The night of passion with Marilyn and Aila was a fever dream, a chaotic symphony of tangled limbs and whispered confessions that left me both drained and strangely energized. After saying my goodbyes, a promise of my return hanging in the air between us, I got ready. I chose my outfit with a new, deliberate care: a beige ribbed-knit polo, slim black trousers, a silver chain watch that felt heavy on my wrist, and a pair of black Chelsea boots. I was no longer just Adam Wilson; I was the Chairperson, and I had to look the part.
My new Bugatti Veyron was waiting for me in the parking garage, a sleek black beast that hummed with a quiet, deadly power. As I slid into the driver's seat, a thought sparked in my mind. I had time.
I drove to Melissa's house, the powerful engine a low, satisfied rumble. I rang the bell, and the door swung open almost immediately. She stood there, a genuine, unguarded smile on her face, and threw her arms around me. "You came to see me?" she said, her voice a mixture of surprise and a deep, profound happiness. "Aww, you are so nice, Adam."
I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her, a deep, lingering kiss that was a promise, a brand. When I finally pulled back, I said, "I'm not going to be in town for a few days. I'm going on a recruitment drill."
She looked at me, her eyes shining with an awe that was still new to her. "Aww, you came all this way just to say goodbye," she breathed. "I'm so touched." She hugged me again, her body a warm, comforting weight against mine. "I wish you a happy journey." She kissed my forehead, a tender, maternal gesture that was a world away from the fiery passion we had shared.
Melissa's internal thought, "He is a good man. So caring, so thoughtful. The night was a whirlwind, but this… this is different. He isn't just a lover; he's a partner. My partner. The way he looks at me, it's not just desire. It's respect. He sees me. The real me. I haven't felt this seen in years."
"I'll see you in a few days," I said with a smile.
"Okay," she replied, and with that, I left, heading for the airport.
I parked the car, grabbed my luggage, and walked straight into the First Class business lounge. And there she was.
Nari Han was a living work of art. She was dressed in a black turtleneck bodycon sweater mini-dress that clung to her perfect figure, super-thin sheer black pantyhose, and black stiletto high heels that made her legs look impossibly long. A pair of diamond earrings and a thin platinum necklace were the only accessories, a stark, beautiful contrast to her short, teal blue hair and deep red lips. She was a living enchantress.
I grabbed two cups of coffee from the counter and walked over to where she was sitting on a plush leather sofa. "Good morning, Nari," I said, my voice a low, casual hum.
She looked up, a slow, knowing smile on her face. "Good morning, Adam."
"Coffee?" I asked, holding one of the cups out to her.
She just smiled. "Only if it's zero sugar and dark."
"Looks like we have more in common than you think," I said with a smirk. "Here you go. Zero sugar and dark."
"Though you are right," she said, her own voice full of a smug, playful confidence as she took the cup. "Thank you for the coffee."
I sat down beside her, the soft leather sighing under my weight. "You're beautiful, but today… you're special. More elegant. More my type."
She turned to me with a sly smile, her head tilting just so, her eyes glinting with mischief. Leaning in close, her voice a soft, teasing whisper meant only for my ears. "Is Mr. Wilson hitting on me? And here I thought it was just another boring business trip."
I leaned in closer, our faces just inches apart, the air between us crackling with a palpable, electric tension. "I am hitting on you," I said, my voice a low, possessive growl. "I am just stating a fact. But if Miss Han thinks I am hitting on her, then it is my pleasure." I got even closer, our lips almost touching. She didn't flinch. "You know what?" I whispered. "You are my type. The kind of woman a king needs by his side. Miss Han, what do you think? Now this… this counts as hitting on you."
She looked straight into my eyes, her own gaze unwavering. "You are quite daring and handsome," she said, her voice a low, seductive purr. "And I also love daring boys. Because they are so easy to trap in a web of their own ambition."
"I'm sorry, Miss Han," I replied, my own voice a confident, dangerous hum. "But I am daring, and I am a hunter. And hunters… they don't get trapped in the web. They own the forest."
Our banter, our little game of power and seduction, was interrupted by a polite cough. An airport staff member stood before us. "Mr. Wilson, Miss Han," she said. "Your private jet is ready to take off. Please, follow me."
I looked at the staff member, then back at Nari. "Why not?" I said with a grin.
Nari, her composure as perfect as ever, just said, "Yeah. Lead us."
We walked onto the tarmac and boarded the plane. I was amazed. The entire plane was just for the two of us. The interior didn't even look like a plane; it was a seven-star hotel, a presidential suite in the sky—gold accents, plush leather sofas, a deep-pile carpet that felt like walking on a cloud. The air hostess greeted us with a perfect, practiced smile. "Mr. Wilson and Miss Han, welcome to our plane. I hope you find our services to your liking."
Nari didn't even look at her. "Yeah. First, don't disturb us unnecessarily. Second, every staff member is not allowed to be near us. Third, if we need anything, we will call you."
The air hostess, clearly intimidated by Nari's aura, just stammered, "Yes, ma'am."
