Endless Evolution: Last Star Chapter 1458: Stolen Light

Adam’s initial intent had been straightforward. His plan was to visit the bakery, select a cake that caught his eye, purchase it, and then meet Silvana to present the gift.

However… destiny proved to be far more demanding than he had anticipated.

Despite the bakery owner spending the last thirty minutes crafting the dessert, Adam still felt a shiver when recalling his own disastrous attempts with the cream bowls.

“Brrrr! I’ll be seeing that cream in my nightmares! But…” A faint smile crossed his face. “I hope the effort pays off. The aroma is already incredible!”

The process was finally complete about an hour later.

As the girl who had first greeted Adam finished boxing the cake, he turned his attention toward the woman in charge.

“Thank you. Watching your expertise in the kitchen makes me realize exactly why my attempts at making cream failed so miserably.”

“Hahaha, stop with the flattery, you little rascal. Being a Phantom, you can move in ways that are beyond my comprehension. My speed and dexterity could never compete with yours, but…” She bit her pinky finger, her gaze sweeping over him. “I’ll treat that as a compliment. You simply lacked the experience, that’s all.”

“Miss! It’s all done!” The girl called out, waving her hand.

The woman gave a firm nod. “Excellent, let’s inspect the result.”

Tap.

Adam was handed a black container decorated with a purple wave motif. While the box was modest in size—roughly the span of two and a half palms—it was clearly sufficient for two people.

The packaging was devoid of balloons or ribbons; it was a sophisticated and sleek choice rather than a gift meant for a child's celebration.

“Handle it with care. Don't shake the box or flip it over, or all our hard work will be ruined.”

“Understood… What do I owe you for this?” Adam inquired.

The woman dismissed the question with a wave of her hand.

“Just head out. Consider it a favor for reminding me that the grumpy old man is still breathing. You wouldn't believe how difficult it is to get so much as a letter from him.”

Adam rubbed his cheek awkwardly.

“You’re aware he’s working at the hotel coffee shop, right?”

“Of course I am, but I have my own work to do! Pffft! I want him to show some initiative and carve out time for me—is that really so hard to grasp?”

She let out an exclamation and leaned forward, her eyes searching Adam’s soul.

“Though, why am I explaining this to you? You’re a man as well!”

Adam found himself at a loss for words. This was a situation he had never navigated before, yet everything had concluded favorably in the end.

The primary issue was the passage of time. With evening approaching in just a few hours, their rendezvous needed to happen immediately.

Adam and Silvana had previously settled on a location and were both moving toward it.

They had picked a modest park nestled in a secluded section of the First Ring. Much like the hotel and the bakery he had visited earlier, this park was situated within the private sector; they would likely be the sole occupants until nightfall.

Step. Step. Step.

After a few steady strides, Adam came to a halt. He surveyed his surroundings: towering trees threw long shadows across the stone walkways, accompanied by a bench and a purely aesthetic fountain.

He carried nothing but the black box in his hands.

Occasional breezes swept past, mussing his hair, though they were nothing compared to the violent gales of the Tarnished Lands.

A strange sense of security washed over Adam. He was now powerful enough to defend himself in nearly any corner of the world, barring the deepest reaches of the Tarnished Lands or the Dark Shore.

Regardless, the Citadel remained his home.

“I don’t think the slums will ever leave my memory. I was born there, after all, even if the place is a complete shithole. But now, given what I understand about the world, the entirety of the Citadel feels like home. Hah, it’s actually a bit depressing…”

Back when Adam resided in the slums, his greatest ambition was simply to escape those hardships and reach the Third Ring. He had harbored fantasies of reaching the First Ring and living like a tycoon at the peak of a skyscraper, but he had always known such dreams were impossible in this lifetime.

“And… here I am, standing with a cake and waiting for my Operator.”

A bitter smile touched Adam’s lips.

“What can I say? This beats living in a skyscraper any day.”

Naturally, Adam wasn't only thinking about his bond with Silvana. Meeting her was a consequence of becoming a Phantom—a status that, in the long run, was worth more than any imaginable fortune. It all came down to how far he could advance and how many triumphs he could claim before hitting his ceiling.

Checking his NEP, Adam realized he was early.

“She should arrive at any moment,” he noted with a small nod.

Right then, a soft, tranquil voice drifted from nearby:

“Hey, it looks like you’re all set?”

Adam turned to see Silvana for the first time in months. The encounters within his inner consciousness or her spectral manifestations didn't count; those weren't reality.

“Hah…” Adam trembled slightly, his gaze locked onto her. She hadn't abandoned her signature formal attire, but her clothes appeared much more relaxed now. Her dark hair flowed down to her shoulders like a gentle, dark flame.

She had clearly put great effort into preparing for this meeting, from her wardrobe and makeup to her choice of scent and hair. The truth, however, was that Adam’s heart would have reacted the same way even if she had arrived wearing a potato sack.

“Hmm? Is something the matter?” Silvana asked with a touch of worry. Adam had spent several seconds staring at her as if he were looking at a ghost.

Adam gave a quick shake of his head.

“No, it’s just…”

The moment Silvana appeared, he detected something about her that had escaped him before his departure from the Tarnished Lands. Or perhaps it was a recent development?

A potent aura radiated from Silvana—a shimmering light infused with a distinct purple tint.

“It looks like someone stole my light.”