The two thugs immediately left the area and headed toward Joy City. They shed their disguises along the way. Joy City always looked like a never-ending party—a place where night never truly arrived. Red, blue, and yellow neon lights flickered across the streets, casting strange shadows on the walls. Loud music from entertainment clubs mixed with the drunken laughter of wandering crowds. From afar, the city looked like a paradise for anyone seeking pleasure. But up close, the colors were nothing more than a thin layer covering the madness beneath.
Inside a tall building decorated with a smiling clown logo, there was a massive meeting room. The walls were lined with circus-style posters, while the hanging chandelier above swayed gently as if dancing, even though there was no wind.
At the center sat a man in a blue suit.
A white mask covered his face, carved with a single long, unnatural smile. The cheeks of the mask were painted red, as if wearing excessive blush. His hair was hidden beneath a dark-blue formal hat with a black ribbon. In his hand, he held a slim cane, tapping it rhythmically against the floor a calm rhythm that still made the atmosphere feel suffocating.
He was Adam.
One of the most dangerous people within Happiness.
Beside him stood a young woman with bright blonde hair and an expression that never changed. Her movements were quiet and elegant, her figure slim beneath a long black coat. She wore a half-mask covering the upper part of her face.
Her name was Alice the same woman who had been strangled earlier. The appearance in the previous chapter had been nothing more than an illusion her decoy form created through her card ability.
Alice possessed a Buff-type card: Eyes of Truth, allowing her to see hesitation, deception, and the true information hidden behind any expression. She rarely spoke, but her gaze was sharp, dissecting every emotion of those she observed.
On the other side stood a large man with a simple, almost vacant smile. His body was big not muscular, but heavy. His posture rigid like a loyal guard.
His name was Orgard.
He nodded at every word Adam said, never questioning, never thinking only obeying.
Adam played with his cane as he let out a soft laugh.
"So… how are the reports from my two useless children?" he said in a singsong, mocking voice.
Orgard quickly raised his hand. "Boss, we followed the plan. We lured Kael and… yes, he showed up. But…"
Orgard glanced at Alice as if asking for support. She didn't respond only tilted her head slightly.
Adam stopped tapping his cane. The silence was instant. The air thickened.
"But?" Adam's voice dropped not loud, but dangerous.
Orgard swallowed hard. "He… he wasn't Kael, boss."
Adam laughed not a normal laugh, but a shrill, broken clown laugh that rose and fell unnaturally.
"Not Kael. Haha. NOT KAEL. Of course not." He slammed his cane onto the floor. "I said it from the beginning. The soul inside that body isn't his."
Alice finally spoke, her voice calm yet cold.
"There is another entity inside him. Not Kael. Not the killer's soul we recognize."
Adam turned to her sharply. "Ahhh, Alice, my dear. Always accurate. Always precise. Always confirming the lies of others."
He dragged his fingers down his own mask with dramatic slowness.
"Do you know why I ordered you two to corner him in that alley?"
"M-maybe to confirm it?" Orgard answered hesitantly.
"Wrong," Adam whispered, each syllable cutting sharp.
He stepped close, grabbing Orgard's collar and pulling him in.
"I wanted to see how the false soul reacts when it is pushed to the brink."
His grip tightened. Orgard trembled, but Alice didn't move—clearly used to this.
Adam let go abruptly. Orgard nearly fell.
"And the result…" Adam chuckled. "The result was beautiful."
Alice nodded slightly. "He possesses a space-type card. Extremely dangerous. Even for us."
Adam's eyes, hidden behind the mask, were full of madness.
"Azaroth. A good name. Red eyes. A black void. One law… one restriction… one miniature world."
"So what should we do now, boss?" Orgard asked, voice trembling.
Adam turned toward the giant window, overlooking Joy City glowing like a chaotic stage.
"For now… we simply observe. Whoever is wearing Kael's body will draw out Seek Peace."
Alice added softly, "Including Arden."
Adam smiled beneath the mask.
"Especially Arden."
He tapped his cane lightly.
"Now, let's check on our two big clowns fighting over their stage."
He gestured for Alice and Orgard to follow.
In another room, dim lights illuminated a circular arena.
Two factions stood on opposite sides, facing each other.
