After renting two rooms at the inn, they spent the night forgetting about the two infuriating encounters they had made today.
Beautiful orange hues soon chased the darkness away and enlivened the sky under the rising sun's rays.
And as always, the same notification awoke Adam.
[Talent's daily use available. Use: Yes/No]
Unlike last week, no excitement accompanied it. Instead, he grumbled and flailed his arm at the fiery window.
"Let me sleep! What are you planning to give me, anyway? Another bundle of arrows or some random throwing knives I don't need?"
Contempt filled his voice as he stretched his limbs and cursed the wheel.
And he did for a good reason! In six days, he didn't get a single good item.
He gritted his teeth as he pressed yes and ignored the wheel.
"If I got another outfit or food to share with Luna, I would have accepted it. But seriously! I'm starting to hate this random talent!"
Without waiting to see the result, he washed his face, ruffled his flowing hair, and put on his armor.
Ready to go, he walked to the door and grabbed the handle as the draw's result echoed in his ears.
[Congratulations on obtaining a city relocation ticket.]
The loud click of his tongue echoed through the room as he slammed the door shut behind him.
"Great item! I don't have a city first, and why would I relocate, anyway? What a stupid wheel!"
No matter how he thought about it, his territory's location was good enough. The only use it could have would have been to teleport it to another realm. But with Baal's persistence in learning how he crossed a realm alone, he doubted a mere ticket could bring thousands of individuals along with their facilities. Therefore, he believed it was another dud from the wheel.
Huffing in suppressed rage, he went to the sisters' room, woke them, and ordered breakfast in the inn's living room.
Once done, he clapped his hands to draw their attention.
"The plan for today is simple. Laura and Lilia, you two contact your artisan friends." He placed yesterday's three gold coins on the rough wooden table. "Try to recruit them and anyone skilled. Don't worry about money. I'll sell more stones to cover their salaries."
He offered a gentle smile at Litia next.
"In the meantime, you'll help me buy healthy farm beasts and look for skilled farmers."
Lilia and Litia nodded, their eyes sparkling with determination.
However, Laura's brows creased into a frown as she pinched the bridge of her nose.
"I don't think many will join us. Don't forget that they're humans while you lead demons." She shook her head, her lips curling into a bitter smile. "Don't get me wrong, I know your territory is much better than this depraved city, but they don't. The only thing they know is the demons' horrible reputation."
He shrugged. "Don't try to convince them too much, then. Take only the person you trust the most and desperate individuals. I don't believe they'll care much about who they serve if you offer them decent lives."
Laura's conflicted expression shifted as a smile crept on her lips.
"Right. I can't promise dozens of people, but I know a few tailors and two apprentice smiths who wouldn't mind jumping ship."
Lilia covered her mouth, her eyes trailing upwards mischievously.
"Look at this bad girl. She even included the brat who pursued her for months."
Laura's face reddened, and her pupils trembled for a second before she stomped her foot under the table.
"Says the heartbreaking queen. How many did you reject again? Three dozens? Or was it more?" She pointed at Lilia's chest, her brows twitching. "Even when the bandits captured us, it was because of you and your two cow-like breasts!"
He swallowed the wrong way, his face turning bright red as he almost suffocated. Yet, a part of his mind couldn't help but remember the spectacle he had seen in the bandit leader's tent.
'It's true that she has two nuclear bombs stuck there.'
His ears burned at the idea before he banished it to a dark corner to focus on the present... and avoid getting caught in the middle of their dispute.
Without wasting a second, he pulled his chair away, tapped Litia's shoulder, and walked away.
"See you later, and good luck with the recruitment."
As he stepped out, Lilia's teasing chuckles and Laura's annoyed retorts forced his lips to curl into a smile and his heart to beat a peaceful tune.
'I hope everyone will continue laughing happily in the future.'
Meanwhile, Litia giggled at her sisters' shenanigans and rushed to catch up with Adam. Once she did, she took determined steps before him.
"Let me show you a good jewel artisan." She pointed towards a somber alleyway few would tread and continued. "Let me explain the cultural differences in this realm. Humans account for the extreme majority of the population. Then, comes intelligent creatures like the kobolds mining north of the territory. But no one recognises them as such. Following them, we have a few elves inhabiting a dense forest.
I heard it's in the south, but I can't be sure. Dwarves come in the last position. Despite their low numbers, humans scorn them for their size and crafting skills."
He noticed her trembling shoulders and twisting lips as her voice trailed off. Then, she continued.
"I'm telling you because we're meeting one." She slowed down, sorrow dancing in her eyes. "He refused to work for the city lord a decade ago. To punish him, this hateful mage commanded the guards to cut his right arm and isolate him in a shady alleyway."
She exhaled sharply, recomposing herself until only determination burned in her eyes.
"More than recruiting him, I want to save him from misery."
He nodded at her, his eyes narrowing into fiery slits as his steps hastened.
"It just so happens that I need a jewelsmith. He'll do just fine." His lips curled into a broad grin. "Especially after we find a way to heal his arm!"