Endless Evolution: Last Star

Chapter 1813: The City, Outposts, and Arch Horizon (Part 1)

It might have seemed strange that Adam asked Laroza that question, and it was.

Instead of asking about their plan or how to get to the Gray Sea, he decided to find out if she had ever been in a relationship with Aiden, and he got an answer.

Adam did this on purpose.

He had already realized that Aiden was hiding a lot, but the main problem lay elsewhere. Even if he wanted to find out more about Aiden, it was difficult to do so.

Only people like Gladius knew quite a bit about Aiden. To most, he was a mystery. Even Farla, an officer of the Gamma Division, knew no more about Aiden than Adam did.

True, Adam couldn’t ask Gladius about it. That would have raised suspicions, and Gladius wouldn’t have told him anything anyway, just like Xyrea and the others.

But if it were someone else, for example, Laroza, and the situation was right, then through such awkward questions, Adam hoped to find out at least something.

"Hey, Adam, since you asked about it." Laroza stepped forward as she licked her lips. "Were you really worried that Aiden would become your rival for me? You know, I’m single right now."

Adam smiled, remaining unperturbed.

"I don’t need anyone but Silvana, my Operator."

Laroza rolled her eyes. "How boring. You humans, make too much of a big deal out of this! You can have an Operator, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up other kinds of pleasures."

She glanced at him, as if making the offer once more.

"So, what do you say? Maybe you’ll change your mind? Neither I nor anyone else will ever replace Silvana, but we can both be useful to each other."

Adam raised an eyebrow.

’Are all monsters this vulgar? Although, who knows how I’d behave if I’d been alone for decades, right?’

Step.

Adam took a step forward.

"Find someone else. I’m sure there are plenty of monsters in the Tarnished Lands willing to spend the night with you."

He decided not to dwell on the subject too long and to move on. After all, he’d started it himself with his question, but now he knew more about Aiden.

’That was awkward, huh... Laroza turned out to be a little strange, just as Aiden had warned, but in his entire life, he’d loved only one woman? That’s interesting.’ Adam touched his chin with a pensive look. ’Who could that arrogant bastard have loved? What’s more, he was faithful to that woman, if Laroza’s words are to be believed.’

The next moment, Adam froze as his eyes widened.

He realized something.

"He was with that woman, and if he’s alone now, that means something happened to her, right? Maybe his secret plan is somehow connected to that?"

While a flood of thoughts filled Adam’s mind, Laroza stood behind him and sighed heavily.

"Agh, Adam, you have no idea how rare it is to meet a young, strong man here, and a human at that, not a monster. Tsk, what a shame that Aiden asked me not to push you too hard."

For a moment, Laroza’s expression changed as a predatory gleam flashed in her eyes.

All monsters craved power, and this applied across the board, whether it was an enemy, a leader, or even a sexual partner.

However, Laroza had long since passed the age where she was unable to restrain her desires.

Slap!

Her palm slammed into Adam’s back, causing him to jump in place.

"Damn it!" Adam gasped as he touched his back. A clear imprint of Laroza’s palm remained on his back. She hadn’t held back.

"Come on, enough wasting time. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, you do want to get to the Gray Sea, right?"

Adam nodded.

"Yeah, Aiden said that’s the only place I can fulfill my final condition and get stronger."

Laroza waved her hand.

"Sure, there’s a lot at the Gray Sea. The main problem isn’t getting there, but surviving, and that’s where I’m not so sure about you."

"Argh?" Adam was confused. "But you agreed to help me!"

Laroza turned over her shoulder with a broad smirk.

"That’s exactly why you came here, to my watchpoint. Come on, I’ll show you everything. You haven’t met any Renegades before, have you?"

Adam shook his head.

"Good."

Clutch.

Laroza gripped Adam’s shoulder tightly as his eyes followed her hand.

Before he had a chance to realize it, Laroza leaned forward slightly and leaped upward.

In a single powerful leap, she covered hundreds of meters, rapidly approaching the Blind Eye Tower.

Adam hadn’t expected her to take him along, but it was a good opportunity to get a better sense of where he was.

He had already seen the Blind Eye Tower, but what interested him was to the right. He wanted to figure out where that lizard had come from.

"W-What the hell...?" Adam’s eyes widened as a vast lake, nestled deep within a rocky plateau, came into view.

The water was dark gray, but what made his expression freeze was a giant horned skull right in the center and six sharp bones resembling ribs sticking out.

"Hmm? What’s wrong?" Lozara glanced at him, confused.

Then, she realized what was going on here.

"Oh, right, this is your first time seeing Tooth Lake."

"Tooth Lake?" Adam blinked a few times. "What kind of strange name is that?"

Lozara shrugged.

"Well, if you saw what’s going on at the bottom of it, you wouldn’t have any more questions. It’s one of the territories I have to keep an eye on. Although there are never any problems with Tooth Lake, it’s a pretty peaceful place."

Adam spun around sharply to face her.

"Are you saying this is just one of the territories under your supervision? Are there no other Awakened Monsters here besides you?"

Laroza waved her hand.

"Something like that. The Tarnished Lands are a vast territory, and unlike other lands, most monsters are concentrated in the cities or areas near them. But we, the Renegades, must maintain control over this land, especially over the Deep Ring."

Laroza decided it would be better to show him.

Whooooosh!

She was jolted high into the air as they broke through the clouds.

In the next moment, Adam’s view opened up to reveal not only the Blind Eye Tower and Tooth Lake, but also the monster city in the distance, Varreyn, as well as many other places glowing with light that night, all within their field of vision.