Fated Adventure.

Walking through the bustling streets of the port town, I took in the sights, sounds, and scents of a world far different from my own. The salty sea breeze mixed with the aroma of sizzling street food, and merchants shouted out their wares, trying to entice passersby into buying anything from weapons to exotic fruits.

Luckily, when I arrived in this world, I had money—100,000 beli—more than enough to secure supplies, buy some weapons, and maybe even get a proper ship.

My first priority, however, was food.

Even though I didn't need to eat, drink, or sleep, having a proper food source was still important. The Jade Lake inside my inner world could satiate hunger and thirst, but relying on one source was never a good idea. Plus, fruits could be used to make juices, wines, and even cultivation elixirs once I unlocked that ability through future world travel. More importantly, I could plant them in the inner world. The time dilation of 1:1000 meant crops would grow at an incredibly fast rate compared to the outside world, and their quality would be the highest possible. If I bought fruit saplings, I could have a full orchard producing food in no time.

My first stop was a small fruit vendor tucked between a fishmonger and a spice stall. The vendor, an old man with a straw hat, gave me a wide grin. "Ah, looking for some fresh fruit, young man? Best in town, straight from the island's farms."

I scanned his selection. He had mangoes, bananas, pineapples, oranges, and even coconuts—perfect for growing inside the inner world.

"How much for a bundle of each?" I asked.

The vendor scratched his chin. "For you? 5,000 beli for everything."

I handed over the money without haggling. A fair price, considering the quality. The fruits were plump, ripe, and full of flavor—ideal for planting.

Next, I visited a nursery where I purchased several fruit tree saplings—mango, coconut, and orange trees—knowing they would thrive once planted in my inner world's perfect environment. That cost another 8,000 beli, but it was worth it.

After securing food sources, I made my way to a general store for empty bottles. A tall woman behind the counter raised an eyebrow at my purchase.

"You're buying a lot of bottles," she noted.

"Yeah, I like keeping my drinks stored properly," I replied casually, avoiding unnecessary explanations.

A dozen high-quality glass bottles set me back 3,000 beli, but they would be useful for bottling Jade Lake water and Fountain of Youth liquid. Having a backup supply was just smart planning.

Next was a weapons shop. It smelled of oil and metal, and the walls were lined with swords, guns, and even small cannons. My eyes immediately landed on a stack of iron cannonballs, neatly arranged in crates.

The shopkeeper, a burly man with a thick beard, noticed my interest. "You looking to buy some firepower?"

I nodded. "How much for a crate of cannonballs?"

"10,000 beli for a full set of 50."

A bit pricey, but considering I could store them in the Gate of Babylon and fire them at Mach speeds, it was a worthwhile investment.

"Deal."

With that, I stored the cannonballs in my Gate of Babylon, the clear portal flickering briefly before they vanished into the vast space. The shopkeeper didn't notice, too busy counting the beli I handed him.

Satisfied with my purchases, I left the shop and found Ace and Deuce waiting near the docks.

Ace was munching on a skewer of grilled meat, while Deuce held a new map—probably something he picked up to help us navigate our next destination.

Ace grinned when he saw me. "Took your time, huh? You get what you needed?"

"Yeah," I said, patting my bag. "Got food, supplies, and something for long-range combat."

Deuce adjusted his glasses. "Please tell me you didn't buy something ridiculous."

I smirked. "Actually, I was thinking of a little demonstration."

That caught their interest. Leading them to the outskirts of town, we found a large rock formation by the shore, perfect for a test. The jagged boulder stood about twice my height, solid and unmoving—a great target.

Ace crossed his arms. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

I stepped forward and raised my hand, summoning a single cannonball from the Gate of Babylon. The clear portal shimmered as the iron sphere appeared before me. Ace and Deuce barely had time to react before—

BOOM!

The cannonball blasted out at Mach speeds, striking the boulder dead center. The impact was instant—rock shattered into countless fragments, sending debris flying in all directions. A shockwave rippled through the air, kicking up dust and sand. When the dust cleared, a massive crater remained where the boulder once stood.

Ace's jaw dropped. "What the actual hell?!"

Deuce just adjusted his glasses, eyes wide behind the lenses. "...That was a cannon shot without the cannon."

I grinned. "Pretty useful, right? But that was just one shot. Watch this."

I raised my hand again, this time summoning five cannonballs at once. The clear portals shimmered in the air before they fired in rapid succession—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The ground shook as the cannonballs obliterated the remaining rock formations like divine wrath raining down from the heavens. Dust and debris filled the air as entire sections of the shore were turned into rubble.

Ace let out a wild laugh. "Holy crap! You're a walking battleship!"

Deuce just stood there, stunned. "That's… absurd."

I let out a small chuckle. "With this, we don't need to worry about firepower."

Ace was still grinning like a madman. "Yeah, no kidding! If we run into any trouble, we can just rain hell down on them!"

Deuce sighed, rubbing his temples. "I don't even know what to say anymore."

I chuckled. "Relax, it's all under control."

With our supplies stocked, our weapons secured, and a plan forming in our minds, it was time for the next step—getting our hands on a proper ship. Our real journey was just beginning.

Remaining Money: 74,000 Beli