Adam was gradually coming to recognize the extent of his own limitations. His innate talent and abilities, honed by the awakening of his weighted powers and the guidance of his two mentors, had reached an extraordinary level—yet it was still not enough.
The real world does not operate like a game divided into novice, intermediate, and master levels. It is not the case that one will only encounter adversaries commensurate with one's current stage, only to find that the challenges awaiting at higher levels lie dormant until one advances.
In Roya, a frontier city of the Holy Tonian Kingdom, resided Xaya, once celebrated as one of the Holy Tonian Three Sages, whose formidable prowess had, in his later years, rendered him almost immobile—thus enabling others to dare challenge him. Beyond the city walls stood General Golar. Although his might might not equal Xaya's, his endurance surpassed that of the aging sage. For General Golar was one of the rare holy knights.
The order of knights originally emerged within the church when some clerics, lacking in spiritual aptitude, turned their focus to vitality, thereby laying the foundation of the holy knight vocation. This innovation was swiftly adopted by many church institutions, and holy knights soon rose to become the second most prestigious order within the church. Yet, as this vocation reached its zenith, a tumult known as the God Valley Rebellion plunged it into decline.
Thus, the knightly order distanced itself from the church's sacred energies, relying instead solely on vitality—a change that eventually led to the emergence of an alternative path in the pursuit of honor. Although the ancient Holy Tonian Church, with its long history, was not immune to the repercussions of the God Valley Rebellion, it never entirely abandoned its holy knights. Today, these knights have charted a course distinctly divergent from that of their predecessors.
Despite the divergence in their journeys, their primary focus on vitality remains unwavering, granting holy knights extended longevity and combat prowess far superior to that of ordinary clerics. General Golar epitomized such formidable prowess, commanding the border forces of Roya.
According to Jin's account, Xaya was the individual within the city that one most dreaded confronting; yet Jin harbored no fear of him—thanks in part to the advantageous shroud of Black Smoke, which endowed him with remarkable agility. However, it was General Golar's command over the frontier that deterred any covert attempts to slip back into the Kingdom of Lokin, for with his strength, escape—once discovered—would be nigh impossible.
Beyond these preeminent figures, Roya also harbored formidable individuals such as Arva, whose clerical powers defied the loss of sacred energy; Antonio, lurking within the Tower of Reflections; Jin, the enigmatic outsider; Puld, the defector among the clerics; and those other veterans who had recently been dispatched. Each among them was formidable, a testament to excellence. And while Adam himself was commendable, his capabilities paled in comparison to these titans.
"Of course, this is also due to my own insufficiency," Adam pondered as he regarded Wil, myriad thoughts spiraling within him. Consider, for instance, his personal allure—his physical form, bolstered by the awakening of his weighted powers, formed a stellar foundation, yet even so, he sensed a slight gap between himself and the realm of transcendental charm. Comparing himself with Antonio, he swiftly identified the root of his shortfall.
True charismatic presence demands the unabashed expression of one's inner self—a quality that, once fully revealed, transmutes into surpassing charm. However, in the short term, this was unattainable, for his true nature had been obscured by layers of calculated disguise. He even refrained from revealing his actual name, let alone manifest the raw magnetism of his character. Ironically, the few times he had maximized his allure were when he donned a mask, assuming the guise of Naiser Riggs.
Thus, he recognized that he could indeed excel further. Adam was acutely aware that his schemes were not the pinnacle of brilliance; his rise in Roya had been aided by fortune as much as by cunning. Though he had spent years navigating society in his previous life, the environments of the two worlds were markedly different—and even if they were akin, he had never been among the elite.
"Man must grow, and growth demands time—a resource I most lamentably lack."
"Therefore, a decisive choice is imperative."
Experience nourishes growth, yet the outcomes depend on the choices one makes to harness that growth.
As Adam conferred with Wil, they reviewed intelligence reports, debated the future trajectory of the outsider organization, identified those worth retaining versus those to abandon, and plotted subsequent measures.
"Wil, from this day hence, understand that you shall lead the gatherings of the outsiders. Gradually, we must diminish Mr. Riggs's prominence and recast public perception toward a mysterious, defector cleric—a transformation I shall support."
"Whenever I appear as Adam, consider myself merely your associate, keeping our connection measured. You may, however, disclose select 'Adam' secrets to the Rom family."
"For a time, the Rom family shall serve as our auxiliary force."
"And what of our next move, Lord Riggs?" Wil inquired. Their objective was to pit the nobles Ruber and Mansra against one another, with an eventual plan to harness one side's power to extricate themselves from the Holy Tonian Kingdom and seek refuge in the Kingdom of Lokin. Yet now, why involve the Rom family?
"Proceed according to our initial strategy: deploy agents to disrupt Mansra's smuggling operations from Lokin, but entrust these tasks solely to the newly recruited members of our organization—our seasoned operatives must not be exposed."
"Our strength is, regrettably, too feeble."
Adam had come to recognize a disquieting truth: the outsiders in Roya were indeed too weak. His ideal scenario had been a mutual attrition between Ruber and Mansra, enabling the outsiders to choose a side and clandestinely leverage that alliance to cross over to Lokin. Such a state was ideal, yet far removed from reality. In the fragile state of the outsiders, any significant noble loss could trigger a denunciation to the church, heralding their obliteration.
"Therefore, we require someone to maintain equilibrium. Doug—whose control over his destiny hangs by a thread—represents an excellent choice."
"But if the Rom family were to betray us, it would be alarmingly simple; in addition, an informed party would be introduced," Wil queried, still unsettled.
"Hence, we must not allow the Rom family to be aware," Adam replied, casting a discerning glance at Wil. "I intend to sever the identities of Adam and Naiser. You, too, must disavow your role as President of the Suk Commerce Guild and join the mage organization I am forming. In due course, one among us will arise as the leader of the outsiders, guiding them to their ruin."
"Our new organization will, by leveraging the Rom clan's influence, extricate itself from the outsiders and be reborn."
"Those who inflict damage upon Ruber and Mansra shall be the outsiders—supported by the mysterious, defected cleric—while we, as mere mortals, remain untainted by their collateral." Adam's voice was measured and coldly resolute as he delineated the forthcoming plan.
"Yet, Wil, our new organization requires sharp minds."
"I understand, Lord Riggs," Wil replied, his body trembling slightly as he nodded.
Though Wil had intuitively grasped Adam's scheme upon the mention of diminishing Riggs's presence, he had been uncertain of his own role—until Adam's explicit directive regarding a new identity and the need for clever leadership reassured him that he was not to be discarded. Despite his reluctance to abandon his current identity, Wil recognized that, once aboard Adam's venture, that identity would vanish with the demise of the outsider organization.
"Next, I shall endorse Adel as your competitor; he will manage our contacts with the outsiders and Ruber. You must only coordinate with the Rom family, offering him the necessary support."
Wil nodded promptly, silently mourning for Adel, who seemed destined to serve as the sacrificial pawn. Beyond Adel, many outsiders would be abandoned.
Adam was all too aware that the outsiders in Roya were a heterogeneous collection—some yearning for stability, others deeply twisted by the burdens of their identity. Originally, he intended to select only the elite among them, letting the rest perish, yet now he resolved to exploit them as expendable sacrifices and stepping stones.
This was Adam's choice: no means was too unscrupulous to achieve his goals, even if it entailed sacrificing his own kind. As his decision crystallized, the aura surrounding him shifted. Wil, seated directly across, shuddered, as if shrinking even further under the weight of the moment.