Entering a clothing shop, Adam bought an attire to blend in. Adam, feeling much more comfortable in his newly acquired, slick, and cool attire, gave a generous gold coin for the services. With a thought, he was gone, teleporting deep into the Whisperwood Forest.
"Lyra, can we collect them without harming them? Just sedate them?" Adam asked, thinking of the valuable "rich nutrient beef" creatures.
"An easy matter, Adam," Lyra confirmed. "A small, controlled burst of void mana will render them unconscious without injury."
Adam found a herd of the magnificent, bovine-like creatures. He created a temporary, conducive dimension for them, then dispersed a precise amount of void mana, and the entire herd gently slumped into unconsciousness. He absorbed them all into his dimension, then reappeared instantly at the restaurant.
A Lucrative Deal
"I've got the creatures ready," Adam told the stunned owner and chef, who were still laughing at his earlier request. "And they're alive."
"Alive?!" they exclaimed in unison, eyes wide with disbelief. "How did you... in less than thirty minutes?!"
"Don't worry about my methods," Adam said with a nonchalant wave. "Just prepare for butchering and cooking."
The owner, his mind reeling, quickly composed himself. "Mr. Adam," he stammered, "would you be willing to supply us with five of them, alive? We'd pay you 100 gold coins. We could start a breeding farm!"
Adam grinned. "Eight it is. Five for your farm, two for my order, and one extra for good measure—ensure you have a male and female pair."
The owner, tears of joy welling in his eyes, readily agreed. The chef, meanwhile, was already practically vibrating with anticipation to get his hands on the prime meat. Adam led the owner and his hastily assembled men to a discreet location where he released eight sedated creatures. The owner, overjoyed, handed Adam 100 gold coins and declared his immense order of 100 dishes was now on the house. He hoped this was the start of a long and prosperous partnership. Adam, now with a significant income stream established, agreed and headed for the market while the chef prepared his feast.
The Red String's Call
Adam browsed the bustling market, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. The various wares, however, didn't hold his interest for long. Suddenly, a faint chime resonated from his heart, a sensation he now recognized as the red mana string. He stopped, turning slowly. His gaze landed on an ordinary-looking couple, seemingly in their mid-thirties, strolling hand-in-hand.
He approached them, curiosity overriding all else. "Excuse me," Adam began, striking up a casual conversation. The couple, though slightly surprised by the well-dressed stranger, responded courteously. Adam, subtly probing, asked about their lives, where they came from, and how long they'd been in Damarsh.
As he spoke, a soft light emanated from Adam's heart, and a small, fleeting image flashed in his vision—an echo of a memory, tied to the wife. The woman gasped, her eyes wide, and swayed precariously, on the verge of fainting. Adam and her husband moved instantly, grabbing her before she could fall.
"Where do you live?" Adam asked, his voice urgent, his gaze locking onto the frantic husband. The man, disoriented but concerned for his wife, quickly blurted out their address. Lyra, ever vigilant, instantly pinpointed the location.
Without a word, Adam activated his Teleportation Device, taking all three of them into the sky for a moment, then instantly reappearing directly in front of the couple's humble home. The husband, still in shock but prioritizing his wife, carried her inside without question.
Adam and the husband sat at a small table while the wife rested. The husband, now recovering from the dizzying teleportation, looked at Adam with a mixture of awe, confusion, and growing wariness.
"Who exactly are you?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes searching Adam's face.