"It is good to finally hear your voice, I thought you were going to keep quiet the whole time, Enigma."
"So you knew it was me all along, didn't you?" Enigma, the woman concealed beneath the cloak, said, her voice a mix of curiosity and mild surprise. She studied Adams, her eyes narrowing slightly as she tried to gauge his reaction.
Adams simply smiled, a knowing, almost teasing expression on his face. "Of course I knew," he replied, his tone confident. "If I didn't know, then I wouldn't be Adams anymore." His words were delivered with a casual certainty, as though the idea of not recognizing her was unthinkable.
As he spoke, Adams took a step closer to her, his gaze locked onto hers. Without warning, he reached up and gently removed the cloak from her head, revealing her face to the onlookers. Enigma's eyes widened in surprise as Adams leaned in, his intentions clear.
For a brief moment, she was caught off guard by his boldness, her breath hitching as his lips met hers. The initial shock quickly melted away, and she found herself reciprocating the kiss, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled him closer. The world around them seemed to fade, the tension of the moment dissolving into something far more intimate.
The people present watched in stunned silence, their expressions ranging from shock to awe. The disciples, who had been ready to jump to their master's defense just moments before, now stood rooted in place, their fists unclenching as they witnessed the unexpected display of affection.
Even Jack, usually so quick to make a joke, was momentarily speechless, his mouth hanging open as he tried to process what he was seeing.
Awar, though still looking tired, raised an eyebrow slightly, a rare hint of interest flickering in his weary eyes. He glanced at Jack, noticing the monkey man's uncharacteristic silence, and a small, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
"We can't have that now, can we?" Adams said with a hint of amusement in his voice. With a casual snap of his fingers, the duo instantly froze in place, their bodies immobilized as if bound by an invisible force.
They remained fully conscious, their minds racing as they tried to comprehend what was happening. They could see everything around them, hear the faintest sounds, and even smell the crisp air, but no matter how desperately they willed their bodies to move, they were utterly powerless. The realization that they were trapped, unable to escape or fight back, sent a wave of terror through them.
Their eyes darted around in a silent plea for help, but there was no one who could save them now.
"So, where were we?" Adams began, his tone dripping with mockery. "You were saying something about wanting to speak to me, master to master, correct? Well, here I am."
He stepped closer to the white-haired elderly man, a sinister grin spreading across his face as he locked eyes with him. "Go ahead—talk to me." The words were laced with a dark challenge, as if daring the man to say something that would seal his fate.
The elderly man, now fully aware of the gravity of his situation, felt a cold sweat trickle down his spine as Adams' gaze bore into him, unyielding and unforgiving.
"Since you've got everything handled, can I go back to my beauty sleep now?" Awar asked, yawning as he glanced at Adams with half-lidded eyes.
"Get lost, you lazy demon," Jack retorted with a smirk, waving a dismissive hand at Awar. "You weren't even needed here in the first place."