Adam stood silently amidst the stunned crowd of villagers, his posture calm and composed. One hand rested lightly on the hilt of the black sword strapped to his waist, while the other remained hidden beneath his cloak.

His hidden hand twitched slightly, as if ready to strike at any moment. The samurai under Robin’s command, standing opposite him, could not see his concealed hand.

Robin, however, was not as bewildered as the villagers. His sharp gaze remained fixed on Adam His eyes narrowed slightly, like a predator sizing up its prey, as thoughts raced through his mind.

"Who is this man?" Robin pondered. "I’ve never heard of him before. No reports, no information…"

Behind him, standing slightly in the shadows, Sinu was in a completely different state.

His eyes widened as he stared at Adam, recognizing him instantly. Sinu had been searching for Adam for a long time but hadn’t expected to see him here, much less witness him take down two of their samurai with such ease.

Sinu’s thoughts spiraled into panic.He wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead, his hand trembling slightly.

He clenched his fists, trying to mask his anxiety. "If Robin discovers the truth—that Adam is a magician—it will expose everything I’ve been hiding."

But his confusion deepened as he watched Adam. "If he’s truly a magician, how is he so skilled with the sword? This is… impossible."

Meanwhile, Robin’s expression turned thoughtful, his mind working through the puzzle before him. Adam’s stance, presence, and combat abilities seemed to defy any conventional explanation.

Breaking the silence, Robin finally spoke, his voice laced with curiosity and authority. “Who are you?”

Although Robin knows almost all the members present in his hideout, he is unable to understand Adam's sword fighting style as he has never seen Adam till date but Adam knows his sword fighting style.

The villagers held their breath, their eyes darting between Adam and Robin.

A child clung to his father’s leg, peeking out from behind him to get a better look at Adam, however, remained calm, locking his piercing gaze onto Robin’s.

After a brief pause, Adam responded, his eyes seemed to glow faintly, like embers in the dark, his tone steady but firm, “This is your last warning. Leave now.”

Robin blinked, seemingly caught off guard by the directness of Adam’s words. He remained quiet for a few seconds, digesting the unexpected reply.

Behind him, Sinu’s panic grew. His eyes darted nervously between Robin and Adam, his thoughts consumed by fear. 'If Robin starts asking questions about Adam’s identity, I won’t have any answers.'

But before Sinu could act, Robin surprised everyone. He began to laugh.

The laugh was soft at first, but it quickly grew louder, filling the air. Robin raised a hand to his head as if in amusement, his laughter echoing across the village square.

The sound unsettled the villagers, who whispered amongst themselves.

An old woman muttered, “Is this really happening?” while clutching her shawl tighter.

Robin’s laughter suddenly stopped, and he straightened his posture, fixing his sharp gaze on Adam. “Now I understand,” he said, his voice low and deliberate. “I’ve been wondering why I don’t recognize you. You don’t seem like a member of Sword Clan, nor have I heard your name before. But now it’s clear.”

The moment he said this, Sinu’s anxiety peaked.

A drop of sweat rolled down his temple, but he didn’t dare wipe it away.

His voice was so quiet, only he could hear it. “This is bad… really bad.” Sweat dripped down his forehead as he muttered under his breath, “No… this can’t be happening…”

Robin ignored him and continued, his tone laced with mockery. “You’re Jordan’s student, aren’t you? The traitor Jordan. That’s who trained you.”

Adam’s expression remained unreadable as he listened. He didn’t react, didn’t respond, and simply continued to stare at Robin.

Robin smirked, clearly satisfied with his deduction. “I knew it,” he said. “I was wondering why you appeared out of nowhere, why you’re so skilled. It all makes sense now. You think showing up here like some hero will scare us?”

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He gestured to the samurai standing around him.

His hand swept through the air like a blade, emphasizing his words. “Let me tell you something, boy. These men have seen more battles than you’ve seen days. Your theatrics won’t intimidate them.”

Adam stayed silent, his stoic demeanor unchanging. His calmness only seemed to fuel Robin’s arrogance.

Robin’s smirk faded, replaced by a serious expression. “You think you’ll waltz in here, defeat my men, and be celebrated as a hero? Let me tell you something—you don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

The villagers, who had been listening intently, exchanged worried glances. Robin’s words sent a wave of unease through the crowd.

A man tightened his grip on his farming tool, his knuckles turning white. For some, the realization of Adam’s past was shocking. For others, Robin’s confidence was terrifying.

Even Sinu was taken aback. His mind raced as he watched Robin unravel Adam’s history so effortlessly. 'Did Young Master know all this beforehand? Or is he just that perceptive?'

Robin laughed again,

The sound was sharp and cold, making the villagers shiver despite the warm sun, his voice carrying over the tense crowd. “You’re from this very village,” he declared, pointing at Adam. “And you were trained by that traitor, Jordan.”

