Adam continued, his gaze still on the crystal. "If you capture him, if we extract his essence… there's a high probability that it could be enough."
Claire stiffened. She knew exactly what he meant. Her heart pounded, hope battling skepticism. "Enough to free Father?" she asked, barely above a whisper.
Adam finally looked at her, his golden eyes calm yet absolute. "There is a high chance."
Claire's breath hitched. A high chance. Not a certainty. Not a promise.
Just like last time.
Her mind flashed back to Beelzebub. How they had been told the same thing—that capturing and using his fallen essence would be the key. But it hadn't been enough. It hadn't worked.
She turned back to the floating figure, her fists tightening. "You said the same thing about Beelzebub," she murmured. "And it failed."
Adam did not waver. "Nothing is absolute in this world, Claire," he said. "But if there is even the smallest possibility… would you not take it?"
She closed her eyes for a brief second.
