I Became The Novel's Biggest Antagonist

"Or perhaps the fault lies with her father."

Vincent's gaze locked onto Adam, scrutinizing him with an intensity that could make most crumble under its weight.

But Adam, despite his frail appearance, stood firm. There wasn't even a flicker of hesitation in his eyes as he returned Vincent's stare, a quiet resilience that piqued the older man's interest.

"And who might you be?" Vincent asked. "Another of Irisdina's ineffectual companions?"

"It hardly concerns you who I am," Adam replied. "Personal information should only be exchanged between individuals who respect and trust one another."

"Is that your justification for refusing to share even your name?" Vincent chuckled.

"No," Adam said, his tone turning cold. "The reason I won't tell you my name is simpler than that—it's my selfish choice. I don't share it with anyone who stoops so low as to strike their own daughter."

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Vincent's eyes narrowed. "Some children need discipline—sometimes harsh discipline—if they are to learn from their mistakes." He shook off Adam's grip on his sleeve and added with a sneer, "Perhaps your parents failed to teach you the proper decorum when addressing a noble elder."

Adam's lips curled into the faintest semblance of a smile, though it lacked warmth. He slipped his hands into his pockets. "Unfortunately for you, I have no parents. I grew up an orphan—I never had the chance to know them."

"That explains quite a bit," Vincent said with a scoff.

"But I was raised," Adam continued, "by someone I consider a father. He took in me and another girl. He never once raised his hand against us, yet we both became the most sought-after individuals in our country."

Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Sought after? You? For what reason, I wonder?"

His tone was dripping with condescension as he cast a derisive glance over Adam. There was nothing outwardly remarkable about him—nothing, save for his composed manner and his ability to speak with confidence, qualities Vincent grudgingly acknowledged but didn't find particularly impressive.

To Vincent, Adam was nothing more than an impudent boy—reckless and unaware of the world's harsher realities. In his mind, the young man's audacity stemmed solely from his ignorance, and it would only be a matter of time before that illusion shattered.

"I don't need to explain myself to you."

"Indeed," Vincent shot back, "and you have no right to lecture me about how I treat my daughter."

"You're correct. I have no such right," Adam replied. "But whether or not I offer advice is entirely my choice."

"Advice, was it?" Vincent sneered, sarcasm dripping from his words. "Should I take advice from someone who's barely even old enough to be called an adult?"

"It wasn't advice." Adam's voice dropped, his gaze hardening, his eyes flickering with a clear, dangerous glint—murderous intent.

"Think of it as a warning," he said coldly. "I don't tolerate parents striking their children without cause or restraint."

A heavy, stunned silence filled the room.

Julius gawked, his mouth hanging open in disbelief, while Lunevy, who also abhorred the idea of parents hitting their children, leaned in with interest. But it was Irisdina who appeared the most astonished. Never before had she seen anyone hold a conversation with her father—much less challenge him—without Vincent steering the discussion entirely.

'This boy…'

Vincent's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing as he assessed Adam. The threat in the young man's words was clear, and what unsettled him further was how genuine it felt. It was no hollow posturing—Adam seemed more than willing to follow through.

Suddenly, Adam reached into his pocket and produced a folded letter, handing it to Vincent.

"Here," he said simply.

Vincent's gaze flicked to the paper. Unfolding it, his eyes scanned the contents. The words caught his attention instantly.

"A Devil's Dungeon…" He muttered.

"The man residing rent free below your territory had deciphered the location of one of Asmodeus' Dungeons from the Book of Asmodeus," Adam explained. "Judging by the ink and the characteristics of the paper, I'd say he discovered the dungeon's location no more than three days ago. He likely planned to claim its treasures himself. Unfortunately for him, that's no longer an option."

Vincent's lips curved into a slow smile. "How fascinating."

Devil's Dungeons were rare and coveted. They were rumored to hold ancient artifacts of immense value—priceless relics from ages long past. Even a single artifact could rival the worth of the most sacred treasures, like Holy Coins. To find a dungeon was nothing short of extraordinary.

"And you made sure to tear away the location," Vincent said, his smile growing as he noticed the lower portion of the letter had been deliberately ripped. The handiwork was unmistakably Adam's.

"The location," Adam said, tapping his temple, "is right here."

Vincent's smile widened further. "I take back everything I thought about you. You are far more interesting than I gave you credit for. Tell me, what is it you want in exchange?"

"Complete secrecy regarding today's events on Long Street," Adam stated firmly. "The entire affair buried and classified. The implications of the World Order must never reach public knowledge. Additionally, I want VIP access to the dungeon when your house begins its excavation."

Vincent chuckled. "Your demands are far more selfish than I anticipated. Still...I can respect them. You have my word."

"I'll need it in writing, signed by you," Adam replied. He wasn't about to rely on mere promises.

With a quiet laugh, Vincent reached into a drawer and retrieved a blank sheet of paper. His hand moved fluidly as he penned the agreement. The room fell into a silence as Adam carefully scrutinized Vincent's every motion, ensuring the terms were exact.

Meanwhile, the others watched Adam dumbfounded, silently questioning who he truly was. By now, Lunevy and Julius were no longer surprised by Adam's cunning. It seemed clear that he had kept the dungeon's location in reserve, leveraging it at the perfect moment. Yet, they couldn't help but wonder: was this masterful negotiation part of a larger plan, or was he improvising on the fly?

