BXBX NOVEL Chapter 68 Mask
Nobody knew about the room numbering, and the combination for room 47, which Adam had been given, changed every hour. So after some verification, the reception girl was sure of his identity.
Adam walked accompanied by the two stunning girls, who were striking on their own, but he also stood out alongside them. It was evident that many traders and wealthy individuals were intrigued by his presence. Numerous invitations from wealthy men and beautiful women to join them were extended, but Adam politely declined, saying he would join them later. Many backed off upon learning that he had permission to access the fifth floor.
Most people on the second floor had a vague understanding of the owner\'s status, and considering the personalities they saw there, it was clear that Adam was not an ordinary wealthy person. Hence, not wanting to offend him, many smiled and stepped back, avoiding appearing rude or pushy. However, some were unaffected by this fact, and Adam still felt the predatory glances from some women.
Meanwhile, he noted to himself the stark contrast between the second and first floors. It was like comparing a regular city to a metropolis, which was understandable given the entrance fee required.
The personalities of many guests were complex, and often they were well-known traders and even nobles. It seemed that many had come here to make new connections.
Third floor. There were only ten people here, not counting the prostitutes. Adam politely bowed to them, greeting them, and they responded with bows as well. It was evident that each guest on the third floor was elegant and had an influential background.
Fourth floor. There was no one here, which was understandable considering the entrance fee. Finding people willing to pay such an amount had yet to happen, but Adam was sure it was only a matter of time.
In Elfheim, opening such a business was akin to declaring one\'s stupidity. Not every elf was ready to spend so much money, and few had such amounts in their accounts. Therefore, Adam hardly saw any elves here.
Fifth floor. Even more luxurious, and Adam could sense the presence of magic here, which was understandable given the size of this floor.
"Incredible... I suppose it would take over two hours of walking to reach the end of this floor?" Adam asked the servant in front of him.
"Correct. The mistress has set up a formation here that stretches the space. Thanks to this, we can accommodate many entertainments here," the servant pointed to several empty spots. "There are plans for a pool, a shopping center, and several exchange points."
Adam nodded and, accompanied by the girls, ascended to the sixth floor. Compared to other floors, it was more modest, but Adam could still feel the pressure of magical energy.
The protection here was at its highest level, and if he were an enemy, he would likely die the moment his foot stepped on the floor of the sixth floor.
Again, the sixth floor was simply enormous, the size of a small city. Adam admired Amarantha\'s ability to create such spaces effortlessly. If he was not mistaken, formations like this were highly complex, and mastering them would take centuries of diligent work.
With each step, they approached the door, marked "47". The two accompanying girls bowed and left, leaving Adam alone. He pushed the door open and entered.
***
Tall and gallant, an unparalleled aura surrounded him. Fierce appearance and countless scars all over his body, with a powerful gaze and strong hands. Dressed in an elegant suit that seemed on the verge of tearing apart, his overall impression was too distorted for Adam.
"Adam, meet Alexander, the Baron from Silvana," Amarantha\'s voice caught Adam\'s attention, and he nodded, smiling.
"Hello. My name is Adam Harris." Adam extended his hand to Baron Alexander, who first glanced at his hand and then shook it.
Adam\'s smile was gentle, but it slightly wavered as he felt the grip on his hand. Though Adam didn\'t feel any pain due to his strong body, he found it unpleasant. His face turned grim, while his demonic aura began to spread across the room.
The demonic aura resembled a poisonous cloud and quickly covered the entire room. Amarantha frowned, her expression irritated. She looked at Alexander and saw that his face turned slightly green, indicating he was affected by the poison, albeit mildly.
Amarantha was shocked and surprised by the potent poison. The poison did not affect her, as her development was too advanced. She frowned, unable to recall how Adam even learned this skill.
At the same time, Adam regained control and withdrew his demonic aura, which returned to his body. Grimacing, he felt weakness throughout his body and released Alexander\'s hand, taking a seat at the table.
His face was slightly pale, and Amarantha could see that using this spell had been strenuous for him. Nevertheless, she was confident that this skill could be a lifesaver in dangerous situations.
"Alexander, have a seat." Amarantha frowned, and her aura clashed with Alexander\'s face.
