Adrian walked through the bustling city streets, weaving through the crowd with ease. A smirk tugged at his lips as he thought back to his conversation with Mrs. Ardent. He chuckled to himself, muttering under his breath, "I should''ve studied to be an actor—maybe I would''ve snagged an Oscar in a year or two."


    He knew exactly what Mrs. Ardent was going to offer before she even opened her mouth. After all, this was all part of his n. He wanted to be involved in thest event before leaving the academy, and he knew the Red Dragons Guild mission was the perfect opportunity. After all, they were a big part of the event.


    "Guess we''ll be clearing ruins soon and often, then," Adrian murmured, his smirk widening. He felt a thrill of excitement at the thought. This mission wasn''t just another task; it was the first step toward something much bigger.


    ''Aurelius and the main cast will gain their realrge experiences in this time as well. I''ll help them a bit along the way.''


    As Adrian continued to make his way through the crowded streets, he kept his thoughts focused on the mission ahead. The marketce was alive with activity, the sounds of merchants shouting their deals and childrenughing mixing with the tter of horse-drawn carts on cobblestone streets.


    His smirk widened at the memory of Aurelius and the others facing the challenges in the ruins. This mission was the perfect setting to push them further, to forge them into stronger individuals. And for Adrian, it was a step towards his own goals, ones that stretched far beyond the academy''s walls.


    Just as he rounded a corner, lost in his thoughts, someone bumped into him with enough force to nearly knock him off bnce. Instinctively, he reached out to steady himself and snapped, "Watch out!"


    He turned to face the person who had collided with him, and his eyes widened in surprise. Beneath a hooded cloak, the face of a young woman stared back at him. Her eyes were sharp and calcting, a knowing smile ying on her lips. She leaned in close, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered, "We need to talk, but not here."


    Before Adrian could react, the woman stepped back, bowing slightly in apology, and disappeared into the crowd as quickly as she had appeared.


    Adrian stood there, frozen for a moment, trying to process what had just happened. The shock in his eyes lingered as he reyed the brief encounter in his mind.


    He shook his head to clear his thoughts and continued walking, but now with a purpose. He made a few sharp turns through the busy streets, weaving in and out of the crowd with deliberate intent. After several more turns, he slipped into a narrow alley, then another, until he found himself in a secluded spot far from prying eyes.


    He stopped and waited, listening. A few seconds passed in silence before he felt a presence behind him. His senses sharpened, and he knew without turning that someone was there, a dagger pointed at his back, just inches away from touching his skin.


    A seductive woman''s voice broke the silence, her tone mocking yet amused. "I didn''t think you''d believe me. I can kill you right now, you know. I thought you were not the type who would let their guard down."


    Adrian didn''t react with fear or surprise. Instead, he turned around calmly, his expression steady andposed. The woman holding the dagger to his back merely smiled, her eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and curiosity.


    "You really are an odd one," she said, lowering the dagger slightly.


    Adrian returned her smile, a hint of a challenge in his eyes. "You''re one to talk. I''m even more surprised to see you here. I didn''t think you''d be brave enough to show up in the city after what happened... Miss Selene."


    Selene''s smile widened, a mysterious, almost predatory look in her eyes. "Oh, you seem to know me well, Mr. Adrian. But bravery and foolishness often go hand in hand, don''t they?"


    Adrian chuckled softly, not taking his eyes off her. "Indeed, they do. So, what brings you to this city, Selene? And why the theatrics?"


    Selene sheathed her dagger and crossed her arms, leaning against the alley wall. "Let''s just say I''ve been keeping an eye on you. And I have some information that you might find very... useful."


    Adrian arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "I''m listening."


    Selene''s expression turned serious, her yful demeanor reced by one of utmost importance.


    "I came here... to kill you."


    "..."


    Adrian stared nkly at her, not knowing how to react.


    Selene, noticing his expression facepalmed. "Aren''t you smart? Do I need to spill it out for you?"


    "Could it be..." Adrian''s eyes widened in surprise. "You want to take revenge?!"


    Selene stared at Adrian, her eyebrow twitching with frustration. "Are you being serious right now?" she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief. Then, unable to contain her exasperation, she facepalmed, her hand smacking her forehead with a soft thud. "I swear, I''ve never met someone who takes things so literally."


    Adrian watched her reaction with mild amusement, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He found her irritation oddly entertaining, given the circumstances. But as he saw her annoyance begin to fade, his own expression grew serious.


    "Let''s get back to the point," he said, his tone now sharper, more focused. "Did youe here to kill me as some form of personal revenge? Or was this a directive from the ck Hand?"


    Selene''s eyes sparkled with a strange light, her earlier frustration reced with a knowing smile. "I knew you''d catch on eventually," she replied, nodding approvingly. "Yes, someone put out a hit on you through the ck Hand."


    Adrian fell silent, his gaze distant as if he were lost in thought. His mind raced, piecing together the implications of what Selene had just revealed. The ck Hand''s involvement was serious, meaning someone very powerful wanted him dead.


    After a few moments, he looked up, meeting her eyes with a steady gaze. "But why are you telling me all this?" he asked, his voice calm but tinged with curiosity. "Aren''t I your target?"


    Selene''s smile faded slightly, reced by a look of cautious contemtion. She seemed to be weighing her words carefully, considering how much she should reveal.


    After a few seconds, she finally started speaking.


    "..."


    _____ ___ _


    ____ ___


    (Notice: I''ll start continuing my other work - The Strongest Monarch In The Apocalypse Academy from today. A chapter will be released once a day for now.


    You can also read my new work - The Tale Of Two Legendary Fools. If you liked either of my current stories, you will definitely like this one too.)