The truth was simpler than they imagined—Adam hadn't planned any of it. The idea had only come to him moments ago. The rest was simply his ability to adapt and articulate a plan convincingly.

After finishing the document, Vincent added his signature before handing it to Adam. Adam read through the paper once more, meticulously verifying every word. Satisfied, he finally nodded, but then pointed out one final omission.

"My name. You should add it," Adam said.

"Oh?" Vincent raised a brow. "You're willing to give me your name now?"

"This document is sufficient proof of trust, however artificial and temporary that trust might be," Adam replied.

"I couldn't agree more," Vincent said as he awaited.

"Adam Crane," he said at last.

Vincent wrote the name, his gaze lingering on the young man before him before handing it to Adam who handed the remaining part of the letter with the coordinates.

But before Adam could retrieve the signed agreement, Vincent's hand shot out, gripping his arm. The older man's smile disappeared, replaced by a stern expression.

"This agreement is only valid if the Devil's Dungeon truly exists," Vincent said, in a warning tone. "If it doesn't, the consequences could be terrible—not just for the World Order, but for you as well."

"There won't be any consequences," Adam replied, pulling the document free from Vincent's grasp.

"For everyone's sake, I hope you're right," Vincent said, leaning back in his chair. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he gestured toward the door. "Now, leave my estate—all of you. That includes you as well, Irisdina."

Adam turned and exited first, his task complete. The situation wouldn't escalate further, and more importantly, Horizon wouldn't hear a whisper of anyone named Adam causing havoc using their name.

As the group stepped into the corridor, a worried voice called out.

"Iris! Are you okay?!" Agatha, who had been waiting anxiously outside, rushed toward Irisdina.

"Did he hit you?" Luke asked concerned as well.

"No, he didn't…" Irisdina answered, her gaze fixed on Adam as he walked ahead. He was speaking quietly to Lunevy and Julius, probably about the Devil's Dungeon.

Irisdina's fists tightened. Ignoring her friends, she quickened her pace and caught up with Adam.

"Um, Mr. Adam…"

Adam paused and turned to face her.

For a moment, Irisdina faltered, caught off guard by the intensity of his gaze. Now she understood what others had felt about him—there was something magnetic, something impossible to ignore about him.

"Thank you," she said finally sincerely. "Thank you for coming to my defense."

Adam's expression didn't change. "Next time, stand up to him yourself," he said bluntly. "Otherwise, you'll remain trapped in that place forever."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

He turned away, ready to leave, but Irisdina called out again.

"Wait—just one last thing!"

Adam glanced back, clearly impatient but willing to humor her. "What is it?"

Irisdina hesitated, fidgeting nervously before swiping her watch and bringing up a contact interface. "Can we... exchange numbers?"

Agatha and Luke froze, their mouths agape.

In all the years they'd known her, they had never seen Irisdina ask a man for his number—or show even a hint of interest in doing so.

Adam raised a brow, probing. "For what purpose?"

Julius, Agatha, and Luke nearly smacked their foreheads in unison. Adam's denseness to the situation was almost painful.

Irisdina hesitated, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

'Why am I even asking for his number?'

"Um... when my father gains rights over the Dungeon, I'll need to contact you," Irisdina said, her voice trailing off as she tried to justify her request.

Adam, as dense as ever, took the explanation at face value. He retrieved the phone he used for his 'Adam' persona and quickly hovered it over Irisdina's watch. A soft notification sound followed, and their numbers were now registered in each other's contacts.

With that, Adam gained his third contact—another woman—joining Luna-Evelyn and Ophelia in his list.

Irisdina cast a quick, nervous glance at Luna-Evelyn, wondering if she might be bothered by the exchange. To her relief, Luna-Evelyn seemed completely unperturbed. However, there was something almost naive about the way Lunevy viewed things—she would likely assume this had to do with the Devil's Dungeon and nothing more.

'Maybe it's not what I think…' Irisdina felt a flicker of hope, but she quickly shook her head. She had only asked for his number out of curiosity, nothing more!

Unaware of the conflict swirling in her mind, Adam turned to leave, followed by Lunevy and Julius.

"Are you sure about leaving the Devil's Dungeon?" Julius asked. "You could've made a fortune off it if you found the right buyers and people."

At the mention of money, Adam's expression darkened briefly, a flash of discomfort crossing his features—an echo of the influence James had on him. But just as quickly, he pushed the thought away.

"I have enough money to live comfortably," Adam replied.

"As expected of someone from Horizon," Julius chuckled. "They do pay their employees very well." He sighed, then turned toward Lunevy. "Anyway, we should give our reports."

Lunevy nodded in agreement and began to turn away, but then, as if on impulse, she turned back and raised her hand in a stiff, robotic wave. "Bye."

It was almost cute how awkward she was.

Adam, equally robotic, nodded in kind, but then added one last thing. "I'll contact you again if I find more about Krainel Salvador."

Lunevy nodded appreciatively. "Understood."

"Don't forget to take at least two days of rest. You should tell Mr. Stephen the same," Adam said with a faint but purposeful glance.

"Understood," Lunevy nodded again.

For a brief moment, both of them stood there, exchanging an unspoken understanding. Julius, left standing off to the side, suddenly felt like a third wheel. The air between Adam and Lunevy was strange, and he couldn't quite place what was happening.

Then in unison both turned around and parted ways.

'What the hell is going on between those two?'

Confusion clouded his mind as he decided the best course of action was to quickly report today's events and then get a long, restful sleep.