Chapter 699 A Move On The Board

Chapter 699 A Move On The Board

"Ahh... how fascinating!" NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

Adrien nearly raised his voice just a few seconds after meeting Emil and hearing the role she played in fooling him. His blue eyes warbled as he stared intensely at the Slime, and his lips were stretched to both ends as he made a broad, toothy grin.

"You're really amazing... one in a kind."

"Indeed, indeed! You get it, don't you?" Emil, who would usually be cold to any outsider who wasn't her Master, became extremely loose and even jovial with Adrien.

Perhaps this was due to the fact that he recognized her greatness and constantly sang her praises. Either way, Adrien didn't stop there.

He kept up his words of admiration, and Emil returned the energy to him. This continued at great lengths until—

"Okay, that's enough." Rey sighed, his voice louder than theirs.

His tone dripped with annoyance despite there being nothing to be really angry. He slightly glared at Adrien, then extended the same to Emil, leaking out another sigh as he shook his head very slowly.

"I think we are getting a bit sidetracked here, don't you think?"

"Eh? Really? But we are getting to know each other, right? Isn't it beneficial to get to know your allies?" Emil responded with slightly defiant words hidden behind her playful tone.

Rey frowned at her, but before he could say anything, Adrien spoke up.

"I agree with Emil. We should get to know each other a little better." "I don't think so." Despite the near consensus in the room, Rey put his foot down on the matter and refused quite vehemently.

"B-but Master—!"

"Return inside me, and don't talk to Adrien."

"Uuuu..." Almost begrudgingly, Emil did as Rey commanded, her black form slithering deep into him until she became invisible to any who looked at him.

A few moments after this were occupied by silence.

Then...

"That wasn't fair, Rey." Adrien said this, but Rey remained silent about his words—as if he didn't know what the boy was talking about.

"Emil is probably lonely without company, yet you would—"

"I don't think that's any of your business, Adrien. Can we proceed with the planning now that your curiosity has been sated?" Once again, his response was cold.

To any who saw Rey at this point, they would have thought he overreacted, or perhaps he was acting too grumpy or combative towards his allies. However, Rey had very good reasons for his actions.

'I've been trying to avoid Adrien meeting Emil for the longest time out of fear for what he might do to her, but now... it's even more frightening that he has taken a deep interest in her.'

Emil was indeed very special, and Rey recognized that better than anyone.

'Maybe it's just my imagination, but I sensed some kind of affinity between the two of them. At first, I thought it was jealousy, but...'

'I guess it has something to tell me. Or rather, the Generals have sent it to tell me something. Perhaps they're finally ready to make a move?' Adrien smiled to himself as he rose to his feet, his eyes locked at the entrance of his tent.

He could see the still silhouette of the puppet, and despite his thoughts partially dwelling on its arrival, a bulk of his mind still remained on his conversation with Rey.

'He isn't telling me everything. But, I guess that makes sense since I'm also not telling him everything...' His mind went to Emil, and he found his smile growing bigger.

'I want that Familiar. It's so fascinating. I can only imagine how useful it would be in the grand scheme of things...' His glowing blue eyes warbled even more while he dwelled on this thought.

Adrien's legs moved as his mind raced, and in no time at all, he had exited his tent. It was becoming late evening as he did so, so the orange glow in the sky, and the slight darkness that washed upon the land granted the camp a somewhat different vibe.

It felt chilly... somewhat eerie.

"A meeting has been called for by The General, and you have been invited to participate." Che'ri said with her stern tone.

It felt robotic, but that wasn't due to her identity as a puppet. She had always been like this, so Adrien nodded in satisfaction at the attention to detail that [Pinocchio] employed.

"Understood. Shall we depart for the meeting together?"

"Indeed."

The two of them walked side by side to the Grand Tent, and through it all, Adrien ran several simulations in his mind. Ultimately, after guessing and postulating over and over again, he arrived at the most likely conclusion of the meeting.

'The Generals will be joining the battle this time for sure.'

*************

[Meanwhile...]

The moon had peaked over the land, and a young man stood in a particular corner, resting on the wall of one of the many massive buildings that existed in the Royal Estate. He made sure he was secluded, and he even utilized his Skills to make sure no one had followed him, and none were watching him. There was nothing suspicious about him being out at such a relatively late period, though.

He was an esteemed Otherworlder—one of the heroes of the United Human Alliance.

There were no real curfews or limitations applicable to heroes such as himself, as he had long proven his loyalty to humanity. Plus, he was too strong for most people to even do anything to him.

Yet, this particular Otherworlder, despite such prestige and power, seemed to be panicking. He kept up his suspicious behavior, staring at an orb in his hand as he cursed and fidgeted.

Even though he knew no one could see him, he kept glancing around him with clear unease.

"Fuck... why aren't you responding? Come on..."

His dark brown hair fluttered with the cool night breeze, and just as he was about to finally give up in anger and walk away, he was stopped by a voice.

A voice from beside him.

"Why do you appear so worked up, Justin?" The instant the boy heard that voice, he froze. It sounded so familiar that it nearly caused all the blood within him to run cold and stop flowing.

"Relax..." The voice oozed as the presence grew closer to him, even touching him on the shoulder. "... Enjoy the weather."

Justin slowly turned his head to face the figure who was giving him nothing short of a friendly smile.

"A-Adrien... what are you doing here?"