Chapter 67: First Signs

All eyes were on Adam.

His gaze swept across the gathered heirs before settling on the Acolytes. Despite being the most wretched-looking person present, he still commanded the most attention.

Respect followed power.

And Adam had plenty of it.

He let out a slow sigh.

“You’re blaming the wrong people.”

“Excuse me?”

Adam’s eyes shifted to the speaker.

The heir who’d spoken immediately shrank back, slipping behind his followers as if that alone could shield him from Adam’s gaze.

It reminded Adam of a child hiding under a blanket at night, terrified of monsters, believing thin fabric could somehow keep them safe.

The thought almost made him laugh.

He shook his head, the absurdity easing his irritation just a little, then spoke again.

“As I was saying, you’re blaming the wrong people.”

This time, no one interrupted.

Adam explained.

He laid out what had happened: the gem, the explosion, Henry’s actions, the unnatural rift mutation, and finally what he suspected about the barrier sealing the sector.

He didn’t embellish. He didn’t soften it either.

He simply told the truth.

When he finished, silence fell for a heartbeat before shock rippled through the heirs.

But none of them were as shaken as Abigail.

What are those demons up to now…

She thought grimly, her mind immediately going to the Faradays.

With the heirs finally subdued and no longer provoking the Acolytes, order slowly returned. Vanessa’s people were finally able to resume the task she’d given them.

One of the Acolytes, clearly the leader of the group, stepped forward and stopped in front of Adam. He bowed his head respectfully.

“Thank you for your assistance; we wouldn’t have been able to investigate the barrier otherwise.”

He knew the truth.

Even if the Acolytes had explained everything exactly the way Adam had, the heirs wouldn’t have listened. Authority mattered. Strength mattered.

And the Acolytes simply didn’t have enough of either.

Adam nodded.

“It’s no issue.”

He paused, eyes narrowing slightly as if weighing something.

“I do have a request, though.”

The Acolyte straightened, surprised.

“A request?”

Adam nodded once and calmly told him what he wanted.

****

The Acolyte blinked, then blurted out,

“You want to follow us?”

Surprise was written plainly across his face.

Adam nodded.

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

The Acolyte almost shook his head on instinct. Among the Acolytes, it was no secret that their notoriously aloof manager held Adam in unusually high regard.

If Adam wanted to tag along, Vanessa wouldn’t object, not in the slightest.

But then the Acolyte really looked at him.

Blood trickled from a cut on Adam’s head. His armor was in tatters, the chest plate cracked and warped, clearly having taken the brunt of the explosion at the center.

After a moment of hesitation, he spoke carefully.

“Mr. Adam… no offense, but are you sure you’re in the best shape to follow us?”

Adam understood the concern.

Anyone with eyes could see he wasn’t exactly pristine; although his injuries weren’t fatal, he was still in bad shape. Even if he could shrug it off, others wouldn’t feel the same, not everyone was as understanding as the manager.

But he had to go.

There was something he needed to confirm during their investigation, something critical.

If his suspicion was right, it would determine whether he could equip the cultivation talent without complications later.

So no matter what, he needed to be there.

Adam waved a hand dismissively.

“These injuries? Don’t worry about them. A few healing pills and I’ll be good as new.”

The Acolyte stared at him, doubt plain on his face.

Still, after a brief pause, he sighed. It was obvious Adam wouldn’t take no for an answer.

“Alright,” he said at last. “You can come.”

Just as they were about to move.

“Can we follow as well?”

The voice came from behind them.

Adam and the Acolyte turned at the same time.

Standing there were Abigail, Dickson, and the rest of their group.

The Acolyte’s expression tightened instantly. He was already preparing to shut them down outright.

The mission hall and clan heirs rarely mixed well, and when they did, it usually ended in arguments, threats, or worse.

But before he could open his mouth, Adam spoke first.

“What’s the reason you want to follow us?”

The Acolyte froze.

Does Mr. Adam actually want the heirs to come along?

He decided to hold his tongue and observe.

Abigail stepped forward, her expression serious rather than arrogant, even through her sunglasses.

“You said Henry was responsible for all of this.”

Adam nodded, signaling for her to continue.

“I don’t think the barrier is the only thing that explosion caused.”

The Acolytes’ eyes widened.

Adam’s gaze sharpened slightly.

So she figured it out as well.

The saying really was true, no one understood you better than your enemy. And in that moment, Abigail proved herself to be exactly that.

Adam nodded again.

“Alright. I don’t have an issue with you following us.”

Relief flashed across Abigail’s face. She was just about to speak.

“But, the travel fee will be seventy thousand dollars.”

“…”

The silence was absolute.

Abigail stared at him as if she had misheard.

“Did you just say… seventy thousand?”

Adam nodded.

“I accept transfers as well.”

Abigail almost laughed in disbelief.

But one look at Adam’s face told her everything, he wasn’t joking.

And he would not hesitate to turn them away.

Grinding her teeth internally, she pulled out her device and made the transfer.

Ding!

[Credit Alert: $70,000 received]

Adam glanced at the notification and smiled faintly.

“Alright. Now we can go.”

Without another word, he turned and headed toward the vehicle where the other Acolytes were already boarding.

Abigail, Dickson, and their group followed, still struggling to process what had just happened.

The Acolyte group leader watched Adam’s back for a moment before shaking his head with a small smile.

So this is why the manager likes him.

With that thought, he turned and walked to the vehicle as well.

The vehicle waiting for them was one of the armored transport trucks originally used to bring the clan heirs to the incursion site.

Unlike earlier, when those same trucks had been packed to the brim, there was now more than enough space for the few people boarding.

The Acolytes were already seated inside, their expressions disciplined and alert. Adam climbed in first, followed by Abigail, Dickson, and the rest of their group.

The Acolyte leader boarded last, giving the interior a brief scan.

Once satisfied, he gave a short nod toward the driver.

The engine rumbled to life.

Moments later, the truck pulled away from the incursion site, its heavy tires crunching against the ground as it left the swamp’s edge behind.

No one spared a glance for the remaining heirs who were still outside.

As the truck gained speed and the incursion faded into the distance.

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