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
“I’ll take it then,” Reeves said, his expression lighting up with satisfaction. In fact, he looked almost gleeful as he turned to the staff and asked, “How do you feel after I’ve bought your dog for five million?”“Mr. Reeves, are you serious?” the staff member stammered, her eyes wide with disbelief.Reeves nodded confidently and wrote a check for five million dollars right away. When the staff took the check from his hand, she still seemed stunned, unable to process what was happening.Clement was so elated that he turned to Stacey and said, “Ms. Gold, can you do me a favor? Tell your hotel staff to have the dog killed and retrieve the pill from its stomach.”Stacey hesitated for a moment but then nodded. She quickly called two hotel employees over to take the pug away.It was only then that everyone in the room seemed to grasp what was going on. The initial fight between Clinton and Reeves over the dog hadn’t been about the animal at all. Instead, it was about the pill the pug had
Clinton looked utterly heartbroken, his shoulders sagging as disappointment swept over his face. Stacey, standing nearby, mirrored his dismay, her lips pressed into a thin line.“Ms. Gold, Mr. Clinton, Mr. Reeves—what are you doing?” Gerald asked, his confusion evident.Clinton sighed deeply, his expression darkening. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, his eyes lit up with urgency. He turned toward the pug sitting innocently nearby and pointed at it. “Whose dog is this?”A staff member hesitantly stepped forward, her face pale with nervousness. “It’s mine, sir. I… I’m terribly sorry for bringing him here. It was unprofessional of me.”Stacey shot her a sharp look but quickly softened her tone. “Let this be the only time. Don’t let it happen again.”“Yes, Ms. Gold. Thank you!” The staff member bowed repeatedly in relief, but just as she began to leave with the pug, Clinton raised his voice.“Wait! Hold on!” he called out urgently.The staff froze mid-step, her heart racing. “Y
“Enough with the nonsense. You just got lucky with your guess. Don’t think you’re all that,” Henry said, rolling his eyes. Despite his dismissive tone, his fidgeting fingers betrayed his growing panic. David, sensing the tension, stepped forward with a scoff. “Even if Mr. Diamond’s painting is fake, it doesn’t change anything. He was deceived! He spent over ten million dollars on it—that’s worth far more than whatever trash you’re calling a gift.” Adam chuckled, his voice tinged with sarcasm. “Trash, you say? You’re calling the pill trash?” David snatched the small bottle from Adam’s hand, shaking it aggressively before pouring out a single black pill into his palm. “Look at this!” David held it up for everyone to see. “Who in their right mind would dare eat something like this? It’s nothing but a scam!” “Dad, look at this nonsense,” he added, handing the pill to Gerald. “Why should I waste my time looking at trash?” Gerald replied coldly, his face twisting in disgust as he
Stacey quickly understood Adam's intention and turned to an elderly man seated not far away. “Mr. Spark, you’re an expert in paintings. Could you help us authenticate this piece?”The room fell silent as all eyes turned to Charles Spark. Known as a renowned art expert, his opinion carried significant weight.One guest chimed in, “Mr. Charles Spark is a leading authority in the art world. If anyone can authenticate this painting, it’s him.”Another nodded in agreement. “But do we even need to go that far? Mr. Diamond wouldn’t dare gift a fake painting. He has a reputation to uphold!”“Exactly,” someone else added. “Ten million dollars is nothing to someone like him. Why would he risk his name over a counterfeit?”The murmurs of agreement spread through the room. Brian, however, felt a bead of sweat forming on his temple. His confidence wavered as he realized the scrutiny was about to intensify.Feigning nonchalance, Brian scoffed, “Authenticate it? That’s rich. But the painting has alr
