"What are you going to do?"
Mereoleona slammed Adam against the wall, her eyes burning with frustration.
The prestige and morale she'd built up with so much effort were nearly destroyed by this troublemaker.
"You ungrateful woman," Adam said with a wounded expression. "You clearly said you'd come find me after the meeting, but you ran off without a word."
His voice trembled slightly, as if on the verge of tears.
"You turned around and left that day… leaving me alone in that hellhole."
Mereoleona pressed her hand over his mouth, leaning in close. Her voice softened.
"Stop it. Let's just treat that day as a beautiful misunderstanding. We'll both take a step back and forget this ever happened."
Adam didn't reply. But the look in his eyes said everything.
Impossible.
Mereoleona stiffened. She had no idea how to deal with something like this—it was the first time she'd encountered this kind of situation.
"Mmff mmff!"
Adam struggled beneath her hand, but she was pressing down so hard he could barely breathe.
"Sorry."
Mereoleona immediately pulled her hand back, feeling a little embarrassed. Why the hell was this man so weak? He'd just been acting all cocky a minute ago!
…Was he faking it?
"Adam, the Wizard King wants to see you."
The sudden voice startled both of them.
A white light screen appeared beside Adam—it was Marx's communication magic. Convenient as always.
"You actually found me?"
"If you didn't suppress your magic, I wouldn't have had to," Marxs said seriously. "Come to the basement where the Eye of the Midnight Sun is being interrogated. The Wizard King is waiting for you there."
"Okay."
Adam nodded, and Marx's shadow disappeared.
Mereoleona frowned, worry flashing in her eyes.
"Why would the Wizard King want to see you? Could it be because of what just happened—"
"No way." Adam cut her off firmly. "I used to think the Wizard King was a fool. That was my mistake. I underestimated him."
"No one has more Silver Stars than Julius. The guy can handle anything."
Mereoleona blinked. Even after their… "intense exchange," she still didn't really understand this man. Was he the type to worship the Wizard King? He didn't seem like it.
But no—this was more like watching everyone take a closed-book exam while one person got to bring the answer sheet.
If the Black Bulls hadn't made such a commotion with their star ranking, they'd have been first place for sure.
Yami must have worked his ass off for this.
"Give me a goodbye kiss!"
Adam closed his eyes and leaned forward.
Mereoleona froze. She knew exactly what kind of trick this was.
Smooch~
Before she could react, Adam stole a kiss and bolted like lightning.
"You can't run forever. Don't even think about ignoring me this time."
Watching Adam's back disappear down the corridor, Mereoleona felt a strange uneasiness in her chest. Her heart was pounding in a way she wasn't used to.
"I'm Mereoleona… how could I like that brat?"
She shook her head hard. She was the eldest daughter of the Vermillion family—she wouldn't lose herself over some cocky little punk.
This must be because she'd been slacking on her training lately.
"Time to whip those lazy bastards into shape."
In a shady tavern somewhere in the royal capital, the captains—except for Mereoleona and William—had gathered.
And they were currently listening to the most unbearable person on Earth.
"Hahaha! What a fine drink! Cheers to the captains who ranked below the Black Bulls."
Yami was glowing with pride today. He had to rub it in their faces. The Bulls weren't the same pathetic squad anymore—they had what it took to win.
"After being dead last forever, you climb up once and suddenly you're a big shot?" Jack spat, already irritated. He couldn't stand looking at Yami's smug face.
"How does it feel to be overtaken by the loser squad, huh? Hahaha."
Seeing Yami's suicidal grin, Nozel finally snapped and whipped out his grimoire, ready to slice him in half.
"Guest, fighting is prohibited in this restaurant."
A green drink slid in front of Nozel. The bartender, who was very obviously the Wizard King in disguise, diffused the tension instantly.
Except for Yami, most of the captains had already guessed who this "bartender" was.
"See you next year. Or later tonight."
After downing their drinks, the captains filed out. No one wanted to listen to Yami's mouth any longer.
The moment they were gone, Yami bounced back from Lil's venomous tongue and started jeering again.
"So that's it? Running off already? I'll drink with myself then—cheers to the mighty Black Bulls! Hahaha!"
"But you're acting like you won the war just for climbing one spot."
Mereoleona's voice cut through the bar, and Yami's grin faltered.
