Turner House, North Ward.
The following day, Adam arrived at this opulent three-story manor early in the morning to meet Viktor.
As he made his way to the backyard, he glanced at Remy, the house butler, who was walking slightly behind him and asked, "Edward still out cold?"
The middle-aged man with burgundy hair and a mustache of the same color chuckled slightly, "That's right, Lord Adam. The young master seems to have had quite the rough night last night."
Thinking back to the ridiculous amounts of alcohol he, Edward, and Johnathan had consumed the night prior, Adam couldn't help but agree.
In the end, he was the one who had to drop his friends back home. After all, he was the only sober one. The young ladies, Lisa and Felicia, were fine since they hadn't drunk at all.
"Have you informed Uncle Viktor of my arrival?" The youth asked.
"Of course." Remy nodded politely. "He's already waiting for you."
He then paused for a while and glanced at Valerian who was sticking his head out from Adam's robes and looking around curiously.
"Shall I tell the chef to prepare something for your familiar?"
"Myu!" Valerian nodded.
"Haha, yes, please. Some cooked meat would be nice for the little guy." Adam chuckled.
"Myu! Myu!" Valerian raised his head and glanced at him with a slight frown.
Adam's lips twitched. "Uh, okay." He then looked at Remy and added, "Tell them to make loads of cooked meat."
"As you wish," Remy replied with a faint chuckle, finding the interaction between Adam and Valerian very funny.
The group finally arrived at the backyard. There, they saw two black griffins, one big and the other small, lying down on the grass and enjoying the early morning sun.
When Valerian laid eyes on the small griffin, he beamed. "Myu~"
He jumped out from within Adam's robes and then enthusiastically ran toward the griffin. It was Edward's familiar Aquila.
The young griffin turned his head and saw Valerian running toward him. Seeing this, he got on his legs and became very excited.
The two magical beasts had met after a very long time and immediately started playing with one another with great joy.
Aquila's father, Arnault, deeply glanced at Valerian. He then turned his head and looked at Adam who was standing in front of him.
"Good morning, Sir Arnault." The youth pressed his right hand over his chest and bowed respectfully.
Arnault nuzzled his head against the youth as a show of acknowledgment and then laid back down, gazing back at Valerian.
He can't see through Val's transformation, can he? Adam thought to himself as a drop of sweat trickled down his forehead.
"You're here, kiddo." Viktor's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
He turned around and saw a tall and muscular man sitting inside the gazebo and waving at him. Adam walked toward him with a bright smile.
"Long time no see, Uncle Viktor! How have you been?"
Viktor observed the youth who was approaching him and nodded with a faint smile, "Looks like you've put on some muscles, eh? Good, good, that's how men should be."
He then glanced at the youth's scar on his face and added, "That scar looks good on you."
Adam gasped in surprise as he took his seat across from Viktor. "I know, right? You're the second person to say so. Everyone else just tells me to get rid of it."
Viktor chuckled, "Well, it's simply a matter of preference." He rolled his sleeves up and showed the densely packed scars on his forearms, "You see this? It's a reminder of all the life and death battles that I've been through."
"Whoa…" Adam's eyes shone like the stars. "So cool!"
But the next moment, his expression turned strange and he mumbled, "But I don't like the looks people give me when I walk past them on the streets."
"Hahaha!" Viktor cocked his head and laughed out loud, thinking to himself, He's still a kid after all.
"Then you should get it treated. I know a person in the city who specializes in this sort of work. Want me to introduce you to her?"
"Oh? Are you talking about Madam Mira's friend?"
"That's right." Viktor nodded. "Seems like you already know of her. Want me to book an appointment for you? Usually, it takes months, but I can get you one tomorrow if you like."
Adam thought for a moment before agreeing. "Okay! Thanks, Uncle."
Viktor nodded. He poured a cup of tea for himself and another one for the youth. "So how was your trip to the secret plane?"
The two chatted for a long time over the cup of tea. Listening to the youth's adventures, Viktor couldn't help but lean back in his chair and sigh. "It's good to be young. Brings back memories of the time I roamed the Uriel Continent without a care in the world."
"Why did you stop? Adam asked curiously.
"Because of the responsibilities on my shoulders," Viktor replied with a bitter smile. Not willing to talk much about his personal life, he changed the topic.
"Anyway, I believe you being here means that you've finished what we agreed upon the last time we met?"
"Ehehe!" The youth rubbed his palms together like a shady merchant. "Of course, of course."
The next moment he waved his hand and twenty wooden barrels appeared around him. Seeing this, Viktor was pleasantly surprised. "Oh? You managed to brew so many? Not bad, kiddo."
Viktor then rubbed the space-type storage ring on his finger, inwardly counting the number of coins. The next moment, a large sack appeared on the table.
"Here." The man pushed the bag toward Adam. "Your remuneration."
Adam's heart started to beat wildly seeing the large sack. He gulped loudly as he opened it; and then, his eyes turned wide as saucers. "H-How much is that?!"
"That should be five thousand platinum pieces if I'm not wrong," Viktor replied nonchalantly.
Adam was speechless. Although he had already calculated that he'd be getting approximately this amount, he was still filled with disbelief when he saw it in person.
His lips curled up into a wide grin as he slowly wiped away the non-existent tears in his eyes. "Oh, how far I've come~"
Viktor couldn't help but break into a hearty laugh seeing the youth's flair for theatrics. He got up from his seat and asked, "Why don't you stay for lunch?"
Adam kept away the money and shook his head with an apologetic smile, "Forgive me, Uncle. I have to go back home and practice potion-making."
"Very well. I won't force you then." Viktor nodded. "But come with me for a moment. I want you to meet someone."