Immortal In A Death Game-Chapter 174: Old Friend

<I knew there was something off with that guy>

<lol. were are this guys supporters now??>

<adam with endless problems>

<did you hear that he eats people? His probably being protected by the government>

<lolol. Where is the hospital? I searched it and it doesn’t exist. Fuck this dude>

<i heard he was a drug addict. Here look, i saw a picture of him fucking passed out>

<my cousin knows him. He said the motherfucker’s a serial killer and eats babies>

"Ugghhh! Why are they saying all of this stuff when I can’t even find any evidence of Mr. Adam doing this?!"

Sabrina’s fingers flew across her phone screen, her face growing redder with each swipe.

<i was one of the babies he tried to eat. I survived>

"This is such bullshit!" Sabrina’s voice cracked as she read another comment. "They’re making him sound like some kind of serial cannibal killer when all he did was defend himself in the video! Did you see the other video they posted?! It doesn’t even look like Mr. Adam at all!"

Harvey snatched the phone from her hands. "Let me see this garbage." His fingers moved rapidly across the screen.

"Okay... first of all, you morons..." he started typing. "Adam was... clearing an unclaimed Leak when these idiots attacked him. Second, if you think three broken ribs is excessive force—"

"Harvey, don’t engage with them," Beatrice warned from the kitchen.

"Too late. I already replied." Harvey’s jaw clenched. "These keyboard warriors wouldn’t last five minutes in a Leak, but they want to judge someone who’s actually saving lives."

"Wait. Wait. Wait," Sabrina snatched her phone back from Harvey. "Wait! You actually replied?! This is my account! Why did you do that?! Now they will be coming after me!"

It had only a full day since the news broke, but Adam’s name was everywhere again. No longer as the Hero Killer who was able to defeat Heroes as a Creep, but as a violent government agent who attacked innocent guild members.

Ryan’s hands shook as he scrolled through his social media feed. "It’s... it’s all that c-comes up now. M-my news feed is filled with. They’re all t-talking about him like he’s some kind of m-monster."

Every member of the RLRD looked worried. Evan, who was usually drumming his fingers to stimulate his abilities, was completely still. Selena kept checking her phone with increasing agitation.

Even Caleb had stopped eating, and the usual brooding Derek was spending more time with his shadows. Everyone was worried.

Everyone except Adam.

He sat in the corner, completely unbothered, cleaning the Shion quietly as he glanced at his phone from time to time, not because of the news, but because he was waiting for the IBAA to deploy them.

"Adam, you need to see this," Leona said, her eyes filled with concern. "Aren’t you going to defend yourself?"

"I... don’t really see any point in doing so." Adam didn’t look up from his blade. "If they want to talk, I won’t really be able to control them. I’m fine, and thank you for all your conce—"

"Ah! I found one user that’s copy pasting hate comments in every video! Let’s report this guy!"

Of course, the members of RLRD weren’t going to take that answer. Since the people were after one of them, they were also out for blood, ready to defend their newest member against this stupid mob.

But Adam genuinely didn’t care. He had no social media accounts, no online presence to monitor. The digital mob’s fury meant absolutely nothing to him.

He glanced at the members of the RLRD... and they also seemed to have no plan of stopping at all. He sighed at the sight before choosing to step out of the building to let them do... whatever they wanted.

The parking lot was awfully quiet compared to the inside. Perhaps... he should go for a ride? He thought about that for a moment, but then opted not to just in case they get deployed.

And so, he just sat on the helicopter pad to wait. He... didn’t even know if he was going to be deployed. The IBAA had told him to lay low and rest. To let the controversy die down.

Adam didn’t understand it at all. Leaks were dangerous and needed to be cleared. Why did it matter who cleared them? He was clearing Leaks no one had previously been interested in, helping areas that would otherwise be ignored.

But most importantly...

[Free Status Points: 51]

His status points hadn’t increased for more than twenty-four hours. The stagnation made him feel agitated in a way he’d never experienced before. He’d joined the RLRD to help people, yes, but also to clear as many Leaks as possible.

To grow stronger.

If it was going to be like this, then perhaps... he was better off alone.

Adam looked at the RLRD building, watching his teammates through the windows as they argued about his situation.

He’d never had friends before. People who actually cared about him, who were willing to fight for his reputation.

No. He couldn’t just abandon them.

Adam was about to return to the building when his phone rang. He immediately answered, thinking they finally had a job.

<Hey there, hotshot. Why haven’t you been calling?>

This flirty robotic voice...

It was his former ID supplier.

"Hello," Adam whispered, shaking his head at the voice. "I don’t need different IDs anymore."

<And you abandoned me just because of that? Hm, baby, no.> The forger laughed, a raspy sound through the phone. <You say that, but Adam Smith might need one soon with the way people are talking.>

"You... know?"

<Honey, everyone knows. Even my Brutus knows. Isn’t that right, Brutus?>

Adam could hear a high-pitched bark coming from the background.

<Only problem is... your face is famous now too.>

"Is that why you called?"

<Of course, not. I just wanted to chat with an old friend. The last time you called me, you went up and disappeared to the land of menage a trois.> The forger’s voice turned quiet. <Your friends did find me, though. I have to say, I. Am. Shooketh.>

"Friends...? What friends?"

<The Hospital.>