Thora carried the meal container into the library and headed straight for the 13th floor, Section B. Just like yesterday, this area was empty except for Adrian, as if it were his private territory. He was still seated in the same spot, focused on reading. Thora walked toward Adrian and gently set the meal container in front of him. Adrian didn't look up. He simply spoke in a flat tone. "You're here." Thora nodded. Her gaze swept across the table and noticed the only food present was what she had brought—the person who had delivered Adrian's meal yesterday hadn't shown up today. He had been waiting just for her. "You're ten minutes late today." His voice was cold, revealing no emotion. The sharp lines of his profile were rigid, and he never once turned to look at her."Got held up at the Nine Tower." Thora answered honestly, then prepared to head to the bookshelf to find the book she hadn't finished yesterday. "I know." Adrian replied flatly. Those two words made Thora pause mid-step. He knew? Adrian was even more sparing with words than Thora. He added one more sentence. "I was there too." Thora gave a slight nod without pressing further and walked straight to her original spot to retrieve that book. ... She had always been a person of few words, and Adrian was equally silent. From their meeting yesterday until now, their total conversation amounted to fewer than ten sentences, yet neither found it strange. She took the book to the same seat as yesterday and sat down, immersing herself in its pages. What Adrian had said yesterday about tactics was exactly why she had agreed to deliver his meal today—it was a tactic recorded in the book that Thora had also noticed but ultimately discarded due to its limitations. Adrian's comment meant he had a way to overcome those limitations. Thora was confident in her own abilities but never arrogant. She was eager to know what this man was thinking. This feeling of finding a kindred spirit made her particularly curious. ... She didn't disturb Adrian while he ate, quietly losing herself in the book. Adrian set down his book and finally looked up at Thora—this was the first time he had actually looked at her since she arrived. His gaze lingered for two seconds before he pulled away, then slowly opened the meal container and began eating.Thora couldn't help but glance at him occasionally. His table manners were impeccable yet not stiff, stripped of the tedious formalities of high society, leaving only a perfectly measured restraint. Clearly, his background was anything but ordinary. She didn't dwell on it and lowered her eyes to continue reading. Adrian ate almost silently, his chewing subtle. Though he appeared unhurried, he finished the food in no time. He took out a handkerchief, dabbed his lips, then packed it away along with the remaining trash. The moment he set down the handkerchief, someone stepped forward to clear the table, giving Adrian a respectful nod before leaving. ... "Thank you." Adrian's voice rang out, but it was directed at Thora.Thora snapped back to attention and met his gaze—this was only the second time their eyes had directly met. The aggression in his eyes was slightly weaker than before, yet it still carried an invisible pressure. A powerful energy field surrounded him, one that even Thora found uncomfortable at times. This presence was strikingly similar to Draven's. Draven's terrifying ability was at least SSS-rank. Perhaps ... the man before her had one too. Thora didn't have Shirley's natural instinct for sensing danger, but years of dancing on the edge of life and death had honed her intuition to razor sharpness. Especially after her abilities had been enhanced, her mental energy and perception had leveled up as well. Adrian stared at her, his dark, deep eyes swirling like a vortex. Thora's pupils contracted. Her consciousness began to sink involuntarily, drawn in against her will. Fortunately, the daze lasted only two seconds before she snapped back to clarity, her gaze as sharp as ever. "Were you trying to read me?" Her voice dropped a few degrees colder, laced with obvious wariness. Adrian withdrew his gaze, his tone cold and detached. "Just an experiment. And you happen to be an exception." She was the only person whose willpower was strong enough to keep him from peering into her past.