CHAPTER 260: VERY SOON

As Adyr hovered in the air, still shaping his plans for the land’s future, his gaze drifted toward a quiet corner of the island, where the Cannibal sat bound to a chair.

His arms, legs, and head were tightly secured, his eyes covered, and his mouth sealed shut. He couldn’t see, speak, or move—yet his presence hadn’t gone unnoticed.

A small flock of Roosters had gathered around him. The curious creatures strutted in a loose circle, releasing sharp, trumpet-like calls that echoed through the clearing like a bizarre ceremonial fanfare. Every so often, one of them leaned in and gave him a quick jab with its beak—more out of fascination than aggression, as if trying to understand what this new creature was.

Each peck made the man flinch violently. His body recoiled, even though the blows left no visible wounds. Muffled, choked noises escaped from behind the gag as he writhed against the restraints, struggling in vain to break free. But the chair didn’t budge, and neither did his bindings.

Adyr watched for a moment longer, amusement flickering across his face.

"He seems to be entertaining himself," he murmured with a chuckle. "Let him stay like that for now."

The Sparks on the island didn’t seem particularly interested in him, nor were they aggressive. There was nothing nearby that posed any real threat to the Cannibal’s life, which made leaving him like this perfectly safe, for now.

At least until he became useful.

With that, his energy body faded from the sanctuary, and his consciousness withdrew.

—

While Adyr’s Earth body was busy working with the researchers—providing them with the data they requested or the data he deemed relevant—his body in the other world stood calmly, eyes focused on a group of bound and restrained Sparks laid out before him.

He was mentally tallying the day’s loot.

Using the intel Vesha had provided, he had spent his time flying from one settlement to the next, sweeping through multiple coordinates without rest. By the end, he had managed to capture 6 more Sparks—four Rank 1s and two Rank 2s.

Even just the purple crystals he had harvested from Spark-influenced creatures were worth slightly over 400 energy. And based on his estimates, the Sparks themselves had a combined market value somewhere between 800 and 1,000 energy units.

’’Not bad at all for half a day’s effort. ’’

The only issue was that he was quickly running out of viable coordinates. He had already dismissed most of the remaining ones—either because they were too far out or because the likelihood of finding a Spark in those regions seemed too low to justify the time.

Deciding there was no need to spend more attention on Spark-hunting for the moment, Adyr hoisted the bundle over his shoulder and began heading back toward the market.

The area had only grown busier since his last visit. The crowd had thickened, and the air felt heavier with tension. Practitioners moved with sharper eyes, quicker steps. Deals were being made in hushed tones, and subtle hostility clung to the air like humidity.

Adyr kept a low profile as he navigated through the crowd, avoiding eye contact and unnecessary interaction. With the bundle of bound Sparks slung casually over his back, he made his way to a familiar destination: Maruun’s tent shop.

The moment he stepped inside, the shift in atmosphere was immediate.

The air turned cool and moist, carrying the faint scent of saltwater and something faintly metallic. The entire space was dimly lit with glowing blue lanterns, illuminating rows of transparent tanks and shallow water basins. In the center of the tent, a massive pool held dozens of aquatic-type Sparks—glimmering fish-like forms drifting slowly in suspension, their bodies trailing bioluminescent patterns like ink in water.

Every visible item in the shop—tools, vials, containers—was somehow tied to the water element. It was a shop built around a theme, and it embraced it fully.

"You’re becoming one of my best—and most loyal—customers these days," came a deep, throaty voice from across the tent.

Maruun stepped forward with a wide, toothy grin stretched across his thick, fishlike lips. The soft fins along his neck fluttered open and closed rhythmically—a clear sign of positive mood for his kind.

Adyr returned the smile, setting the bundle down near the center of the tent with a muted thump.

"You’re the best shop around here," he replied simply, but with the same easy friendliness.

"Let’s see what you’ve brought this time," Maruun said without delay, stepping forward to examine the bundled Sparks.

He moved with practiced efficiency, inspecting each one carefully. After a few quiet moments, he stepped back and offered a price—exactly what Adyr had estimated, and perhaps even better than he’d hoped: 1,000 energy crystals for the entire set.

As always, the deal wasn’t just about profit. With Maruun, these transactions carried a sense of mutual respect—friendship, even.

"Did you hear?" Maruun said as he handed over a pouch filled with glowing purple crystals. "The Wandering Merchant arrived this morning."

"He did?" Adyr replied with a slight smile, already suspecting something was different the moment he stepped into the market. The shift in energy, the tense atmosphere—it all made sense now.

After all, the return of a Rank 5 Adept and the owner of the largest trade hub in the region was bound to stir up movement among practitioners.

Maruun nodded, the gills on his neck folding in tightly as he dropped his voice to a hushed tone.

"Word is, there’ll be a formal welcome ceremony in the main tent tomorrow. They say he’s going to speak—something about the Legacy Domain. Not hard to guess what. My king father and uncle are both coming here tonight just to attend the reception."

Adyr gave a slight nod. He hadn’t contacted Liora or the others in a while, but he was sure they had already heard the news. Knowing them, they were probably preparing themselves even now.

Even Adyr felt a faint flicker of anticipation.

Tomorrow wouldn’t just be a major event—the largest gathering of powerful figures in the Outer Region—it would also be the first time he’d ever see a Rank 5 Adept with his own eyes.

I wonder... just how strong is he? A quiet smile crept across his face.