Martial Era: Starting With The Strongest Talent-Chapter 165: The Launch
"The others are in the sitting room," Remedy said.
Adam nodded and followed her out.
When they arrived, the rest of the team was already there.
And just like Remedy, they were all dressed for the occasion.
Scott wore a sharp black suit with subtle red accents and a matching red tie.
Ivy had chosen a pink evening dress, paired with a white fur coat that gave her an elegant, mature air.
Felecia looked... exactly like Felecia.
Adam glanced down at himself.
He wasn’t particularly dressed up either.
Compared to the others, the two of them looked almost casual.
"You guys are all set," Adam said.
Remedy nodded.
"We’ll see you there."
Adam leaned lightly against the doorway.
"Make sure to save a dance for me."
Remedy blinked and for a split second, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
"That depends on how you do tonight."
Adam only smiled.
He didn’t reply.
A few moments later, the team left the manor.
Adam remained behind.
The car waiting outside started its engine as the others climbed in.
Felecia slid into the driver’s seat.
She had been designated as the driver tonight.
The engine purred to life.
Soon, the vehicle pulled away from the manor gates.
The city lights stretched ahead of them as the car moved through the streets.
A few minutes passed in silence.
Then Felecia spoke.
"I didn’t know you danced, Angel."
Remedy sat calmly in the passenger seat.
This time, she didn’t blush.
"It’s one of my many talents."
Scott and Ivy exchanged a brief glance.
Neither of them commented.
Remedy looked out the window as the lights of the city slid past.
"Let’s just hope," she said quietly, "that I get the chance to show it tonight."
No one responded, as the car continued forward.
****
The launch event for the new drug Reliance was being held in a surprisingly discreet location.
Only people from the upper circles of Tristan could even find the place.
It was almost as if Herbal X and Hyper didn’t want too much publicity.
Which was strange.
After all, news of the drug had already gone mainstream.
Yet the actual location of the launch had been carefully hidden.
Even the media outlets broadcasting the event live never revealed where it was taking place.
Still, that didn’t stop Ivy.
Through her connections, the team managed to obtain the address.
Technically, the event operated under a simple rule.
If you could find the place... you could attend.
And tonight, they found it.
The location was in Bellingham District, it wasn’t a poor area, however it was far from the elite zones of Tristan.
It looked like any other ordinary district in the sector.
Which made the choice even more interesting.
The venue itself was one of the district’s more obscure event centers.
Nothing flashy from the outside.
But the parking lot told a different story.
Luxury cars filled nearly every available space.
Many important guests had clearly arrived already.
After all, discreet or not...
This was still the launch of Reliance.
The car stopped, as the team stepped out.
Remedy turned toward the group.
"Remember the plan."
Everyone nodded.
Then they entered the hall.
Inside, the event center had been completely transformed.
The middle of the hall was dominated by a large stage. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚
Elegant lighting bathed the room in a soft purple and blue glow.
Decorations hung from the ceiling.
Round tables were arranged throughout the hall.
One side held a long buffet filled with food.
Waiters moved between guests, carrying trays of drinks.
And the guests themselves, were anything but ordinary.
CEOs from major companies.
Executives from powerful organizations.
Elders from several martial clans of Tristan.
Even the manager of Tristan’s Mission Hall stood near the edge of the room.
The atmosphere alone made it clear.
This was no simple corporate event.
Remedy walked toward the drinks table and picked up a glass.
As she scanned the room, her gaze sharpened slightly.
Among the crowd, she could even sense the presence of Profound Lords.
Just then...
Someone stepped onto the stage.
And the murmuring crowd began to quiet down.
****
It was a man that stepped onto the stage, as the murmurs in the hall slowly faded and attention shifted toward him.
Agent Ross.
At least, that was who Remedy recognized.
But the man standing on the stage looked very different.
His white dreadlocks were gone and his head was shaved clean, leaving him completely bald.
A short goatee framed his chin.
Even his skin tone and texture looked different.
Clearly, he was using something similar to fake skin.
To everyone else in the room, he was a stranger.
But the disguise didn’t fool Remedy.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
So the timeline changed for this as well...
In her previous life, Rita, one of the Families’ agents, had been the one assigned to oversee Hyper’s operations.
But now?
Ross was here instead.
Remedy kept her expression neutral, as she said nothing.
On stage, Ross slowly scanned the crowd.
His dark tinted glasses reflected the lights of the hall.
The images of the guests shimmered across the lenses as his gaze moved across the room.
Then, it stopped for a moment longer than necessary.
Right on Remedy.
A few seconds passed.
Then his gaze continued moving as he scanned the entire hall and when he was done he reached forward and tapped the microphone.
The sound echoed softly through the hall.
"My name is Mr. Cross."
His voice was calm.
"I’ve been appointed by the higher-ups of Hyper to host tonight’s launch."
He paused briefly.
Then smiled.
"And I’m glad to see so many distinguished guests present."
The crowd applauded politely.
Ross raised a hand, and the clapping slowly died down.
"Tonight," he continued, "we are ushering in something new."
"A revelation for this martial era."
Another wave of applause rolled through the hall.
Ross stepped slightly to the side.
"And now, I would like to invite the newly appointed representative of Herbal X to speak about Reliance."
The crowd clapped again.
Ross stepped down from the stage and a moment later, an elderly woman slowly walked up to the microphone.
