Arrive at Red Brick City

Finally, the day everyone had been waiting for had arrived. Adam had taken extra care to get ready for this special occasion. He packed multiple bottles of water, a big backpack filled with dried fruit and meat, and even brought along a few young coconuts. Adam was considerate enough to leave a bunch of equipment for Freddy, making sure he was fully equipped. However, Adam himself only brought his trusty adventuring knife, believing it would be sufficient. He gave the rest of the equipment to Freddy and Molly.

Adam bid farewell to Freddy, Molly, and Alpha, his clothes in tatters. He assured them that he would return one day to visit them once more. As Adam began rowing, Blacky clung tightly to the boat with his paws, fearing he might tumble into the water. Blacky complained nonstop during the trip, most of his grumbles were nonsensical, causing Adam to burst into laughter.

As the boat ventured into the stormy area, the waves grew in size, causing Blacky to become increasingly scared. To help the boat push forward, Adam conjured a strong gust of wind, which grew louder and louder as the boat accelerated through the storm. Surprisingly, it only took them ten minutes to break free from the tumultuous weather. Blacky, now drenched and trembling from the cold, eagerly searched for a calm and secure spot to drop anchor. Once settled, the two of them sat down to have lunch together. Adam intentionally paused to rest and replenish the energy in his ring.

This time, Blacky couldn't eat much, as his stomach felt slightly queasy. The continuous rocking of the boat caused by the ocean waves made him quite seasick. After a short while, they resumed their journey, with Adam utilizing even more wind power from his ring to propel their voyage.

As the day was coming to an end, Adam made his way towards the port of Red Brick City. He no longer relied on his wind powers and had to row the boat manually to avoid drawing attention. Instead of docking at the harbor, Adam chose to navigate the river and disembark on a secluded river bank. This decision was made to prevent any alarm among the locals, especially since he had Blacky, the black tiger, with him.

Adam was cautious not to reveal Blacky's ability to speak like a human, instructing the tiger to remain silent in front of others. Blacky obediently followed Adam's instructions, understanding the need to keep a low profile. By taking these precautions, Adam ensured that his presence with Blacky would not cause any unnecessary panic or fear among the residents of Red Brick city.

After getting off the boat, they quietly moved through the bushes. Adam noticed an abandoned and rundown house. Quickly, they entered to find a place to stay temporarily. Adam chose to leave his possessions and his pet, Blacky, behind in the house.

"Blacky, I'll go out for a moment to look for clothes and a vehicle. You wait here, don't go anywhere. If you're hungry, eat what's in this backpack."

"Okay, no problem. Don't take too long, okay?"

Adam walked to find a house in the residential area. Unluckily, the house was quite a distance from the main residential area, so he had to walk far to locate a small dwelling. His aim was to find a clothesline, and he happened to stumble upon some clothes drying in the sun. Adam decided to take a t-shirt and a pair of jeans. He then changed his attire in the bushes a little further away.

It was getting late in the evening, so there weren't many people around. Adam proceeded to search for a pair of shoes at one of the houses nearby. By chance, there was a pair of shoes left in front of the door. Despite being a bit snug, he managed to fit into them. Adam knew this was only a temporary solution.

Adam proceeded towards the bustling city where crowds of people were moving about. His initial stop was at a small jewelry store. Adam intended to sell the single gold nugget he had obtained from the island. He was cautious not to carry too many valuable items, aware of the risks in a city known for its high crime rate. Adam located a modestly-sized jewelry shop in the vicinity.

"Sir, I want to sell gold, is that possible?"

The shop owner looked at Adam's appearance from top to bottom.

"Is that the result of stealing? Because we don't want to buy stolen goods even if you sell them cheaply."

"Don't worry, sir, this is raw gold from mining. I work in a mine. Without my boss knowing, I found this gold nugget in the ground. Look, this is still completely natural." Adam said while taking out a gold grain the size of the tip of his little finger.

The shop owner took the gold and looked at it.

"Wow, this is very rare. This much gold in one lump. How much do you want to sell it for?"

"Frankly, I don't know the price of raw gold. But if the price is right, I will come here again if I find it again."

The shop owner took the scales. After doing some testing the shop owner offers a price. Adam saw a small, worn-out car in front of the shop. Adam intended to buy it with some of the money from selling the gold. The shop owner agreed and gave him his car keys and some money. Actually, Adam knew that he was losing quite a lot but considered the safety and effectiveness aspects when Adam chose that path. After all, there was still some gold in his backpack. Shop owners are happy because they get double profits. He could sell the gold for double the price and his old car was sold after a long time.

Adam took his worn-out vehicle to a fashion boutique and purchased two sets of garments. Following that, he headed to the fuel station to refill his gas tank. Afterwards, he acquired multiple tins of canned meat and sardines. He then made a stop at a restaurant to satisfy his hunger. Subsequently, he bought some shoes and eventually arrived back at the vacant house where Blacky was left alone. Upon his arrival, it was already midnight. Adam promptly instructed Blacky to hop into the rear seat of the car. Blacky was astonished by this unexpected sight.

"What is that thing? Isn't it dangerous? Why should I go in?" Blacky said to Adam.

"Don't talk too much. This is a car. Just like a boat but it's on land." Adam tried to explain.

"Oh no, I hate boats." Blacky answered Adam explanation.

"It's more comfortable, believe me. Don't let other people see you or you'll be caught and put in jail at the zoo."

Blacky quickly hopped into the car. The seats felt surprisingly comfortable despite their worn-out appearance. Blacky joyfully rolled around in the backseat.

"Wow, this is very comfortable. Not like a hard boat."

"What did I say? OK, now let's go home." Adam said while stepping on the gas lever.

"You're right, this is more comfortable than a boat. Hooaaaahhhh... I'm so sleepy. Is the journey still long?"

"Get some rest, there's still a while to go before we get there."

Blacky quickly closed his eyes and fell asleep within three minutes. Adam, lacking driving experience, had only received a single lesson from his colleague at Paradise restaurant, using the same car he was currently driving. Feeling tired, Adam made the decision to pull over at a rest stop, in order to rest and shake off his sleepiness before returning home to his family.