The morning sun cast a golden glow over the city of Ravenfell, illuminating its cobblestoned streets and the bustling activity of its residents.

The air was intermixed with the scent of fresh bread, and exotic spices, as well as the faint smoke wafting from the chimneys of the various houses.

Birds chirped melodiously, however, their voices were drowned by the endless cawing of ravens. For a newcomer such as Adam, such a phenomenon was surely a distressing experience.

However, the rest of the residents had already grown used to it. It was to the point that they found it strange whenever they visited other places and didn't hear the constant cries of ravens

With a frown on his face, the youth gazed at the countless ravens perched upon buildings and trees. "This is going to take some time to get used to."

Since the beginning of the academic year at Saratoga Castle was still a few days away, he had decided to visit the city and familiarize himself with it.

He first chose to visit the Market Quarter. He had a lot of things he wished to purchase, after all.

But when he realized that he only had about 600 Acadian Gold on him, he wanted to just find a corner and cry.

He cursed vehemently under his breath, "Damn it! Damn, this foreign exchange rate! In the Federation, I was decently well off, but here I have to scrounge for scraps. Damn it!"

The passing-by residents of the city gave him strange looks, wondering if he had gone mad so early in the morning. But when their gaze fell on the raven insignia on the gray cloak that he was wearing, they didn't dare comment.

The Saratoga Castle was a hallowed existence in this part of the Empire. Naturally, the Magi who belonged to this institution were deeply respected by the masses.

Seeing Adam on the verge of tears, Valerian, who was sitting on his shoulder, hugged his face. "It's going to be okay, brother. You still have the ring given to you by Eddie's grandfather."

"Haa, I know, I know," Adam sighed. He glanced at the ring on his finger and couldn't help but smile.

That guy gave me more than enough herbs and ingredients for me to stand on my feet, he thought to himself, feeling deeply grateful to Edwin.

But the next moment, his face turned solemn and he mumbled, "But I need to find a suitable place to sell potions. I also need to set up procurement channels. Haa, there's so much work to do."

Moving to a new city was hectic, to say the least.

The ingredients inside the storage ring would only last him a few months. After that, he would have to purchase them by himself.

And since he was going to live here for the foreseeable future, he had to build good relationships with trusted suppliers. He had to establish a strong network with other Magi as well.

At a very early age, Berger had already instilled in him the importance of networking with others. Adam took the gnome's teachings very seriously.

When he thought of the crucial piece of information that Elrod had said to him back in Acryon, he couldn't help but chuckle in excitement.

"That's right! At that place, I can kill two birds with one stone - sell potions, and build a strong network. Kekeke!"

"But first get me some food," said Valerian with a pout as he mischievously covered Adam's eyes with his paws.

"Fine, fine, don't be naughty now." Adam moved the young dragon's paws and began to leisurely stroll the streets of the Market Quarter.

The streets here were narrow with colorful stalls and bustling shops located on both sides. Despite being the wee hours of the morning, this place was very crowded.

Adam made his way through the sea of people, looking around at the various shops and businesses with curious eyes.

Merchants loudly advertised their wares, from freshly baked buns to shiny trinkets. A few stores here sold potions, but Adam didn't like the product's quality all that much. He did, however, buy a handful of local ingredients that he found interesting.

Then, he stopped by at a small stall that sold skewered meat. After buying enough for himself and his dear familiar, he strode off into the depths of the market.

Despite being daytime, the gas lights were still on in this district. The buildings here were tall, each of them a couple of floors at least.

Moreover, floating banners covered the open area between buildings, making it difficult for sunlight to pass through.

Adam raised his head and glanced at these magical banners and was quite intrigued. These s drifted lazily in the air. But the interesting thing about them was that the contents painted on them were animated.

They showcased scenes of potions being brewed, weapons being forged, clothes being sewn, and even theatrics being performed. It was a wonderful experience for Adam, to say the least.

There was one particular floating banner that piqued Adam's interest, causing his heart to race a little. It was an for a pleasure house, and it was quite revealing.

Stopping by another food stall, this time one that sold steamed dumplings, Adam and Valerian grabbed a plate for themselves and moved deeper into the Market Quarter.

A group of street performers caught his eye. He couldn't help but stop by and watch the show. Surprisingly enough, it was by a group of Rank 1 Magi.

He saw a man casting Dingy Illusion and conjuring miniature dragons and phoenixes that gracefully danced before him. Another Magus cast Flaming Fingers and spewed thin rays of flames into the air.

After spending almost the whole day touring the various places in the Market Quarter, Adam finally arrived at his location.

Currently, he was standing in front of a two-story rustic yet elegant looking building at the edge of Uptown Quarter.

The walls were constructed from thick stones cavved in runes, weathered by time and adorned with climbing ivy and wildflowers.

Large arched windows were located in fixed intervals, each window decorated with intricate carvings of leaves, flowers, and vines.

A beautifully carved wooden sign hung above the entrance to this building. It depicted a mortar and a pestle surrounded by an array of herbs.

The sign read as follows:

Herbalist's Guild.