Chapter 23: Ration

Adam approached the front desk, his quiet steps drawing little attention amid the hum of the Mission Hall.

Behind the counter sat the same receptionist from before, the woman who had witnessed his perfect run.

The moment her eyes landed on him, they widened in shock.

Her mouth opened, likely to call out his name or raise attention, but before she could even make a sound, a hand covered her lips.

It was gone an instant later.

The speed of it left her frozen, her heart skipping a beat.

She hadn’t even seen him move.

As her mind caught up, she looked up again, only to find Adam standing calmly in front of her, one finger raised to his lips in a silent shushing gesture.

For a second, her thoughts went blank. Then understanding dawned.

She nodded quickly, forcing her racing pulse to settle. Although the act had startled her, she brushed it off as a normal display of power.

Someone capable of completing a perfect run alone would naturally move faster than the eye could follow.

When she finally found her voice again, it was calm and professional.

“How may I help you, sir?”

Adam’s lips curved slightly.

“I’d like to request a rift re-entry.”

That caught her off guard.

Her brows rose, and she turned to her terminal, fingers flying across the interface.

“You must really enjoy this rift, sir,” she said lightly while typing, her tone trying to mask the surprise in her voice.

A soft chuckle escaped Adam.

“Enjoyment? Not exactly, I just find it… therapeutic.”

She paused for a moment, glancing up at him before her expression softened in understanding.

Perhaps she did, perhaps she didn’t.

But the look she gave him carried a trace of respect, and sympathy.

A few seconds later, the printer clicked, and she handed him the entry permit.

“Good luck on your mission, sir.”

Adam accepted it with a nod.

“Thank you.”

He turned and walked away, the paper folding neatly between his fingers as he made his way toward the Martial Market on the left side of the building.

The receptionist watched him go, her professional mask hiding the quiet awe that flickered in her eyes.

But she said nothing, only returning to her work and pretending the air hadn’t shifted the moment he’d entered.

****

As Adam stepped into the Martial Market, the familiar mix of metal, polish, and faint essence scent filled the air.

Rows of stalls gleamed under the overhead lights, each one displaying weapons, conduits, and monster parts ready for trade.

Almost immediately, a saleswoman noticed him and moved in with a practiced smile.

“Hello sir, are you looking for anything special today—”

“I’m fine, thank you,” Adam said politely, brushing her off with a nod.

His tone was calm but final, his eyes already sweeping through the crowd as though searching for someone in particular.

He moved slowly between the aisles, ignoring the curious glances from other sales personnel.

Then, his gaze caught on something, two familiar fluffy ears, twitching lightly above the crowd.

His eyes glimmered in faint recognition.

It was Juli.

She was mid-conversation with a male customer who clearly wasn’t there for business.

The man had a sleazy grin plastered on his face, leaning a little too close as Juli tried to maintain her professional composure.

“This sabre conduit was crafted by Nigato himself,” Juli said smoothly, holding the blade up for him to inspect.

“So you can trust its quality and essence flow—”

But the man cut her off with a smirk.

“That’s nice, but tell me, what do you like to do on weekends?”

Juli’s polite smile twitched.

“Excuse me?”

The man chuckled, stepping even closer.

“Come on, don’t be shy. You’re too pretty to spend your weekends alone, right?”

Her tail flicked sharply, betraying her discomfort.

She tried to step back, but the man followed, still pressing.

Just as his hand began to reach toward her shoulder, a different hand reached out, it was swift, steady, and sure, as it grasped Juli’s wrist, pulling her away in one smooth motion.

The movement was so quick and controlled that neither she nor the customer had time to react.

“What?” Juli started, but when she saw who it was, her words caught in her throat.

“Mr. Adam,” she breathed softly.

Still walking forward, not once looking back, Adam said simply,

“I need your help with something.”

The tone left no room for question.

Juli blinked once, then nodded silently, allowing him to guide her through the market.

His grip was firm yet gentle, commanding without force.

Behind them, the man who had been pestering her remained frozen in place.

His pupils shrank slightly as a cold, invisible pressure pressed against his chest.

His knees felt weak, his throat dry.

It wasn’t fear, it was instinct.

The kind that screamed predator.

He didn’t move, didn’t breathe, until Adam and Juli disappeared down another aisle.

Only then did the pressure fade.

He stumbled slightly, clutching his chest and gasping.

“What… what kind of intent was that?” he muttered under his breath.

Every fiber of his being told him one thing, he’d just brushed shoulders with something dangerous.

He didn’t stay to find out.

Instead, he turned and hurried out of the Martial Market entirely.

“I have to report this to the boss,” he said to himself, disappearing into the streets.

Meanwhile, Adam was still walking, his long strides carrying both him and Juli deeper into the maze of aisles.

The fox woman finally found her voice.

“What do you need my help with?” she asked, glancing up at him, her tails swaying nervously.

Without slowing down, Adam replied,

“I want to buy rations for my run. And I need a lot.”

Juli blinked, slightly surprised at the simplicity of the request.

“Oh—uh, that’s the aisle to the left,” she said quickly, regaining her composure.

Adam gave a short nod and turned down the aisle she mentioned.

Only when they reached the stacked rows of ration boxes did he finally release her wrist.

The warmth of his hand lingered faintly on her skin, and she found herself staring at him in silence.

Adam turned his gaze toward her, it was calm, unreadable, but heavy.

Juli froze under the weight of it. Her ears twitched once, and a shiver ran down her spine.

What… What does he want now?

Her heart, beat just a little faster.

****

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