On one side stood a flexible man in a red circus clown outfit. He wore a wide-smiling clown mask and a tall hat. In his hand was a long, glowing red scythe. His movements were graceful almost like a dancer.
His name was Jesper.
He swung his scythe lazily, but each swing left a red trace humming in the air.
"Hahaha, you all look so tense. Relax. I won't kill anyone… unless you bore me," Jesper said, leaning theatrically.
On the opposing side stood a tall man nearly two meters high. His muscles were thick, his veins visible, but his expression was calm and composed. His short black hair and sharp eyes showed discipline, not chaos.
His name was Edgardo.
His Buff-type card, Strong Man, allowed him to crush steel like bread when activated.
Unlike Jesper, Edgardo did not attack without reason.
"Jesper," Edgardo said evenly. "Your group attacked my area again."
Jesper laughed. "Your area? Everything here belongs to Happiness. There is no 'mine' or 'yours.' Only a stage and mine feels too small lately."
Edgardo didn't take the bait. "You killed three of my men for nothing."
"There was a reason," Jesper replied casually. "I was bored."
Edgardo's fists tightened, cracks appearing in the floor. "If you want a duel, we can settle it. But stop interfering with my operations."
Jesper tilted his head like a broken puppet. "A duel? Edgardo, Edgardo… you're always so stiff. So disciplined. So boring."
He swung his scythe to one of Edgardo's men. A thin line of blood appeared instantly.
"As I said… discipline is boring."
Edgardo stepped forward, aura heavy. "Enough."
Jesper grinned wider. "Ah, finally a reaction!"
Tension thickened. The entire room felt ready to erupt.
Then, slow clapping echoed.
Adam entered with Alice and Orgard behind him.
Adam walked between them, smiling beneath his mask.
"I enjoy watching Happy Family drama. But sadly… I need both of you alive."
Jesper withdrew his scythe slightly. "Then give me another show."
Edgardo sighed. "You said we had other business."
Adam nodded. "Yes. Octo called for us."
On the lowest floor, hidden deep inside the building, was a massive secret laboratory. Soft green lights reflected off metal surfaces, and the air carried a sharp chemical scent.
At the center worked a man in his early thirties. He was thin, his black hair messy, eyes sharp yet devoid of emotion as if he hadn't slept in days. His lab coat was stained with purple and blue chemicals.
He was Octo.
The man Seek Peace had been hunting.
A subordinate rushed in. "Sir Octo, the new samples have arrived."
Octo didn't respond. He poured a purple liquid into another container, examining its glow.
His mouth curved into a smile. "Perfect. The reaction is stable. The effect increases by two hundred fifty percent."
"That's too dangerous, sir," the subordinate whispered.
Octo looked at him with cold, empty eyes. "Danger is the point. Isn't it?"
The subordinate fell silent.
"With this," Octo continued, "Joy City will never run out of customers. We'll dominate the market. And of course… chaos will follow."
His laugh was quiet, but eerie emotionless, forced by logic rather than feeling.
Adam entered with Alice and Orgard.
"How's progress, Octo?"
Octo turned, smiling faintly. "Right on time. Want a demonstration?"
Adam clapped gently. "I'd love to."
Alice examined the tubes. "Side effects?"
Octo grinned wider. "Almost everything. Total dependence. Hallucinations. Addiction. Even permanent mental damage."
Adam nodded joyfully. "Oh, I love that word. Permanent."
In Adam's mind, satisfaction boiled. He had finally secured Octo the best drug creator in the region. And he obtained him through a long, ruthless negotiation that ended with a deal: Happiness would give Octo control over 35% of their territory.
Of course, the promise was fake.
And when all this was over, Adam had no intention of letting Octo live.
"You're pathetic, Octo," Adam muttered inwardly. "Stay a greedy puppet."
Edgardo approached. "Isn't this too dangerous? If it spreads too quickly, Seek Peace will investigate."
Octo shrugged. "Seek Peace will investigate eventually. I prefer sooner. I want to watch them scramble."
Adam tapped Octo's shoulder. "And we will prepare your stage."
Jesper spun his scythe eagerly. "When do we start distributing? I want to watch the citizens dance in fear."
Octo chuckled faintly. "Two days from now. Everything is ready. Distributors, testers, retail chains. All we need is… a bit of chaos."
Adam stared around the lab.
"And chaos will come from Kael. Or whoever is using his body."