"Ah! Sisleon—"
"Who the hell is 'Sisleon'?"
She wasn't in the mood to joke. She planned to drag a few unlucky people out to "train."
Her magic cloak was already holding Asta and Yuno like stray chickens.
Without a word, she grabbed Yami, Charlotte, and Rill and hauled them off too.
Even Noelle, who had come to see Adam, got swept up.
"Thank you for your coming!"
The Wizard King waved from the doorway, returning to his usual form.
"Oh my, this is getting fun."
Interrogation Room.
"Landora, when's the Wizard King getting here?"
Adam slouched on the chair, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
In the gloomy basement, only Marx stood on the side while "Purple Potato" lay dead on the ground.
Adam didn't even realize this was the pest he'd killed earlier. Who could've guessed that venom would have dyeing properties too.
"What the hell is Landora? My name's Marx!"
Marx's serious expression cracked. Even without understanding the exact insult, anything coming out of Adam's mouth was guaranteed to be worse than "Mushroom Head."
"Please wait a moment. The Wizard King will be here soon."
"Yeah, sure."
Adam rolled his eyes. Who invites someone over and then just vanishes?
Marx was annoyed too. If he'd known the Wizard King was going to take his sweet time, he'd have called Adam later.
This was just painful.
"Seriously, you could change your hairstyle."
"No."
"Why not?"
"I won't tell you."
"Does everyone in your family have this haircut?"
"My brother is—why am I even telling you this?!"
Marx's temper was cracking. He'd rather argue with a noble than talk to Adam.
"What are you two talking about?"
With a flash of light, the Wizard King appeared. No one knew how much magic this man had stored up in that brain of his.
"About hairstyles."
The Wizard King gave Kes's blue mushroom cut a long, thoughtful look. Then he smiled.
"Marx, changing your hairstyle could change your mood."
"No. This is my logo."
Marx turned away, his defenses shaky. Why were they even talking about his hair?
He liked his mushroom head!
"Ahem, just a little joke."
Julius turned his gaze to Adam. The man in front of him was an enigma, and he still wasn't sure how strong he really was.
"Adam, I heard you've started using magic recently. Water Magic, right?"
"Yeah."
Adam stretched out his hand, and a sphere of water formed instantly.
Julius's eyes lit up with a golden glow as he stepped closer, fascinated.
"Amazing. This is truly enviable."
"Let's get to the point."
Splash!
Adam tossed the water ball on the floor. He'd just reunited with Mereoleona, and now this guy had called him here and made him wait. His patience was gone.
"Sorry!"
The Wizard King scratched the back of his head. That honest, boyish look of his could disarm anyone.
"I have three things to ask you."
"I'm too busy."
Adam didn't hesitate for a second. Was he a workhorse? Hell no.
"Uh… it's nothing major."
Julius sighed helplessly. As expected, everyone from the Bulls was a handful—except Asta.
"Well, since you've got Silver Stars, I'll listen. Talk."
Adam folded his arms. He couldn't just leave Yami to keep "sacrificing" for the team.
"The first thing—do you recognize this person on the ground?"
Adam glanced at the corpse and raised an eyebrow.
He wasn't a walking encyclopedia—how the hell would he know some random dead guy?
"I don't know him."
"Marx."
The Wizard King gestured, and Marx brought over a sketch based on witness testimony.
It showed… a bee.
A bee that looked suspiciously like Adam's golden ringed wasp form.
Lil had outdone himself. And the witnesses? Way too cooperative.
"This corpse belonged to a young noble of the Bamiluton family. Witnesses said this insect flew over, and he collapsed on the spot," Maex explained. "There were sting marks on his body. Preliminary assessment says this is the murderer."
Adam finally realized—it was that fat noble. No wonder he didn't recognize him. The venom had twisted his face beyond recognition.
"Have you ever seen an insect like this?"
Julius's expression turned serious, his gaze sharp.
He hadn't forgotten how the former captain of the Purple Orcas, Gueldre, had caught his attention before. Now Adam was showing similar signs.
"I've only seen flowers in full bloom."
Adam smirked at the Wizard King's intense stare.
"Captain Jack's from the Green Mantis. Insects are more his thing. Why don't you ask him?"
The air in the room grew tense.