Chapter 269: Earnest Guidance!
The Looming Power Struggle
Dr. Brown's words chilled Hyde Clym to the bone, but he quickly realized he wasn't completely out of the game.
Joel Nash had lost his memory, which meant he had lost his judgment and cognitive ability. Such a person obviously couldn't bear the immense responsibility of the presidency. If he recovered quickly, that was one thing. But if it took a long time or if the recovery was poor, Congress and the Senate would inevitably intervene, and the public would voice its dissatisfaction.
At that point, Hyde could exploit the situation, destroy Nash's public image, and, if necessary, even expose the demon Ghast, leaving Joel Nash with no political footing.
After repeated deliberation, Hyde clenched his fist, finally making a decision.
The presidential chair was within reach. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. To miss it would be a source of lifelong regret.
Kylek, the Senate Pro Tempore, harbored the exact same thoughts. Both were in the line of succession, and facing such a golden chance, there was no way they would let it slip away.
As the two began to deploy their schemes, the already turbulent White House became even more fraught with hidden dangers.
Adam's Silent Struggle
Two days passed quickly.
Due to the silence from the White House, many rumors circulated online about the President's condition: some claimed he was critically ill, others that he had died, and some even that he was controlled by aliens. The most widely believed rumor was that of amnesia. Someone had leaked the news, and anchors from major media outlets like ABC, NBC, and CBS all published reports, claiming the President had suffered brain trauma and developed amnesia. Various government officials also used hints and subtle suggestions to confirm this narrative.
The entire nation was thrown into turmoil. With the election imminent, they had two candidates: one with Alzheimer's and one with amnesia. Was this a divine curse sent by God?
Public opinion was in an uproar. Affected by the news, the crime rate in major cities skyrocketed. Meanwhile, the central figure of the entire incident—President Joel Nash—remained silently seated on the sofa.
Since waking up, he had maintained this state, ignoring everyone and saying nothing. Apart from eating and sleeping, he spent the rest of his time staring blankly at the sofa.
The medical team claimed this was a manifestation of cognitive disorder, and there was nothing to do but wait. The First Lady was furious and immediately dismissed the team, personally hiring three brain specialists to treat her husband.
After a series of treatments, the results remained unchanged. Joel Nash still said nothing, spending his days either frowning or deep in thought, though no one knew what occupied his mind.
Seeing this, the First Lady felt her world collapsing. All her power, fame, and status came from her husband. If he did not recover, the presidency would inevitably be replaced, and everything she possessed would vanish.
Kate Nash would not allow this, but she could find no solution. She could only sit by her husband with her daughter every day, hoping he might remember something.
In fact, Joel Nash was fully lucid—or rather, Adam was. The reason he maintained this state was due to the acting lessons Ava had compiled.
Acting relies on changes in the eyes, facial expressions, and body language. Only by combining these three could he deceive others. The problem was that Adam wasn't human; he was the product of necromancy, a cold-blooded undead being. His soul contained only the options of slaughter and obedience. How could he possibly understand and express human emotions like love, hate, and sorrow?
If you can't understand an emotion, how can you imitate it?
The Young Master had instructed him to first learn to smile. Adam tried countless times in the dead of night, but no matter how wide he stretched his mouth, his eyes remained icy, emitting a chilling killing intent.
Other people's smiles were heartwarming; his smile could scare a person to death.
Adam knew this wouldn't work, but he couldn't change it. In desperation, he chose silence, which was the best cover for now, but not a permanent solution as the election drew closer and he would eventually need to speak.
The Secret Lesson
At one in the morning, as darkness settled over Blair House, Joel Nash on the hospital bed opened his eyes. He got up, went into the restroom, and retrieved a wooden box from the inside of the ventilation duct.
He opened the lid to reveal a delicate, silver-gray wristwatch. Joel Nash put on the watch and turned the circular dial at the bottom clockwise. Blue light shot out from the face, forming a virtual screen.
The person on the other side of the screen was Luke.
"Young Master!"
Luke frowned. "I've told you before, don't call me 'Young Master' until you resign from the presidency. Call me Phantom."
"Understood, Young Master."
Luke was silent. Well, what could he say? He couldn't exactly hang him up and beat him.
"How is the acting going?"
"It is difficult. I cannot learn it."
"Just stretch your mouth and squint your eyes, like this..." Luke pulled up the corners of his mouth into a wide, cheerful smile. "...You can't even do that?"
Adam imitated the expression precisely. The smile instantly froze on Luke's face. He realized he had made a basic mistake. Adam wasn't human; he was a cold, emotionless undead creature. His soul held only obedience and slaughter. How could he possibly grasp other emotions?
How can you imitate something you don't understand?
Realizing this, Luke sighed helplessly.
"Forget it. If you can't learn it, don't bother. Just maintain this current expression from now on."
"That will expose me."
Luke sneered. "They won't be able to expose you as long as you never recall your past. The White House officials know your story—a poor man possessed by a demon for years whose soul was damaged. It's expected that your personality would change. The key is consistency. Since you've chosen to present a cold face, you must stick with it and never change. Understood?"
"Understood, Young Master. What should I do next?"
"You need to learn how to be a President. Understand everything from every perspective. But remember, don't appear too smart. You must learn gradually and, while you're learning, create small troubles."
"What kind of small troubles?"
"Resistance and hostility. For example, if someone forces you to study knowledge, you should resist appropriately, creating verbal conflicts and minor physical altercations. You need to let people see your uncertainty. Only then will they not doubt your identity." Luke paused, feeling a sudden wave of helplessness.
"Can you understand what I'm saying?"
Adam nodded gently. "Create trouble for others so they have no time to doubt me."
Luke was momentarily speechless. Well, that's not technically wrong.
"You must wear this watch at all times. I'll have Ava send you files regularly. You need to thoroughly review the contents of those files. Remember, you are now the President of the United States. You must learn to think and solve problems like a President."
"Also, your wife, Kate Nash, is a critical figure. You absolutely must maintain a good relationship with her. Only if your marital relationship is harmonious will she fully defend you and help you solve problems."
"How should I do that?"
"The fastest way to maintain a good relationship with a woman is to go to bed with her. The First Lady is just turning fifty; she should have those needs. You must satisfy her as much as possible."
As he said this, Luke felt an inexplicable urge to slap himself.
Damn it, how could I suggest this? I just tricked her daughter, and now I'm telling my servant to trick her mother. This is too shameless!
Adam frowned, seemingly trying to process the meaning of the words. After a moment, he slowly asked,
"After going to bed, what do I do next?"
Luke was silent.
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