A loud slap was heard as if someone had delivered a smack, and Adam saw Alexander snap back to his senses. The poison in his body was purged thanks to Amarantha\'s prompt action.
Alexander, who had now regained his composure, suddenly looked at Adam and began walking towards him with heavy steps. Just when Amarantha thought the men would fight, Alexander suddenly burst into laughter.
"Man, your abilities are something else. Sorry for my behavior; I guess eccentricity comes with age," Alexander inclined his head and extended his hand. "Let\'s do it properly this time."
Adam smiled and stood up, shaking hands again. At first, they just shook hands, but he felt Alexander\'s grip tighten once more, causing him to wince.
"You\'re squeezing my hand again."
"Oh? Oh, sorry!" Alexander withdrew his hand and chuckled.
Adam rolled his eyes and sat back down. Soon, their auras turned serious again, and Amarantha silently observed the two.
"They seemed like they were about to fight... Why did they suddenly become so friendly?" Nonetheless, she paid no attention to it and handed the papers to Adam. As he opened them, he furrowed his brows upon seeing numerous reports about the progress of the war.
[Avalonia managed to conquer 10% of the borderlands... report on 01.07.3202]
[Elfhelm successfully reclaimed the conquered lands. Many missions to free captives were carried out, with 90% completed successfully... report on 05.07.3202]
[Elfhelm annihilated 200,000 troops of Avalonia, leaving no survivors. The Hall of Elders joined the war... report on 09.07.3202]
[Avalonia struck a trade deal with Stengard. The gnomes promised to supply new weapons to their human partners... report on 15.07.3202]
All of these were critical news. Adam frowned upon witnessing the bloodshed of the ongoing war. Elfhelm\'s power had unexpectedly surged, and they had adopted a more ruthless approach to the conflict.
The first days and even months of the war had been relatively calm, but now it was evident that Elfhelm had broken free from its shackles and had transformed into a beast, ready to devour any intruder on its territory.
Adam found this transformation surprising. Amaria had always left the impression of a kind and gentle woman, so he never thought she would be capable of winning this war. As if sensing Adam\'s thoughts, Amarantha suddenly smiled and laughed.
"Do you wonder why the Elven Queen, who was once so tender and kind, has become so ruthless?" Amarantha sighed, crossing her arms over her chest as she looked into Adam\'s eyes. "You know, everyone wears masks in this life. You, me, Alexander, and many others..."
Amarantha smirked, and her expression held a touch of contempt for Amaria. She leaned back in her chair, handing Adam a stack of papers.
"And if we use our masks to deceive others, she... wants to deceive herself."
[Bloody Feast - Elfhelm 01.01.3002]
"Bloody Feast?" Adam furrowed his brow and looked at Amarantha, who shrugged and gestured for him to continue reading.
[The Elven King was suddenly assassinated by an enemy army in his chambers. No successor was appointed, which marked the beginning of a struggle for the throne. Over a hundred members of the royal family, whether distant relatives or commoners, claimed their right to the throne.]
"This is a classic part," Adam thought and continued reading.
[There were over a thousand so-called "heirs," so it was decided to hold a vote, allowing the residents of Elfhelm to choose their ruler. On 09.01.3002, a list of one hundred candidates who passed the screening was announced, and on 25.01.3002, the elections began.]
[On the day before the elections... suddenly, there were only two candidates left out of the hundred. Amaria and the direct relative of the king - Arivia. However, there was a problem... the second candidate was only two years old. As a result, Amaria was chosen as the Queen. The coronation day - 30.01.3002]
"Are you saying she killed all her competitors?" Adam raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair, holding the papers in his hand.
Amarantha smiled and nodded. Adam felt a chill run down his spine. However, Amarantha deemed it insufficient and waved her hand, conjuring a magical screen on which a video appeared.
[AAAA!]
[Guards! Guards! Hel-]
[I don\'t want to die! I-I don\'t want the throne! I don\'t want to di-ieee!]
Adam winced as he saw a pile of corpses and half-dead elves screaming and suffering in agony. Some elves had all their limbs severed, while others were slowly being devoured by insects.
The scene was like something out of hell, and even Adam, being a demon, felt a cold shiver down his spine.
"Those who wear masks must fear becoming an integral part of the mask they wear."