The steady, low hum of the private jet's engines was a soothing backdrop to the quiet storm in my mind. Nari was asleep, her head resting on my lap, her usual sharp, analytical composure softened by the gentle vulnerability of rest. The day had been a whirlwind of meetings and strategic plays, but here, in the dimly lit cabin thousands of feet above the world, there was a fragile peace. It was the perfect time for a debrief with my silent partner.
"System," I said, my voice a low murmur that wouldn't disturb Nari. "Let's review the board. Show me the King's Harem."
A series of translucent panels shimmered into existence before my eyes. Isabel's profile was glowing with new skills and upgraded stats; she was pouring everything into her bootcamp, and it showed. Maya and Chloe were progressing too, their own abilities sharpening from their work in the shadows. Lily's status was growing exponentially, the 80% Harem boost amplifying her already genius-level intellect into something truly terrifying.
Then, four new names appeared, their profiles solidifying as if they had always been there: Marilyn, Aila, Amelia, and Melissa. A strange warmth spread through my chest. The connections I'd forged in the heat of passion and crisis were now a quantifiable reality.
"Their bonds are already strong enough," I mused. "System, activate
EternalVow
. Bind them to me."
A wave of profound energy washed over me, a feeling like liquid gold pouring through my soul. It wasn't a draining sensation, but an anchoring one. I felt the distinct currents of their love, their loyalty, flowing into me, each one a unique and powerful thread. It was a failsafe, a final, unbreakable seal on their devotion.
With the bonds secured, a more practical question surfaced. "System, I've been thinking about potential. My own is… what it is. But can we increase the potential of my Harem and Elites?"
'Yes, Host,' the System replied, its voice as calm and informative as ever. 'Your own 'Undetectable' potential cannot be upgraded, as it is already limitless. However, the potential of your Harem and Elites can be raised through the use of Potential Enhancement Potions.'
A new section of the System Store opened, displaying a series of glowing vials, each named for a different tier.
'The potions are categorized by the tier of potential they can affect,' the System continued. 'For example, to upgrade a rank within the Elite Tier, say from a B+ rank to an A rank, you would require an 'Elite Potion.' However, to ascend to the next tier, for instance from an A+ rank in the Elite Tier to an S rank in the Monarch Tier, a 'Monarch Potion' would be necessary. There is, however, a catch.'
"There's always a catch," I muttered.
'The probability of success for your Harem members is 100%. Their absolute emotional connection to you acts as a perfect catalyst. For your Elites, however, success is not guaranteed. It is dependent on them. They must possess a powerful emotional buff, a profound, unshakable determination that they are worthy of that power. Without it, the potion will fail.'
It made a grim kind of sense. My queens were bound to me by a love that transcended logic. My knights, however, had to earn their spurs through sheer force of will. I glanced at the prices, and my eyebrows shot into my hairline. A single 'Elite Potion' cost a staggering 10,000 coins, either Prayer or Fear. My recent earnings were substantial, but not that substantial.
"We don't need them right now," I decided, closing the store. "We'll see what the future holds."
The exhaustion from the last few days finally settled over me then, a heavy, welcome blanket. My own eyes grew heavy, and with Nari's soft, even breathing a steady rhythm against my leg, I let myself drift off, a king finally at rest in his flying castle.
(Nari's Perspective)
The hum of the private jet was a soothing lullaby, a stark contrast to the frantic pace of the last few days. My mind, usually a whirlwind of calculations and counter-strategies, felt heavy, the edges of consciousness blurring. One moment, Adam and I were dissecting the Sterling Triplets' past, plotting their recruitment. The next, the world was a soft, dark blanket, pulling me under.
When I awoke, it wasn't with a jolt, but a gentle awareness. The light in the cabin was muted, a soft glow filtering through the drawn blinds. Something felt… different. Warmer, softer than the plush seat I recalled. My head rested against something firm yet yielding, a subtle rhythm of breathing beneath my ear.
My eyes fluttered open. The rich, beige fabric of a polo shirt was directly in my line of sight. I slowly, carefully, moved my head. And then I saw him.
Adam.
He was sitting upright, leaning back against the sofa, his head tilted slightly against the window. His eyes were closed, his dark eyelashes a soft fringe against his skin. His mouth was slightly parted, a barely perceptible, peaceful breath escaping his lips. His usually sharp, intense gaze was gone, replaced by the innocent vulnerability of sleep.
And my head… my head was resting squarely in his lap. My legs were stretched out along the long couch, my heels discreetly removed and placed on the floor nearby. A thin, cashmere blanket, which I didn't remember being there before, was draped over me.
How did I get here? What happened? A flicker of something akin to panic, a primal instinct for control, tried to rise within me. But it was quickly doused by a wave of something else entirely. Surprise. And then… a quiet, unfamiliar warmth.
