In an instant, the other outcasts froze. Was it really necessary to escalate things to this level?
Such audacity—to set the boundary between two nations as the goal, merely to verify a single matter.
But such a monumental task—was it truly appropriate to involve us, these insignificant pawns?
"Of course, I will not act until everything is properly prepared, to avoid being noticed by that old man, Shaya," Adam smoothly invoked the name of the head priest to enhance his own stature.
When one speaks of their own strength, others may fail to grasp the concept, not truly understanding the extent of one's power. In these moments, it is useful to rely on names familiar to all, those who can lend their weight to your own.
Among the entire Southern District clergy, Adam considered Shaya to be the most formidable figure.
So, when Adam casually uttered the priest's name, it served to lower the others' postures even further.
"Therefore, I require your assistance in preparing a few matters. Do not worry, they are trivial tasks, and I will not be stingy with rewards."
"The first task is to take control of House 17 on South River Road." Adam turned slightly, directing his gaze toward one of the men in the crowd. "Sir, would you be willing to serve me?"
The man Adam singled out was a thin figure, his face obscured by a ball mask, his attire ill-fitting. Adam easily deduced that he was not well-versed in disguise and was unfamiliar with the slum's environment.
"Such a ball mask is something that only the affluent would wear. For a commoner to don such an accessory is nothing but an open admission of their relative wealth." Adam did not rush for an answer.
After a brief hesitation, the man bowed deeply, speaking respectfully, "I am Will, and I am willing to serve you, Mr. Riggs!"
"Good," Adam nodded approvingly. "I will be there the day after tomorrow for the ritual. The materials you will need, consult Adele. When I arrive, I will issue another task. Whoever completes it first will be the next to undergo the ritual."
Adam then turned to address the rest of the group.
"Of course, you may also reach out to others you trust. The more of you there are, the sooner you will be able to undergo the ritual."
His tone was serious. The organization he was establishing would need to be divided, as more individuals joined.
Once a sufficient number had received the ritual, Adam could introduce the second phase or even pass on the secrets of the first phase to someone, sending them to exploit others.
This way, Adam could maintain control from the highest position, manipulating the entire organization without ever stepping into the fray himself.
"Though such a construct will not endure long, my personal strength is too weak to rule in any other way," Adam thought quietly to himself.
After completing the important matters, Adam did not leave immediately but allowed the others to depart, leaving Adele behind.
"What's the deal with Gold?" Adam asked bluntly.
Though the outcasts he had met each possessed their own skills, in terms of combat ability, many surpassed him. Yet when comparing them to Gold, it felt as though he were dealing with an entirely different species.
"Gold is the most powerful outcast I've ever encountered," Adele answered, pausing slightly before continuing, "I met him in the forest. It was under his guidance that I found the witch doctor, Hoda."
"Gold appeared in the forest?" Adam's mind quickly clicked into place. Despite the disarray caused by his bloodline awakening, he was still sharp enough to grasp the key points.
When Adele had fled to Loya, he had dared not enter the city and had hidden in the forest. It was there that he met Gold, which eventually led him to settle in the city.
"And Gold has connections with Baron Mansra, perhaps even involving himself in smuggling. The forest is patrolled by Loya's military, and the slums are bustling during the day, filled with goods that appear to be bought from surrounding towns, yet are in fact mixed with contraband."
"Thus, the forest must hide a smuggling route, and Gold's presence may be tied to ensuring its flow."
Adam's thoughts were much clearer now. "Even if there's cooperation between the werewolf outcasts and the nobility, it will remain strictly transactional, not an intimate alliance."
"There are bound to be inconsistencies between Gold and Baron Mansra. If I can use this as a leverage point, perhaps I could intervene directly in the smuggling operation and escape with ease."
"Very well," Adam said, after mentally organizing his thoughts. He clapped his hands and turned to Adele. "He's more important than I originally thought. Do your best, and you'll be rewarded."
With that, Adam said no more and walked away, changing his route as he left.
Fortunately, he did not encounter Gold again. He still couldn't make sense of how Gold had managed to block his path earlier.
After confirming that no one was tailing him, Adam concealed his clothing, erased his scent, and chose to leave.
"Something doesn't feel right," Adam thought as he walked. His mind kept returning to Gold.
Why had the werewolf blocked his path, only to let him go without any explanation? What was his true purpose?
Looking up at the sky, Adam saw the full moon hanging high above, almost perfect, though slightly waning.
"Tomorrow, it will be a full moon night," Adam felt a premonition stir within him. He sensed that his bloodline would awaken the next night.
At that moment, the power of his bloodline would trace back to his ancestors, unravel his past, unearth his talents, and ultimately forge a unique ability.
"Tomorrow, I must find a safe place to hide early. Otherwise, my bloodline will become uncontrollable. Once I transform, no disguise will hold up."
Standing beneath the moonlight, Adam felt an overwhelming urge to transform. His primal self clawed for control over his body.
"The id is the collection of the body's instincts. It is the rawest form of desire, driven solely by instinctive impulses. When it surfaces, it will only yield to the bloodline's restlessness."
"The id won't act recklessly when transformed, but the transformation itself is dangerous."
Adam could only suppress the urge to transform, again and again.
"I wonder how loud the awakening will be tomorrow," Adam thought as he quickly returned to the attic. He didn't dwell on the matter any longer but immediately closed his eyes to rest.
He needed his mind to be sharp for the bloodline awakening to come.
Meanwhile, Gold tied back his brown, curly hair, seemingly following some unseen trajectory, and made his way to the riverbank.
Standing beneath a tree, he gazed at the object carefully buried there. His body quickly began to shift, expanding and transforming into a massive werewolf.
His dark brown fur rippled in the night wind, the shadows of the night swirling and coalescing into smoke around him.
A thick cloud of black smoke surrounded Gold as he closed his eyes and entered a state of heightened perception. It felt as though he were traveling through time and space, conjuring a perceptual illusion.
Adam, already asleep in the attic, suddenly furrowed his brow, as if sensing something.
In the illusion, Adam cautiously examined his surroundings beneath the tree before removing his robes and mask.
"Just as I thought," Gold muttered, shaking his head. His gaze suddenly sharpened, and he materialized beside Adam, fixating on the scar on Adam's left cheek. His expression grew increasingly serious.
"This scar—there's no mistake. Only that sword could have caused it," Gold's eyes glinted as he withdrew from the perceptual state, standing still and staring at the moon above, lost in thought.
After a long moment, a deep, sinister laugh echoed in the air, growing louder with each passing second.
Gold returned to his perceptual state, meticulously delving deeper into the information Adam had left behind.
"Tomorrow will be the day of awakening, then?" Gold observed Adam's eyes subtly shift in the illusion, slowly piecing together more of Adam's details.
"Purebred werewolf, extraordinary talent. He had a brief clash with my perception earlier, activating his own perception early. Though his awakening process will be chaotic, the result will be the same."
"He's too cautious, suppressing his primal instincts too much. While these are virtues, they won't be helpful during his bloodline awakening."
Gold clapped his hands, reverted from his transformed state, and turned to leave.
Back in the attic, Adam relaxed his brow. He curled into the corner of the bed, finally drifting into a rare, deep sleep.
In his dreams, visions of ancestors, past lives, and indescribable changes flooded his mind, alongside distant memories from a past existence.
A shadow enveloped him, transforming into black smoke.