A few days prior when they all split up, Adam's disappearance wasn't too unexpected from his usual actions but none of them knew what he did exactly.
Right after speaking his last words, he left them and immediately slipped into the kingdom. He ignored all the stores and sights on the outer area of the kingdom and directly went to the inner area.
Now that he was once again free to roam and do as he pleased, he had a few ideas on what he could do. He could once again lay low and listen around for information, directly break into the hidden areas in the kingdom, or set up a way to start influencing this kingdom's view.
He had nearly two years to set up everything which gave him a reasonable amount of time to construct his second beacon.
Zane was walking along the streets when he decided, "It's better to start right now. Considering so many things happened this past month, who knows what could happen in these two years. Setting up a foundation is the smarter move."
Now it was time to think about what kind of influence he was hoping for. Considering that each kingdom had royalty it should at least be something that will be appealing to them.
In the Kingdom of Luxury, where people value quality and fanciness above everything else, it should be something that only he could offer. Also thinking about how it could appease the darker aspects regarding this kingdom, there were still many ideas that popped up in Adam's mind.
Then it came to the most important aspect of this plan, how it could develop Eve's abilities even further. With her reflexes, agility, speed, it should something that could take advantage of that.
Adam stopped in place and just gazed upon open land for sale, "Well, it seems like a traveling circus is about to appear in this kingdom. As well as a little hidden service behind it."
Without any hesitation, he went into a remote alley and opened up a communication scroll.
Adam directed to a certain woman, "Hey 4, no, should I say 3? I need your skills."
A gleeful voice responded back, "I thought you'd never ask! You always kept using your own men. It's nice that you're finally turning to me!"
"Bring a few tamed beasts and a few skilled people, preferably women."
"Ooh! I guess I'll finally have enough room to show off. Now, what do I want in return, I could get my cuties some high-quality mana stones, oh, I could also ask for your mana technique, then again I could-"
Adam broke contact immediately when she started to go off on a tangent. He ripped the scroll into pieces and burned it on the spot. He made sure to remove the traces of whatever ashes remained.
"I'm pretty sure that she'll go on for a few more hours. I just hope she'll get them ready in time."
Adam then started getting everything else, buying the land, purchasing the rights to perform, waiving safety protocols, and especially purchasing equipment for everything to be ready. Everything would've been an issue but since his wealth is so immense that it could rival a kingdom, any issue that popped up, Adam threw money at it.
In a few short hours, it was noon and a ready-made circus tent, alongside everything that could be related to one, was laying in a once-empty open field. Adam went inside the tent, there were stages ready that were made of crystal wood, a staple show of riches. Blinding lights created from magic, classic vendor stalls, and, some odd materials in the middle.
"Now for the finishing step, Absolute Barrier."
Adam coated the entire area in his mana, ensuring that the Kingdom of Luxury would fall first before this tent. He added a few magic circles that he had learned when he took the library trial back in Maghim. These spells made it so that this area was cool, noise wouldn't echo all over the place, and a bunch of other quality of life changes except for a single spell that made it so that no magic could enter or leave this tent.
Adam left the circus and contacted her once more, "Are you ready?"
"Of course I am! When are you picking us up?"
Adam disappeared in the middle of the bustling area but no one noticed. He then appeared directly in front of her.
"Right now."
In front of Adam laid a young woman seemingly around her early twenties with short curly hair. There was an entire batch of people right behind her all in formation. Her glasses were slightly tilted from Adam's sudden appearance.
She got surprised and backed off and said, "Well, you're here. What's the contract going to be for?"
Adam conjured a piece of unusual paper, "You're going to run a show for two years as a cover-up to run an assassination joint. There are simply a few conditions you should take note of. One, Eve is to always be on a job whenever there is one. Two, Eve is to never be killed or this contract is void. Three, any job regarding a noble or above is to go through me."
She then thoroughly read each letter that showed up on the paper with extreme detail that it took her a few minutes to triple check.
"Where's the part that says what I want?"
"I still have to write it in. Well, what do you want?"
She looked extremely smug when she said this, "Well, I did hear a certain man appeared in Hoheim and I want one of my people under him. From my sources, it seems like he's directly related to you."
"Hearing how confident you are, I'm guessing Butch left you alone?"
"Of course! He'll need my information gathering and network in the future. I get the funds and materials I need for my projects and we get the job done quite a simple relationship."
"Are you sure about that? I can do that but think about who'll go with him otherwise you'll regret it."
"Of course I did my research! He has a pseudo-elementalist and an extremely terrifying lad titled the Black Plague under him. He has also saved someone very important while in the mountains. Right now, he's residing there and slowly but surely growing his strength."
Adam gave her the paper with all of the details laid bare, "Deal."
