As Adrian returned to the inn, he felt a sense of relief. His time in the forest had been productive, even though he couldn't share the true extent of his newfound powers with his team.

Adrian was determined to keep his abilities a well-guarded secret, as his sole focus remained on taking revenge.

The next day in Evercrest City was quite eventful.

Selena and Lily were enthusiastic about showing Adrian around and exploring various spots.

They were intent on making the most of their time in the city.

Selena couldn't hide her excitement and practically dragged Adrian along, while Lily danced around them, playfully teasing both of them.

First on the itinerary was a visit to the city's bustling market.

The streets were filled with traders peddling precious gemstones, ores, and magical artifacts from the mines. The air was thick with the scent of food vendors selling savory treats and exotic spices.

Selena couldn't resist the temptation to haggle with the traders.

Selena turned to Adrian, a glint in her eye. "What do you think, Adrian? Should we pick something shiny for the memento of our time here?"

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm good, Selena. You can pick something shiny enough for all of us."

Lily playfully pouted, her voice teasing. "You're no fun, Adrian."

Selena approached a seller displaying an array of colorful gemstones and initiated a lively negotiation.

Adrian watched in amusement as Selena gestured animatedly while speaking with the trader. Her brown eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and it was hard not to get swept up in her energy. "Come on, Adrian, pick out something. It's not every day you see such gems!"

Adrian obliged and selected a small, brilliant blue gemstone. He knew that he had to play along and not draw unnecessary attention to himself. "This one looks nice."

Selena smiled approvingly and whispered, "Good choice. Now, let's see if we can get it for a better price."

She turned back to the trader with a grin, and the haggling continued.

Lily leaned in closer to Adrian and whispered, her voice a soft, lilting melody, "You have to admire her spirit. She makes everything fun."

Adrian nodded in agreement. "That’s true."

The trio's adventure continued as they wandered through the city's historic district. Ancient stone buildings with ornate carvings lined the cobbled streets. It was a stark contrast to the modern and bustling market they had just left.

Lily pointed to a majestic building with ivy-covered walls, "That's the Evercrest Museum, Adrian. It houses artifacts from the city's mining history. You'll find rare gemstones, tools, and even some magical artifacts. You should visit if you're interested in history."

Adrian couldn't help but be curious. "I might just do that."

As they explored further, they came across a quaint café with outdoor seating. It was a cozy little spot adorned with blooming flowers and colorful lanterns.

Selena suggested, "How about we grab something to eat, and then we can head to the mines? Allan and Zelene should be there, making sure everything is in order."

“Good idea,” Adrian agreed readily.

His attention shifted to Lily, who was gazing at him with an inviting smile. She inquired, "So, what do you think, Adrian? Did you enjoy exploring with us?"

Adrian had to admit that their enthusiasm was infectious. "It's been an interesting day. I'm glad you two showed me around."

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Selena grinned and waved for the waiter. "Perfect! Let's eat and then visit the mines."

As they sat in an exotic restaurant, Selena and Lily couldn't resist the opportunity to engage in their friendly banter. They continuously found ways to fluster Adrian, competing for his attention.

"Adrian, which do you prefer: a Miner's Stew or a Gemstone Glazed Pie?" Selena asked with a playful glint in her eyes.

Lily leaned in closer with a impish tone, "I think he'd go for the pie. Just like him, it's sweet and precious."

Adrian, unfazed by their antics, calmly replied, "I'll have both."

This drew delighted laughter from his companions as they carried on, spirits high.

As they enjoyed their meal, conversation flowed freely. Selena and Lily's laughter filled the air, making the experience feel heartwarming.

As the evening descended upon Evercrest City, the trio made their way to the gemstone mines. The entrance was adorned with glittering gemstones embedded in the walls, casting a mesmerizing glow.

It was easy to spot Allan and Zelene observing the area, ensuring everything was in order.

Tavon was still recovering and resting back at the inn, with Zelene occasionally checking up on him.

Adrian felt a sense of duty to his team, but at the same time, he had to continue strengthening his powers.

After all, his primary goal was to take revenge on Lacroix Family.

So, he made his excuses and left for the forest during the evening hours.

The forest had been a place of growth for him, and he couldn't let go of this opportunity. His power still had much untapped potential, and he was eager to harness it fully.

Night after night, Adrian honed his abilities in the forest, hunting beasts to strengthen his powers using Shadow Energy.

Although there hadn't been any significant advancements, he had managed to hunt many beasts and sell their body parts for a decent sum.

It was a profitable endeavor, and he was determined to accumulate more wealth for future needs.

'Perhaps I should buy some more spells or sword skills after returning to Forgeholm,' Adrian had begun to think as he assembled wealth by selling the body parts of the beasts.

Two days passed in a whirlwind of exploration and training. The traders had now gathered and stored all the ores in their caravans, ready for the journey back to Forgeholm.

Team Seahorse's mission was finally coming to a close, and as they began their journey back to Forgeholm.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the caravan of traders and Team Seahorse, they began their journey from Evercrest City back to Forgeholm.

