CHAPTER 324: ANTHONY SAMAEL

Anthony had secluded himself in the board room and had locked the doors, to prevent anyone getting in during the supposed two hours this Quest nonsense had indicated.

However he didn’t trust that just like how he didn’t trust his siblings. He had seen the news on how Elise had died and he couldn’t help but think that these two situations were somehow connected.

Now that chaos had descended upon reality, his siblings had also taken the chance to try and take this throne as Acting Head.

Anthony clenched his jaw as he paced the length of the boardroom. The long mahogany table, once a symbol of control and order, felt useless now in the face of the chaos outside. Nobody seemed to have any answers.

He checked the clock. Fifty-three minutes left. The notification had been clear, whatever the System was, it stated that this event would last for two full hours. But he didnt trust that and chose to isolate himself until it was over.

But isolation meant vulnerability, and he couldn’t afford that. Not when the vultures were circling. Elise’s death had shaken his faith that the Samaels were the apex predators of the world.

Her death had truly rattled him. She may have been reckless but she wasn’t weak. Her end had been brutal, unexplained, and too well-timed. He had watched the news footage a dozen times, and each time he was struck by the way her face had been twisted in death.

She had been in utter agony.

The coroner’s report had described internal burns so severe that her lungs were nearly liquefied.

There was no footage. No witnesses. Only the image of her lifeless corpse being wheeled out beneath a sheet.

The media had speculated endlessly. A mishap. A product that had gone wrong or even some thiught it might have been a political hit in disguise.

But Anthony knew better. He saw it for what it was. A message. Someone had reached one of them. Someone powerful enough to strike Elise down and vanish without a trace.

And now chaos had descended and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he was next.

A loud shout echoed from beyond the boardroom doors, snapping him out of his thoughts. It was followed by the sharp bark of an order and the unmistakable sound of a struggle. Something heavy hit the wall.

Anthony’s breath caught in his throat.

Then another thud rang out. Louder this time. Closer

A muffled shout. A short scuffle. The dull impact of something hitting the wall.

He froze in place, his head snapping toward the door. His stomach turned as he heard yet another thud. This one was heavier and louder than the otj34e, as if someone had been slammed into the floor just outside

Then there was silence.

His mind raced.

He had stationed guards outside the boardroom. Armed, trained. Loyal. But now they were being picked off, one by one, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He didn’t know who was out there. He didn’t know why.

He only knew one thing.

They were coming for him.

He dropped to the floor and crawled beneath the long table, his breath quick and shallow. The carpet scratched against his knees as he tucked himself into the corner, concealed by the heavy wooden paneling.

More footsteps. Steady. Calm. No urgency. No fear.

Then came the knock.

Three firm raps against the door.

Anthony didn’t move. He didn’t breathe.

Silence.

Then a voice, low and annoyed. He couldn’t make out the words.

And then—

CRACK.

The door blasted inward as if struck by a battering ram. Wood splintered. Hinges shrieked.

Anthony flinched, biting down on his own hand to keep from crying out.

The smell of ammonia began to fill the room as terror gripped Anthony’s psyche. Whoever these assailants were, he knew they were assassins sent to finish him off.

That was until he heard a familiar voice voice starting to curse.

"God fucking dammit. Who the hell pissed themselves in here?!"

That was Adam’s voice. While in normal times, Anthony would never associate that mutt with being his brother, now he was like an angel to him.

After all he was the perfect meat shield he could order around to save homself and buy some time.

Doing his best to compose himself, Anthony quickly crawled out from the table and struggled to his feet, barking an order at him as if he was in charge

"Adam! Help me deal with the assailants trying to kill me!"

However he was left stunned when he saw Adam and an unfamiliar man standing side by side, giving him a strange look. Clearly Adam had brought along a lowly companion alongside him.

Perfect. Another shield he could use.

Then it hit him. Where were the assailants? Why were they looking at him like that?

His heart began to sink as he realized that they weren’t here to help him, they were the assassins!

They were the ones who had taken down his guards. The ones who had kicked the door in. The ones standing there now, in the center of his sanctuary, like they owned the place.

"No," Anthony muttered, voice barely above a whisper. "No, no, no—"

He turned sharply toward the broken doorway, hoping and praying that there was still a gap to slip through, but Adam moved slightly to the side, just enough to block the exit without even trying. The larger man beside him shifted too, more out of amusement than caution. They were playing with him.

He was trapped.

"I-I...Listen," Anthony stammered, raising both hands, his voice pitching higher. "We can work something out. Whatever Melanie or Jeremy promised you, I’ll pay double. No! Triple. I’ll make sure you’re both set for life. You don’t have to do this."

Greg raised an eyebrow, lips twitching in a half-smile.

Adam’s eyes didn’t waver.

In the blink of an eye, Adam closed the distance. One hand shot forward and grabbed Anthony by the collar, jerking him off balance and slamming him into the wall hard enough to rattle the painting behind him.

Anthony gasped, flailing. His feet scraped against the floor, trying to find leverage.

"I’m not here for money," Adam said, his voice low and ice-cold. "There’s not enough money in the world to make me dirty my hands for someone else. Especially for people like you and them."

His grip tightened. Anthony whimpered.

"I’m here for answers."

"W-what answers?!" Anthony choked, struggling to breathe.

"Why are you all still playing politics?" Adam growled.

"The world is burning. People are mutating. They’re dying and your first thought was to lock yourself in a room and fight for a title?!"

Anthony’s lips trembled. "I didn’t know! I didn’t know it would go this far!"

"Then start talking," Adam said, eyes narrowed. "Because I’m done asking nicely."