Chapter 551: [A Godless World] (19)
Ember watched Adrian calmly spout utter nonsense and found himself at a complete loss for words.
He wasn’t expecting Adrian to actually catch anything anyway, so all he could do was follow along.
"Hey, this isn’t really a good idea. Having someone beside me will seriously affect my hunting ability..." Adrian said with a perfectly straight face as he looked at Ember.
Ember could only feel that Adrian was serious about all the most meaningless things.
"Stop talking nonsense," he reminded him helplessly.
Adrian merely chuckled, and it was impossible to tell whether he had taken the advice to heart.
The moment they reached the first floor, they heard voices engaged in heated discussion. Mainly because the building manager’s voice was simply too loud.
"...Master, no matter the cost, as long as you can eliminate the supernatural incidents in Lotus Park, I’d be willing to spend my entire life’s fortune to repay your kindness!"
"A master?" Adrian murmured, his gaze immediately shifting toward the speaker.
As it turned out, the building manager was standing off to one side. His round figure and shiny bald head made the person beside him look almost celestial by comparison.
The man had long golden hair that reached the middle of his back and a pair of blue eyes that looked rather similar to Adrian’s, though their shade was noticeably lighter. Dressed in an impeccably tailored three-piece suit, he looked far less like some mystical master and much more like a wealthy, refined chairman. At least, that was Adrian’s conclusion, judging from the faint, gentle smile that never seemed to leave the man’s lips.
Just then, the man turned his head, meeting Adrian’s gaze head-on.
Adrian continued staring at him without the slightest intention of looking away.
Greed couldn’t help but laugh.
"What a coincidence. This is the first time I’ve ever met someone who looks so much like me."
Adrian nodded enthusiastically.
"Right? I was just thinking we—"
Before he could finish, Ember stepped in front of him, blocking the two from each other’s view.
"I don’t think the two of you look alike at all."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ember grabbed Adrian, intending to drag him away. But Adrian was as slippery as an eel. He effortlessly slipped out of Ember’s grasp and walked straight over to the so-called master, smiling as he introduced himself.
"I’m Adrian."
Greed gave a slight nod.
"You can call me Greed."
Adrian then turned to the building manager.
"Did something happen here again?"
The building manager forced an awkward smile.
"It’s nothing, really. The feng shui hasn’t been very good lately, so I invited the master to perform a ritual..."
After a brief pause, he hurriedly added, "As you can see, we’ve always wanted the residents of Lotus Park to have the best possible living environment."
Adrian nodded thoughtfully.
"I see. No wonder I keep seeing so many people following you around. They must all be eager to thank you."
The building manager felt every hair on his body stand on end at Adrian’s words. Whether it was just his imagination or not, he could have sworn he felt a cold breeze brush against the back of his neck.
He glared at Adrian and barked, "Y-You... don’t talk nonsense!"
Adrian simply shrugged, wearing an expression that clearly said, Believe it or don’t.
Just then, his nose twitched slightly. His eyes immediately fell on the box in Greed’s hands.
"What’s that? It smells so good."
Adrian’s eyes lit up as he looked from Greed to the box in his hands. The desire written across his face couldn’t have been more obvious.
Ember: "..."
I thought we were supposed to be hunting?
Greed chuckled.
"It’s cake."
"Cake? Is it good?" Adrian asked, blinking at him repeatedly.
Ember couldn’t bear to watch him act like this any longer.
He grabbed Adrian and pulled him away.
"Come on. I’ll buy you something else. Just look at yourself."
Adrian let Ember drag him away but still couldn’t help saying,
"But you don’t have any money. We didn’t even have anything to eat this morning."
Ember: "..."
"Talk less," he growled, quickening his pace.
Watching Adrian leave, Greed simply smiled and gave him a small wave.
Adrian saw the gesture and smiled back.
Meanwhile, the building manager cleared his throat, about to continue speaking.
Greed spoke first.
"The resentment here is far too strong. A thorough exorcism ritual is necessary. It must be performed in the central room of this apartment building, and it has to take place at night. Also, during this period, it’s best to prevent anyone from leaving. Once the exorcism succeeds, they’ll naturally realize what a wonderful place this is."
The building manager nodded repeatedly.
"I’ll arrange everything right away. Can we begin as early as tonight?"
"The sooner everything is prepared, the better. I’ll begin as soon as the auspicious hour arrives," Greed replied casually.
The manager accepted his words without the slightest doubt and hurried off to make the necessary arrangements.
Greed didn’t linger either and soon left.
The building manager watched Greed’s departing figure with gratitude. Then his eyes caught a streak of bright red seeping from the paper box Greed was carrying, dripping onto the floor.
He frowned involuntarily.
That bakery really isn’t very good. The strawberry syrup is far too runny—and there’s way too much of it.
He wanted to remind Greed, but the man had already walked too far away. In the end, he could only ask a janitor to mop the floor again.
Meanwhile, Ember dragged Adrian away while deep in thought.
"You heard everything clearly, didn’t you?"
Adrian nodded.
"I heard it. You’re taking me to buy cake now."
Ember: "..."
"I’m talking about what the building manager and Greed were discussing just now. You heard that, didn’t you?"
"Huh? What were they talking about?"
Meeting Adrian’s innocent gaze, Ember was overcome by a sense of helplessness so familiar that his expression didn’t even change anymore.
"They’re planning to perform an exorcism ritual in Lotus Park. It has to be connected to our mission."
Adrian lowered his eyes.
"What a hassle. Then let’s just kill Greed. If he’s dead, he won’t be able to perform the ritual."
Ember couldn’t help staring at him.
Adrian’s expression hadn’t changed in the slightest when he said those words.
"I thought you liked him," Ember said.
"I do, sort of. But his eyes aren’t as pretty as mine," Adrian replied matter-of-factly.
Ember was left speechless.
Then Adrian added,
"Besides, he smells a lot like the man in the cloak from yesterday."
Ember immediately shoved Adrian aside.
Adrian steadied himself and looked at Ember in confusion.
Staring at Adrian’s utterly innocent face, Ember felt like he was about to lose his mind.
"Why didn’t you say that sooner?!"
Adrian looked completely bewildered.
"Couldn’t you smell it? I thought you already had your own plan..."
He genuinely couldn’t understand. Ember could hear sounds from so far away, so how could he not notice a scent that was this close?
Ember took a deep breath.
He wanted to scold Adrian, but somehow couldn’t bring himself to. Hitting him wasn’t an option either.
In the end, he swallowed his frustration, turned on his heel, and hurried toward the fourth floor.
He needed to find John.