“This is beyond insulting,” Vincent Adams snapped. “We should meet them head-on and be done with it!”The other two hurried to restrain him.“Mr. Adams, don’t be rash,” Victor Reed urged, glancing at Walter Simpson. “It isn’t worth igniting a martial conflict between two nations over an unknown youth. Better to hand him over.”Walter nodded. “Agreed. If this escalates, many disciples will be hurt. That’s on us.”Vincent exhaled hard, bitterness etched on his face. “Fine. Have it your way.”They left the study to find Conrad Tate standing at the door, all arrogant poise. The sight stoked their ire.“Well? Have you decided? Surrender the man or prepare for war.”Victor shot Vincent a look, then forced a smile. “Fighting over a matter like this would be foolish. We’ll hand him over. But you must give us a few days. We—”“Days?” Conrad cut him off. “We don’t have time to waste. We want him by noon tomorrow. I trust you know what to do.”He swept them with a warning glance and strode off.

“What you’ve done—never mind the Kingdom of Siam—even within our own Novaland Republic Martial Association, you will not be easily forgiven.”Adrian burst into wild laughter.It was laughter steeped in scorn, laced with a bleak, simmering fury.He pointed at Conrad Tate and the others standing off to the side with folded arms, watching the spectacle, and his voice rang out like iron striking stone. “Who slaughtered the innocent? Who sinned first? They know the answer better than anyone.”Conrad Tate’s reply was cold as steel. “Boy, you murdered the venerable master of the Ivory Elephant Temple of Siam and countless monks. That is an ironclad fact. What’s left to argue?”The dead could not speak, and the earth had already claimed them. He did not believe Adrian could possibly exonerate himself now.In Novaland, the dead are to be honored.“Aren’t you curious?” Adrian’s gaze swept across them. “Then I’ll lay out exactly what happened. Remember this: I, Adrian, am not afraid. I am restor

“I never planned to lean on any of you. If Siam refuses to accept this, they can come find me. However many they send, I, Adrian, will cut down the lot.”The thunder of it made the three vice chairmen frown.“Boy, you are strong, yes—but far too arrogant. Today’s fault is yours. How do you intend to wriggle free of it?”Victor Reed and Walter Simpson could not shake the dread gnawing at them as they thought of the Siamese elites who lay dead on their grounds. If Siam came to demand blood, what then? The boy was formidable, but he bowed to no one. Better to hand him over and cool Siam’s fury than keep such a wild blade within their walls.Vincent Adams stood by, brows knit, silent—watching.Adrian knew exactly what was running through their minds, and the knowledge made him laugh.“Vice chairmen of the association’s headquarters—yet nothing but cowards. So what if Siam marches over in outrage? I have the strength to make them stay. You’ve lived most of your lives and still don’t grasp

Halfway through his protest, Emptiness realized how it sounded. He tried to explain, but no words came.Octavia Isaacson’s face had gone dark as thunderclouds. If not for Adrian’s presence, she might already have struck him.Adrian stepped in with a rueful smile. “That’s Tristan. His gift is reading the truth in people’s thoughts. You’ll get used to it—eventually.”Watching Emptiness flounder—so familiar, so startled—Adrian was reminded of his own first day in the Dark Chamber, and he couldn’t help but feel a touch of schadenfreude.Emptiness scratched his head and managed a sheepish grin. “The world really is full of wonders. Guess I learned something new tonight.”Octavia snorted. “Big Brother Adrian, who are these people?”“They’re friends of mine—Octavia, Emptiness, and Iris Lloyd. They’re here to help.”Then Adrian glanced at Naomi and added casually, “Captain Norris, he’s also wondering how a ‘little loli’ ended up in charge.”The eased tension snapped taut again.Emptiness shot