, after all, this was a formal occasion, and Noa needed to firmly establish his own position while maintaining the external image of Great Tree Village. He deliberately spoke in an official tone to emphasize order and authority.
Secondly, Noa was deliberately shifting his approach again.
The method this time was simple but effective. He first guided people around in a friendly and welcoming manner, then suddenly changed his demeanor.
Although his tone remained formal rather than cold, the emotional distance between "before" and "after" was sharply widened. That contrast alone was enough to unsettle most people. The sudden shift, combined with precise timing, created a subtle psychological pressure that was difficult to ignore or resist. It was not overt intimidation, but rather a controlled change in atmosphere that made the other party instinctively reevaluate the situation.
What Noa wanted was precisely that reaction—slight panic, uncertainty, and emotional imbalance. Once a person's rhythm was disrupted, it became much easier to steer the conversation in a desired direction. In negotiations or judgment-based exchanges, control of emotional pacing was often more effective than direct pressure.
"If that's the case, let's just let this matter go."
"Next, it's time for us to talk about your problem."
Seeing that Rurushi Ru was beginning to feel uneasy, Noa finally revealed a more serious edge.
Before Rurushi Ru could fully react, he continued calmly:
"Your problem concerns your attempted unauthorized observation of Great Tree Village. After being discovered on the spot, you then engaged in resistance during escort, including actions that could be interpreted as life-threatening attacks."
Noa stated everything clearly and methodically, without exaggeration or omission. His tone remained calm, but every word carried weight, as if the situation had already been categorized and recorded as an official case rather than a casual misunderstanding.
"Ah… this…"
Rurushi Ru subconsciously tried to refute him, but the words caught in her throat. After carefully recalling the sequence of events, she found that she could not deny most of what had been said.
She had indeed attempted to secretly observe the situation. That part was undeniable, and she had already admitted it earlier.
She had also been caught on the spot and escorted away. Although the patrol team's handling method had been somewhat rough, Noa had already acknowledged that issue during the apology.
As for resisting during escort… Rurushi Ru paused for a moment, her expression turning slightly complicated. Her memory of that moment was a bit blurred, but one thing was certain—she had instinctively acted out of self-preservation and confusion.
More importantly, she suddenly recalled something else. During that incident, she had absorbed a significant amount of Noa's blood in order to recover her strength. The exact quantity was unclear, but it had been enough to restore her condition almost instantly.
From a strict logical standpoint, describing it as a "life-threatening exchange" was not entirely incorrect. For an ordinary human, that level of blood loss would likely have been fatal. Even for a trained individual, survival would have been uncertain.
It was only because the target had been Noa that the situation had not escalated into something irreversible.
"It seems you understand the situation clearly. Do you still have any objections to these accusations?"
Noa's voice brought her back to reality.
Rurushi Ru let out a small, defeated sigh.
"No."
There was no way to argue.
Every point he raised was based on facts. Even if the circumstances felt messy or unintentional, the objective truth could not be denied.
Resistance was also meaningless. She could not defeat him, and continuing to argue would only worsen the situation or invite stricter consequences.
At best, she would end up in the same position as before—at worst, she might lose even more freedom in this unfamiliar place.
So instead, she chose to accept it.
Inwardly, she could only hope that Noa would not make things too difficult for her.