Summer mornings came early. Too early.
Time was running out.
If they went out now, it would already be too late. They might not even find a proper place to stay before sunrise. Staying in this house was just as dangerous.
It was uncomfortable for one thing. And there were no curtains.
Even if they sealed the windows with blankets, it wouldn't help. The fabric wasn't black. Light would still seep through. The house itself was a wreck anyway—full of cracks and tiny holes.
Adam didn't care.
Silver Bell could endure it.
But what about Yu Jia?
One careless mistake and he'd turn to ash.
A fifteenth-generation vampire was extremely fragile under sunlight. Yet Adam had no intention of turning him into a second-generation vampire so soon—for three reasons.
First, the guy couldn't fight at all. Even if he evolved, it would be meaningless. Forget blood arts—he couldn't even turn into a bat.
Second, once promoted, Yu Jia might realize Adam's true identity. If he learned he was following a world enemy… would he still dare continue?
With his cowardly personality?
Hard to say.
Lastly, his status as a fifteenth-generation illegitimate vampire was actually useful. Sensitive, yes—but far safer than Adam and Silver Bell's first- and second-generation identities.
Some tasks were better handled by him.
But what now?
Were they supposed to smear that "sunscreen serum" all over themselves?
One full day's usage would bankrupt Adam.
He stared at the faintly brightening sky, thinking.
Then suddenly turned.
"Wake Bibu up."
"Huh? Why?"
"We're switching rooms with him."
"What?" Yu Jia blinked in confusion.
They rushed to Bibu's door.
Time was tight. Adam didn't bother with manners. He banged hard.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
The door opened.
Bibu rubbed his eyes. "What's going on?"
"Sorry to bother you." Yu Jia put on his usual friendly smile.
"It's fine. I just fell asleep."
"We're switching rooms," Adam said bluntly.
"Ah?" Bibu hesitated.
Though Yu Jia was a Corsican envoy, rank-wise they were equal—both barons.
Besides, Bibu was the permanent envoy. Yu Jia was temporary. There was no obligation to give up his room.
Seeing the hesitation, Adam pulled out ten gold coins and stuffed them into Bibu's hand.
"Consider this compensation to the residence."
Bibu froze.
Then his face lit up.
Money—that was exactly what he needed.
Ten gold coins equaled three months of rent. His fruit business had been terrible lately. He'd been worrying about this month's payment.
He nodded immediately.
Before he could react further, Adam grabbed him and yanked him out of the room.
Then—
In front of Bibu's stunned stare—
Adam single-handedly lifted every piece of furniture inside. Bed. Wardrobe. Everything.
He dumped it all into the already cramped living room.
Before Yu Jia and Silver Bell could even process what was happening, Adam dragged them inside with blankets.
"No matter what you hear—don't come in!" Adam told Bibu.
Still shaken by Adam's monstrous strength, Bibu nodded reflexively.
BANG!
The door slammed shut.
Silver Bell frowned. "What are you planning?"
"Dig."
Adam pointed at the floor.
"…What?" Yu Jia nearly choked.
"We dig a tunnel. No safe shelter? Then we make one."
He tossed blankets to them.
"Cover every window and crack. Multiple layers."
As he spoke, he flicked his fingers.
His nails extended instantly—
SHRK!
He pried open the floor tiles.
In an absurdly short time, Adam had carved a deep pit inside the room.
The small chamber was soon piled high with dirt.
Meanwhile, faint daylight was already seeping through the covered windows.
"Get down here!" Adam shouted from the hole.
Yu Jia and Silver Bell climbed in quickly.
The tunnel entrance was narrow. Cover it with a wooden board and no sunlight would penetrate.
"This space isn't big enough," Yu Jia said. "It can't hold all my belongings."
The room above was only twenty square meters. The tunnel couldn't exceed that. There was nowhere to put the extra soil.
"Then we dig bigger," Adam said.
"And the dirt?" Silver Bell asked. "We can only move it out at night."
"I've got a solution."
Adam pulled out the bottle of Demon Chelman.
He uncorked it.
"Chelman. Hold the delivery. I've got new business."
Smoke drifted out.
Then dispersed.
Chelman appeared—squatting, scratching his horn with his toe.
"Whaddya want this time… kh-kh…"
The flexibility was inhuman. And utterly undignified.
"Transport job again," Adam said. "Cash on delivery. Same rules?"
"Again?!" Chelman complained. "Genius merchant Chelman reduced to your delivery boy?"
It was true. Most of Chelman's work so far had been transport. Adam ignored all his other sales pitches.
"Well… never mind then. Five hundred cubic meters of cargo. I was planning to pay ten thousand gold."
"TEN THOUSAND?!" Yu Jia exploded. "Are you insane?!"
Their entire fortune combined wasn't even close. Most of their wealth was tied in treasure assets—and Yu Jia had spent heavily making sunscreen serum.
Silver Bell stood frozen, already calculating debt repayment.
Chelman, however—
Sat upright instantly.
Eyes blazing.
"I LOVE transport jobs!" he declared. "Deal! Cash on delivery!"
To him, Adam was a premium client—rich and reliable.
"Good. Deliver when I tell you to unload," Adam said, smirking.
But Chelman was too dazzled by the gold to notice.
"Where's the cargo?"
He didn't ask location. He knew the routine—they carried the bottle; unloading happened later.
Adam grinned wider.
Hooked.
Time to recover the gold he'd been scammed out of before.
He pointed outside the tunnel.
"The cargo is this dirt. I'll keep digging until we hit five hundred cubic meters."
"…Dirt?" Chelman blinked. "Is this… mineral? Why are you excavating it?"
"That question costs fifty gold."
Adam extended his hand, eyes gleaming with pure schemer energy.
Chelman narrowed his eyes, stared at him—
Then slapped the hand away.
"Nice try! I won't fall for that!"
As expected of a profiteer—hard to exploit.
Yu Jia sighed internally.
Dealing with this demon never brought advantage.
Silver Bell agreed silently.
Adam's plan was obvious:
Let Chelman transport dirt.
Transport it where?
Nowhere.
Adam would never authorize delivery.
No delivery meant no payment.
Under those terms, what difference did one coin or ten thousand make?
Just as everyone felt disappointed—
Chelman suddenly shouted:
"You're trying to scam fifty gold from me!"
He grinned slyly.
"So I won't ask. I'll just transport it!"
His laugh was shrill and awful.
But Adam—
Adam was secretly ecstatic.