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

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

"You girls have fun. I’m going to visit the men’s for a moment," Adrian said as he gracefully stood up and walked toward the restroom.Once he left, the girls started teasing Estelle. Naturally, Estelle couldn't admit that she had a good impression of a man she had just met. It couldn't be considered a crush; after all, it was their first meeting, and they hadn't gotten to know each other well yet. But she did find Adrian very likable.After Adrian left his table and headed to the restroom, he didn't go in. Instead, he leaned against the door, waiting quietly. Although he could observe everything happening inside with the Draco Force, he didn't want to witness anything too obscene, so he refrained from using it.A few minutes passed. Keiran, who had entered the tavern behind Adrian, emerged from the restroom with a girl who was hastily adjusting her clothes. Both of them were slightly flushed, indicating they had engaged in something unspeakable. Adrian frowned at the unpleasant sme

Estelle hesitated, realizing that Adrian was a person with strong principles. He cared a lot about her feelings and was worried about her safety. She couldn't help but think of her father suddenly. Adrian seemed to be a man just like this, and her father was her lifelong idol.Adrian was unaware that his casual remark had such an impact on Estelle."Okay, I’ll leave first," Estelle said before turning away. But before walking away, she glanced back worriedly at Adrian.Keiran's expression darkened as he watched Estelle depart. It seemed his act hadn't been effective at all. "What do you mean by making me apologize?" Keiran was still somewhat confused. Was this guy brain-dead?As for Cassandra, seeing Adrian persuade Estelle to leave and the two men locked in a standoff, she put on a look of disdain. She had witnessed too many disputes over women, and Keiran's hypocritical appearance sickened her. So, when Adrian and Keiran clashed, she didn't even consider intervening, allowing the

They all saw Keiran and about a dozen others surrounding a young man. Some showed pity, while others wore expressions of anticipation, ready for a show. As for Estelle’s group, some of them weren't very familiar with Adrian, so they didn't react much to what was happening.However, Estelle herself began to feel anxious. She gripped her clothes, her palms starting to sweat. After leaving Adrian earlier, she fretted over whether to send a message home. Her father was an instructor in the garrison army, essentially the nemesis of people like Keiran. Even the leaders of the largest gangs in Sandstone would be submissive when facing him. If her father knew what was happening and that his daughter was in danger, he wouldn't just stand by. But if her father found out that she was out here tonight instead of doing homework at a classmate's house, he would surely be furious with her and she would be in big trouble."What do we do, Estelle?" The girl who had chatted with Adrian the most earlie