It took longer than Adam had expected, but he finally arrived at his hotel suite.

Ahead of him was a spacious living room, a bedroom with a massive bed, a kitchen, and a large bathroom with everything he needed to relax after a long day at work, a trip, or, in his case, a mission that had lasted several months.

"Damn!" Adam exclaimed as he looked at the brass bathtub.

In a heartbeat, he turned on the hot water, took off his clothes, and plunged into the bathtub.

This continued for more than ten minutes, until the water reached the brims and Adam was completely submerged, with only his face peeking out.

"Agh... How long I've waited for this... I'd like to stay in this position for the next few days. After all, there's nothing better than technology. There's nothing like this in the Dead Lands!"

Silence hung in the bathroom, which was gradually filling with steam, almost completely obscuring the outlines of the bathtub.

Adam's eyes were closed, and he could easily have fallen asleep in this position, but he knew that was out of the question. He couldn't keep Silvana waiting any longer.

"Why is it that in situations like this, you never have time to fully enjoy it?" He opened his eyes slightly, seeing nothing but steam. "Well, as nice as this bath is, it can't compare to meeting Silvana."

...

Just an hour after Adam entered his suite, the door opened as he stepped outside. He looked as fresh as possible, having spent most of his time in the bathtub and shower, washing away all the dirt and dust he had collected in the Tarnished Lands.

He didn't have time to return to the coffee shop to see the old man, but he knew where to go.

Adam could call a cab or use the services of the government, he had direct contact with them, but he didn't have time for that.

"Rose & Sugar, huh?" Adam read the name of the bakery from the sheet of paper as he opened the map on his phone.

After a few moments, he found the right place and nodded.

"Alright, I'll get there in 15 minutes by car, I think I can do it faster, can't I?"

With a slight smirk, he leaned forward and ran at high speed.

If he had been in the center of the First Ring or any other densely populated area, he wouldn't have done that. It would have attracted too much attention, which Adam wanted to avoid, but this hotel was located in a somewhat private sector.

Here there were many private homes and small places, from hotels to restaurants, that focused on quality rather than quantity. In general, it was a quiet area, and as Adam ran forward, he encountered only a few people and a couple of cars on his way.

In just nine minutes, Adam found himself in front of a cozy-looking building with a red brick facade and a simple sign with large pink letters that seemed to be decorated with powdered sugar on top.

[Rose & Sugar.]

Adam checked the name on the sheet of paper, nodded, and stepped forward.

Click.

At the same moment, the door opened as a woman and a man dressed in expensive-looking coats came out. The woman was carrying a red box, while the man was carrying a slightly larger black one, which surely contained a custom-made cake.

"Oh, sorry, we didn't notice you." The man bowed slightly to Adam as they continued on their way.

It was unknown whether they knew who Adam really was, but even if they did, right now they weren't thinking about the Phantom, the Dead Lands, or monsters. They wanted to go home and enjoy their desserts with a cup of tea.

Adam gulped as he watched their retreating backs for a moment. Deep down, he felt a slight envy; he wished he could spend his time in the same way, without worrying about monsters, deadly battles, and especially the impending World Wipe that would destroy everything he had seen today.

'I wonder if they know that in just six and a half years, all of this could disappear?' Adam clenched his fist. 'I can't let that happen. They're not the only family that will disappear, Mom, Dad, and Trici... They'll face the same fate if I don't do anything!'

Shaking his head and pushing the thoughts aside, Adam entered the bakery.

Apart from the expensive and tastefully chosen interior, there was nothing special waiting for him inside.

A girl with long blonde hair stood behind the counter, tidying up her workspace after the last customers. Behind the glass on the stand was a wide variety of desserts, from cheesecakes and eclairs to custom cakes, donuts, and simple, high-quality bread that could complement any meal.

As soon as she noticed Adam, she immediately turned toward him and smiled broadly.

"Hello! Are you here to pick up an order or place one?"

Adam looked around.

"Actually, I'm here for help."

"Hmm?"

He handed her a sheet of paper.

The girl read the short letter with curiosity, her eyes widening for a moment.

"Oh, I see. I'll let everyone know right away, you need help from the miss!"

Under Adam's puzzled gaze, the girl took the letter and went to another part of the bakery.

For a while, he remained alone in the bakery, but soon the door in the distance opened. First came the girl, who hurried back to her workstation, then appeared the figure of a woman with piercing red eyes and dark crimson hair flowing down her shoulders.

She glanced at Adam, then at the letter as the corners of her lips curved upward.

"Well, well, it seems romance is still alive in this world, isn't it?" The woman approached Adam. "Nice to meet you, Adam Vinter. I own this bakery, but I think you already know that since you came here. What's more, you don't even know how hard it is to get this grumpy old man to do something nice."

Adam awkwardly touched the back of his neck.

"Yeah... I could use some help. How about a gift for my Operator, no... for my girlfriend!"

The woman narrowed her eyes.

"Of course. I have a few ideas."

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