Everyone was seated at the dining table when suddenly a cheerful voice echoed from the main entrance—
"Well, well… did the sun rise in the west today? Everyone having breakfast together—what a rare sight!"
Everyone turned to look—Evelyn Thorne was entering through the doorway.
Adrian didn't recognize the woman. He immediately activated his skill, Golden Eye of Spy. His eyes lit up with a golden glow.
Status
Name: Evelyn Thorne
Cultivation Stage: Warlord Soul Fusion – Stage 7
Fate Points: 5
Occupation: Housewife / Warrior of the Azoth Clan
Relationship: Stepmother (9/10)
Scope: Grade B
Adrian's eyes couldn't help but linger on Elena for a moment.
Her skin was jade-white, her eyes a soft shade of pink, and her long golden hair cascaded down to her waist. She wore an elegant kimono, slit high on one side, revealing smooth, curvy thighs. Her figure was so stunning that even the world's top models would pale in comparison. Her ample bust and full hips moved subtly with every graceful step.
Adrian instinctively swallowed his saliva and quickly averted his gaze.
He didn't notice that while he was staring at Elena, his mother Selena had caught the look in his eyes. But she said nothing—she assumed that with his memory gone, Elena must seem like a stranger to him.
Selena smiled and said,
"Elena, come join us for breakfast. Today, Adrian himself said he wanted to eat with the family."
Elena looked at Adrian, who was watching her with slight confusion.
Selena gently told him,
"Adrian, this is your stepmother. I told you about her yesterday."
Adrian nodded and said politely,
"Good morning, stepmother. How are you? Please join us for breakfast."
Evelyn smiled back warmly,
"Of course, my little one. If my son invites me himself, how could I possibly refuse?"
Evelyn took her seat at the breakfast table.
Victor, who had been quietly observing the whole time, finally spoke in a calm tone—
"Elena, what about the task you went to Sphere City for?"
Evelyn replied,
"The mayor of Sphere City agreed to support us, but he's asked for three months to send his men."
Victor Thorne's expression turned a little serious. His deep voice resonated across the dining hall.
"Three months… that's a long time. Our territory could suffer greatly by then."
Hearing this, a brief silence fell over the entire room.
Adrian had been quietly sitting, but now he looked up and spoke softly,
"Father, may I ask you something?"
Victor was about to dismiss him, but then paused and nodded.
"Ask, son. What is it?"
Adrian said,
"Father, what sort of problem is it that you must rely on help from others? Mother told me you are the most powerful man in this realm."
Selena interrupted before Adrian could finish, her tone sharp,
"Adrian! What do you mean by questioning your father's strength?"
Ignoring the reprimand, Adrian kept his voice calm.
"Mother, you yourself said Sphere City is the nearest settlement. It's only two or three days' journey away. But Stepmother said they'll send help after three months. That means they don't really care about our plight."
"That is why I asked Father what's happening that he cannot handle with his own power. I never intended any disrespect. If my question offended anyone, I apologize."
His words surprised everyone. His tone was respectful, but his reasoning was flawless.
Victor thought for a few moments, then finally decided to tell Adrian the truth.
"The situation is severe. Bandits have set up hidden camps near our borders. They ambush our traders and supply convoys, stealing goods and sometimes killing the guards."
"We've sent soldiers many times—even I went myself—but they vanish before we can reach them. It's as if someone is warning them exactly when and where we'll appear."
Adrian turned to look at his stepmother Evelyn and asked,
"Stepmother, you went there only to negotiate about this, correct?"
Evelyn nodded with a faint sigh.
Victor offered a faint smile.
"Son, you don't know much about Sphere City's politics or about why Elena went there. You cannot judge them only by distance."
"Just because it's close doesn't mean they must feel responsible for us."
Adrian replied evenly,
"Father, with all due respect, it seems quite clear. I don't know exactly what Stepmother discussed with the mayor—but if she went herself, the mayor should have shown at least some courtesy."
"If he truly understood our urgency and intended to help, he would not have asked for three months. A month at most, perhaps—but three? No. That's not concern."
Everyone fell silent again, contemplating his words.
Victor's eyes softened as he realized Adrian's logic was undeniable.
"You have a point, Adrian. We suspected as much ourselves. But until they send help, we'll have to keep searching for the bandits on our own."
Adrian's gaze turned resolute.
"Father, if the bandits only target merchants, why don't you disguise one of your own convoys as bait? When they attack, you can catch them."
Victor's voice grew heavier.
"We have tried. Every time we laid such a trap, the bandits never came near it."
Adrian's face hardened.
"Then there is only one explanation… someone among our people is leaking your plans to the bandits."
Victor Thorne said—
"We also looked into this situation and conducted a thorough investigation, but we didn't find any spy."
Adrian didn't respond to that directly. Instead, he asked calmly—
"When you laid these traps, exactly who knew about them?"
Victor replied—
"We set the traps four times in total. Twice the Elders were involved, and twice the Commanders. We even rotated the soldiers, but it made no difference."
Adrian said—
"Did you run background checks on the Elders and Commanders?"
Victor nodded—
"Yes, but we found nothing."
Adrian fell silent, deep in thought.
How could it be possible that information kept leaking, yet no trace of the traitor was found?
Selena and everyone else watched his serious expression quietly.
Adrian spoke inwardly to the system—
"System, do you have any solution to this problem?"
The system's robotic voice sounded in his mind—
"You should use the Eye of Spy skill."
Adrian began to think about his next steps as he continued eating his breakfast.
Selena used telepathy to speak to Victor and Feng Ru—
"Tian never used to show any interest in such matters, but today he seems unusually invested."
Victor replied—
"I'm starting to feel like there is something strange about him."
Selena shot Victor a glare sharp enough to silence him instantly.
Everyone kept eating in silence.
When they finished, Adrian looked at his father and said—
"Father, I can help you with this matter… if you are willing to trust me."