Martial Era: Starting With The Strongest Talent-Chapter 39: How Good Are You With Your Hands?

Adam’s brow twitched.

Room service?...It hasn’t even been an hour since we left the station.

He exhaled and activated [Connect].

The world thinned, that strange overlap of sleep and wakefulness pressing against his senses as his cabin door blurred, turning transparent like a fogged glass clearing.

Behind it, a single soul-flame burned.

The hostess.

But the moment Adam read her flame, his eyes narrowed.

Predatory.

Not malicious or hostile, just sharp and hungry in a way that didn’t match her polite tone earlier.

A quiet realization settled over him.

So that’s what this is.

He rose and finally opened the cabin door.

A serving cart rolled in first, gleaming trays stacked neatly.

Then the woman stepped through and shut the door behind her with a soft click.

She wore a tailored, above-the-knee hostess uniform that hugged her figure, long white socks, polished heels, and her hair styled into a tight, elegant bun. With her doll-like makeup, she looked almost porcelain.

​But when she saw Adam, she was slightly shocked, though she hid the expression well.

​"Mr. Adam," she finally said, her voice smooth and honeyed, "this is a complimentary selection from the crew of Express 67. If you need anything else, I will be here to help."

​He tilted his head, studying her features before asking,

"Are you good with your hands?"

A few minutes later, a low vrrrmmm vibrated through the cabin walls, ambiguous enough that anyone outside could assume anything.

Then silence.

The hostess stepped back, wiping a hint of moisture from her brow.

"I hope you’re satisfied with my service, Mr. Adam."

Adam studied the mirror, brushing stray strands of freshly trimmed hair into place.

"You’re definitely good with your hands."

"I have four younger brothers," she said with a breathy laugh, adjusting her uniform.

"I had to pick up a few skills to keep them in line."

"You must care about them a lot."

She paused, meeting his gaze. Something real flickered beneath the porcelain veneer.

"Everything I do is for them."

Adam nodded.

She recovered her professional smile soon after.

"If you need anything else, just call. I’ll come right away."

Adam gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

The hostess opened the cabin door, composed again, and slipped out, leaving Adam alone.

Adam let out a small laugh to himself once the door shut.

"She was kind of cute."

But the truth sat clear in his mind. The moment he’d read her soul flame, he knew she hadn’t come only to deliver food.

There had been intent, subtle, layered and opportunistic.

Yet the instant she stepped in and actually saw him, that desire had fizzled out like a candle in rain.

He shook his head.

"I guess seeing someone young enough to be one of her brothers discouraged her."

Adam wasn’t dense.

Fame had its gravity; it pulled all sorts of people toward him. It wouldn’t be surprising if she’d recognized his name among those in first class and decided to try her luck, whatever form that took.

"It is what it is, I guess," he sighed.

He wasn’t looking for anything intimate. Not now. Not with everything piling on his path. That simply wasn’t the agenda.

Adam pushed himself up and crossed the small cabin, collapsing onto the bed with a quiet exhale.

He’d already eaten the food she brought, and with nothing left to do, sleep felt like the only logical move.

As he settled into the mattress, a thought drifted lazily through his mind:

I’ve been sleeping a lot lately... wonder why that is.

The question barely had time to form before his eyes slipped shut.

He fell asleep instantly, no tension, no lingering thoughts, just darkness.

Outside the cabin, Express 67 sped through the sectors, stopping and starting, letting passengers spill out and in one after another.

Hours blurred by in steady rhythm.

Finally, after countless stops, the train slowed for its last destination.

Sector 418.

As Adam stepped down from the train, the platform felt oddly empty. Only a handful of passengers disembarked with him, most had dropped off in earlier sectors.

Hardly anyone from the low-tier outer zone willingly came this far.

Sector 418 bordered the mid-tier region, and the dangers here were enough to crush anyone whose dreams outgrew their actual strength.

Adam scanned the platform. His gaze locked onto a man in a sharp black suit, driver’s cap perched neatly on his head, holding a sleek plaque with Adam’s name printed across it.

Adam approached as the driver looked him over, fresh fade, short-sleeve white shirt, black jeans and clean sneakers.

His brows pinched slightly before he asked,

"And you are?"

​Adam didn’t hold the question against the man as he told him his name.

The man froze for a moment, clearly expecting someone, older, taller, rougher, anything but the casually dressed teenager in front of him.

Adam noticed the stunned look and gave a dry smile.

"It’s okay, I have that effect on people."

The driver shook himself out of it.

"My apologies, sir, but may I see a piece of identification?"

Adam handed over his martial license. The driver ran it through a portable scanner, and a confirming "beep-beep" sounded soon after.

He returned the card immediately.

"My deepest apologies for earlier, Mr. Adam."

Adam nodded once.

"Please follow me, sir."

He led Adam to a glossy, luxurious car waiting by the curb. The driver opened the back door with practiced professionalism, as Adam slipped inside; the door shut with a soft click.

Moments later the engine hummed to life, and they were off.

The ride was smooth and brief. Soon they pulled up to a towering hotel lined with warm lights and polished stone.

The driver stepped out, opened Adam’s door, bowed lightly, and drove away.

Adam now stood in front of the entrance.

A hotel employee in a fitted suit hurried forward, posture crisp and respectful.

His expression flickered, surprised at Adam’s youth, but he quickly masked it. The driver had clearly warned him.

"Mr. Adam," the man said with a practiced smile, "you’re just in time. The others have already arrived."

​Adam blinked.

​"Others?"

**** 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

‎╭───────────╮

‎〖Name: Adam〗

‎

‎〖Rank: None〗

‎

‎〖Cultivation Talent: G〗

‎

‎〖Special Talent: Equip ❖ Connect〗

‎

‎〖SLOT〗

‎

‎↳ SOUL (2): Rapid E ❖ Poison F

‎

‎↳ BODY (5): Empty

‎

‎╰───────────╯

‎

‎Star Power: 14+

****

{AUTHOR’S NOTE}

Thank you for reading.