Endless Evolution: Last Star

After receiving the Nove Blast, Adam spent the next three days resting and spending time with Silvana and his family.

He had no reason to rush.

He couldn’t activate the Frenzied Flame right now, since that would require him to travel to the Hollow Lands, so he decided to do the things he usually didn’t have time for.

But before heading to Radiant Branch, he had one meeting – a rather important one.

Step. Step. Step.

He and Silvana walked down the street. Adam held a caramel ice cream, and Silvana had a coffee. Her hair was just as long as it had been after her training session with Aiden. She’d decided to keep it that way for now.

“Strangely, she wanted to meet us here instead of at some secret government or military building,” Silvana said before taking a sip of her coffee.

Adam popped a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth and shrugged.

“Well, to most people, she’s just a soldier, so there’s nothing unusual about that. In fact, we’re getting way more attention right now than she is. “

He wasn’t lying.

While Adam was in the Dead Lands, carrying out missions and fulfilling conditions for the Grand Stars, his popularity as a Phantom had been growing.

If a Phantom was alive and remained active, his popularity would inevitably grow. That was the rule for everyone. Moreover, if a Phantom became stronger after returning, that too quickly made the news.

How did people find out whether Adam had become stronger or not, as well as other details?

Well, the major media outlets and their reporters had long since established a network of informants among the Phantoms. Moreover, ordinary people had their own ways of getting information, whether through rumors or leaks from reliable sources.

It was an entire industry where there was big money and high view counts.

After all, every powerful Phantom was more famous than a celebrity, but finding a Phantom who would consistently give interviews was practically impossible.

By the time a Phantom had reached true power, whether at K3 or K4 level, most of them had long since outgrown the desire for fame and recognition.

Ironically, the stronger and older a Phantom became, the more he craved peace and quiet.

Moreover, just a few days ago, Adam’s popularity on websites and in the media had surged.

There were two reasons for this: He had returned to the Citadel, and he had been invited to Radiant Branch.

Yes, Radiant Branch was not a secret event known only to the Phantoms invited there.

Why?

It all came down to the nobles.

If something was connected to them, the media and reporters would quickly find out all the details. It was inevitable.

If anyone among the Phantoms wanted popularity and recognition, it was definitely the nobles. Perhaps it was simply their nature, or perhaps it was their upbringing or just the environment in which they grew up.

Thus, every time Adam and Silvana appeared on the street over the past three days, within a few minutes there were people filming them from a distance with their phones.

Adam and Silvana simply paid no attention to it.

They could either go along with it or hide and plan a route that took them only through the most deserted places.

“Damn, is it just me, or are there even more people today?” Adam looked around.

His gaze fell on a young man who was holding his phone with trembling hands.

Adam waved in greeting as the young man’s eyes lit up.

“Huh, it’s not so bad, though I’d prefer it if they weren’t here.”

Silvana shrugged.

“It’s inevitable. It’s a good thing she chose a suitable place for our meeting, no one will bother us here.”

They stopped as Silvana looked up.

In front of them stood a tall glass-and-concrete building. At the top, on the right, was an open area with trees and custom decorations. This was the restaurant where they were supposed to meet.

“Yeah, these onlookers won’t be able to enter this building, let alone even see us. It’s a good spot.”

They approached the entrance, where today, instead of guards, two soldiers were standing. As soon as they saw Adam, they nodded and let them through.

“Mr. Adam, Ms. Silvana, you’re expected.”

“Good.”

Thump.

The elevator doors closed as Adam and Silvana rode up to the sound of a pleasant melody.

Adam quickly finished his ice cream and sat up straight. Because of the reason they were here, he felt formal.

When the elevator stopped, they stepped out, and their view opened up to a calm and quiet restaurant where the prices were steep even for residents of the First Ring. However, only people who were willing to spend large sums of money to discuss important matters, knowing that no one would disturb them, dined here.

In the very corner, at a large table next to a tree bursting with lush foliage, sat a young woman with light hair and deep blue eyes.

She looked no older than 20. Perhaps she was a model or simply from a very wealthy family, that’s what ordinary people who saw her here would have thought.

But Adam and Silvana knew that this girl was dozens of times older than anyone else here.

Step. Step. Step.

Adam stopped in front of the table as the girl looked at him. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe as the corners of her mouth turned upward.

“Nice to see you, Adam Vinter.”

Farla blinked.

“I love Phantoms who carry out the missions set before them.”

Adam smirked and sat down across from her, without waiting for an invitation. Silvana quietly followed suit.

“Well, I didn’t have any other choice. I couldn’t just walk away knowing that somewhere in the Gray Sea there was such a dangerous Lord. Though I have to say that Breydar turned out to be stronger than I expected.”

It was Farla who had asked him to kill Breydar. It had been a mission from the Citadel and one of the reasons why he had gone to the Citadel.

“I know. I have to apologize for that. My information wasn’t precise enough. But… Considering your strength, you managed it.”

She touched his hand as her aura flickered for a moment.

“Tell me all about it, Adam. A K4-Phantom who can kill the Viscounts? Maybe that’s exactly what our Citadel needed.”