Adam stepped into the sitting room with Scott.
Ivy and Felecia sat comfortably on the couch, looking completely relaxed.
Redy stood beside the TV and the screen was tuned to a news channel.
Adam’s eyes landed on the headline.
"HERBAL X CEO LYON TUSK FOUND DEAD."
His gaze sharpened instantly.
The female news anchor spoke in a calm, practiced voice.
"Early this morning, the CEO of Herbal X Corporation, Lyon Tusk, was discovered dead inside his office. Authorities report that the victim suffered catastrophic cranial trauma."
The screen shifted and a photo appeared.
Adam’s expression froze.
It was a picture from yesterday.
Redy was standing over an unconscious Lyon Tusk.
Taking a selfie.
Adam slowly turned his head toward her, but she looked perfectly calm.
In fact—
Everyone did.
Scott. Ivy. Felecia.
Not a single one of them reacted.
Adam frowned slightly.
...Am I missing sothing?
The news continued.
"Initially, Eden Group CEO Eve was considered a suspect after images of a confrontation between her and Lyon Tusk began circulating online."
The anchor paused as another image flashed briefly on the screen.
Then continued.
"However, authorities have now confird that Miss Eve has been cleared of all suspicion after investigations determined she was not involved in the incident."
Adam watched the report with an expression that hovered sowhere between confusion and disbelief.
The segnt ended and the news shifted to another topic, as Redy casually turned the TV off.
Click.
Silence filled the room.
"So," Redy said lightly, "that’s the situation."
Felecia shrugged from the couch.
"I don’t see the big deal."
Ivy nodded calmly.
"Neither do I. The launch hasn’t even been rescheduled. Herbal X has already appointed a representative."
She leaned back slightly.
"So our plans remain the sa."
Scott gave a small nod in agreent.
Adam stayed quiet.
I’m definitely missing sothing.
First...
The man Redy had publicly clashed with yesterday was now dead.
Second....
There was literal photographic evidence linking her as a suspect.
And yet....
She was cleared almost imdiately and everyone here was treating it like normal business.
Adam slowly exhaled.
Yeah... I’m missing sothing.
Redy noticed his expression.
She turned toward him with a faint smile.
"Is there a problem?"
Adam looked at Redy.
"Yes," he said calmly. "There is."
All eyes turned toward him.
Redy tilted her head slightly. "The problem?"
"I’ll do my best to clarify any confusion."
Adam nodded once.
"Alright. First, how were you able to clear all suspicion so quickly?"
He paused, then added,
"And second... why did you even take that picture in the first place?"
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"And please don’t tell it’s because you thought posting it online would be exciting."
A few people in the room exchanged looks.
They could sympathize with the question.
Redy had a reputation for pulling ridiculous stunts.
Adam had already made a ntal note to start checking social dia regularly.
Just in case one day she casually posted sothing like:
"By the way, I’m a regressor."
For dopamine.
He doubted she would actually do sothing like that.
...But with Redy?
You could never be one hundred percent sure.
For now, Adam stayed silent, waiting.
Redy didn’t keep him waiting long.
"As for your first question," she said, "I cleared the suspicion because of the Saint backing us."
Adam’s eyes widened.
But before he could speak, Redy continued.
"And as for the picture... unfortunately, it wasn’t for fun."
Adam barely heard that part.
Saint?
His mind was still stuck on the first statent.
We have a Saint backing us?
Redy clasped her hands behind her back and continued calmly.
"The reason I took the picture was to attract the attention of the Family."
Adam blinked.
Now he was even more confused.
"Why would we want the Family looking at us?"
Redy gave a small smile.
"That, was supposed to be the point of this eting."
She glanced around the room before continuing.
"But since you asked, I’ll give you a preview."
"The Families already suspect that I have a Saint backing ."
She paused.
"But it’s only a suspicion."
Adam leaned forward slightly.
"So we have to prove it?"
Redy nodded.
"Exactly."
Adam frowned.
"And how do we do that?"
Redy’s smile widened slightly.
"By letting the Saint’s disciple crash the launch event."
The room went quiet.
And for so reason, everyone’s eyes slowly turned toward Adam.
Adam blinked.
Everyone was staring at him.
"...What?"
Felecia crossed one leg over the other.
"Isn’t it obvious?"
Adam slowly looked around the room.
Then pointed at himself.
"You want to be the Saint’s disciple?"
Redy nodded.
"That was the original plan."
She gestured casually toward Felecia.
"It was supposed to be her."
Felecia gave a lazy shrug.
"But you beat ."
She smirked slightly.
"So now the title belongs to you."
Then she added, completely unbothered,
"Good luck with the extra work."
Adam glanced at her.
Outwardly, she looked perfectly relaxed.
But when he quietly activated Connect, the truth was different.
Her soul fla contradicted her outward expression..
Adam dismissed the connection and looked back at Redy.
"Why don’t you beco the Saint’s disciple?"
Redy answered imdiately.
"That’s boring."
"..."
Adam stared at her, speechless.
Redy continued like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"And besides, the Saint’s disciple must be the strongest person on the team."
"That was their condition."
Adam fell silent as he processed the details.
Then he asked the most important question.
"Will becoming the Saint’s disciple affect in any way?"
Redy nodded slightly.
"There is one thing."
"When you eventually beco a Saint yourself... you’ll beco that Saint’s vassal."
Adam’s brows pulled together.
"...Vassal?"
Redy explained calmly.
"For a Saint to break through and beco a Sovereign, they must establish a vassal lineage."
"Because of that, most Saints choose a disciple with Saint potential."
"It’s simply... more efficient."
Adam sat there quietly for a mont.
Then he nodded slowly.
"So."
He looked up.
"I’m basically volunteering to be used."
****
A/N: Thank You For Reading!
User Comments
0 comments from readers