Zane could only stand there dazed at what she said.
Zane was displeased with what was happening, "Adam! She tried to kill me last night!"
Adam nonchalantly said, "And you almost killed her last night, stuff happens. Plus she's here to teach you things I'd rather not."
Zane picked up on something weird, "What do you mean? You've already taught me Intermediate Martial Arts! It's something I could have never even considered learning due to the sheer difficulty. I'd even say you are the best teacher that anyone could have."
Adam lazily said, "It's not that I couldn't, its I would rather have someone else teach you. She couldn't be too far off from me in that aspect." After that Adam made a hammock made out of mana.
"Yes, milord." Eve bowed down in complete subservience. "I am here to teach you ruthlessness, we are going to go dates in the morning and to the dungeons at night." She said it all without faltering nor feeling odd.
Zane pointed at Eve and said in anger, "We tried to kill each other last night! How could you just let it go! I don't approve of this."
Eve said in a monotone voice, "It was stipulated in the contract that I would teach you and date you. As well as act as an assassin in the dark, removing the competition, permanently."
Adam butted in and said in a merry manner, "Don't worry! She won't harm a single hair on your little head and you don't have to do anything in those lessons unless you wanted to. Just watch, you'll learn something."
Zane didn't feel right after hearing that, he was beside two psychos who could kill at a moment's notice and without even batting an eye, rip out their enemy's heart. He at least had Richard, sort of supporting him in the background, he needs to tell Richard this as soon as possible!
"If you ever feel like it, you can take my first time. I will do my duties, I won't slight you, milord." Eve was now like a mechanical robot with how she is talking. She lost all her seduction and all that was left was an empty doll.
Adam then noticed it, he made a fist and slammed it to his palm, "Eve, show some emotion. That's why Zane was feeling off, unlike me who can completely fake an emotion, you still need to learn."
Eve who suddenly gained life spoke, "Aww, Zane! You meanie! Why are you so mean to lil ole me! I just wanted to be with you, don't leave me now." Eve was acting like a spoiled brat and had a sweet tone in her voice.
Adam gave Eve a score on how well she did, "I give it roughly believable out of 10. You need to look fresher and it'll be perfect. Also, learn how to act happy and sad, later I'll give you a book to help you out."
Eve nodded and said, "Thanks, milord." She went back to her mechanical voice and then suddenly turned back when she was talking to Zane.
Eve snuggled and hugged Zane while meekly saying, "Hear that? I'll be the perfect woman just for you, my sweet Zane! That way, you'll only need me!"
Zane couldn't handle this anymore and ran back to the kingdom. He went straight to Richard's place to get some help. He was the only sane person he could voice his troubles to.
Adam sighed and said, "I think you overdid it, next time don't be so clingy. We have roughly three years before anything happens, for now, we can relax. By the way, your mana reinforcement was lacking, remember that time when you couldn't take Zane's sword? It was because his technique was above yours. I'll teach you alongside Zane."
"Yes, milord." Eve seemed to be interested at what Adam just said, she was already using a top tier technique but Adam was about to teach her something even better.
Adam took out a map and two identification emblems towards Eve, "Here's where the dungeon is located, they are force-fed and knocked out ensuring they get proper rest and nutrition. Here is your identification and here's Zane's. Well, I just thought of something fun, if you make Zane ruthless by the time he reaches 16. I'll reward you with a single request."
Eve heard that and built up all the fake determination into a true one. She was resolved to make Zane into someone more ruthless than her. A single request from the True Underworld King was worth more than the entire Maghim kingdom.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Zane went to where Richard lived, he was now welcomed by Isabelle instead of the innocent boy from last time. Zane asked if he could meet Richard and Isabelle let him in.
In the room, they talked in previously, Zane was telling Richard his problems and asked for help.
"What seems to be the problem?"
"Do you know a little girl that's a serial killer?"
Richard eased back and looked up at the ceiling, "Hmm, clarify, many fit the bill."
Zane was describing her and said all relevant information, "She has red hair, has the trait Charm and, focuses on teachers apparently."
Richard snapped his fingers when it came to him, "So that girl! I'll let you in something that I learned recently as well, she's an up and coming monster! She suddenly gained a monstrous amount of power but no ones knows how she got it. If that's the case then don't get close to her the same you don't get close to Adam. Nothing good comes out of it. Why, did she try to seduce you?"
Zane had his brain overloaded with information and dazedly said, "Adam took her in."
Richard sighed and seemed to not like what was happening, "Unlike Adam who hasn't killed yet, she is a real problem. If Adam really took her in then I can only assume the worse."
Zane now regained his wits and realized this was starting to look like a real problem, "Why so?"
Richard now spoke in a deep and serious tone, despite his real age, he is talking maturely, "It means Adam is afraid of someone, he needed to personally groom an assassin to ensure his safety. This is not good whatsoever! Someone, even Adam fears is not good!"
Zane made a question statement, "Really? I don't think that's the case. I think he did it to mess with me. They made a contract and had her 'date' me. If it wasn't messing with me then I don't know what it would be."
