Chapter 131: Home Sweet Home

The Director’s eyes widened as he scanned the list Adrian had handed him.

"These are quite the lot," he murmured, his voice tinged with amazement as he took in the sheer volume of inventions.

It was an impressive haul, one that could shift the Kingdom’s technological landscape yet again.

Adrian didn’t waste words. "Do you have enough payment for all of them?" he asked directly.

The question snapped the Director out of his awe, refocusing him on the transaction at hand.

"Yes, yes, we do," he replied quickly, eager to keep the exchange moving. "Are you with everything now?"

"Can you pay?"

The Director nodded affirmatively, a hint of pride in his voice.

"We’re not short of funds." He scanned the list one more time, calculating swiftly.

"The total would be 4,676 1-Star magic crystals, 1,000 2-Star magic crystals, and 676 gold coins."

Adrian gave a slight nod of confirmation, signaling his approval. Without hesitation, the Director reached for a communicator on his desk and called a staff member, instructing them of how much they should bring.



Moments later, the door swung open, and a staff member entered, directing several others who carried in numerous crates.

They placed them carefully around the room before exiting quietly.

The Director gestured toward the crates littering the floor. "Here’s the payment."

Adrian stepped forward, his eyes sweeping over the containers.

With a subtle activation of [Analysis], he confirmed the contents matched the agreed-upon amounts: the exact number of magic crystals and gold coins. Satisfied, he nodded again. "Where do you want them delivered?"

The Director blinked, caught off guard by the question. "You mean a location? I’m not sure I understand you."

"Would it be fine to have them here in your office?" Adrian clarified.

The Director glanced around the spacious room. "Sure, the space is enough," he said, though a flicker of confusion crossed his face. "But do we have to get them from out—?"

He didn’t finish his sentence. Before he could process what was happening, the room suddenly filled with crates... dozens of them, each brimming with the inventions from Adrian’s list.

They materialized out of thin air, stacking neatly around the office in an orderly manner.

The Director’s jaw dropped.

"How... where...?" he stammered, his voice faltering as he struggled to comprehend what he’d just witnessed.

Only Sovereigns had the ability to manipulate reality that easily, and even then, summoning complex stuff from nothing was beyond their wildest capabilities.

Yet this boy had done it effortlessly.

As if that weren’t enough, the crates containing the payment vanished into thin air, leaving the floor bare where they had once stood.

The Director’s eyes darted to the empty space, then back to Adrian, disbelief etched into every line of his face.

Adrian broke the silence with a casual tone. "Anything else?"

The Director stammered, grappling for words.

"Uhm, yes," he managed finally, forcing himself to refocus. "The demand for the Mark 2 Communicators and Mana Detectors isn’t very high right now, so we’ll prioritize the other inventions over them... particularly the Heaters and Coolers."

Adrian nodded. "Understood." He stood up, brushing off his shirt. "I should get going."

As he turned toward the door, the Director’s curiosity clashed with a growing sense of fear.

He wanted to demand an explanation... how had Adrian done that? — but a deeper instinct held him back, warning him not to provoke the boy.

Instead, he muttered a chant under his breath, his eyes glowing red as he activated a detection spell to gauge Adrian’s power level.

What he saw, or rather, what he couldn’t see, made his blood run cold.

He, an 8-Star Mage, couldn’t pierce through Adrian’s aura. The implications hit him like a thunderbolt.

As Adrian closed the door behind him, the Director whispered into the silent office, "He’s 9-Star, or even higher."

The thought sent chills racing down his spine. It was a stark reminder that he should never risk offending someone of such power.

’It’s better to remain in mystery than to anger him,’ he told himself, swallowing hard. Then, a realization dawned.

"He was playing weak before. He wanted to test how we’d treat him. Thank goodness we passed his test."

***

Meanwhile, Adrian was already back inside his Rover, the vehicle’s engine humming as he tore through the Capital City’s streets at blinding speed.

His business here was concluded, and the next phase of his plans beckoned. He knew exactly where to go.

"I guess it’s time to return to Tulia," he said to himself, a faint smile tugging at his lips.



