Jin arrived later than usual.
He knocked on the lid of the wooden crate before springing out, only to find Adam poring over The Clay Figurine.
"You're reading that book? I remember it well!" Jin exclaimed eagerly. For bloodline warlocks and knights, the range of required knowledge was far narrower than that of spellcasters.
In other words, compared to Anthony, Jin had little left to teach Adam before he entered the actual combat phase.
Jin believed the gradual erosion of his authority as a teacher stemmed from this fact. So the moment he saw Adam reading The Clay Figurine, he seized the chance to reassert himself.
"Every ritual circuit needs a foundation. Mine is the black smoke granted by my bloodline. However, because of its diffuse nature, black smoke is easily affected by external forces. That's why I referenced The Clay Figurine when forging my own circuit—and eventually created the Black Smoke Circuit."
"But aren't you still in the Refining Phase?" Adam asked, raising an eyebrow.
In this system, the Overflowing Phase accumulates excess spiritual or vital energy. The Refining Phase shapes this energy into form. Only when a ritual circuit is successfully forged does one enter the Returning Phase.
"Ahem... just one step away, right? It basically counts," Jin replied, coughing awkwardly and scratching his cheek.
Adam eyed him skeptically, unsure whether Jin had been bluffing when he referred to his black smoke as a proper circuit—or if it truly had already reached that level.
Truth be told, though Jin's black smoke was certainly intriguing, it paled in comparison to Anthony's Tower of Echoes. Calling it a fully-formed circuit seemed a stretch.
"Anyway, let's not get into that," Jin said, quickly changing the subject. "This black smoke clone of mine is a direct result of studying The Clay Figurine."
"Clay is highly malleable, just like my black smoke. The difference is that smoke is more scattered. By leveraging the adhesive and absorptive qualities of clay, I can anchor the black smoke to it and fully express its potential."
"Forget about those complicated terms like 'circuits' and 'interactions.' Just mimic," he said, pointing at himself.
"This clay body is a perfect replica of me. I know my own form best. Once you've finished mimicking, then go back and read about circuits, feedback loops, and all that. Compare the replica to your actual body, and you'll gain real insight into anatomical construction."
While Anthony had focused on imparting concrete knowledge, Jin now offered something more elusive—experience.
With both knowledge and experience in hand, Adam felt inspiration stir.
He could start by molding clay animals—simple models—then alter them as practice, generating theoretical insight for future surgical applications.
"Thank you, Teacher," Adam said earnestly.
Jin beamed, rubbing the back of his head, visibly pleased. It felt like a piece of his former authority had been restored.
But Adam didn't rush into experimentation. Instead, he set the book aside and began adjusting his appearance.
"Heading out tonight? Roia's still under lockdown," Jin noted with concern.
Shaya had determined that someone had used extraordinary means to help Purdo escape. This wasn't merely a rogue monk fleeing—it was something far more serious. As a result, elite forces had been deployed.
While these enforcers weren't on Shaya's level, they were formidable. Jin could move freely on his own, but bringing Adam along made stealth far less certain.
"Yes. But this time, I won't be needing your help," Adam replied, descending the stairs.
He slipped quietly out the front door, where Klo was already waiting with a carriage.
Tonight's destination was the Sooke Trading Company, run by a man named Will.
Or more precisely—Will Sooke. A native of the marshlands, Will had fully aligned himself with Adam, swayed by his fabricated identity as a noble from the Kingdom of Loken.
Of course, Adam had offered more than empty promises. Tangible benefits had been delivered, earning Will's growing loyalty.
The exotic species of the Holy Hymn Kingdom rarely had contact with extraordinary professions. For someone like Will—born of a harsh natural environment—such knowledge was both rare and precious.
In this land, monks dominated the mainstream of supernatural disciplines. Spellcasters were tightly regulated by the Church, and knights even more so. Without necessity, knights in the Refining Phase were almost never deployed in battle.
This meant most ordinary people, let alone foreign species, had virtually no exposure to true supernatural arts.
Only now did Adam realize how absurd his initial plan had been—to approach foreign species as a pathway to extraordinary professions.
If he hadn't stumbled upon the rare exception that was Jin, or made connections through the Church to meet Alva, and eventually Anthony, formal instruction would've been almost impossible to obtain.
Will, as a marsh-dweller, differed from werewolves in one crucial way: his bloodline hadn't awakened. While exotic abilities were innate to his kind, he could still pursue the path of a bloodline warlock.
"Marsh-dwellers are regional exotics. Once they begin training as bloodline warlocks, they can link their abilities to a chosen marsh, turning it into the foundation of a ritual circuit."
"A powerful marsh-dweller can achieve true immortality. As long as their marsh remains, they can be reborn endlessly through its power."
Thus, Adam needed only to slightly adapt his own training methods to suit Will's situation. It was this specialized knowledge that convinced Will of Adam's supposed noble heritage.
The quiet night rolled on. The carriage moved unhurriedly through the main thoroughfares. Occasionally, patrols of monks or military forces would stop them, but Klo handled each encounter with ease. At most, Adam would need to show his face—often prompting a nod or even a friendly greeting from familiar monks.
No one seemed troubled by his late-night outing.
"As long as we're not near the city's exits or any sensitive zones, the patrols won't be too strict," Klo whispered.
It was to be expected. Nobles enjoyed far greater privileges than most imagined. Evening gatherings and private invitations were common enough.
Though the curfew officially applied to all but monks and military personnel, in practice, it only restricted commoners and movement through key locations. For nobles, it was little more than a formality.
Were it not for the recent lockdown caused by the rogue monk's escape, a carriage marked with noble insignia would've passed without so much as a second glance.
"Your identity is beyond reproach, Mr. Adam," Klo added quietly. "But anyone else you plan to escort should at least have a measure of social standing."
As a registered spellcaster, Adam was a sought-after ally among the nobility. Even if the monks stopped him, they would rarely question his presence in a noble carriage.
But someone like Adal—a mere lumberjack—riding such a carriage at night would be met with strict scrutiny. Every detail would be logged: identity, reason for travel, departure and arrival times.
That was the power of social status. Without it, even with privilege, navigating society became perilous.
Adam nodded in understanding as they arrived smoothly at the Sooke Trading Company.
"Master Adam, please, come in quickly!"
Will's reaction was immediate. Noticing Adam hadn't disguised himself, he addressed him with reverence and ushered him directly into his study.
During their second formal meeting, Adam had already confided some details about his identity in Roia and rehearsed how Will should behave in public encounters.
So now, without any disguise, and in the presence of others, Will treated Adam as a spellcaster interested in exotic species—just as instructed.
Once Adam confirmed the room was secure, he began discussing business.
"Mr. Riggs, we've already begun cooperating with Count Luber—but such cooperation remains shallow."
"I understand, Will," Adam said, letting his charisma and presence fill the room. "That is precisely why I've come."