The carriage soon reached its destination—the International Hall, where Greece hosted envoys from all powers.
Greek soldiers stopped them at the gate.
"Hello, we're the Corsican envoys, appointment confirmed," Bibu said, pushing open the carriage door and handing over the document.
The soldier took it, scanned it quickly, then glanced into the carriage. "Who's this?" he asked, pointing at Adam.
Bibu and Yu Jia wore standard Corsican formal attire, but Adam was clad in light armor—he was a personal guard, after all.
"He's my personal guard," Yu Jia replied from inside the carriage.
"A personal guard?" The soldier sneered. "You're nobles, and he rides with you?"
Yu Jia ignored the mockery. "Can we enter now?"
"You may. Him? No. All attendants wait over there," the soldier said, pointing to the lot full of carriages.
"Let's get out, Baron Yu Jia," Bibu said. He seemed used to such rules.
They stepped down. The carriage driver parked as instructed, while Adam stood by the gate, watching them walk along the stone path.
The International Hall sprawled across five hundred acres, with three hundred acres of buildings and the rest as gardens. Exotic plants, green lawns, and sculptures filled the grounds like a grand park. Delegates from all over the world moved about, or sat on the grass, dressed in a mix of traditional clothing. Greek white robes were the most common.
As Yu Jia and Bibu climbed the massive steps into the white building, Adam melted into the shadow of a nearby tree. Sunlight was costly for a vampire.
While scanning the crowd, his gaze caught a pair of eyes staring at him.
Brown, flowing curls. Fine eyebrows. Clear blue eyes. A delicate face, average build, wearing a white Greek robe with a ruby-studded belt. She radiated poise and confidence.
She walked toward him, a Greek guard by her side.
Stopping about half a meter away, she looked up at Adam's face, then down at his terrifyingly built body, and back up again. Their eyes met. Adam felt a flicker of unease.
She smiled faintly and poked his muscle.
"Strong. Where are you from?"
Adam said nothing, simply holding her gaze—a gaze brimming with self-confidence.
The guard spoke up. "Didn't you hear? Miss Asahi is asking."
Asahi? The surname sounded familiar. Her eldest son was preparing for a campaign, a prominent Greek family.
Adam still didn't answer. The guard reached for his sword, but the woman stopped him with a hand.
"I'm Dalesse. Who are you?" she asked with a gentle smile.
"He's Corsican," the gatekeeper who had blocked them earlier rushed over.
"Oh, Corsican." Dalesse nodded at the gatekeeper, then back to Adam. "You're strong. Ever been on a battlefield?"
"Yes," Adam said casually. The battlefield he'd fought on, two thousand years ago in Eden's clouds, would have terrified anyone.
"I'm recruiting personal guards. Interested?" Dalesse asked.
"No, thank you," Adam said flatly. Joining the Asahi family? A barony title? Free access to Athena Library? Too conditional. He needed time to practice low-level mystic arts, not run off on campaigns.
"What are you saying?" the guard barked. "Your master's just a baron! Are you insane?"
"Baron?" Dalesse nodded, thoughtful. "If you pass the test, I can grant a Greek barony." The guard's eyes nearly popped out.
"Thank you, but I must refuse," Adam said expressionlessly.
"You a slave? If so, I could petition your master to grant you freedom," Dalesse added, pouting slightly. Though she looked no older than twenty, her poise was seasoned beyond her years.
Her tone didn't suggest consulting another noble—it was like giving an order to a household servant. She didn't care who the Corsican baron was; for her, it didn't matter. Even the Corsican government wouldn't dare oppose the Asahi family.
Adam remained impassive.
The gatekeeper nearly gagged. Being noticed by the Asahi family was a huge honor—yet this Corsican refused? He fumed silently.
The guard, seeing Adam's refusal, almost drew his sword again. To him, this Corsican was no better than a street rat. Muscles or not, did he dare resist?
Dalesse sighed and pressed the guard's sword back into its sheath. "If you change your mind, come find me. All of Athens knows where the Asahi family resides. Just tell the gatekeeper you're Corsican, ask for Dalesse, and you'll reach me."
She blinked, smiled, and walked away with her guard. The guard shot Adam a final, disdainful glance.
The gatekeeper glared at Adam as if he could devour him, muttered "country bumpkin," and returned to the gate. Soon, other gatekeepers gathered, laughing, eyeing Adam mockingly.
Adam ignored them.
Finally, after a long wait, Bibu and Yu Jia emerged. Bibu looked pleased, while Yu Jia's face was pale as death.