This was Adam Wilson. The ruthless strategist, the daring hunter who had so boldly hit on me earlier. The man who had, with terrifying efficiency, dismantled the lives of my enemies. Yet here he was, sleeping, a gentle, almost tender expression on his face, holding me in a position of such profound, unasked-for comfort.
My initial thoughts, usually so calculating, softened. He hadn't taken advantage. He hadn't even woken me. He had simply… cushioned my fall. He had removed my heels, knowing how uncomfortable they could be after hours. He had covered me with a blanket. A genuine gentleman. It was unexpected. Deeply, surprisingly impressive.
He truly is a king, isn't he? I mused, a new kind of admiration blossoming in my chest. Not just because of his power or his ambition, but because of this. This quiet, unassuming thoughtfulness. It's a subtle kind of strength, a hidden facet of his character that is far more alluring than any grand gesture.
I let myself remain there for a few more moments, savoring the unfamiliar feeling of utter security. With Adam, even in sleep, there was a sense of utter control, a silent promise of protection. It was a potent combination, one that made my own ambitious heart skip a beat.
A slight shift in his breathing. He was stirring. I quickly closed my eyes, feigning sleep, not quite ready to shatter this fragile, peaceful moment. I wanted to observe him, to understand this side of the man who was rapidly becoming the most significant, and perhaps most dangerous, figure in my life. The man who was quickly becoming a king.
(End of Nari's Perspective)
A polite, almost inaudible knock roused me. My eyes fluttered open to see one of the flight attendants standing a respectful distance away. Nari was already awake, sitting opposite me with a fresh cup of coffee in her hand, looking as poised and elegant as if she had just stepped out of a salon.
"Good morning," she said, her voice a smooth, musical sound. "Here you go." She gestured to the cup of coffee waiting for me on the small table between us. "We're about to land in the Riverbend Republic."
"Morning," I replied, my own voice a little rough. I took the coffee, the warmth a welcome sensation in my hands. I noticed my shoes were neatly placed beside the couch. Then I looked at Nari's feet. Her heels were back on. "Thanks for pulling out the heels," she said, as if reading my mind.
"Mention not," I replied, a small smile on my face.
After freshening up, we landed. The moment we stepped off the plane, the difference in the air was palpable. Grand Metropolis was a world of steel and ambition; this was a world of lush greenery and a slow, quiet power. A gleaming black Rolls Royce was waiting for us on the tarmac.
"We're going to the hotel first," I said as we settled into the plush leather interior. "Stacy already made the preparations. Afterward, we'll go to meet the Sterling sisters."
"I'm fine by it," she replied, her gaze already scanning the unfamiliar landscape.
The hotel was less a building and more a private resort carved into the side of a hill. Stacy had, of course, arranged the presidential suite. It was a sprawling space with multiple bedrooms, a private swimming pool, a spa, a recreation area… the works.
"Stacy is literally spoiling me," I said, shaking my head in amused disbelief as I looked out at the private infinity pool that seemed to merge with the horizon.
"Looks like you're not used to this kind of life," Nari commented, a teasing glint in her grey eyes. "Don't worry. You'll get used to it."
After an hour of settling in and changing into more casual, but still impeccably stylish, outfits, we met in the massive living room of the suite.
"Okay," I began, my voice all business now. "I got a report from Anna on the flight over. She's found the dirt on the rival agency. She said we can clear the Sterling sisters' names within twenty-four hours. The media will be fighting to tell their story. They'll be on top of the world again."
Nari nodded, her own expression turning sharp and analytical. "Then let's go. It's time to talk to them, persuade them to our side, and gather our next set of brilliant assets."
"Okay, let's go," I agreed.
When we went to the entrance, a new, impressive sight greeted us. A convoy of ten black sedans, all gleaming in the afternoon sun, was waiting. A group of men in sharp, black suits stood at attention, a silent, formidable army. They greeted us with a respectful bow.
We settled into the lead car, a bulletproof Rolls Royce that was even more luxurious than the first one. "So," I said, as the convoy pulled out onto the long, winding road. "Now we are going to the countryside."
Nari was looking at a tablet, a satellite map of the region displayed on the screen. "From the report you gave me," she said, her voice a low, strategic murmur, "I've come to a conclusion. All three of them live in a secluded village in the countryside, at a place where three rivers meet. They're running a small tailor shop. The village is surrounded by mountains. There is only one road in and out. It will take at least six hours to get there."
"Absolutely," I confirmed, settling back into the plush leather. The journey was going to be long. "So, take a rest. And think about how we can persuade them."
Nari just smiled, a slow, confident expression that was full of a shared, unspoken understanding. "Don't worry, Adam. I already have a few ideas."