Chapter 123: An Unexpected Discovery – Another Sensation

A few days later, at the Elias residence—

The living room was brightly lit, the warm glow casting a soft radiance on everyone's faces. The atmosphere was lighter than it had been in days.

Seated around a long dining table, the group enjoyed a feast of fine wine and delicacies, their conversations flowing naturally.

Lianna swirled a glass of red wine in her hand and smiled. "I can't believe it actually worked." Her tone was light, her eyes reflecting genuine joy. "Just a few days ago, I was still worried about what Adrian would do."

Beside her, Elias nodded gently. His voice was calm as he asked, "There were some bumps along the way, but the outcome isn't bad." He turned to Adrian. "How have you been these past few days?"

Adrian glanced at Elise beside him, his gaze soft. "It's been a little nerve-wracking, but getting through it with Elise by my side has been a kind of blessing."

Hearing his words, Elise's cheeks flushed slightly. She lowered her head with a quiet smile.

At that moment, footsteps echoed from the doorway. The group turned to see Marcellus stepping inside.

A brief silence filled the air. His arrival was somewhat unexpected.

Elias blinked, a hint of surprise in his voice. "Marcellus? What brings you here?"

Lianna also blinked, sneaking a glance at Livia with a look of curiosity.

But Livia remained composed, raising her wine glass and swirling it slightly. "I invited him," she said evenly.

Elias frowned slightly. "You?"

Livia nodded calmly. "After all, he played a significant role in all of this."

Realization dawned on the group, and no one questioned further.

Marcellus stood at the entrance, his gaze sweeping over the room before settling on Livia. A flicker of something unreadable crossed his eyes before he quickly masked it with a casual smile. Stepping forward, he said, "Since it's a celebration, I won't hold back."

The initial awkwardness soon faded as the lively atmosphere took over again. They continued their meal, chatting about recent events and future plans.

After dinner, as conversations turned more casual, Adrian seemed preoccupied. He quietly approached Livia and murmured, "Come with me for a moment."

Livia raised an eyebrow, took a sip of wine, then stood up and followed him onto the balcony.

The night air was cool, the stars above casting a silver glow over them. Leaning against the railing, Livia tilted her head slightly. "What did you find?"

Adrian's gaze darkened slightly. He hesitated before speaking in a low voice. "I've been thinking… Why did Father suddenly change his mind? Do you really believe it was just because you persuaded him?"

Livia arched an eyebrow but remained silent.

Adrian continued, "I have a feeling… he's planning something."

The night breeze swept past them, and Livia's eyes flickered with thought. Swirling her wine glass absentmindedly, she let a knowing smile creep onto her lips. "So, what you're saying is…"

Adrian's expression turned cold. "This game… may not be over yet."

Livia let out a soft chuckle. "Maybe. But for now, since he's agreed, there won't be any immediate changes. Your main focus should be getting your work done. This expansion project is the key turning point."

The faint light illuminated the rim of Livia's wine glass as she gently swayed it in her hand.

Adrian leaned against the railing beside her, his eyes thoughtful. After a moment, he lowered his voice, speaking with a hint of mystery. "By the way… While we were in hiding, I discovered something else."

Livia caught the peculiar glint in his eyes and immediately grew interested. "Oh? And what might that be?"

Adrian cast a quick glance around, ensuring no one else was nearby before continuing. "You know that our hiding place was kept secret. No one knew about it except Elise and me."

Livia nodded. That much she was certain of—the location was outside the city, and Adrian had mentioned it was uncovered by accident during the expansion project.

"But here's the problem…" Adrian's gaze sharpened, his tone deliberate. "After staying there for a while, I… felt something."

Livia's relaxed expression froze for a split second. She slowly set her wine glass down and met his eyes. "You mean… something like before?"

Adrian nodded, his voice growing more serious. "I'm not entirely sure what it was… but it felt similar to the sensation I told you about last time."

Livia tapped her fingers lightly against her glass, her expression unreadable, though inwardly, she was startled.

Previously, Adrian had mentioned a strange energy fluctuation that led her to those pages detailing the 'Holy Grail.' Now, what had he stumbled upon this time?

"What exactly did you feel? Was it identical to last time?" she pressed.

Adrian let out a quiet sigh, his voice tinged with hesitation. "It wasn't something tangible… more like an indication of something's presence. As if… something is hidden there, or something in the surroundings is being affected. But this time, the sensation was even stronger."

Livia thoughtfully traced the rim of her glass, her eyes glimmering with intrigue.

"Do you think it's worth investigating?" Adrian asked in a low voice.

Livia chuckled softly and met his gaze. "You wouldn't have brought it up if you didn't already have an answer in mind."

Adrian looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah… I think something's there. Last time, you told me not to dig too deep. But this time, I want to investigate."

Livia set her glass aside, her expression growing sharper. A slow, knowing smile curved her lips.

"Then let's take a look."