First step to world domination

Adam woke up early in the morning, feeling the gentle warmth of the first sunlight peeking through his window. The soft glow of the early day filled the small room with hope.

He stretched slowly, feeling the cool air on his skin, and listened to the quiet sounds of a new day. Outside, birds chirped happily, as if welcoming him into a day full of promise.

Today was different from any other day. Adam's heart beat with a secret excitement, a thrill hidden deep inside him. After a few moments of quiet reflection, he dressed quickly and made his way down the stairs.

In the kitchen, the familiar scent of freshly cooked breakfast met him like a warm hug.

He could smell the aroma of fried eggs, fresh bread, and a hint of something sweet—perhaps jam or honey. The smells reminded him of Eric's family, who had always shown him kindness and made him feel part of something important.

Adam joined Eric and his family at the dining table. The room was filled with light and gentle chatter as they enjoyed their meal.

Even though Adam had many secrets hidden behind his calm smile, he felt at peace here. The simple act of sharing a meal brought him comfort and a rare sense of normalcy in his otherwise unusual life.

Before leaving the house, Adam paused by Eric, who was busy with a cup of warm tea. With a quiet tone and a friendly look, Adam asked, "Can I have a $100 bill, please?" Eric raised an eyebrow in mild surprise but did not argue.

"Here, but don't get into trouble," Eric said with a light laugh, handing over the crisp bill.

Adam accepted the money with a small nod of thanks, and as soon as he stepped outside into the bright morning, he whispered softly to himself, Copy.

Almost instantly, a faint blue dot appeared at the corner of his vision—a sign that his secret ability was working. Adam focused on the blue dot.

In a matter of seconds, the $100 bill had been successfully copied and safely stored in his inventory.

A sly smirk spread across his face. He knew that this small act of copying money was just the beginning of his plans, and it would be very useful in the days to come.

With his first task complete, Adam set his eyes on the city. The plan for the day was clear in his mind: he needed to find a gold shop that he could use for his next move.

As he walked along the busy streets, the city came alive with sound and color. Vendors called out their wares, and shoppers bustled along the sidewalks, each lost in their own world. Adam's eyes darted from one shop to another as he searched for the right place.

After a short while, he spotted a high-end gold shop. Its polished glass windows displayed various gold ornaments that shimmered under the sunlight.

The display was neat and very appealing, and Adam knew instantly that this was the shop he needed to visit. With a confident step, he pushed open the door and walked inside.

The interior of the shop was equally impressive. The shop was well lit, and the golden glow of the jewelry was enhanced by the light.

The polished surfaces of the glass cases reflected the light, creating small glimmers that danced across the walls. The air was filled with a clean, sharp scent—a mix of metal and polish. It was a place that spoke of wealth and care.

Almost immediately after Adam entered, an older shopkeeper with sharp, observant eyes approached him. The man's voice was formal as he asked, "What would you like to buy, sir?" The tone was respectful, yet there was a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

Adam did not reply immediately. Instead, he reached into his inventory and pulled out two crisp $100 bills, laying them carefully on the counter. "I've never seen a gold bar in person before," he said with an innocent look, masking his true intention.

The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed as he looked closely at the money. He did not speak at once. For a moment, there was an uneasy silence between them as the older man examined the bills for authenticity.

Finally, the shopkeeper muttered under his breath, "You have an odd hobby, kid," and then turned to walk toward a different part of the shop. Adam stood still, watching the shopkeeper's every move.

The shopkeeper moved with purpose. He reached a small door at the back of the counter that led to a secure storage locker. With careful steps and a cautious look, he unlocked the locker and pulled out a large, heavy object wrapped in soft cloth.

Slowly, he removed the cloth to reveal a 12.6 kg gold bar. The gold bar shone with a brilliant light as it was placed on a separate counter, a display meant only for viewing.

"You can look at it from here," the shopkeeper said, his voice carrying a mix of skepticism and a warning. Adam's eyes never left the shimmering gold. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of the massive bar.

Yet he was calm. Deep in his mind, he wondered, Will my ability work from this distance? He needed to test his power now, to see if the copying spell would work on something so heavy and valuable.

Adam took a deep breath and fixed his gaze on the gold bar. With all the focus he could muster, he whispered the single word again, Copy.

Almost immediately, the familiar faint blue dot appeared at the edge of his vision.

He concentrated on the dot, and in that moment, a small blue window materialized before his eyes, confirming his success. The window read:

[Congratulations, Host has successfully copied a 12.6 kg gold bar.]

A slow smile spread across Adam's face as he quickly dismissed the notification. He knew the gold bar was now safe, hidden away in his secret inventory, where no one could ever take it from him.

Despite his inner triumph, he remained calm and collected. The shopkeeper, however, did not share his delight. The older man watched him closely, his eyes filled with a mix of suspicion and disbelief.

"I'll be putting this back now," the shopkeeper said as he carefully lifted the gold bar to return it to the secure locker.

"Not that you could afford it anyway," he added in a low voice that carried a hint of condescension. Adam chuckled quietly. He found the shopkeeper's assumption amusing, but it did not shake his confidence.

"Thank you for letting me see something so valuable," Adam said politely. His words were kind and respectful, even though his mind was already racing with plans on what to do next.

Without waiting for a reply, he turned toward the exit. As he stepped out of the shop, he felt his heart pounding—not from fear, but from a deep and steady excitement.

Once outside, Adam paused for a moment and looked back at the golden storefront.

The shop had an air of high class and caution. It was a place where people handled their business carefully, where every detail was scrutinized, and where questions were always asked before any deal was made.

Adam knew that while this shop was excellent for buying and selling gold, its cautious nature was not what he needed right now. He needed a place where people were desperate enough to make quick decisions, a place where no questions were asked.

His eyes scanned the busy street until they landed on a small, rundown shop. The faded wooden sign above the entrance simply read: "Thomas Jeweler."

The shop looked old and tired. The paint on the exterior was peeling, and the glass display case in the front was covered in a thin layer of dust. It was clear that this shop had seen better days. Yet for Adam, this was exactly what he was looking for.

"This is the place," Adam thought to himself. "If anyone will buy gold without asking too many questions, it is someone who is struggling to keep their business afloat." With that simple thought in his mind, he pushed open the creaking door of Thomas Jeweler.

Inside, the change in atmosphere was immediate. The air felt heavy with the scent of old wood and memories. The lighting was dim, and only a few weak beams of sunlight fought their way through the dusty windows.

The countertops were cracked, and small piles of neglected jewelry lay scattered about. Every detail spoke of a shop that had not been cared for in a long time.

At the counter sat an older man with tired eyes. The lines on his face told a story of long days and even longer nights. As soon as Adam entered, the man stood up quickly, smoothing out his wrinkled shirt in an attempt to look respectable. "Sir, what would you like to buy?" the man asked in a polite yet weary tone.

Adam met the shopkeeper's gaze steadily. His voice was calm and firm as he replied, "I'm not here to buy. I'm here to sell." The words were simple, but they carried a strong message of purpose.

The shopkeeper's expression changed in an instant. His eyes narrowed, and a frown appeared on his face. For a moment, silence filled the small, dusty room as the old man processed Adam's words.

The shopkeeper's lips pressed into a thin line. "I'm not interested, kid," he said finally, his tone a mix of annoyance and disbelief. "Whatever it is, I don't need it. Now, go on your way."

His words were sharp and uninviting, and it was clear that he had no plans of listening further.

Adam, however, was not easily dissuaded. His mind raced with thoughts of how he could change the shopkeeper's mind. He smiled gently, a smile that was both confident and knowing. Let's see if I can change your mind, he thought silently.

To be continued…