"I'm not a subordinate anymore. Call me Rosaline, it's going to be a pleasure to be working with you."
Adam gathered everyone here, both people and beasts, and teleported into Adam's abode. He had to change their dirty and ragged looks into something more refined and worthy of the place they're going to be performing. The maids and butlers all systematically changed each one of them into someone else entirely.
After doing so, Adam teleported everyone on the outskirts of the Kingdom of Luxury. They all started walking in sync with all sorts of wild beasts following them. When they arrived at the edge of the Kingdom of Luxury, there was no one that stopped them but there were a few shocked pedestrians on the side.
Adam gestured for Rosaline to come to her, "Let's see how well you're men's skills fare. Make the event later at night the most anticipated one today. There should be roughly a thousand people that should show up."
Rosaline puffed her chest up and said, "Too easy! Harold, Boralt! Spread rumors around! A spectacle that none has ever laid their eyes on! I'll even make the hype build-up for an entire month!"
Adam seemed to be slightly intrigued by how they would be able to do it, "Is that so? Without knowing the culture, general interest, hot spots, all the while making sure you deliver as you have advertised? This will be something I look forward to how you'll manage."
She backed off slightly, her entire claim was reliant on the fact that Adam will help her out. Now that she had to do this on her own, she had no other choice but to put out more of her men to ensure the word spread.
When they finally reached the inner area of the Kingdom of Luxury, some of the onlookers got interested and started asking them what this was about. Rosaline spared no effort to instantly start the hype regarding the event later on.
After she kept on spouting words to generate a movement, some started to take interest to which she spread a sigh of relief. Not being able to keep her word would've made her look bad in front of Adam.
Eventually, they reached their destination and started setting up. Adam then started a conversation with Rosaline.
"Now that we're here, do you have any plans on your show later on?"
Rosaline was dumbstruck, "Eh?"
Adam then started walking off, "I see, good luck then. I'll see just how capable you are. I have to check on someone."
What was left behind was a stressed-out woman left to organize everything in less than half a day. She immediately checked her surroundings and made up a few shows that showed their athletic abilities and skills.
Adam decided to venture off to find something to spend his time. At the corner of his eye, he saw Abel and Gabe following a few men into a store. Finding this scene interesting, he followed them discreetly.
He arrived at the front where a man on the counter didn't see him pass by. He eventually reached the point where Abel and Gabe were standing at. Abel looked quite troubled while Gabe was widely grinning in anticipation.
He was about to follow right behind them when a person appeared in front of him. Based on his clothes, he didn't look like someone who worked here rather he looked like someone who owned the establishment.
The well-dressed man said, "Sir, this place is only for reservations. I kindly ask you to find somewhere else to dine somewhere else.
The man didn't see this cloaked figure's face but under it Adam's expression changed, he got extremely interested in the person in front of him. He was in stealth mode, lurking around without any normal person being able to sense his presence.
Adam feigned ignorance, removed his hood, and decided to back off for now, "Is that so? My bad, I'll be off then."
The well-dressed man's kind expression hid a sort of malice towards Adam. Being cloaked in black while none of his subordinates being unable to stop him from going further signified that Adam was someone who had real ability.
Though at the exact same time, he felt fear towards an unknown figure suddenly appearing out of nowhere right after the supposed genius was sent out to explore the world. There was even word that Maghim was setting up their defenses against the King's Alliance. These were turbulent times.
He called to one of his people and said, "Get someone to follow her. If you lose her, immediately retreat. She looks like someone that'll be worrisome."
The servant bowed, "Yes, my liege."
Getting blocked off, Adam decided to just let it be. There were more places he should be exploring, codes he should be uncovering, and places he should be taking note of.
Literally, after walking for a few minutes, he instantly felt eyes locking on him. He decided to just let them be and scout as much as they like. He removed his black cloak since there was no point with eyes on him already.
Since he was already out in the open he might as well go to a pub to gather some news. From the people who frequent these kinds of establishments, middle-aged men wondered why someone who looks like Adam would nonchalantly enter without supervision.
Though people noticed, no one actually did anything about it yet. Adam went and ordered a sweet drink then sat on the dark corner of the pub.
One of the patrons finally asked, "Hey kid, aren't you a little too young to be here?"
"I might be, but you sure are drinking a little too early."
The man across the initial man who asked said, "Hoh! Hahaha! That lassie got you good there!"
The earlier atmosphere returned after that incident. The spies decided to get a bit closer to Adam so they stuck around as patrons. Adam didn't mind since luring the enemy into a false sense of security might help someone in the future.
Adam continued on to listen to the patrons.
"Besides, that kid might be looking up to Mathias, thinking they're the same. Speaking of him, did you hear? He's going to pass this kingdom on the way to the Kingdom of Valor! Apparently, even royalty's welcoming him!"