Brian sneered with an air of superiority. “Well, brat, did you notice anything? Or are you just bluffing again?” Adam didn’t respond immediately. Instead, a playful smile danced across his lips as he picked up a glass of water from the table. He swirled the water in his mouth, as if savoring it, but he didn’t swallow. In a sudden, unexpected move, Adam sprayed the water directly onto the painting. “What are you doing?!” “How dare you?!” The room erupted in chaos. Wendy’s face turned beet red as she jumped to her feet, her finger shaking as she pointed at Adam. Brian was equally furious, his fists clenched tightly. Even Brenda, Gerald, and several other guests stared at Adam in disbelief. “You lunatic!” Wendy’s voice trembled with rage. “That painting is worth millions! How dare you destroy it? You must pay for this, or I swear you won’t leave here alive!” Tessa’s expression shifted from shock to anger as she shouted, “Adam, what are you doing? Are you out of your mind?” She gr
“Adam, I’m begging you. Please, just stop spreading these rumors.” Tessa’s voice trembled with a mix of frustration and disbelief, her gaze fixed on Adam with evident disappointment.She had always thought Adam had a tendency to boast, but this was different. This wasn’t mere exaggeration; it was crossing a line. Her chest tightened as the reality sank in—she was beginning to lose faith in him.Adam, however, remained calm. His sharp gaze locked onto Brian as he asked, “If you’re so confident it’s not a fake, would you allow me to inspect it?”Wendy, unable to hide her irritation, scoffed. “Inspect it? Do you even hear yourself? That painting is worth millions! How dare someone like you even think of inspecting it?”“Exactly!” Brenda chimed in, her arms crossed in disdain. “You have no right to touch something that valuable. If you so much as leave a smudge on it, you’ll be paying for it for the rest of your life!”Brian smirked arrogantly, adjusting his pristine designer watch as he
Gerald’s expression darkened further, his patience wearing thin. If it weren’t for Adam’s association with Stacey, he might have lashed out already. He clenched his fists, suppressing his growing annoyance.Meanwhile, Brian, oblivious to Gerald’s restraint, sneered disdainfully. “How shameless can you be? Offering this junk as a gift? It’s downright embarrassing.”“He’s absolutely right,” Wendy chimed in, her tone dripping with contempt. She rolled her eyes dramatically and added, “Just look at Mr. Diamond. His gift is worth millions, while yours is nothing but a worthless trinket.”Adam let out a quiet chuckle, his smirk widening. “I’ve been holding back, trying to ignore the two of you. But you’ve pushed me too far. Since you seem so eager, I have no choice but to expose the truth.”The sudden shift in his tone caught the room’s attention. Brian and Wendy exchanged uneasy glances but quickly masked their unease with indignation.“Expose us? You?” Wendy scoffed, crossing her arms. “W
“What? How dare you curse me?” Gerald’s voice thundered through the hall, his expression darkening with fury.“I’ve told you before—he’s nothing but an ungrateful wretch. Do you believe me now, Grandpa?” Brenda sneered, seizing the opportunity to pile on the insults.“How dare you curse Grandpa? Apologize to him immediately!” Richard roared, his face contorted with anger.“What are you waiting for?” Eleanor shouted at Adam, her voice trembling with rage. “Do you want to drag us all down with your reckless behavior? Apologize now!”Their frustration was palpable. Despite their disdain for Adam, he was still tied to their family through marriage. If Gerald's anger boiled over, it would spell disaster for everyone associated with him.“Adam, you’ve crossed the line this time! Apologize to Grandpa right away,” Tessa demanded, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.The crowd, sensing the mounting tension, erupted into a chorus of condemnation.“What kind of son-in-law dares to curs
After all, Bulgart Industry was the leading company in the world. Compared to them, the Diamond family was insignificant. Moreover, the Supreme General’s terrifying underworld organizations was not something the Diamond family would dare to provoke.By now, most of the guests had arrived, and the banquet was about to begin. But before the festivities could commence, an important tradition took center stage—the gift-giving ceremony.Henry was the first to stand, holding an exquisite vase in his hands. He stepped forward confidently and addressed Gerald. “Grandpa, this antique vase cost me eight million dollars. I hope it brings you joy and prosperity on your birthday.”The crowd murmured in approval, nodding at the sight of the lavish gift. Gerald smiled warmly, clearly pleased with Henry’s gesture.“What a thoughtful gift,” someone whispered.Next, Brian rose with a proud smile, presenting a rolled-up painting carefully encased in protective wrapping. He handed it to Gerald with a sli