I sank into one of the sofas, the feeling of this new, luxurious life a potent, intoxicating drug. Nari was at the bar counter. "What do you want?" she asked.
"An Old Fashioned," I replied.
She brought our drinks over. "Why did you command them like that?" I asked.
"We are not on vacation, Adam," she said, her voice all business now. "We have work to do. And during work, I don't want any disturbances."
"Okay," I said. "As you know, you told me we will go after Maddison in the last. So I was thinking…"
"What?" she asked.
"Let's go to the Riverbend Republic and have a meeting with the Sterling Triplets."
"Yeah, that's a good idea," she agreed. "Models and actresses are one thing, but we need the best of the Fashion and costume designer & stylist."
"Yeah, I was thinking the same thing," I said.
"What about their history?" she asked.
"They were a legendary trio of sisters," I explained, relaying the information Anna had dug up for me. "The best in their field—innovative fashion designers, sought-after costume designers for major films, personal stylists to the biggest stars. But they were framed in a huge scandal a few years ago. A rival design house, jealous of their meteoric rise, sabotaged their new fabric line with a corrosive chemical. It caused a severe allergic reaction in several high-profile actresses during a major awards show. The rival company then paid off the media to pin the blame on the Sterlings. They were exiled from the industry, their reputations completely destroyed."
"If they are in exile, how can we bring them back?" she asked, her analytical mind already identifying the core problem.
"Getting them back isn't the big thing," I said, a confident smile on my face. "Because Anna is on the case. I'm sure she can find some dirt on the agency that framed them, find proof of their innocence. The tough part is inspiring and motivating them to trust us, to take a chance on a new life."
Nari nodded, a look of profound understanding in her grey eyes. "This will only happen after meeting them and understanding their circumstances."
"Exactly," I said. "Thus, we are going to the Riverbend Republic."
We spent the next few hours in a deep, strategic dive, our minds a whirlwind of plans and possibilities. We talked about how to dismantle the Han group, piece by piece, our conversation a low, dangerous hum against the quiet roar of the jet engines. The sky outside turned from a deep, velvety blue to an inky, star-dusted black. It was well past midnight when a wave of exhaustion finally hit Nari. I watched as her head began to nod, her body slumping slightly against the plush leather. When she was about to fall, I caught her, gently guiding her head to rest on my lap. I pulled her heels off and laid her down on the long couch, covering her with a soft cashmere blanket.
Adam's internal thought, "She is a living enchantress. The way she commands a room, the way her mind works… it's breathtaking. But even a queen needs to rest. She trusts me. She trusts me enough to be vulnerable like this. It's a heavy responsibility, but… I wouldn't have it any other way. She is my queen. And I will protect her, even in her sleep."
"The past few days have been hectic," I said to the quiet of the cabin.
'You are progressing very fast,' the System's voice echoed in my mind.
"System," I murmured. "Open my status."
The familiar, translucent white screen shimmered into existence before my eyes.
Status:
Name: Adam Wilson
Strength: 402
Agility: 395
Endurance: 390
Mentality: 450
Intelligence: 410
Mana: 470
Potential: Undetectable
Skills: [Normal Close Combat], [Boxing Proficiency], [Weapon Expertise], [Expert Massager], [Experienced Strategist], [Appraisal], [Taekwondo Proficiency], [Incubus], [Chanakya], [Advance Appraisal], [Mark for Hunt], [Adaptive Overdrive]
Passive Skills: [Great Leader], [Self-healing], [Napoleon], [Casanova], [Charmer], [Min], [President], [King's Aura], [Sovereign's Tithe], [Nocturnal Metamorphosis], [Growth Catalyst]
Superpower: [Omnifex], [King's Edict], [Eternal Vow], [Sovereign's Arsenal], [King's Omniscience]
Coins: [Prayer coin: 25000] & [Fear coin: 32000]
I was amazed. The numbers were astronomical, a testament to the constant, relentless pressure I had been under. The coin count alone was staggering. "Looks like the new skills are literally doing their work," I said.
'You have been putting in a tremendous amount of effort in various fields,' the System replied. 'Whether it is handling bullies, recruiting, Phoenix, and your harem. You're working harder and smarter.'
"I have a few questions," I said, my gaze drifting to the sleeping form of Nari Han.
'About Sylvie?' the System asked, anticipating my thoughts.
"Yes," I said. "About her incomplete potential and her power."
'She already has everything, soul shards, anchor, and she anomaly just like. and don't tell me, you thought in this whole universe are the only one who is anomalous.'
"I thought, though," I admitted.
The System's voice took on a familiar, condescending tone. 'Thus, I am always saying increase your vision, widen your vision.'
A flash of irritation went through me. I didn't know why, but the way the System explained it, the casual dismissal of my own uniqueness, it rubbed me the wrong way. I was supposed to be the one in a billion. But as I looked at Nari, at the quiet, powerful woman who was, in her own way, just as much of an anomaly as I was, I realized the System was right. The board was bigger than I had ever imagined.