Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1774: Secrets without answers

For most people, it was just another evening at the Citadel.

Millions of people were returning from work or were already home, enjoying their well-deserved rest. Some might spend the evening at a restaurant, the theater, or watching a movie.

As long as a person wasn’t directly connected to the Dead Lands, that is, wasn’t a Phantom, what happened beyond the walls wasn’t all that important.

Sure, everyone knew how important the Phantoms were and how dangerous the monsters were. But an engineer who had returned home after a hard day’s work couldn’t and didn’t want to think about the monsters and dangers of the Dead Lands.

All he wanted was to relax and spend his free evening with his friends or family. That was a natural desire for most people.

Even the Phantoms were no exception. No one forced them to remain in the Dead Lands or to take on missions. They were just as human as everyone else, and running into a group of Phantoms in some bar wasn’t all that rare.

However, for Adam, this evening would definitely not be an ordinary one.

The tall skyscrapers of the First Ring whizzed past the window of Gladius’s car, turning into bright lights at such high speed.

That wasn’t the limit of what this sports car was capable of. As soon as they left the First Ring and merged onto the open highways connecting the rings, Gladius no longer held back.

Their car turned into a purple streak of light racing down the highway, overtaking other cars that were also moving at high speeds, but not quite as fast.

Right now, the only thing that could match its speed would be a maglev train, and that’s it.

Sure, if an ordinary person had been in Gladius’s place, even a professional racer, a terrible accident would have awaited them.

"This car..." Adam glanced at Gladius. "Its body is made of monster materials, isn’t it?"

Gladius grinned widely.

"Yeah, I’m glad you figured that out. But it wasn’t just any monster. It was a Lord I killed a couple of decades ago. From that perspective, it’s possibly the most expensive car ever created."

Silvana raised an eyebrow appraisingly. "It seems you like unique and expensive things, don’t you?"

Gladius shrugged.

"It’s part of my interests. When you find rare and unique things or even create something yourself, you always end up with something extraordinary."

The corners of Adam’s mouth turned up. "Is that why your Operator is a monster?"

"Hahaha!" Gladius laughed. "No. Xyrea is a unique case. Choosing your Operator is something you have to approach with particular seriousness."

Adam and Silvana exchanged glances as a momentary gleam flashed in their eyes.

They had seen many interactions between Phantoms and Operators, but the most memorable were definitely two. They were Gladius and Xyrea, since Xyrea was a monster, and also...

"Gladius." Adam stared at him, his voice deep.

"Yes? If you want to ask something, don’t be afraid." Gladius waved his hand.

However, what Adam said next changed his expression.

"Goen. You know who I’m talking about, and I’m sure you know that I encountered him in the Primal Lands."

In fact, Adam was right.

It was difficult for the monsters and even the Lords in the Hollow Lands to find information about Adam after he had gone to the Hollow Lands. The reason for this was Gladius and Xyrea, who knew every one of Adam’s moves, since Gladius was planning to meet with him to hand over Queen Elisa’s blood.

"Yes." Gladius nodded slightly. "And, judging by your question, you saw and learned something you shouldn’t have at your level."

Adam shrugged.

"What can I say? I was shocked the first time I saw the Manifest Nexus. I couldn’t even imagine that something like that could exist."

"And?" Gladius’s tone grew lower. "What question do you want to ask me? Do you want to know when you’ll be able to obtain that power?"

In response, Adam shook his head.

"No. I understand that to do that, I must reach the Second Circle. I’m curious, do you have a Manifest Nexus? Can Xyrea take the form of your weapon?"

Strangely enough, Gladius didn’t dodge the question. It was already too late.

"Yes. The fact that she’s a monster doesn’t affect that at all. Any more questions?"

Adam nodded as he leaned forward, touching Gladius’s seat.

"Goen said that officially, the World End squad has a commander, and that’s the King."

As soon as Adam said this, Xyrea’s expression tensed, and Gladius’s eyes narrowed.

Normally, a K4-Phantom shouldn’t have known anything about the Manifest Nexus or the King. But Adam’s meeting with Goen had changed that rule in his case.

"The King? And what do you know about the King?" Gladius’s voice grew quieter, almost a whisper.

"That the King is still alive." Adam’s gaze grew deeper. "However, I’ll be honest. I don’t know what condition the King is in right now. Maybe he’s in a crystal like Queen Elisa, or maybe he lives at the Citadel. Who knows?"

Adam paused before staring at Gladius.

"You know a lot more than I do about the King, don’t you?"

For the first time during their conversation, Gladius’s face was devoid of his smirk, and he was the one under pressure.

He couldn’t do anything about the fact that Adam knew this.

"Yes."

Gladius nodded deeply, causing Xyrea’s eyes to widen in disbelief.

Before she could say anything, Gladius continued.

"However, if you want to find out who our King is or even meet him, you need to get stronger, Adam. At least you have to reach the Second Circle. After that? Very little will remain a secret to you in this world, you can believe me."

Gladius’s answer reassured Xyrea, who sighed with relief.

Silvana noticed this, but she remained silent.

"I see..." Adam leaned back in his seat as they passed through another checkpoint.

In the distance, at the very edge of the Citadel, he saw a building he knew well - the Morton Observatory.