Chapter 18: Island of Dreams and a New Ally
The air in the spice shop was a heady mix of exotic herbs, ancient dusts, and something else… something comforting and familiar. Adam inhaled deeply, a rare, non-sarcastic smile touching his lips. "You know, Ciri, this place smells like… hope. Or at least, like a really good potpourri. And given the amount of chaos we usually deal with, I'll take either."
They were here because Monroe's friend, the Fuchsbau apothecary, had been murdered. And now, his sister, Rosalee Calvert, had returned to take over the shop. Adam knew, from his "future knowledge," that Rosalee was about to become an invaluable ally, a veritable encyclopedia of Wesen lore and remedies.
[ New Ally Detected: Rosalee Calvert. Potential for Recruitment. Affiliation: Fuchsbau Apothecary. ]
[ Library Update: Extensive Wesen Lore Added. Comprehension Rate: High. ]
"Alright, Ciri," Adam whispered, observing Rosalee as she calmly sorted through various herbs. "This is a big one. Rosalee is basically our walking, talking Wikipedia for all things Wesen. We need her. And she needs us. Especially since there's a black market drug made from Wesen parts floating around. Disgusting, but also… profitable. For us, I mean. Not the drug dealers."
Ciri, ever pragmatic, merely nodded. "Her knowledge would be useful. And this 'black market drug' sounds like a problem that needs to be… dissolved."
Adam approached Rosalee, a charming (for him) smile on his face. "Rosalee, right? Adam Stiels. And this is Ciri. We're… freelance problem solvers. And we hear you've got a rather unique skillset. And a rather pressing problem with a certain… illicit pharmaceutical operation."
Rosalee, calm and collected, merely raised an eyebrow. "And how, precisely, do you know about that?"
Adam grinned. "Let's just say I have a very… intuitive understanding of the market. And a strong aversion to bad business practices. Especially when they involve Wesen parts. It's just… tacky." He paused, then added, "Also, I'm pretty sure I saw it on the news. Or in a dream. One of those."
Their conversation flowed surprisingly easily. Adam's sarcastic humor, usually met with blank stares, found a surprising resonance with Rosalee's dry wit. She was intrigued by his "intuition" and Ciri's quiet intensity. Adam, meanwhile, was mentally scanning every book, every scroll, every dusty jar in the shop into his System Library.
[ Library Update: Extensive Wesen Lore Added. Comprehension Rate: High. ]
[ System Money: Adam potentially exploiting the economy for large profits by selling rare materials. ]
"Oh, this is glorious!" Adam muttered to Ciri, his eyes wide with delight as he mentally absorbed ancient texts. "I'm basically downloading the entire Wesen history. This is like getting a master's degree in monsterology, but without the student loans. And speaking of profits, I just sold some of those rare herbs we found last week. Apparently, they're worth a fortune to the System. Capitalism, even in a world of monsters. Who knew?"
Ciri watched him, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk touching her lips. "You are… strangely excited by books."
"Knowledge is power, Ciri! And also, a great way to level up my Library. Besides, now I can anticipate all the plot twists. It's like having a cheat sheet for life. And frankly, it's a lot less messy than actual combat. Though, I do enjoy the occasional brawl."
Their intervention in the black market drug operation was swift and brutal. Adam and Ciri moved with practiced efficiency, dismantling the labs, neutralizing the dealers, and, of course, dissolving all the evidence. Adam made a grim joke about "cleaning up the streets, one vial at a time." Rosalee, watching them work, was both horrified and impressed. She saw the flashes of black in Adam's eyes when he used a potion, the unnatural resilience when he shrugged off a blow. She heard the whispers from other Wesen about the "black-eyed vigilantes" who left no trace. She didn't understand it, but she knew one thing: these two were a force. And they were on her side.
"You two are… something else," Rosalee said, a hint of awe in her voice. "I've never seen anything like it."
Adam grinned. "Just doing our part, Rosalee. Think of us as your friendly neighborhood monster cleaners. Now, about that rare root you mentioned… I'm pretty sure my System has a blueprint for a potion that could use it. And maybe a few more books for my collection? I'm trying to build the ultimate monster encyclopedia, you know."
Rosalee smiled, a genuine, warm smile. "I think we can arrange that, Adam. I think we can arrange a lot of things." A new alliance was forged, one that would prove invaluable in the battles to come.
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