The old man said nothing, his jaw tightening.Adam took a step closer, his presence looming. “Listen. We’re not here to waste time. You’ve seen the cursed idol, haven’t you? Tell me what you know, and we’ll leave without any trouble.”For a moment, the old man seemed to consider his options. His gaze flickered between Adam and Stacey, and it became clear he wasn’t dealing with amateurs. Finally, he sighed in defeat.“Fine,” the old man muttered. “A man came through here a few days ago. He had the idol with him.”Adam’s eyes darkened. “What did he look like?”The old man rubbed his wrinkled hands together, as if trying to ward off a chill. “Tall. Wore a hood, but I caught a glimpse of his face. Scar running down his cheek, snake tattoo on his neck.”Adam’s jaw clenched. He knew exactly who the old man was describing.“Viper,” Adam muttered under his breath. One of the high-ranking enforcers of the Dead Skulls, a dangerous cult tied to the darkest forces in the underworld.Stacey shot A
Racheal stepped forward, her voice laced with venom. "You’re nothing but a thug, Adam. It’s no wonder everyone ends up hating you."Adam’s smile didn’t falter. "And yet, here you are—following me everywhere like I’m the only thing keeping your dull lives interesting."Racheal’s fists clenched. “You belong behind bars, just like my brother said.”Adam chuckled darkly. “He’d better learn to fight before running his mouth. Or else next time, I won’t be so gentle.”---Rhea, standing beside her sister, couldn’t hold back her fury any longer. She lunged at Adam, her hand swinging toward his face in a sharp slap.But Adam caught her wrist effortlessly. Before she could react, he delivered three sharp slaps across her face in quick succession. The sound of each strike echoed down the street, and Rhea stumbled back, her face red and stinging.Tears welled in her eyes as she cried out, attracting the attention of bystanders. People on the street stopped to watch the scene unfold, murmurs and w
Inside the van, Philip sat across from Adam, his smirk wide and dripping with contempt. “You think you’re something special, don’t you?” he sneered, leaning in closer. “Bet you’re regretting stepping out of prison now. Should’ve stayed hidden like the rat you are.”Adam sat still, his expression calm, unmoved by his taunts.“That’s right, keep quiet,” Philip continued, relishing the moment. “The first time I caught you, I snapped your leg in two. This time…” He grinned darkly. “This time, I’ll make sure you don’t even crawl away.”Adam’s lips curled slightly into a cold smile. “You sound more scared than I remember.”Philip’s grin faltered, his brow creasing in confusion. “What the hell did you just say?”Adam leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto Philip’s. “I said you’re scared.” His voice was calm—too calm. “Back then, you were dealing with someone holding back. But now... you’re in over your head.”Philip scowled, grabbing his baton, the metal gleaming under the dim light
Philip’s face contorted in frustration, but the presence of another witness threw him off. He lowered the gun slightly, glancing between Stacey and Adam. “Who the hell are you?”Stacey smiled faintly. “Someone you don’t want to mess with.”Adam tilted his head, amused. “Perfect timing.”Stacey gave a small nod toward Adam. “Lord Adam. Let’s get out of here. You’ve wasted enough time on these fools.”Philip scowled, his grip tightening on the gun again. “I don’t think so. He’s coming with me.”Stacey’s expression didn’t change. “I suggest you rethink that.” Her tone was smooth, almost too polite, but the warning beneath it was unmistakable.---Stacey reached into her jacket and calmly pulled out a sleek black ID card, flipping it open for Philip to see.Philip's heart skipped a beat as his eyes scanned the insignia. It was the mark of the Supreme General’s office. His blood ran cold as he realized what that meant. The elegant woman standing before him was the assistant to the most pow
Stacey brought a mixture of milk and honey, slowly pouring it into Philip’s mouth. He struggled, choking on the sweet liquid, but they forced him to swallow it. His stomach churned with the mixture, and soon it dripped from his mouth, coating his body in a sticky mess.The honey attracted flies, beetles, and other insects from the forest, which began to crawl across his skin. They clustered at his mouth, eyes, and nose, eager for the sugary coating on his body.---Hours passed, and the real torment began.Philip groaned, his body bloated from the milk and honey mixture, his bowels betraying him. He was left to lie in his own filth, unable to move. The stench of excrement mixed with the honey, attracting even more insects. Flies and maggots burrowed into his flesh, feeding on his decaying skin.As the hours stretched into days, the insects began to crawl into his eyes, nostrils, and ears. Philip screamed in agony, but no one came to help. His cries only served to attract more scavenge
It didn’t take long before the police discovered his body. News of Philip's gruesome death spread rapidly throughout the city, creating waves of fear and speculation.No one knew how he had died, except for the chilling letter left on his corpse. The message was simple but terrifying: "Punished by the Supreme General."In the law of Coastal Flair, offending the Supreme General was the greatest crime, and punishment was absolute.---The Odias saw the news, and terror gripped them. Mr. Luther, Monica, Rhea, and Robin exchanged uneasy glances. Why would the Supreme General get involved?Though unsettled by Philip’s death, they still clung to one hope—that Adam would be rotting in jail before anything worse could happen.---Several days passed. Adam was sitting in the luxury of his penthouse when Mr. White entered, holding a letter.“This just arrived, sir,” Mr. White said, handing it to Adam. "It's from Doctor Norman Hemsworth."Adam’s eyes narrowed as he read the letter. The name stir
As Adam walked deeper into the hall, the crowd grew quiet, their whispers loud enough to feel like static. Everyone watched him with scorn and disbelief. They knew Adam’s reputation—a former prisoner, a disgrace.Suddenly, Dr. Norman Hemsworth stormed over, his face twisted in fury.“You!” Norman spat. “What do you think you’re doing here?”Adam gave a sly smirk. “I thought it was obvious. I’m here for the party.”Norman’s voice sharpened. “I didn’t invite you. Get out, now.”Adam raised an eyebrow, playing with the edge of his suit sleeve. “Actually… you did.”Norman scowled, confused. “What nonsense is this?”Adam smiled coldly. “You invited Mr. Manchester to your big celebration. Here I am.”Norman’s jaw dropped as the realization hit him. “You? You’re Mr. Manchester? How dare you impersonate my honored guest?”The Odias froze for a second, shocked. Then Racheal scoffed, “How dare a guy like you claim to be Mr. Manchester, do you have a death wish?.”Monica sneered, stepping forwar
Robin’s grin vanished. “What the...?”The remaining guards hesitated, glancing at each other, unsure of what just happened.Damian barked, “Get him! All of you!”Two guards rushed at once, but Adam spun, landing a kick that sent one sprawling and a punch that floored the other.Within seconds, all seven guards were writhing on the floor, groaning in pain.---Silence fell over the hall. The guests were frozen, staring at the scene in disbelief. No one had expected this.Racheal’s mouth hung open. “What… how did...?”Robin stumbled back, his face pale. “That’s impossible…”Monica clutched Mr. Luther’s arm. “He... he took down all of them?”---Adam calmly sat back down, picked up his wine glass, and took another sip.He looked at Damian, who stood frozen with fear. “Any more guards?”Damian stammered, “You…bastard!”Adam smirked. “Thought so.”Robin clenched his fists. “You’ll pay for this.”Adam chuckled. “I think I’ve already paid. Remember?”The Odias stood there, seething with rage