I am the creator of New Life on the Earth
Chapter 287: Adam Takes Action

Chapter 287: Adam Takes Action

Chapter: Adam Takes Action

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The Chapter begins with Adam standing in the sleek Core Room, the glow of the holographic monitors illuminating his tense expression. As soon as Pratham alerts him to activity outside the base, Adam turns to Ani, who is standing nearby. Her curious eyes meet his as he places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"I’ll be right back," Adam says firmly, his tone calm but urgent. "Stay here and wait for me."

Ani nods, sensing the seriousness of the situation. She doesn’t protest, though her gaze lingers on Adam as he moves toward the door.

Before stepping out, Adam glances at Zero, who stands nearby with his usual stoic demeanor. "Zero, come with me," Adam instructs.

Zero nods silently and falls into step behind Adam. As they exit the Core Room, the door slides shut behind them with a soft mechanical hiss, sealing Ani inside for her safety.

Walking through the dimly lit corridor, Adam keeps his stride steady, his mind racing. The soft hum of the base’s hidden machinery fills the air, and the faint blue lights lining the walls cast a calming glow.

Breaking the silence, Adam turns to Zero. "Have you sent the surveillance drones?" he asks, his voice low but commanding.

Zero’s response is immediate and precise. "Yes, Lord Adam. They were deployed the moment the disturbance was detected. The feed is being relayed to the Observation Room. I’ll show you."

Adam nods in approval, his sharp gaze focused ahead. After a short walk, they arrive at a large, seamless white door. As they approach, it slides open with a faint whir, revealing the Observation Room.

The Observation Room is a futuristic space dominated by a circular mechanical table at its center. The table’s surface is pristine white, with glowing blue holograms hovering above it, displaying real-time data and surveillance feeds. The walls are lined with additional monitors, each showing various angles of the base’s surroundings.

Adam steps forward, his expression unreadable as he approaches the table. Zero moves to the console, his fingers deftly swiping through the holographic interface. In an instant, multiple video feeds appear, showing the exterior of the shop and the surrounding area.

"Here are the live feeds from the drones," Zero announces, gesturing toward the largest screen.

Adam leans closer, studying the images carefully. The footage reveals three figures loitering near the shop’s entrance, their postures relaxed but their expressions guarded.

As Adam observes, he frowns slightly. "Can you amplify their audio?" he asks.

Zero nods and makes a quick adjustment on the console. Moments later, voices begin to play through the room’s speakers, their tones rough and casual.

Thug 1: "What do you think? This shop’s been closed for weeks. Is it really worth checking out now?"

Thug 2: "Why not? It just reopened, and I heard the guy who runs it is a fat old man. If the three of us gang up on him, it’ll be easy."

Thug 3: (hesitantly) "I don’t know... Something about this place feels off. I’ve got a bad feeling. Maybe we should leave it alone."

Adam listens intently, his sharp mind processing every word. His initial tension eases slightly, though his expression remains serious. These weren’t power holders or trained operatives. They were just petty criminals, unaware of what they were dealing with.

Adam straightens, exhaling quietly. His earlier concerns—of a power holder discovering his base—dissipate. Still, his mind races with thoughts. It’s a relief they’re just common thugs, but the fact that anyone is near the base at all is troubling.

He turns to Zero, his voice calm yet firm. "Monitor them closely. If they get any closer or try anything, notify me immediately."

Zero inclines his head. "Understood, Lord Adam."

Adam takes a moment to compose himself. The quiet hum of the Observation Room seems louder now, amplifying the gravity of the situation. For now, the base remains hidden, but vigilance is key.

Adam leaving the Observation Room, his steps measured and deliberate. As the door slides shut behind him, his thoughts linger on the incident. Today, it was just a few thugs. Tomorrow, it could be something far more dangerous.

Zero stationed in the Observation Room, his unwavering focus fixed on the live surveillance feeds.

The three intruders linger outside the shop, their conversation growing quieter but their body language still suspicious. Zero taps into additional drone footage, ensuring every angle of the exterior is monitored.

"Lord Adam was right to be cautious," Zero thinks, his metallic voice echoing faintly in the empty room. "Even small threats can escalate if ignored."

Meanwhile, a secondary monitor shows a different view—the Core Room where Ani waits. She’s seated on a sleek black chair, her expression a mix of curiosity and unease. Every so often, she glances at the closed door, clearly wondering what Adam is handling.

