A young man was laying on the bed staring blankly on the ceiling. He saw how much detail and effort was put in the decor in this single room and it made him think. The art style, the visual appeal, and, the overall look of this room were enough to be fit for royalty.
He looked around to see if anyone was there but for only a blank room to meet him. He then looked at the side of his bed and saw a note.
It said, "Slept well?"
Zane immediately put it down right after reading it and tried to get out of bed when his whole body immediately went sore, he felt all that impact at once and decided against moving in the near future.
While Zane was sitting there alone, a sudden knock interrupted his blank state.
"Come in."
"Why are you so down?"
Adam just showed up with Eve right behind him. They still had their casual outfits but with how contrasting their looks and the place they were, one would have thought they broke in.
"I can't move."
"That isn't so bad, you were asleep for around three days already so that checks out. You exhausted your body's vitality by forcing it to heal. I'm even surprised you woke up this earlier."
"Three days?! What happened to Abel, Gabe, and the rest?"
"Nothing too important, they gathered the survivors and salvaged what they could from the fight. Everything would've been fine except for that gigantic hole you made. It was so big that calling it a ravine wouldn't be an understatement."
"So they're fine, that's good."
"Speaking of them, did you know that a few interesting people showed up in that little place? The people you trained, Abel, and Gabe had bits and pieces of my mana technique. Usually, this is something I won't allow but-"
"You won't do anything since I did what you excepted and more."
"Exactly! What they choose to do with their knowledge has nothing to do with me anymore. Even if they sell what they've learned I won't do anything about it."
Zane sighed a breath of relief after hearing this. Adam knew what he could and couldn't do, he prioritizes what's his and will always make the right move in his position.
"Then can you help them build a kingdom?"
"Hahaha! Don't worry about it! I already did. Everything has been exactly the same as before except for the casualties. I even healed everyone back to their original states, for those who died I can only pity them."
"That's good. So, what's next on your agenda?"
"We'll rest here for the time being and we'll go even deeper Bran where an actual war is happening."
"War?"
"You could say this was a learning exercise for what's about to happen in the future."
"I have to fight again?"
"Oh? You thought you were going to fight? What I meant was, I am going to war while you guys watch. Get ready for that."
Adam left Zane alone with Eve tending to his own business. He got what he needed and more from the dead king. He placed his bets on the right horse and won the race.
He could've picked any other kingdom and would've led to the same outcome where Zane learned how to lead but there was a key difference in this and it was the Underworld Envoy and the innocent soul.
The Underworld Envoy served as a good point on how strong a real powerful person was. Before Garan transformed, it was equivalent to half strength of an actual Underworld Envoy but the transformation exceeded that cap by more a tremendous amount.
Given that the fight was quite lucky since the serpent didn't use any physical attacks but magical attacks, which gave Zane the edge he needed to win. Which means that there was a chance that Zane would've lost.
Adam understood that there was always a chance that things could go wrong so he prepared a certain card to play in the future. Say, another Underworld Envoy was annoyed at Garan and decided to kill him in Zane's place.
This was a real event that could take place which won't disrupt the original bet that was set.
As soon as he left the door, he met a shadowy figure that appeared right in front of him. This figure had an aged look and fully covered in scars, his face was an extremely terrifying sight with his eyeballs almost popping out and his nose missing.
His figure was extremely lithe as if he was a mere ghost swaying among the wind but eerie enough to be scared at first glance. He wore a tattered black cloak with a scabbard on his hand signifying he was a swordsman.
The figure looked Adam straight in the eyes and wanted to speak out but Adam spoke first.
"I'll finish it in a week. Don't worry, by the time I'm done there will be finally peace in these lands. Even if I have to force it I'll make it so."
The figure made an ominous smile which was really grotesque but from Adam's view, it was a heartfelt smile as if some life goal was being achieved.
As the figure was about to go away, Adam asked a question, "If you and Zane were to fight right now, who would win?"
The figure thought for a moment and was just about to point to Zane when he reached the conclusion that he would win.
"A close fight, huh? Then Richard will definitely win. Speaking of him, I guess by now he's enjoying quite the life. Really, saving the princess of Hoheim while wandering the Mountain of Days Past, life really is favoring him so. Zane on the other hand is stuck with me."
Adam gestured the man to leave and went to his own room. As soon as he entered through the door, Adam then formed a complex seal with complete ease as if he had already done this hundred and thousands of times and then placed it on the door.
He then opened up his desk and took out a few scrolls that had different colors on them like aqua, blue, red, and, black.
After sifting through them, Adam immediately looked at the color that the scroll had- white. Adam ignored everything else and formed another complex seal though this time it took Adam a few seconds more to create and integrated it into the scroll.
The scroll showed an insignia the moment he placed the seal on it, it was the emblem of an Underworld Envoy.
"Something big just happened."
Adam immediately opened the scroll which simply said, "One fell and Two took his place. The King Alliance helped Two."
Adam's heart dropped when he saw this, this was something too major to just ignore and sit on. He organized his thoughts and opened another drawer on his desk which had another scroll which was just communication tools.
Adam immediately tried to contact One but to no avail then called Four who then responded.
"Is it true?"
A feminine voice answered back, "It is, the King Alliance got Two to help them. Eventually, he'll want to meet you, get ready for that."
Adam stopped the scroll and then stormed out his room. He thought he had time to react but apparently, he didn't realize that the King Alliance viewed his earlier actions more important than they actually are.
