"This is merely a test to gauge the strength of her defenses," Adrian calmly responded when confronted about his actions. Seeing the Snow Lady, he recognized an opportunity. Finding a Grandmaster in a place like Sandstone, especially one proficient in combat, was no easy feat. Encountering the Snow Lady this time was a fortune for him."Please, release my daughter!" Billy pleaded while covertly mustering his Vital Energy, intending to restrain Adrian."I suggest you cease what you’re doing. Otherwise, both you and your daughter will meet your end," Adrian softly warned as he smiled.Billy frowned, taking two steps back, refraining from approaching further. When Adrian spoke, their eyes met, and from Adrian's gaze, Billy perceived an unyielding intent to kill. As a Grandmaster himself, he was no novice."Are you from Silverboa? Are you the one from Leafall?"Adrian raised an eyebrow, surprised the man had correctly guessed who he was. "I harbor no ill intentions toward your daughte
Willie’s companions who had planned to rush forward hesitated upon witnessing his pitiable state, choosing to keep their distance instead. Willie clutched his injured wrist, crying in agony.Adrian stood before him, observing with cold detachment. "Are you still inclined to challenge me?""Who are you? What do you want? If it's money you're after, we can provide it. Just give us a little time," Willie implored."I have no interest in money. I simply require your presence," Adrian stated as he headed back toward the restaurant, prompting Willie and the others to follow, who did so reluctantly."Willie, is your hand alright?" one of the group inquired anxiously.Willie was about to respond, but to his astonishment, he found his wrist had healed. "How...""The world holds far greater mysteries than you can fathom. Stay with me, and you'll witness its wonders," the man ahead declared.The thugs’ initial terror and anger morphed into awe. At that moment, they grasped that Adrian oper
"You haven't specified what you need our help with..." Billy clung to a glimmer of hope as he anticipated what Adrian might say.‘You think I’m going to tell you that I'll be mobilizing all my forces to assault Sandstone in a week's time?’ Adrian glanced at Billy with a faint smirk, conveying that he had no intention of divulging his plans.Billy understood from Adrian's expression that whatever he sought from Bethan couldn't bode well."Wait for my message. If your performance meets my expectations, I'll find a way to renew your seal and perhaps even extract the Snow Lady from you," Adrian said indifferently."But that’s impossible. The Snow Lady is a part of me. You can't separate her from me," Bethan insisted, shaking her head."Why not try? But of course, this hinges on your cooperation," Adrian countered.The Snow Lady was an enigmatic entity. In the former Silverboa City, Obscura fell beneath his iron grip. However, unlike Celestria, the destruction of Obscura left behind n
As Adrian spoke, he pushed open the wooden door before him and stepped into the courtyard. The casino buzzed with activity, with numerous guards stationed around in varied attire, likely to deter unruly gamblers from causing trouble. However, those present dismissed Adrian as just another patron here to try his luck, paying him little heed.Willie trailed behind Adrian, wearing a flattering smile as he explained, "With the recent crackdown, many gamblers have flocked to our casino. The place has become quite lively."Adrian offered a slight nod before striding deeper into the casino. He harbored no interest in gambling; those who pinned their hopes of changing their lives on chance were individuals he held in contempt. Navigating through several courtyards, he was enveloped in an atmosphere of decadence. Just as he neared the final courtyard, he was halted by a figure stationed at the gate.Willie stepped forward, adopting a humble tone. "Mr. Monty, this gentleman is a guest I've br
As they entered the final courtyard, three figures rushed toward Adrian, but they were swiftly subdued by the Draco Force and collapsed to the ground. The seventh-grade men knelt before Adrian, trembling uncontrollably, unable to move or speak."It appears to be you three," Adrian remarked, lifting the constraints on them."What brings you to our establishment?" inquired the leader. The man’s upper body was exposed, revealing a black dragon tattoo adorning his back. Unlike the vibrant tattoos on Thalia, this one appeared crude and cheap."What's your organization's name?""We are known as the Sable Emblem."Adrian glanced upward, spotting a flagpole bearing a black flag fluttering in the breeze at the courtyard's edge. He smiled before returning his gaze to the trio. "Henceforth, Sable Emblem will be under my command," he declared, before striding toward the main hall.Willie and his companions begrudgingly went to assist their leaders. The three men were perplexed. Initially mis
Since they couldn't match their adversaries in quality, they would focus on quantity. In addition to Scarlet Star in the city south, there were likely other organizations in the remaining three blocks. By rallying these groups together, they could amass a force exceeding ten thousand. Combined with Roy and his men's recruitment efforts and the formidable Snow Lady, chaos would be inevitable. Sandstone’s defenses would be at risk of crumbling. Moreover, being natives of Obscura, even if Sid's forces intervened, they would hesitate.However, in executing this plan, Adrian had to deceive both high-ranking officials and subordinates. Deceiving officials meant ensuring that Sandstone’s leadership viewed the internal turmoil as mere civil strife, rather than attributing it to Silverboa. Deceiving subordinates involved convincing individuals like Clement and his underground forces that they were engaging in territorial disputes, rather than aiding Silverboa. Despite their rough demeanor, the
“Sir, Scarlet Star's forces are converging on our headquarters!” Willie burst into the courtyard, breathless.Clement shot to his feet, sensing trouble. Scarlet Star had never paid them much heed before, so why the sudden aggression? "What's happening?" he demanded."I'm not sure. They just started pouring in," Willie explained frantically.Boom!A resounding crash echoed nearby as the wooden door of the courtyard was violently kicked open. Though Adrian's appearance had driven away some patrons, a few reckless gamblers remained, ensnared by their vices. The invading members of the Scarlet Star wasted no time and launched into a frenzy of destruction and looting. Their rampage spared no one, targeting both Sable Emblem affiliates and hapless gamblers alike. Chaos ensued, with casualties mounting rapidly.Three or four hundred individuals clad in crimson robes, representing Scarlet Star, descended upon Sable Emblem's headquarters. Caught off guard, Sable Emblem's defenses crumbled
The tavern, named Moonlit, was relatively quiet at this hour, with most patrons arriving in pairs. Thus, Adrian's solitary presence made him stand out. Soon, a young woman approached him. "Excuse me, sir, are you here alone?"In such establishments, striking up conversations was common. Upon seeing the woman, Adrian offered a warm smile and replied softly, "Yes. Would you like to join me for a drink?"The woman wore a black dress with a daring slit along the side of one of her legs, an attire sure to catch the attention of men.Caught off guard by Adrian's invitation, she hesitated. She had approached him because of his demeanor, which seemed decent enough. While there were plenty of men in the tavern, there were also women, and she was one of them. Adrian's unexpected invitation disrupted her prepared response. She found herself momentarily at a loss, unsure whether to accept or decline.Adrian found the woman’s speechless state endearing. While she may not have had the striking a