Maxwell gulped, his trembling fingers releasing the grip on his magnetic handgun. A cold sweat ran down his spine as he straightened the chair and sat, his voice cracking while he opened his drawer.
"No problem with your command, sir Adam." He placed an open box filled with unaffordable cigars on his chaotic desk. "Please, have one."
A sigh escaped his lips, and his tense muscles relaxed as he saw Adam’s eyes light up, his hand blur, and the box disappear into thin air. Yet, horror crawled back into his heart with twice the strength when he saw Adam snap his fingers.
Like a lighter, his thumb ignited with a bright blue fla. Even more ridiculous, he lit a cigar and inhaled deeply before shaking the fla off.
As he observed smoke circles rising from Adam’s mouth, hope brightened his racing mind like the sun. After all, his presence was a blessing in disguise. He just had to play his cards well and recruit him.
"I’m delighted you’re enjoying them," he said, retrieving a remote and turning on a broad screen. Simultaneously, he took out a glass, poured his best brandy, and served him.
Then, he played the footage he got three years ago from the lab’s CCTV.
Adam watched with interest at first before he rolled his eyes and focused on his brandy and the strong taste of the cigar.
"Why would you show my fight against Ignatius? I an, I was obviously there since I killed the bastard." His eyes narrowed playfully. "Or are you trying to confirm it was ? I thought blowing up the lab was enough, though."
"Of course not." The general intertwined his fingers before his nose, his eyes sparkling. "I believe you’re a busy man since we found no trace of you in the past three years, so I’ll go straight to the point. The Jiāngguó empire wants to recruit you." He rose to his feet, bowed his head, and placed a fist to his chest in respect. "We’ll give you anything, plus top clearance..."
Before he could continue, Adam raised his palm and interrupted him.
"Please, General Maxwell. Do you think I’d join an empire funding decades of inhuman research?" His voice chilled, mana and qi wafting from his eyes. "You fools have no clue about the calamity I saved you from! Watch the video again! Look at Ignatius’ form and tell to my face that your pitiful weaponry could have stopped him!"
He snorted as Maxwell fell silent and avoided his eyes.
"The best part? You sacrificed more kids and revived his research despite the danger. No. I’m here to make you delete any data related to chimaeras..." He let his words linger before thundering. "Or I’ll blow your facilities one by one until I’m sure I destroyed them myself."
He shrugged as Maxwell’s shaking hand subtly reached for his magnetic handgun. Instead, he retrieved a random tier-two beast core and threw it on the table.
"I’ve only seen trash cores down there. That’s your paynt."
Maxwell froze and his jaw dropped. Though they could match the beasts physically, their ability to use magic made them fearso adversaries. Even with the Voltia industry manacore exosuits, they struggled to take on a tier one. That’s why the chimaeras were of utmost importance. With their raw strength and unbound savagery, they’d propel their developnt. Therefore, he masked his shock behind a stoic mask and shook his head.
"We might consider this deal if you teach us magic. Otherwise, I’m afraid the empire will have my head, anyway. I’m too old to die saving it after decades of service."
"Now we talk, Max." He pointed his finger at the aged man and smirked. "I can give a suit on Ignatius’ power level. You’ll beco your empire’s overlord." He waved his palm and winked. "But don’t even think of starting wars, or I’ll end you."
Even if his offer seed foolish, he needed Maxwell’s collaboration to expedite the trial and, more importantly, to report the kids’ deaths.
anwhile, Maxwell’s pupils constricted as he gazed at Ignatius’ seven-ter-tall figure on the screen. The ground caved under his steps, and the wind cried terrifying gales each ti he flapped his twelve wings. Could he really possess such powers?
He slamd his hand on his desk, his labored breath and cracking voice filling the room.
"I accept! With this suit, the empire can’t threaten anymore!" He leapt to his feet and rushed to the door. "Follow ! I’ll delete everything. Just give the suit first!"
Adam followed his determined steps, chuckling as they took the elevator to a secured basent.
Dazed soldiers greeted them on their way before Maxwell scanned his retina and fingerprints. He even put a sample of his DNA on an overly complex device before the reinforced gate rumbled open.
"Nice material."
Maxwell raised a confused brow before his eyes almost popped out of their sockets.
As if it were normal, Adam ripped the unbreakable gates like paper. When he saw him lt it like ice with his bare hands, he doubted his sanity despite the burning air and scent perating the server room.
In front of Maxwell’s reeling mind, Adam shaped the tal into a tight-fitting suit. Each ti his blazing hand touched it, symbols he had never seen seeped into it.
Everything took less than a minute. But the most disturbing part was seeing him waste ten seconds to refine the aesthetics and another five to choose the colors!
In the end, he shuddered at the stylish suit. Compared to the bulky series from the Voltia industry, this one’s sleek design and artistic decoration sparked his desire to possess it.
Without wasting a second, he tapped on the server’s keyboard, passing through many confidential files before he pointed at the screen. "Please confirm that these are Ignatius’ research."
Adam’s jaw clenched and his nose scrunched.
"Delete them."
Maxwell nodded and deleted any existing copy or fragnted information from the empire’s database, finally ridding the world of Ignatius’ influence for good.
Simultaneously, a notification made Adam smile.
[Rerun quest accomplished. Do you want to leave or check on the kids?]
’I’ll check on them.’
With his thought, the notification vanished as he retrieved a few low-tier beast cores and fused them to make them reach the fourth. Then he encased the sparkling core into the suit and turned to Maxwell.
"I’m done here, but let remind you once more before I leave. Consider yourself dead if you abuse the suit. And I advise you not to try analysing it."
With those mysterious words, the wind whipped against his robes as he left the stunned Maxwell in the server’s room, eager to see if he’d keep his promise or if the small self-destruction enchantnt would reap his liar’s life.
Once outside, he rushed back to the forest and felt the hundred weak life force bolting in the carriage.
Without wasting ti admiring nature, he dashed after its trail and caught up a few minutes later.
However, he had told them and given them everything they needed. Therefore, he just sat on the roof and listened to their eager voices.
"Do you think we need incantations like in stories, Adrian?"
Adrian pondered for a second before he raised his hand and scread with utmost seriousness.
"Fireball!"
"Hahaha. It’s not working." Lloyd shook his head. "We might lack sothing."
A warm smile curled onto Adam’s lips as he listened to them.
"Well... I gave out a powerful suit and turned a few kids into mutants. I can help them one last ti."
Though not as proficient as the crazy copy, he created two functional mana circuits of the fourth tier. Then, relying on his eyes, he grafted them onto the kids remotely without them feeling a thing. Finally, he retrieved a few parchnts and scribbled two mana cultivation techniques.
With a warm smile, he checked for mistakes before he made them phase into the carriage.
"I wish you all happy lives, little friends." He raised his head toward the bright sky, his mind clear and his heart at peace. "Get out, Luna."
As the world disappeared around Adam, Lloyd’s eyes widened on the organised parchnts and the familiar writing.
"Our hero has returned!"
Everyone searched for Adam, the smaller ones screaming big brother. Yet they found no trace.
Instead, warm tears trailed down Lloyd’s cheek as he read the parchnts.
"Mana cultivation technique by Adam. Don’t abuse your powers, though."
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