The house below was eerily quiet, yet through Adam's heightened perception, he could sense the presence of numerous individuals downstairs.
As the black smoke swirled and transformed into a tattoo upon his skin, those downstairs began to sense Adam's arrival as well, though none dared approach.
"You can use your mental power to convey your words," Jin advised calmly.
After a moment of concentration, Adam found that he could communicate freely with Jin through his mental energy, maintaining a composed demeanor as he descended the stairs. His gaze swept over the gathered crowd—there were fewer people this time than during the previous meeting.
Many of the beings of different bloodlines had learned to tread carefully. After undergoing the first phase of the Tears of the Divine ritual, they had severed their ties and chosen to live quietly, no longer participating in gatherings.
Yet, many had remained.
The duration of the Tears of the Divine ritual was unknown, and the ritual itself was flawed—its concealment powers could not evade thorough inspection. This meant that the first phase, though helpful, wasn't entirely foolproof.
As a result, many still lingered.
Among them was Regana, a strikingly beautiful woman who had originally planned to leave after receiving the first phase of the ritual. After all, she owned several clothing shops in the city and had connections with some nobles. Such individuals were typically undetectable during routine inspections.
But every time she thought of leaving, her mind would return to that night—the image of Adam standing in the moonlight, forever burned into her thoughts. When she received news of the second gathering, she couldn't resist coming back.
As Adam descended the stairs, the familiar murmurs of "Mr. Riggs" began to ripple through the crowd.
Regana's large eyes fixed on Adam, and in that instant, the world seemed to freeze. All she could see was him.
"Mm?" Adam, with his keen perception, immediately sensed the unusual gaze of Regana.
Jin's voice echoed in his mind, a touch of surprise in his tone.
"What did you do to that wailing banshee?"
Soon, through Jin's explanation, Adam learned more about the wailing banshee and its peculiar nature.
Banshees were one of the many subtypes of different bloodlines, much like how werewolves were categorized into various forms. Among the banshees, there were others like the harpy and the dreaded succubus.
The wailing banshee was one such type.
They possessed a unique sense for death, able to detect the aura of impending death on others. Legends spoke of them crying near a dying person or cleaning their clothing, though these were merely myths. In truth, the banshees could indeed sense the aura of death, leaving marks in nearby buildings that carried their scent.
When death occurred, the banshee's mark would absorb the death's energy, and they could use this energy to perform certain spells.
"Close to death, yet distant from it," Jin mused about the wailing banshee.
Now, perhaps because Regana had tried to charm Adam, only to be overwhelmed by his own charm, Jin speculated that it had caused her to fall under a permanent enchantment of Adam's making.
"Her mental and even her life force were altered the moment that charm suppressed her," Jin teased. "Just like your pet birds, her spirit and body now bear your mark."
"You've got yourself a pretty lady there, though you shouldn't get too comfortable with your little tricks..."
"She doesn't possess my level of charm," Adam quipped, silencing Jin with a thought.
"However, if what you say is true, she could make a useful ally," Adam replied to Jin.
The organization they had gathered, though seemingly powerful, was still as fragile as paper when compared to the Church.
And though these beings were cautious, their prudence would not save them from the Church's gaze.
The organization's structure was already too entangled—if one were discovered, it would be easy for it to drag others into the open.
Thus, from the very start, the organization was meant to be expendable. Once Adam had used it to further his own goals, he would sever ties swiftly.
In the meantime, he could select certain promising and capable beings to form a new, more elite and stable organization, one forged in sincerity.
It seemed that the first candidate had already emerged: Regana.
As Adam descended, Will quickly approached, holding two lists in his hands.
Adam scanned the names as he took the lists, noticing that they contained the names and addresses of the individuals from both the previous and current gatherings.
Most individuals had not only their names but also their addresses listed.
For the second gathering, aside from a few who could not easily conceal their identities, most had taken precautions. These precautions were not aimed at each other, but at the possibility of being exposed.
This time, the method of summoning was different. Most attendees were invited and escorted by Will's men, minimizing the risk of exposure, but also ensuring that Will's men would know their addresses.
Though this arrangement might have been off-putting, Will had proven skilled in making it happen.
When Adam could not be reached, Will, who controlled the first phase of the Tears of the Divine ritual, had become the only hope for everyone.
Will carefully calibrated the cost of the ritual—neither too high nor too low—and spread the word that those who accepted the transport offer would enjoy a discounted price.
Will's face lit up with joy as he felt like his business had found new life.
Being a "commoner," it was no small feat for him to become a successful businessman. Over the years, further expansion had seemed impossible, as he had feared drawing the attention of noble powers.
He had once aided certain beings of different bloodlines, and after a mishap with a shaman, he had actively sought solutions. This search had led him to Adam.
Will had taken a gamble, purchasing Room 17 and revealing his true identity—a risky move.
But it had paid off, and now he held a powerful position within the organization. As the de facto second-in-command, he controlled the list of names, which, while mostly consisting of beings of different bloodlines, had provided him a way to expand further.
Thus, for all that Adam had done for him, Will treated him with utmost respect.
"Quite a diverse crowd," Jin remarked. "That Will, he's a rare swamp dweller who can release toxic gases. His body isn't fatal, but he's highly sensitive to fire—extreme heat makes his body dry up and crack."
"And over there, that's a ghoul. They typically feast on human corpses, have incredible vitality, and when restored to their bloodline form, their skin develops a gelatinous layer that protects them from most blades. Their weakness is also fire."
"Is that a Wendigo? They're similar to ghouls, also feeding on humans. Their bodies are semi-ethereal, capable of attaching themselves to others, causing mutations in their hosts. They possess powerful mental energy and can manipulate minds. Killing them through conventional means is difficult; fire can harm them, but to truly defeat them, you need to use pure mental or life energy."
Jin proceeded to educate Adam about the various bloodlines, remarking on Adam's luck at gathering such individuals during a crucial time, thanks to the Tears of the Divine ritual.
"Regardless of how many different bloodlines have gathered here, never forget that this is Church territory," Adam said, shaking his head. "If we're discovered, the High Priest alone could bring us all down."
"But that old man can't make many more moves," Jin replied. "He's too old, and too powerful. If he engages in high-intensity battle, the enormous holy energy within him will assimilate him, and he'll be summoned to meet their god."
"That's why I'm not eager to be the one to face the High Priest at his peak," Adam said, his luck having been decent so far, but not one to rely solely on it.
"Adele, come in," Adam called as he entered the basement, beckoning Adele inside.
"I will grant you the first phase of the Tears of the Divine ritual, then you'll recruit these beings of different bloodlines for me to approach a certain individual."
Adam named those who had yet to undergo the first phase of the ritual.
"Lord Riggs, speak," Adele responded eagerly, his expression wild with enthusiasm. The past few days had been restless for him—he could no longer bear the quiet existence of being forgotten.
"Sir Rupert," Adam said as he sat down in the chair, tapping his mask with one hand, naming the next target.