When Richard heard the word contract, he didn't waste any time and made his move, "Contract? This is something we should get ready for. Listen carefully, in three years there is something big happening. Until then, don't come to me, I'll be dropping out of school to go to the Mountain of Days Past to train for three years. So my last words of advice until we meet again, learn to kill."
Richard then without wasting time assembled everyone and announced his reclusive training period and ordered everyone to follow Adam. Isabelle was also given the option to join him or join the others to live without worry. She chose to follow Richard, although she was ridden with bad luck, she was still a pseudo-Elementalist.
After they left, Zane could hear the title Black Plague come out of Richard's mouth as he was running away, abandoning everything at hand.
Zane was just left there dazed at what just happened. Richard left his subordinates to Zane so that Adam could find a home for them and live out their lives in leisure.
He then gathered everyone and went to the doctor's mansion. The doctor was mad but when Zane explained that he was there some deal Adam made with Richard, he could only sigh in defeat and let them in.
Afterward, Zane went back to the dorm to find Adam was there laying on his bed. Adam was fiddling with a complex structure of mana on his hands.
Adam casually asked, "What took you so long?"
Zane explained everything that happened, "I went to Richard and he went to the Mountain of Days Past with Isabelle, he left all of his subordinates with you. There was also something about a Black Plague but I am not too sure."
Adam said in a serious voice, "He was arrogant when we were in the village and still is even now. I thought this school could beat some sense into him but it seems he just got smart enough to read between the lines. From today, we are dropping out as well. There's nothing this school could offer me, I reaped it all already."
Adam and Zane went out of the dorm that night and never returned. They brazenly walked into the girl's dorm in search of Eve. They searched everywhere but couldn't find her, in the end, Adam activated a tracking spell and found her.
They followed the trace which led them to an outside area, obscure enough to not be noticed. There, Eve was getting hit and bullied by other girls. She wasn't even fighting back and seemed so empty inside. From their speech and actions, it seemed to be quite a common occurrence.
Zane could hear Adam beside him feel genuine anger for the first time, "What are you doing with my property?"
Adam now had a black cloak to conceal his identity. Usually, when Adam was serious he would just say what he needed then went back to his usual self. This time, however, even his previous serious self would pale in comparison to his genuine anger.
One of the girls, seemingly the leader looked at Adam and scoffed, "It's not any of your-"
Before she could speak another word, her skin started to darken and her heart started to stop. The same symptoms appeared on the other girls. They started to cry out in pain but no one could hear their cries since Adam already cast a sound barrier before all this.
Adam's slow but rough voice could clearly be heard by everyone, "People who touch my toys should know the consequence." The girls couldn't even move anymore and started to cry silently. They had to endure this for an entire 24 hours, even if people found them here there would be nothing they could do but wait it out.
Kiss of Death, a truly terrifying spell. Its goal wasn't to kill nor to cause lasting effects but to torture.
Adam used his mana to heal up Eve but she didn't even look Adam in the eye nor had the same robotic attitude earlier. Right now, she seemed truly frail.
Zane reached out his hand and Eve took it.
He asked, "Why didn't you fight back?"
Eve said with an unknown tone, "They were also weak, I let them feel strong because I pity them. I felt that once before but no one let me feel anything but regret."
Zane didn't forget how ruthless she was but at least he knew that she also is someone who could feel.
Adam spoke out still serious but not longer as angry, "Let's go, we are dropping out. I'll teach you everything you need to know in the future. We need to get ready, in three years there will be a massive event, to the scale where even Maghim might fall."
Zane was confused about what Adam was doing, "If you already knew that there was something going on, why didn't you move earlier?"
Adam explained, "I didn't need to, but Richard is being reckless and learned something he shouldn't have. Right, Zane?"
Zane looked down in shame, he didn't know any of Adam's plans so he just so happened to ruin it.
"Still, he should get stronger than my calculations in three years in that mountain which is good, he should be strong enough to save the kingdom himself but I still have to get ready. Meanwhile, we will be going on an adventure. After dealing with everything here, we will set out. We will meet at the gates."
Under the cover of night, he went to the doctor and left some extremely important documents and information. He let the doctor do whatever he wanted which elated him but he had to ensure the survival of the three kids, especially 3, that girl was going to be a very important cog in the machine Adam planned.
He then went to the Mason household and spoke to the head. He used his last favor to find Richard's subordinates some decent jobs and some suitable cash. Adam also inserted his mana into the ominous-looking crystal and said, "I made the activation time shorter, use this wisely. I'll let it slide this time, don't tell Richard anything else, see you in three years."
At the gate of Maghim, towards the unknown Adam stood there with everything at hand.
Adam spoke his piece, "Now before anything else, do you guys have any attachments here?"
Eve said, "My family."
Zane said, "The students."
Adam was back to his usual self and confidently said, "Good, make those your motivation because in three years if you guys fail, everyone in this kingdom will fall. Man, taking all those nobles were a pain, what wasted effort!"
Eve didn't forget and said, "Don't worry, before we set off, I'll give Zane a crash course on ruthlessness. Something quick but at the same time scarring."