Chapter 69: Its eyes glowed with a terrifying coldness

A day had passed since Adam had that strange dream… which he couldn’t remember at all, no matter how many times he tried to bring it back to mind.

After that, he went to the dungeon with Zev to finish clearing it out. It didn’t take them too long, as most of the monsters had been eliminated by Adam while Zev was unconscious.

Adam was currently on his way back to the mansion, as the dungeon had been completely cleared.

He also noticed Zev’s great improvement. The young man had a remarkable talent for fencing.

But before thinking about anything else, Adam had to resolve the outstanding issues with the Migzar territory.

He did not doubt that they would attack again.

Most likely, they were already preparing for a new assault… although he couldn’t be completely sure.

Honestly, that uncertainty was what bothered him the most.

He had to prepare himself.

He couldn’t leave without knowing what would happen.

Besides, he still had to find the traitor who was still hiding inside the mansion.

Only after solving those problems could he leave with peace of mind to seek new allies for his territory. Future wars were inevitable, and he would need strong allies.

After all, his family’s territory occupied a strategic position.

…Not to mention that he was also cultivating the Mana Dragon Lotus herb.

If anyone found out, trouble would rain down on Adam like a storm.

’They still have a month to go before they can use them.’

Sitting in the back of the carriage, Adam let out a long sigh.

In front of him, Zev held tightly to the sword Adam had given him. There was a different gleam in his eyes; they were no longer empty and emotionless.

Stretching his body lazily, he put his thoughts aside.

…

In a large hall, around a round stone table with twelve high-backed chairs, sat several figures whose identities remained hidden by the shadows cast by the light streaming in from the tall windows.

Dorian knelt in the center of the hall, his head bowed, feeling sweat slowly running down his back.

“So you have failed,” said a voice from the table. “A boy not yet twenty years old made you retreat like a dog.”

“…”

Dorian remained silent, not daring to look up. His teeth clenched tightly.

He could try to justify it. He could talk about a strategic retreat to regroup.

But the truth was simpler… and more humiliating.

A damn youngster had forced him to retreat.

A long sigh echoed through the room, followed by a deep voice.

“Baron, it seems your general is not as capable as you assured us. Now that the boy knows we are behind all this, things will become… troublesome. How do you intend to make up for this mistake?”

Dorian looked up slightly at his lord.

He was an enormous man, his face swollen with fat, small blue eyes, and carefully combed blond hair. His body was so voluminous that the fabric of his clothes seemed to struggle not to tear.

“Prince… give us another chance,” the baron said quickly. “The situation was unexpected. Our informant never mentioned that the son of that demon had such… problematic abilities.”

“Hmm…”

The silence that followed was unbearable.

Dorian could feel his breathing becoming increasingly irregular as the seconds passed.

Then the deep voice spoke again.

“You have one month to prepare. That territory must fall at all costs. And if you fail again…”

A pause.

“My pet will take care of you.”

The threat hung in the air.

“Remember this well,” continued the prince. “You have one month to take that territory… and bring it to my feet.”

The lord of Dorian immediately knelt in a deep bow.

“Thank you very much, prince, for granting us this opportunity. We will not disappoint you. In a month, that territory will be in our hands.”

“You talk too much,” replied the prince coldly. “I only want results.”

There was a brief silence.

“If you succeed… I might grant you the woman you have loved for so long.”

The baron’s eyes flashed for a moment.

“Then… I await good news.”

Once he left the great hall, Dorian could feel his lord’s gaze fixed on his back. He didn’t need to see it to know he was furious; he had worked for him for too long.

The baron walked beside him.

Suddenly, he turned and glared at him, saying in a sneer,

“How could a damn brat make you back down? You have no idea how embarrassed I was in front of the prince. I had a good relationship with him… and now, because of you…”

He paused for a moment, clenching his teeth.

Then she continued in a lower voice, but one laden with menace.

