Disciple of Madness

Adrian spun hastily as if caught doing something red-handed and looking at those dark eyes of the approaching figure, he must have.

"I was finding the washroom." He lied with a straight face, knowing how ridiculous he must have sounded at that moment.

The man sneered at his words. "That's a pathetic lie, mister. I am sure the door to the washroom even had the word written on it in bold letters."

The man came into view as the darkness around him subsided.

Seeing the man, Adrian's forehead scrunched into wrinkles.

'Is this even a man?' He thought. The 'man' in front of him was wearing a trench coat that almost touched the man's shoes. His hands were in the pockets and had a hat on his head.

However what was quite illogical about the man was the fact that his face wasn't that of a man.

"A crowman?" Adrian asked, his voice full of intrigue.

The man's eyes...no, the crow's eyes looked at Adrian with an amused glint.

The black glistening beak of the man parted. They didn't move further but the man's voice came out from within it.

"Crowman? I guess that's a way to call me. Though others call me as Mr. Crow."

He spoke, "So tell me what were you doing here?

Adrian thought of an excuse as fast as possible and was about to speak out when Mr. Crow's beak opened up once again.

As if suddenly realising something, he narrowed his eyes at Adrian and asked him sharply.

"No, scratch that. First of all, how did you even enter this place? How did you break the lock?"

A confused look appeared on Adrian's face as he replied, "How else would I come down? The door was wide open. I became curious, thinking they led to the stairs of the second floor. I just followed along and came down."

"Open?!!" The crowman suddenly got alarmed but then narrowed his eyes at him. "Lying again? I was the one who locked it. And you say that it was wide open." Then having a claw like finger, he accused.

"You have broken through that door."

"How the heck would I break through such a high-quality door with my mere lvl 13?! And before you ask me how I know about the door's quality, let me tell you that even the poverty stricken guys would recognise that. The door appeared simple but was luxurious." Adrian swore at the man.

His words made the man even more alarmed. Glancing around, he approached Adrian.

"Young man, let's go from here. This area isn't somwhere you should be at."

Yanking his shoulders, the man forcefully dragged Adrian from the hallway.

"Yeah yeah no need for that push. I am going, I am going!" However, the man paid him no heed as he pulled him even more forcefully with an iron like grip of his claw.

And to Adrian's surprise, the stairs had no darkness as they went upstairs. The way up was completely lighted up as well.

Adrian felt the crowman's glance on his back, watching for a reaction. But he remained composed, showing no reaction to the change.

When they reached the top, Adrian was mildly taken aback though he forced himself to show no change in his expression.

The door which he had locked previously was now unlocked, even though the crowman was standing behind him.

'Strange...'

The crowman behind him wasn't surprised though. Thinking about it, Adrian inferred that as a natural reaction given that he had entered through the same door.

So the door should be unlocked, right?

In fact, it would have been quite suspicious right now had the door actually been locked.

"Next time don't roam anywhere you shouldn't be at." Mr. Crow warned him one last time as he slammed the door at his face.

"Well that went quite well." Adrian rolled his neck as he found his way back to the dining area.

On the way, he felt several gazes his way, mainly those from the staffs who had seen him going to the washroom quite some time back.

He approached their table and sat down while watching Luna play with her hair, her gaze lost in thought.

Only when he coughed lightly did she snap out of it and looked at him.

"So?"

Luna's lips curved into a sweet smile as she looked at Adrian. She looked excited.

"You remind me of our old days you know. And yes, you were absolutely right." She then added in a wistful tone, "13 babies, 3 young men, 17 young girls and 7 older girls ...all of them chained with the mark of Slave Pact."

'Bingo!' Adrian couldn't stop himself from smiling at this sudden breakthrough.

He had been observing this place since yesterday as he just had a slight suspicion. Now that it was confirmed by Luna, he could slowly see the pattern form in his head.

He was on the right track...with his first threshold being this-- the slave market. Hidden right under Cum'nd Dine.

[Damn genius... Will I ever surpass you?]

'You are one of the only two people who are completely equal to me...even at my best haha.' Though obviously Adrian would never say that aloud.

But he shook his head and asked Luna.

"Now then will you help me?"

She looked at him as if he was an idiot for even asking that.

"Obviously my dear puppeteer, you have my full support...just like every other time."

She even gave a thumbs-up to emphasize her fact.

"But be safe...you are being watched." Her eyes darted to the staff who were lingering a bit close to their tabek than necessary.

Smirking at Luna, Adrian cooed. "Don't worry about them."

She simply laughed.

They soon went out the restaurant, their faces all smiles as they parted ways.

Evelyn seemed to have some questions of her own as she quickly asked Adrian.

[Adrian, why did you two umm you know seem to know each other so well? Are you or ahhh...were you both....you know...?]

He cut in her wild thoughts.

"Lovers? No, obviously not. We are...no, we were the bestest of friends and the brother-sister we never knew we needed." Gazing up at the afternoon sun, he added. "I was the reason why she still breathes...and I guess she was the reason I am still sane."

[ I see...oh wait wait, you forgot to pay for the food, Adrian.]

He chucked, "Don't worry over that. It's already paid."

[But you didn't...huh? When did you pay?]