***

The drive to Tulia was lengthier than his earlier trip across the desert, but Adrian didn’t pause once.

The Rover cut through the landscape, its wheels churning up dust and gravel as he pressed onward.

Along the way, villagers in scattered settlements caught glimpses of the moving metal box, their reactions a mix of awe and terror.

Some froze, staring wide-eyed, while others fled into their homes, whispering of a strange beast roaming.

Rumors began to spread, tales of a metal beast that devoured the roads without hurting anyone, but Adrian paid them no mind. His focus remained fixed on his destination.

The journey took just over three hours, a stark contrast to the day-long slog he’d endured by carriage in the past.

As night fell, the vehicle’s wheels rolled to a stop on the familiar dirt ground of Tulia.

Moonlight bathed the village in a soft glow, and though the hour was late, a handful of villagers lingered outside, chatting and enjoying the cool air.

The moment the Rover halted, they surrounded it, their curiosity warring with suspicion. Some backed away, retreating to their houses, while others stepped forward, makeshift weapons in hand.

"What do you want from us?" a burly man shouted, clutching a pitchfork tightly. His voice trembled despite his bold stance.

"Stay back, or we’ll fight!" a younger woman added, preparing to cast a spell.

The Rover’s tinted windows concealed Adrian from their view, but he could see them clearly, their tense postures and flickering expressions.

With a quiet chuckle, he opened the door and stepped out.

The threats died in their throats. Eyes widened, and a few villagers emerged from their hiding spots, recognition dawning.

"It’s Adrian!" an older man exclaimed, lowering his hoe.

"The genius child is back!" a woman cried.

They surged forward, calling out, "Eli! Mara! Adrian is back!"

Their shouts echoed through the quiet village, rousing more faces from doorways and windows.

Adrian didn’t hold himself aloof. A genuine smile spread across his face as he stepped into their midst, accepting hugs and returning warm greetings.

"It’s good to see you all again," he said, his voice carrying a rare softness.

An elderly woman, patted his shoulder gently. "Eli and Mara must be asleep by now," she said with a kind smile. "You should head to your house and see them."

Adrian nodded in gratitude. "Thank you."

With the greetings winding down, he turned to the Rover and, with a thought, sent it back into his [Inventory].

The vehicle vanished in a flash, prompting gasps and flinches from the villagers leaning close to inspect it.

A young boy, some inches taller than Adrian stumbled back, eyes wide.

"H-how did you do that?"

Adrian recognized him — he had joined in the travel to the Capital City for the examination, but it was unfortunate be wasn’t successful. He rested his hands on the boy’s shoulder to reassure him.

"It’s a special trick. There’s nothing to be afraid of."

The boy blinked, then grinned, emboldened by Adrian’s calm demeanor.

After one last round of farewells, he raised a hand.

"I’ll go meet Eli and Mara now. We’ll catch up more tomorrow. I’ve got plenty to tell you all."

The villagers nodded, waving him off with smiles and murmurs of admiration.

"Look at him," one whispered. "He’s grown so much in just a few months."



***

Adrian made his way to his house, its windows aglow with the soft light of mana bulbs despite the late hour.

There wasn’t any need for him to knock, as he had built a mechanical alarm system into the door.

Since they might be sleeping, he pressed the button, and a sharp bell rang through the house.

Inside, Eli’s grumbling voice carried to the door.

"Who in the blazes is ringing at eleven at night?" he muttered, shuffling forward.

He swung the door open and froze at the sight before him. Rubbing his eyes as if he couldn’t trust his vision,he stared at Adrian, then broke into a wide grin. "Lad, you’re back!"

Adrian’s smile mirrored his foster father’s. "Yes, I’m back."

Eli pulled him into a tight, gruff hug, his voice thick with emotion. "We’ve missed you, boy. Come in, come in."

Stepping inside, Adrian was hit with a wave of nostalgia, as he felt the warmth of his house.

"Mara! Our boy Adrian has returned!"

In the next instant, Mara who was meant to be sleeping, rushed into the living room like she’s been awake the whole time, pulling Adrian into another tight hug.