“Now I have to take that damn territory at any cost. You’d better have a good plan… because if you fail again, your head will roll before mine does.”

Dorian did not respond immediately.

He nodded as he walked behind his lord.

“Yes, my lord.”

…

Adam stepped down from the carriage as he looked at the wall that was still being rebuilt. He had wanted to see the city for himself and see how it was recovering after the tide of monsters.

The streets were bustling with life. A constant stream of people walked among carts loaded with wood, stone, and sand, while the murmur of conversation filled the air.

Adam walked slowly, looking around him.

Despite the blow they had suffered, the people were getting back on their feet.

That scene gave him a strange feeling of peace. If he hadn’t done everything possible in recent times, all of that would now be reduced to ruins… and most likely he himself would have disappeared from the world.

Just like in his past life.

Adam was sincerely grateful for the second chance he had been given. He would like to know who had given it to him… or why it had been him.

But this was not the time to fill his mind with unanswered questions.

For now, he just wanted to enjoy it.

He glanced sideways at Zev, who seemed to be enjoying the atmosphere as well.

Shortly after, they both disappeared into the crowd. From a distance, they were just two figures among the people.

…

A few minutes later, Adam arrived at the mansion.

Even from outside, he could sense that something was wrong. The atmosphere inside the mansion was completely different from that of the city: the air seemed heavier and quieter, as if everyone were walking carefully so as not to break an invisible tension.

It was not surprising.

His lord had returned seriously ill, and his condition was critical.

Adam crossed the hall quickly. Some servants moved silently, avoiding looking directly at him, as if afraid to give him bad news.

Adam stopped in front of her.

“How has my father been?”

The maid immediately lowered her head and bowed before answering.

“Your father had another episode this morning… it seems he has gotten worse.”

“What!?”

Adam’s cry echoed down the hallway. A chill ran down his spine as he turned and began walking quickly toward the inner rooms.

The hallways seemed longer than usual.

When he reached the door, he saw his mother.

She was standing near the bed, her face marked with worry. Her shoulders seemed thinner than before, and the shadows under her eyes betrayed sleepless nights.

That vision made his heart ache.

But first, he had to see his father.

Adam walked over to the bed.

And then he saw him.

Zephyr was much worse than the last time he had seen him. His body had visibly thinned, and the strange dark marks that ran across his skin were now deeper, as if something were consuming him from within.

Adam frowned, feeling a cold sensation settle in his chest.

“Mother…”

He asked in a tense voice.

“Who entered my father’s room after I left?”

From his mother’s expression, Adam immediately understood she had no idea what had happened.

His mother knew nothing.

Then there was only one possibility left.

The night before.

Adam lowered his gaze slightly as his mind began to sort through the facts. His father had taken a turn for the worse that morning. That meant something had changed during the night.

There had been no visitors. No one had reported any movement in the mansion.

That could only mean one thing.

Someone had entered… unseen.

Adam’s expression slowly darkened.

And if someone had been able to approach his father’s room without arousing suspicion…

It could only be one person.

…

Night fell slowly over the mansion, silent and heavy, like the jaws of a wolf closing on its prey. The moon barely peeked through the dark clouds, casting a faint light that barely illuminated the long corridors.

Among those shadows, a figure moved carefully.

It moved with precision, close to the walls, avoiding the servants’ gazes as they hurried by.

With smooth movements, it advanced to the door of Zephyr’s room.

He opened it just enough to slip inside.

The interior was silent.

It seemed that, on that night, no one was watching over the lord’s condition.

The figure slowly approached the bed, making sure not to make the slightest noise. Then he took out a small vial hidden among his clothes.

Inside was a dark, thick substance.

Extremely toxic.

Carefully, he uncorked the vial, preparing to pour out the poison.

But just then…

He felt something.

His world began to darken.

An invisible pressure fell upon his mind, heavy as a slab.

From the darkest corner of the room, a figure emerged from the shadows.

Its eyes glowed with a terrifying coldness.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep