"You... When did you arrive?" This was the first thing Jones asked Adolf.
"Just now. When Adelle arrived," Adolf answered softly.
"Have you been here all the time?"
"Not really. When Bruto and Simon came, I stepped away for a bit."
"When Bruto and Simon came... That was after Adelle left. You heard everything I said to Adelle?"
Adolf silently nodded.
"Do you have anything to say?" Jones asked.
Adolf took a deep breath, then turned his face to look out the window.
The blood-colored moonlight lit his face. Even in this light, Jones could clearly see the bloodshot streaks in his eyes.
"Do you trust me or him?"
"You are both my friends and have helped me, so I believe in evidence."
"Evidence? What a coincidence, I don’t have any."
"You don’t have any, or Adelle is right?"
The two silently stared at each other.
Jones still stood outside the door. Adolf sat inside the room, seeming very relaxed.
Hydra Snake Ophelia’s gigantic serpent head appeared behind Jones, separated by the railings.
"Little bat, is this your friend?"
Before Jones could respond, Adolf hurriedly stood up, respectfully bowing, "Hello, ma’am. Nice to meet you. I’m Adolf Capadocia, Jones’s friend."
"Little bat, is that so?" Hydra Snake asked again.
Jones gently nodded, "Yes, ma’am. My friend has come to visit me. I am accompanying my friend."
Stepping forward, Jones entered the room, softly closing the door with his hand.
With the closing of the door, Adolf slowly exhaled, sat back in his original seat, and spread his hands with a smile, "This is goodwill, I’m glad you still consider me a friend."
"And you? Do you consider me a friend?" Jones walked to the edge of the desk, sitting at the other end.
Lowering his head, he gently stroked the desk, smiling as he spoke, "The craftsmanship of the dwarves is pretty good. It seems you really castle. A well-maintained castle feels different from a neglected one. You give me the impression of wanting to start fresh. New banners, new emblems. I thought you would hang the Silver Moon Knight Order’s flag in the castle, but you didn’t."
"So the reason you approached me, was it truly because of Gray?"
"You call him ’Gray’? Shouldn’t it be ’Father’?"
"Please answer my question," Jones stared intently at Adolf.
Adolf then looked up to meet Jones’s gaze, smiling, "Part of the reason."
"Just part? Or the majority?"
"Alright, the majority."
Adolf didn’t respond, just smiled, watching Jones. *This counted as an answer. After all, saying it out loud would hurt both.*
Jones sighed softly, "Thank you for not lying. So, you’re not really Capadocia, right?"
"Correct," Adolf nodded lightly, "I have another surname."
"A very ancient surname, I’d rather not tell you."
"Nupel?" Jones asked softly.
Adolf paused, then laughed quickly, "I swear, it’s not. Nupel is the enemy of the Blood Clan, I can’t bear that name."
"Then why do you hide your surname?" Jones continued to ask.
Adolf hesitated, then spoke softly, "It’s a secret. If it only involved me, I could tell you anytime. After all, I trust you. But I’m sorry, this secret involves too many people, so I can’t tell. *I can’t put everyone in danger based on my own judgment. I don’t have that power. I hope you understand.*"
Jones silently watched Adolf, the atmosphere seemingly frozen.
Adolf looked at Jones with a tired expression.
"What do you want from me?"
"Some... information. About the Lich King."
Looking at Jones, Adolf suddenly smiled, "Will you tell me?"
"It depends on the situation, there might be some conditions for exchange." Jones’s gaze flickered for a moment, looking down, "Do you use honorifics with everyone? Or only to get closer to me, make a good impression?"
"It’s a habit, usually, as well." Adolf’s mouth lightly curved up, smiling, "Maybe I should have sought you sooner, been honest with you. Instead of hiding... things might have been better."
"What do you want to know?"
"I want to know about the Lich King’s attitude towards humans."
"I don’t quite understand what you mean."
"I mean... Lich King Gray is now the ruler of both humans and undead. I want to know his view of humanity." Seeing Jones still confused, Adolf continued, "I mean, he is a Lich. No matter how he decorates his words, he can’t truly feel a sense of belonging towards ’humans.’ But he is also the ruler of both humans and undead."
"You mean, is he using humans?"
"Yes, that’s what I mean. Of course, I might want to know more deeply." Adolf spread his hands, "I’ve researched him, there are legends about him everywhere, knowing about him isn’t difficult. But those are just legends. I want the facts. You are his adopted son, I think you can tell me the truth."