Captain Zelene wasted no time in organizing the team for their protection. She ordered her team to form a protective formation around the traders' caravans.

Just like their previous formations, Adrian and Lily were paired together at the rear. Selena and Zelene walked side by side in the center, and Allan and Tavon took the lead, ready to confront any threats.

The journey had been dull for a while until they encountered their first issue: a pack of savage beasts known as Dire Wolves.

These creatures, with mottled gray fur and razor-sharp teeth, howled in hunger as they closed in on the caravan.

Adrian tightened his grip on his sword, his mind racing as he evaluated the situation. The traders looked to Team Seahorse for protection, their expressions a mix of fear and hope.

Lily, her staff in hand, whispered an incantation, summoning a swirling vortex of air to hinder the wolves.

"Whirling Cyclone!" she uttered, and a powerful gust of wind swept through the path, temporarily disorienting the dire wolves.

Zelene, on the other hand, stepped forward, her eyes focused and determined. She extended her hand toward the wolves and invoked her magic.

"Siren's Call!" Her voice held a mystical quality, and her spell created an enchanting melody that lured some of the wolves away from the caravan and into a trance-like state.

Selena focused on support magic. She cast a spell to strengthen her comrades, “By the grace of life's embrace, enhance agility and strength.” She sent soothing waves of magic to reinforce her comrades.

Adrian seized the opportunity to strike. He activated his Sword Skill, Thunder Strike, and with a lightning-fast motion, he slashed through the air, sending a powerful shockwave crashing into one the dire wolves. The force of the blow sent the creature tumbling back and crashing into other dire wolves, injuring them as well.

Allan and Tavon engaged the remaining wolves with impressive coordination.

Allan's axe swung in powerful arcs, delivering devastating blows and even used a skill called Cleave Cascade which allowed him to strike multiple wolves in a single swing.

Tavon's swift spear strikes kept the wolves at bay. He utilized Rapid Stalwart Thrust to thrust his spear repeatedly, allowing him to quickly target many wolves.

The battle was fierce but brief, and with the combined efforts of Team Seahorse, they managed to defeat the pack of dire wolves. The traders breathed a collective sigh of relief, grateful for the swift and efficient response of their protectors.

With the threat eliminated, the journey continued.

However, it wasn't long before the second issue arose: a group of bandits.

Ironically, these were the same bandits that Team Seahorse had encountered on their journey from Forgeholm to Evercrest. Recognizing their previous adversaries, the bandits attempted to flee.

Adrian, who had been prepared for this possibility, quickly retrieved a Magic Scroll from his pouch.

With a swift incantation, he activated the scroll, and a shimmering barrier of mana enveloped the bandits, preventing their escape.

The bandits, realizing they were trapped, began to panic. Adrian approached them, his sword ready.

"You remember us, don't you?" he said with a cool determination.

The bandit leader, recognizing Team Seahorse, grumbled, "You again! We'll get you for this!"

Selena, with her mastery of magic, stepped forward. Her voice was steady as she chanted an incantation, "Luminaegis," and a radiant flash of light occurred, illuminating the area and blinding them temporarily.

Lily used her Wind Attribute to send a gust of wind that disarmed the bandits, making their swords fly out of their hands. "Zephyr's Grasp!"

Allan, Adrian, and Tavon closed in on the immobilized bandits.

Allan's axe skills came into play as he approached, striking with precision and efficiency. The bandits, struggling to regain their vision, were unable to mount a defense.

He utilized a skill called ‘Raging Whirlwind,” which allowed him to spin and strike multiple bandits at once. With this attack, Allan killed three bandits in one go.

Tavon, with his agile spearwork, swiftly incapacitated any bandits who managed to regain their footing. He used Cyclone Thrust and his spear became a blur as it struck all the bandits that were surrounding him.

As for Adrian, he was using an extremely violent fighting style as he brandished his sword and strike the bandits while infusing his blade with his Battle Aura. Now that his Battle Aura was at the High Level of Third Order Rank, he found that dealing with these bandits was really too easy. He didn’t even need to use the Thunder Strike against them.

With the combined efforts of Tavon, Adrian, and Allan, most of the bandits were swiftly subdued.

Zelene at this moment stepped forward, her voice carrying authority as she chanted, "Aqua Sonic Torrent!"

A surge of water spiraled from her palms, knocking back the bandit’s leader. The bandit’s leader experienced sound waves vibrating within his body, dealing extremely deadly internal injuries to him.

As these internal injuries occurred to the bandit’s leader, Adrian notice the opportunity and immediately leaped in the direction of the bandit’s leader.

He struck the bandit’s leader’s chest with Thunder Strike and managed to completely defeat him!

With the bandits incapacitated and their leader defeated, Team Seahorse stood victorious.

Soon, they continued their journey to Forgeholm City, the traders looked upon their protectors with gratitude and respect. They were fortunate to have chosen the Iron Wolves Mercenary Guild for this mission.