Chapter 96: Good News?

Thhrrruuuu.

The sharp sound of urine slamming into the toilet water echoed through the bathroom, lasting a few seconds before tapering off.

A moment later, a final strain forced out the residue before the toilet flushed and water roared down the bowl.

There was no sound from the sink.

Dickson stepped out of the toilet, and immediately reeled back, heart lurching.

“Holy void!”

Standing there was a figure in a long, flowy white gown, completely still. A black detox face mask covered her face, leaving only a pair of piercing blue eyes visible as they stared straight at him.

In the dim lighting, she looked less like a person and more like some vengeful spirit waiting to claim a soul.

Dickson froze.

Then recognition hit.

“Abigail?”

His racing heart slowly settled as relief washed over him.

I don’t know why she still uses that, he thought, irritation creeping in where fear had been.

As a martial artist, Abigail’s body was far beyond ordinary. She didn’t need the crude methods non-martial artists relied on. Worse, the mask wasn’t even a resource item. It was just a normal detox mask.

For acne.

Something she’d suffered from before awakening her cultivation talent.

And somehow, despite her body having long since surpassed such flaws, she’d grown so used to it that she could no longer sleep without wearing it.

At the great expense of Dickson’s sanity.

He exhaled and finally spoke, forcing calm into his voice.

“My lady… is there any problem?”

Abigail’s gaze dropped briefly to his hands, lingering for a second before she shook her head.

“Adam is calling for us.”

“Oh…let me put on a shirt fi—”

Dickson paused mid-sentence.

“Wait. Did you say Adam?”

Abigail didn’t answer. She turned and walked out of the room as if the question had never been asked.

Dickson stood there for half a second, stunned.

Then he hurriedly grabbed a shirt, pulled it on, and followed after her.

The grumbling of various heirs echoed through the hotel corridors as they were herded toward the hall Adam had designated.

Desk phones had rung relentlessly in the dead of night, tearing them out of much-needed sleep, sleep that was precious during times as turbulent as these. Some had tried to calm their racing minds, reminding themselves that panic solved nothing.

But since it was Adam who called, they had to answer; and it wasn’t fear of him that roused them from their sleep. At least, that was what they told themselves.

Sebastian walked at the front of his group, jaw clenched hard enough to ache.

“I’ll make sure to give him a piece of my mind, if whatever he’s calling us for isn’t important.”

His followers exchanged brief side glances but wisely chose to stay silent.

Similar complaints rippled through the crowd.

But not all of them spoke, though. Abigail walked calmly, her expression unreadable, while the Baki clan heir said nothing at all. They weren’t angry or annoyed.

They were simply curious.

What could possibly warrant Adam summoning them at a time like this?

That question twisted sharply the moment they reached the doors of one of the hotel’s larger halls.

Before anyone could push it open, voices slipped through the gap.

“Mr. Adam… should I go faster?”

“No, be gentle. It’ll only make it sore if you do.”

“…”

Every heir froze.

For a brief, horrifying second, a series of obscene, deeply uncomfortable images flashed through their minds.

Several of them stiffened, silently praying they hadn’t just been invited to something profoundly inappropriate.

Swallowing their collective dread, they pushed the doors open anyway.

The hall was spacious, with a raised stage positioned near the entrance. Sitting at the edge of it was Adam.

His torso was wrapped tightly in bandages, white layers stark against his skin. His right knee was propped up, his posture relaxed to the point of indifference, one hand resting casually atop it.

Behind him stood a female member of the hotel staff, her hands pressed into his back as she worked carefully, massaging muscle and damaged tissue.

“…”

It wasn’t what they had imagined.

And yet, the shock still hit them hard.

Not because of the woman.

But because of Adam.

He looked… battered.

This wasn’t the first time they had seen him injured. He’d been hurt after the explosion at Siren’s Swamp as well.

But seeing him like this again, was deeply unsettling.

Someone like Adam wasn’t supposed to look like this.

The most terrifying thought crept in uninvited.

Something inside this barrier can hurt him.

And if that was true…

Their own chances weren’t looking good at all.

****

Adam looked over the gathered heirs and spoke calmly,

“It’s good you came in time. You can all get comfortable, I’ve got some good news. And you’ll need to sit for this.”

The hall was empty; there were no chairs, nor any place for one to sit, so after a brief pause, the heirs settled for standing.

A few leaned against the walls, while others crossed their arms.

Adam didn’t seem to mind. He turned slightly and glanced back.

“Thank you. That’ll be all for now.”

The female hotel staff, who had been fully absorbed in her work, flushed faintly at the sudden attention.

She nodded quickly to Adam, then, after offering polite nods to the heirs, quietly left the hall, the doors closing behind her.

Adam shifted his posture and turned back to them.

“Alright then… where was I?”

One of the heirs spoke up.

“You said you had good news.”

Adam looked at him and recognized the face immediately.

He was the heir who had previously fed him information about why Sebastian and the manager had nearly come to blows. He shook his head slightly at the memory before nodding.

“Yes. That’s right. Good news.” A faint smile tugged at his lips.

“The kind I’m sure you’d all love to hear. Honestly, I don’t even know how to say it.”

The heirs swallowed their pride and stayed silent, letting him drag it out. No one interrupted or complained.

Adam waited a second longer.

When no reaction came, he shrugged inwardly.

I guess people over thirty don’t know how to take a joke.

Some female clan heirs suddenly felt offended, though they couldn’t quite tell why.

Adam’s expression then shifted.

The casual air vanished, replaced by something sharp and deliberate. Instantly, the hall fell completely silent as every heir focused on him.

He spoke slowly.

“The generator has been disabled.”

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