He threw his head back and laughed even harder, his voice echoing ominously across the village. The sound sent chills down the villagers’ spines as they looked on, a child whimpered, burying his face in his mother’s skirt. their fears mounting.

Robin’s laughter echoed across the village, sending chills down the spines of those gathered. The villagers, already gripped by fear, instinctively moved closer to one another.

A child clung to his mother’s skirt, his small hands trembling as he peeked out at Robin. Some exchanged worried glances, their anxiety mirrored in their trembling hands gripping makeshift weapons.

Yet, amidst the tension, a few villagers found a sliver of hope,

An old man whispered to his neighbor, “Adam’s here. He’ll save us.” His voice was shaky but hopeful, whispering to each other about Adam's presence as if clinging to a lifeline.

In front of the crowd stood Ricky, Sham, Eric, and Rachel. Their faces were a mixture of shock and disbelief.

Robin had uncovered Adam’s identity with startling speed, leaving no doubt about why he held a high rank within the Sword Clan.

Adam, however, remained an immovable figure of calm.

His breathing was steady, his chest rising and falling in a slow, controlled rhythm.

His expression, unwavering and unreadable, betrayed none of the chaos swirling around him. He stood tall, his hand resting lightly on his sword's hilt, his demeanor almost dismissive, as though Robin’s words were little more than idle chatter.

Robin, finally quieting his laughter, shifted his tone to something far more menacing.

His gaze locked onto Adam, and his voice cut through the air like a blade. “Do you really think you can protect these villagers on your own? Do you even realize who stands before you?”

Without waiting for an answer, Robin extended his arms outward, palms open, and tilted his head toward the sky. His voice boomed with arrogance.

“Before you stands the Sword Clan! Even the Royal Family, the Noble Families, and Magicians tremble before us! And you—some no-name brat—dare to stand against us? You think you can win?”

He paused for a moment, his smirk returning. “I laugh at your foolishness!” His laughter rang out again, harsher this time, but it was abruptly cut short. Robin’s expression darkened as he fixed his piercing eyes back on Adam.

“But no,” Robin said, his voice now cold and deliberate. “I won’t kill you. No, that would be too easy. You’re far too arrogant for that. I want to see that arrogance shattered. I want to see you writhing in the dirt, begging for mercy.”

Behind his calm façade, Robin’s frustration was evident.

His jaw tightened, and his fingers twitched toward his sword, but he didn’t draw it.

Adam’s composure was unlike anything he had encountered before. Most people cowered at the mere mention of the Sword Clan, let alone when confronted by one of its high-ranking members.

But Adam stood unflinching, his demeanor almost mocking.

Robin gritted his teeth, his frustration mounting. He needed to break Adam—not just physically but mentally. And he had the perfect plan.

“You think you’re strong?” Robin taunted. “I’ll show you how hollow your so-called power truly is. Since you care so much about these villagers, let’s see how well you can protect them.”

Robin extended one hand and gestured sharply forward. “Samurai!” he barked.

Immediately, twenty samurai stepped forward from the surrounding formation, their movements precise and disciplined.

Their boots crunched on the gravel, the sound sharp and rhythmic, like a death march.

Half of them charged directly toward Adam, their blades gleaming in the fading sunlight. The other half broke off to the left, rushing toward the defenseless villagers.

Their eyes were cold and focused, like predators closing in on prey.

Robin grinned wickedly, his eyes never leaving Adam. “What will you do now, boy? Protect yourself, or save the villagers? Either way, I’ll show you how powerless you truly are.”

The villagers gasped as the samurai approached, gripping their rudimentary weapons tightly.

A woman clutched her baby tighter, her eyes darting between Adam and the advancing samurai. A few tried to organize a defensive line, but fear was evident in their trembling hands. The sound of approaching footsteps and clinking armor filled the air, heightening the tension.

Meanwhile, the samurai rushing toward Adam were only meters away, their faces determined and unyielding. Robin watched eagerly, his anticipation growing. He called out once more, his voice dripping with malice.

“These samurai won’t kill you, Boy. Not yet. No, they’ll cripple you—take your arms, your legs. And then, you’ll watch as we slaughter every last one of these villagers. Only then will I grant you the mercy of death.”

Adam’s calm gaze shifted slightly, his eyes flickering toward the advancing samurai. Yet, his expression remained unchanged—calm, composed, and utterly unfazed. His stillness stood in stark contrast to the chaos erupting around him.

His fingers twitched slightly, as if ready to strike at any moment.

The villagers braced themselves as the other group of samurai drew closer, clutching their weapons in desperation. Fear rippled through the crowd, but a flicker of determination remained in their eyes.

A young man tightened his grip on his farming tool, his knuckles turning white.

Robin’s grin widened as he observed the scene, convinced of his impending victory. The tension reached its peak as the first wave of samurai closed in on Adam.

And with that, the chapter ended.