Zero shifts his attention back to the intruders, his keen sensors detecting slight movement as one of them pulls out a crowbar. His synthetic eyes narrow, and his hand hovers over the emergency alert button.

"Not yet," he murmurs to himself. "Let’s see what their next move is."

The corridor outside is silent save for the faint hum of hidden machinery. Adam walks briskly, his footsteps echoing softly as he makes his way back to the Core Room. His face is calm, but his eyes betray a storm of thoughts.

Pushing open the door, he steps inside, immediately meeting Ani’s curious gaze. She straightens in her seat, her eyes scanning his face for answers.

"Is everything okay?" Ani asks, her voice tinged with concern.

Adam nods, offering her a reassuring smile. "It’s nothing serious," he says. "Just a minor situation outside. Zero is handling it."

Ani doesn’t press further, trusting his judgment. But the slight furrow in her brow remains, a silent indicator of her lingering worry.

Adam approaches the holographic console in the Core Room, bringing up a projection of the shop’s exterior. The blue-tinged image flickers slightly before stabilizing, showing the three intruders still standing near the entrance.

"These three showed up outside the shop," Adam explains, gesturing toward the projection. "They don’t seem to be power holders or anything major—just common thugs looking for trouble."

Ani studies the image, her gaze sharp. "But why here? Why now?" she asks, her voice low.

Adam shakes his head. "That’s what I’m trying to figure out. It could just be a coincidence, or it could be the start of something more. Either way, we’re not taking any chances."

Ani nods slowly, understanding the gravity of the situation. She turns her attention back to the projection, her expression thoughtful. "What are you going to do?"

"Monitor for now," Adam replies. "If they make a move, we’ll act."

Back on the surveillance feed, the intruders begin to argue.

Thug 1: "Come on, let’s just get in there and take whatever we want. The guy running this place can’t stop us."

Thug 3: "I’m telling you, this place doesn’t feel right. Let’s just find an easier target."

Thug 2 stands between them, his arms crossed as he considers both sides. After a moment, he sighs and steps toward the door, crowbar in hand.

Inside the Core Room, Zero’s voice crackles through the speakers. "Lord Adam, one of them is approaching the entrance with a weapon. Orders?"

Adam’s jaw tightens, his eyes narrowing as he watches the feed. "Keep monitoring," he instructs. "If they try to break in, we’ll intercept."

Ani watches Adam closely, noting the way his shoulders tense and his jaw clenches. She steps closer to him, placing a gentle hand on his arm.

"You’re worried," she says softly. It’s not a question.

Adam exhales deeply, his gaze softening as he looks at her. "I am," he admits. "This base is more than just a hideout. It’s a symbol of everything we’ve built—everything we’re protecting. I can’t let anyone compromise that."

Ani squeezes his arm lightly, offering silent support. "You won’t," she says confidently. "I believe in you."

As the tension mounts, Zero steps forward, his voice calm yet firm. "Lord Adam, may I suggest deploying Phantom? Her abilities could provide a deterrent without direct confrontation."

Adam considers the suggestion, his mind weighing the risks. "Alright," he decides after a moment. "But keep her cloaked. I don’t want them to know what they’re dealing with."

Zero nods and activates Phantom’s deployment sequence. On the surveillance feed, the translucent figure of Phantom emerges from the shadows, her ghostly form gliding silently toward the intruders.

The thugs, still arguing among themselves, suddenly freeze as the temperature around them drops noticeably. Their breath becomes visible in the air, and an eerie chill settles over the area.

Thug 3: (panicked) "I told you this place wasn’t normal! Let’s get out of here!"

Thug 1 hesitates, but the fear in his companions’ eyes convinces him. "Fine," he mutters, backing away. "This place isn’t worth it."

Within moments, the group retreats, disappearing into the distance.

Back in the Core Room, the tension eases as the feed shows the intruders leaving. Adam nods in satisfaction, his posture relaxing slightly. "Good work, Zero," he says. "And thank Phantom for me."

Zero inclines his head. "Of course, Lord Adam."

Ani lets out a quiet sigh of relief, her shoulders visibly relaxing. She looks at Adam, her expression a mix of admiration and gratitude. "You handled that perfectly," she says.

Adam smiles faintly, his gaze meeting hers. "It’s not over yet," he replies. "But for now, we’ve bought ourselves some time."

The Chapter ends with Adam turning back to the holographic display, his mind already planning the next steps to ensure the base’s safety. Ani watches him silently, her confidence in him unshaken as they prepare for whatever comes next.