Martial Era: Starting With The Strongest Talent-Chapter 51: Finally Here

The door to the pod room hissed open.

Adam stepped out calmly, his expression relaxed, as if he hadn’t just spent hours slaughtering digital monsters.

He passed the counter where the attendant stood stiffly upright and gave him a small nod.

The attendant immediately bowed his head in return.

Over the past two days, Adam had given him nothing but sleepless nights, logging in early and playing until well after closing hours. Now that Adam had chosen not to extend his hours today, the attendant had no intention of annoying him in the slightest.

Politeness was safer.

Adam glanced at him one last time before heading for the exit.

From the experience he’d had with Adam, the attendant silently swore he would never try that stunt again with any other martial artist.

It was obvious that, Adam could have paid for hours that didn’t spill past closing time. The only reason he hadn’t was because the attendant had tricked him first.

Lesson learned.

Adam stepped out of the arcade.

It was midday.

The sun hung directly overhead, blazing down on the street. Heat shimmered faintly off the pavement as Adam adjusted to the brightness.

Then he stopped.

Standing right in front of him was a group of martial artists.

Adam recognized the martial artists the moment he saw them.

There were five of them.

But only one mattered.

The other four were clearly just goons, ornaments meant to announce status rather than provide protection.

The man had long black hair tied in a ponytail, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, possessing a fierce auburn stare.

Adam had seen him in the hall when he first arrived in the sector.

A clan heir.

To be honest, Adam didn’t even need to remember him to know that much.

It wasn’t the expensive silk attire draped over his body, nor the faint but unmistakable scent of high-grade herbal medicine, the kind used to temper the body over long periods that gave it away. It wasn’t even the fact that he moved with an entourage wherever he went.

It was the attitude.

That effortless nonchalance.

That quiet contempt.

A presence that looked down on the world as if everything else existed merely to fill space.

The way his gaze landed on Adam made it obvious. It wasn’t hostility. It wasn’t curiosity.

It was the look one gave a speck of dust, something that could be flicked away without a second thought.

At that moment, one of the goons stepped forward and barked,

"Are you crippled? Make way for the young master this instant!"

Adam’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The other three goons watched him closely, uncertain, waiting to see what he would do.

Adam did nothing; he just watched them for a breath before simply walking forward.

He passed the speaking goon without even turning his head, slipping between the three at the back. Instinctively, and without realizing why, they parted to make room for him.

Adam walked past the clan heir last, but he didn’t spare him a single glance.

Not one.

He continued on his way, heading back toward the hotel as if none of them had existed in the first place.

The goon who had spoken stood frozen, shock written across his face. He turned, about to speak.

But a raised hand stopped him.

The clan heir moved past, expression unchanged, and entered the arcade. The others followed immediately.

The goon lingered for a moment, glancing back.

Adam was already far away.

He clicked his tongue softly and hurried after the others, falling in last.

As Adam made his way back to the hotel, he found his thoughts circling back to the clan heir.

That condescending look.

Normally, he wouldn’t have cared. He’d seen arrogance before, plenty of it. But this time, it lingered, scratching at the back of his mind.

Because the heir wasn’t even that strong.

Don’t get him wrong, by ordinary standards, the man was formidable. He would wipe the floor with the manager back in his Sector without breaking a sweat. But Adam was certain of one thing.

If they fought?

I’d be the one standing at the end.

That realization irritated him more than it should have.

What do they even want to do at the arcade? Adam thought, irritation sharpening.

The exploration starts tomorrow, and they’re wasting the day playing games. Make that make sense.

Of course, Adam’s case was different.

He hadn’t played for entertainment. He was learning and Extracting value.

But a clan heir?

Someone who’d been fed resources since the moment they were still in their mother’s womb? Someone who had likely started killing monsters the moment they learned how to walk?

What did they have to learn from an arcade?

Adam scoffed quietly.

Another man’s food is another man’s poison.

He had gained a lot from Essence Online, insights he couldn’t have obtained anywhere else. For him, it was invaluable.

For the heir?

It looked like nothing more than a waste of time.

Adam shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside.

He reached the hotel at last.

Tomorrow was the big day.

Now was the time to relax.

No distractions.

"Mr. Adam."

The voice stopped him the moment he stepped into the hotel lobby.

Adam halted and turned toward the source. It was the receptionist. She was looking at him with a polite, professional smile, as he walked over.

"Is there an issue?"

She shook her head quickly.

"There’s no issue, Mr. Adam. You have a package."

Adam smiled faintly.

It’s finally here.

The receptionist bent down and brought out a sleek briefcase. After Adam signed and confirmed ownership, she handed it over with both hands. Adam nodded in thanks and gave her a small wave before heading for the elevators.

Back in his room, he closed, and locked, the door behind him.

The briefcase rested heavily in his hand. Inside sat the armament he’d duped... or rather, that the Mission Hall had provided at a generous discount.

Adam set the briefcase on the table and opened it without hesitation. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Click.

The latches snapped free.

Emerald light reflected in Adam’s eyes as they gleamed with anticipation, his focus sharpening the moment the contents were revealed.