Adams turned his gaze toward the two men, his eyes twinkling with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "What was your name again?" he asked, his tone light and casual, as if he were trying to recall something insignificant. Before the men could respond, he added with a smirk, "Oh wait, you never said. But let me take a guess."
He brought his hand up to his chin, his expression shifting into one of exaggerated contemplation. His brow furrowed deeply, and he even tilted his head slightly, as if mulling over something of great importance. It was a deliberate, almost theatrical gesture, designed to make it seem like he was genuinely pondering the matter.
The two men exchanged confused glances, their brows knitting together as they tried to decipher what Adams was up to. The white-haired elder's face twisted in irritation, his patience wearing thin. He had never been spoken to in such a dismissive manner before, and the idea that this young upstart was toying with him like this was infuriating.
The younger man beside him mirrored his confusion, but his expression quickly darkened with anger, his jaw clenching as he glared at Adams.
"What is this brat up to?" the white-haired man muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he studied Adams. The very idea that this boy, someone who didn't even bother to ask for their names properly, was now pretending to guess it as if it were some sort of game, was an insult he could hardly bear.
The younger man, his face flushing with a mix of confusion and rage, took a step forward, his fists clenched at his sides. "How dare you mock us!" he snapped, his voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You think this is some kind of joke? Who do you think you are?"
Adams didn't respond immediately. Instead, he continued to tap his chin thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were deep in thought. The sight of him so casually dismissing their anger only served to fuel their rage. The white-haired man's hands curled into fists, his knuckles turning white as he fought the urge to lash out.
The younger man's eyes widened in shock as Adams casually called out his name. His expression was a mix of disbelief and confusion, as though the very ground had shifted beneath him. Even the white-haired elder beside him couldn't hide his surprise, his eyes narrowing as he tried to comprehend how this young man could possibly know the name of his apprentice.
The elder's brow furrowed deeply, and his confident demeanor faltered for a moment as he scrutinized Adams. How could this boy, someone they had just met, know such a detail? Suspicion crept into his thoughts, mingling with the unease that was slowly building in his chest.
The younger man, still reeling from the shock, opened his mouth to speak but found no words. He glanced at his master, searching for an explanation, but the elder's face was just as bewildered as his own.
"How... how do you know my name?" the younger man finally managed to stammer, his voice shaky, the earlier bravado completely gone. His mind raced, trying to recall if he had ever encountered Adams before, but nothing came to mind.
The elder, regaining his composure, quickly masked his surprise with a stern glare. "Who told you this?" he demanded, his voice laced with suspicion and authority. But beneath that stern facade, there was a hint of unease, a recognition that perhaps they had underestimated Adams in ways they hadn't even considered.
Adams simply smiled, the corner of his lips curling in a way that suggested he knew far more than he was letting on. His eyes gleamed with a knowing light, and he didn't bother to answer the question directly, letting the mystery linger.
"And it's not just his name I know," Adams continued with a calm, almost playful tone. "I know yours as well. Would you like me to say it out loud, or would you rather skip the formalities and try whatever you're planning?"