Sushi returned from the forest.

  But he didn't head straight to the quest submission desk.

  Instead, he slipped into a dark corner opposite the Guild's main gate, his eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk searching for fat prey.

  "The Guild will give me 20 copper coins for the entire basket... What a joke!"

  "That won't even cover the cost of the soap I'll need to wash this chicken stench off me!"

  His gaze narrowed.

  Suddenly, his eyes locked onto the perfect target.

  A young man wearing armor so polished it reflected sunlight directly into the eyes of passersby.

  A decorative sword hung at his side — better suited for a wall display than a battlefield.

  The kid was buying every "mysterious" trinket the street vendors offered him.

  And paying ridiculous, inflated prices.

  "Found you... you lucky little brat."

  "How do you have all this money while still at Novice rank?"

  "I'll just consider this a fair redistribution of wealth."

  The Soothsayer's Act

  Sushi moved with fluid stealth.

  He snatched a tattered black cloak draped over a trash barrel and wrapped it around his body.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  In a dim, narrow alleyway, he sat in a cryptic pose.

  Hunched.

  As if whispering secrets to the earth itself.

  As soon as the boy approached, curiosity written all over his face, Sushi bolted deeper into the shadows.

  Just as predicted, the boy followed.

  "Wait! You, the seer! I want to know what you're selling!"

  Sushi stopped.

  He didn't turn around.

  Instead, he lowered his voice — raspy, majestic.

  "What I possess... is one of the greatest secrets that could fundamentally alter the—"

  He paused.

  "No. It doesn't matter."

  "Alter what? Tell me!" the boy cried, hurrying closer.

  Sushi turned slowly.

  The hood obscured half his face.

  "Forget it... You're just a child."

  "You wouldn't understand the value of something this magnificent."

  "And even if you did, your pockets couldn't handle the price."

  That was the bait.

  The boy flared with indignation and pulled out a heavy leather pouch.

  Coins clinked against each other.

  Music to Sushi's ears.

  His mouth watered beneath the cloak.

  "I can afford it! Just show me what it is!"

  The Legendary Egg

  With practiced reverence, Sushi pulled out a glowing green egg.

  He held it like a sacred jewel.

  "This... is the egg of the Royal Green Dragons."

  "The fools outside think they are mere 'Green Chicken' eggs."

  "But the difference lies in the Mana latent within."

  "I was going to keep them to brew an Elixir of Immortality..."

  "But I feel a strange pity for your future as an adventurer."

  After a masterclass in hesitation and false reluctance, the boy crumbled.

  The "golden opportunity" was too tempting.

  He begged Sushi to take all his money in exchange for the entire basket.

  Moments later, he skipped out of the alley.

  Hugging the basket of eggs with pride.

  Sushi remained in the shadows.

  Weighing the heavy pouch of gold and silver in his hand.

  A demonic grin stretched across his face.

  The Successful Failure

  Sushi entered the Guild hall.

  Tattered rags.

  A perfectly crafted expression of misery.

  "I... I apologize."

  "Monsters attacked me."

  "I lost all the eggs."

  "The mission is a failure."

  Mocking laughter erupted throughout the hall.

  "A D-ranker failing to collect eggs?"

  "What a disgrace to the Guild!"

  "Go home, you loser!"

  Sushi hung his head.

  Feigning deep shame.

  But inside his inner pocket, his fingers brushed against a money pouch.

  Equivalent to a professional adventurer's yearly earnings.

  'Laugh all you want...' Sushi thought.

  'While you risk your lives killing ogres for pennies...'

  'I just murdered the logic of this world with a chicken egg.'

  Hehe.