The receptionist, now visibly flustered but apologetic, handed Adam a small, heavy leather pouch and a folded note. Inside the pouch, a satisfying clink announced 5000 gold coins. The note, penned in Edward's firm hand, explained that the money belonged to his old friend, meant to be used by Adam to establish himself. It encouraged him to blend in, find lodging, and hinted at future collaboration in protecting the people when the time came.
Adam grinned. Five thousand gold! He was rich! A single gold coin could secure a month's stay in a decent hotel with good food. He could retire!
"You could technically retire, Adam," Lyra confirmed, her voice pragmatic. "Five thousand gold is sufficient for a comfortable lifetime without working. However, remember the costs associated with traveling to find Emily, potentially purchasing a house, or even land if you wish to settle down. Overspending now could lead to future financial difficulties if you don't establish an income stream."
The Feast and a New Endeavor
Adam, however, had one immediate priority: food. He strode directly to the largest, most inviting restaurant he could find, his stomach roaring in anticipation. His eyes devoured the menu, settling on the most expensive, most extravagant dishes available. He ordered enough food to feed a small family, his mouth already watering.
The other patrons stared, some with amusement, others with thinly veiled disdain at his tattered, bloodied clothes and apparent gluttony. But the chef and owner, beaming, simply watched him devour the plates. "Now that's a customer!" the owner chuckled, while the chef puffed out his chest, proud someone was so engrossed in his culinary creations.
Mid-feast, Adam had an idea. "Excuse me, chef, owner!" he called, mouth full. "Could I get 100 dishes to go? Of this amazing grilled beef?"
Their jaws dropped. "One hundred dishes?" the owner stammered. "That would be... 5 gold coins total, but we don't have enough meat to make that many!"
"If I get you the meat, can you make them as soon as possible?" Adam pressed.
The chef and owner exchanged bewildered glances. "The rich nutrient beef," the owner explained, "comes from deep within the Whisperwood Forest. It takes weeks for adventurers to bring it back. We have standing orders with several guilds."
"Lyra," Adam mentally queried, "the location of this Whisperwood beef creature?"
"Analysis complete," Lyra replied instantly. "The creatures themselves are not difficult to defeat. The challenge for local adventurers lies in the extensive journey through hostile territories to reach their grazing grounds. For you, with teleportation, it would be a relatively straightforward task."
Adam turned back to the astonished chef and owner. "Get ready to cook," he declared, "I'll be back with the meat."
They simply stared, then burst into disbelieving laughter at the sheer absurdity of his request. Little did they know, they were about to meet the most unusual beef supplier they'd ever encountered.