"There's more to power than killing,"Gin mused silently. "It's about weaving connections, drawing out valuable information, and shaping their actions to your advantage."
The tension eased, giving way to quiet calm. Slowly, Gin drifted into a deep, restful sleep.
Unlike before, Gin didn't rush his return to the hidden world. His curiosity about its mysteries remained, but it no longer burned uncontrollably. He had learned restraint—patience tempered by experience. While the hidden world was vital to his journey, the life he had built on Earth still took precedence.
Seizing a rare mont of respite, Gin focused on writing the final reports for his university courses. With all his remaining credits converted to research projects, graduation was assured as long as he submitted the reports. This task was straightforward compared to the arcane intricacies of his other ventures.
He had briefly considered launching a new business but decided against it for now.
Running another venture would consu too much ti. Instead, he planned to expand Café Wizard, using it as his cornerstone. With Wayn in charge of the main branch, he could establish additional locations, each supported by the café's unique draw—its unparalleled coffee, enhanced by magical infusion.
He had given Wayn free rein to shape the café's operations as she saw fit, trusting her instincts and judgnt. anwhile, Gin began laying the groundwork for expansion: scouting locations, securing resources, and refining logistics.
Ti passed swiftly, and within two weeks, everything was in place to launch new branches at a mont's notice.
Still, he resolved to consult Leslie upon his next visit to the hidden world.
Their input would guide the café's growth strategy in ways that aligned with both worlds' interests.
During this period of preparation, Gin noticed a marked shift in the activity of Earth's ability users. Many who had been in hiding were erging, their movents becoming more coordinated. Consequently, the proportion of ability users among Café Wizard's custors surged. Gin responded by modifying the café's protective enchantnts, taking advantage of the vast improvents in his magical comprehension since crossing the threshold between worlds.
Now, he could implent layered sigils that activated based on conditions—spells that tailored their effects to the presence of magical energy.
The new enchantnts amplified the potency of mana-based effects for ability users, compensating for their increased magical resistance. Before, distinguishing between users and non-users had been a near-impossible task.
However, the breakthrough in his mastery of spatial and energy manipulation had changed everything.
Confident in these refinents, Gin finally made his way to Café Wizard. Inside, Wayn worked with an air of purpose, her presence energizing the staff and custors alike.
As soon as she spotted him, her face lit up with a radiant smile.
"Oh, Boss!" she exclaid cheerfully.
"Nope. You're the boss now," Gin corrected with a grin.
Wayn laughed sheepishly. "Ah, right. It still feels strange. I'm not used to it yet."
"You will be. Give it ti," he reassured her.
"Yes, sir! I'll do my best," she responded confidently, her bright deanor shining through.
"I know you will. That's why I'm here—to say goodbye for a while. I won't be able to visit for so ti."
Her eyes widened in surprise. "You're leaving? Where are you going?"
"I've got sowhere to be. Not sure how long I'll be away."
"Is that why you handed everything over to ?"
"No," Gin said, shaking his head. "This has been in the works for a while. Everything is going according to plan, so don't overthink it. I'm counting on you."
Wayn clenched her fist in playful determination. "Leave it to ! I'll take care of things here. You don't have to worry."
"I know. That's why I'm not worried at all," he chuckled warmly.
She blushed slightly but returned his smile with a twinkle in her eye.
"Alright, I'll be off. Let the others know for , okay?"
"Of course. Safe travels, Boss!"
Gin grabbed a final cup of coffee before stepping outside. The cool breeze greeted him as he crossed the street. It was ti.
The hidden world called to him once more, and this ti, he intended to stay longer than before.
Anticipation quickened his steps as he made his way toward the portal. The mysteries that awaited him on the other side promised both danger and discovery, and Gin felt his heart race with excitent.
What trials and revelations lay ahead in that otherworldly domain? He was about to find out.
Gin erged in one of the narrow alleys near the Runewright Workshop,
the familiar atmosphere of the hidden world settling around him like a cloak.
The first task upon arriving here was always the sa—powering on his smartphone.
As soon as the device booted up, a flood of ssages and notifications appeared, swarming his screen. Most were from Jay, as expected.
Missed call alerts followed soon after. But surprisingly, not all of them were from Jay. One na stood out: Owen.
"Huh, Owen?" Gin murmured to himself.
They had exchanged numbers after the recent ruin expedition, but Gin hadn't expected the man to actually reach out.
Upon further inspection, he realized the missed call was already five days old.
"What should I do about this?" he wondered aloud. "Call him back?"
After a mont of contemplation, he decided to let it go. Too much ti had passed. If it were truly urgent, Owen would have tried again.
Gin skimd through the rest of the ssages, his brow furrowing slightly. Sothing seed... off. The tone of Jay's texts was unusually polite—almost deferential.
Normally, after two weeks of no contact, Jay would have gone through an entire cycle of frustration, anger, resignation, and pleading. Yet this ti, nearly every ssage was a respectful request for a response. One ssage stood out from the rest, however: "It's chaos over here."
"Did he change his tactics?"Gin muttered, puzzled by the shift.
At this point, curiosity alone demanded a response. Gin couldn't just ignore it.
"Ah, but first..." he whispered to himself.
With a swift motion, he activated a series of spells. His features shifted subtly—his face reshaping, his voice altering into sothing deeper and unfamiliar.
In an instant, Gin, the Earth-born, transford into Gin the mage of the hidden world.
His presence adapted perfectly to the expectations of this realm.
The aura of a seasoned practitioner now surrounded him like a protective shroud, concealing any trace of his earthly origins.
Only after completing this ritual did he prepare to face what awaited him in Runewright and beyond.
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