Adam went to an obscure place in the castle and entered an arched portal. The moment he entered the portal, he disappeared and appeared in a familiar lab.
Adam walked in on the doctor experimenting on some inventions, particularly a well-made slime. He closed the lamp right beside it and it turned to an item similar to a gold coin. He then dripped a droplet of water on the slime and it didn't react to it at all.
"Failure again! Now, this is getting annoying!"
The doctor sighed and massaged his temples only to see Adam right beside him. He was startled and jumped up.
"Oh my, Adam! Way to walk in on someone, if you wanted to be with someone I could-"
"This isn't the time for jokes, doctor. I need her right now. The King Alliance is already making a move. I guess that little move was too damning."
The doctor immediately stopped his childish mannerisms and changed to a serious expression. He gestured Adam to follow him. To Adam's surprise, they walked outside the mansion and rode on a carriage.
"Where are you taking me?"
The doctor simply replied, "To where she is, a growing girl has some needs."
There was just silence on the entire road as they finally reached their destination. It was an orphanage that wasn't run down but one could tell that this was a dubious-looking orphanage.
They both walked in and the person in front immediately tossed a friendly smile towards them and the doctor smiled back, apparently, they knew each other.
"We're here for Mira. It's time."
"Oh, is that the case? Worry not, I'll get the documents ready."
Right after saying that he left and went into the room in the back. He came out with a crystal clear glass case with the documents inside, the attention to cleanliness on this particular object made everything else in the room look dirty.
Adam took the documents and read everything, paying attention to every single word on it.
After confirming what just happened, the doctor signed the documents, and Mira was immediately brought out. She looked extremely fragile with her frame but oddly enough looked extremely strong.
Adam's interest immediately peaked when he saw Mira completely fine and not having an episode, "Hey, what did you do?"
The doctor smiled when he heard this, apparently, he was really proud of this.
"Remember when you told me how you prevent Zane from gathering mana by blocking his mana circuit? I applied the same concept but this time instead of blocking it, I filled it to the brim with my own mana making it so that-."
Adam immediately understood the logic behind it and finished the doctor's sentence, "She won't be able to dislodge your mana from her own circuit since her mana control is non-existent making her unable to gather anymore mana."
The doctor was a little irritated on how fast Adam picks up on things.
When she was brought out she thought it would be another person to look at her as someone they could adopt but would always back out on the moments. This has happened far too many to count that she is completely immune to this.
However, when she looked at the people who were going to take her, she froze for a bit and awkwardly went forward and greeted them.
"Great! Mira, live a good life. Sir Dave, please take good care of her."
She knew that this day would come when she would go back and leave all her new friends behind. She just quietly accepted this fact and went forward.
When Adam saw her holding back her tears when she was leaving her new friends it only served as a scene for him, he felt nothing towards this.
As Mira was waving goodbye to everyone in the orphanage, she couldn't hold it anymore and broke down crying in her friend's arms.
"Don't worry! We'll see each other again!"
"Yeah! Don't be sad! When we're older we'll meet again!"
"Just remember us and we'll remember you!"
With one last hug, Mira left with the doctor and Adam.
On the carriage back, Mira felt completely empty and just a tad bit of rage towards Adam and the doctor.
Adam completely understood how Mira was feeling right now but he needed a way to use her for his own gain. He wasn't a saint not in the slightest for he will do anything to reach his own goal.
"Hey 3, how-"
Mira immediately corrected Adam, "It's Mira."
"Mira, do you know what's happening right now?"
"All I know is you're taking me back, a living test doll."
"Do you know why though?"
"No, I don't!"
"You see there is war in the near future. where this kingdom might fall and everyone here killed. I need your help to stop this."
"You are already enough to kill the sorcerer-king! I heard everything you talked about, why do you need my help?"
"Some complications immediately propped up and I need your help. The King Alliance made a move."
Even Mira, who was still stubborn shook at the King Alliance's name. She knew what kind of madmen they were when Adam and the doctor were talking. Even though they talked in such a casual manner the acts that the King Alliance has made to secure its position as an overlord in these lands were insane.
"Besides if you help me, I can completely and utterly stop your trait from bothering you in the future. You see this is my plan."
Adam created a complex spell which then hooked it into Mira's brain forcing all of Adam's plan details into her.
When she saw Adam's plan unfold in her head she couldn't help but fear the young man in front of her. If this plan were to ever succeed then what the King Alliance has done won't even be close to what Adam is planning.
She widened her eyes and screamed at the top of her lungs, "You madman!"
Good thing Adam prepared for this by completely separating the sound from inside and outside the carriage.
Although it was a completely crazy plan, this plan really will help her live a normal life in the future if she ever chose to do so.
"So are you joining me, with your full cooperation?"
Mira showed slight hesitation when faced with this question and just looked down while fiddling with her fingers.
Adam saw how uncertain Mira was on her decision so he urged it even further, "If you help me achieve this small plan of mine, I won't force you to do anything else. Hell, I'll even do three things you ask of me as long as it's within my power."
This single statement completely swayed Mira over, the sheer influence that Adam holds was nothing to scoff at, and the rate of his improvement was extremely scary. Improving day by day, second by second.
"I-I'll do it only if-"
Adam once again finished someone else's sentence, "I sign a contract with you. Right?"
Mira nodded and in front of her appeared a piece of paper from flame embers. An entire contract was drafted out and she thoroughly read each part of it.
As she was reading she read an unfamiliar clause which stated, "Adam is to protect and save people who Mira holds dear, only applies to non-threats."
"I can't really say no anymore."