*Day 53 - Morning*

Another day living in the city arrived.

Vincent woke up with a fresh new look. He deiced it would be best to do something productive on this day. 'Money and power don't grow on trees.' He thought.

"Good morning, big brother and big sisters. Is little Plow still sleeping?" Tula entered the room with a bright smile and ready to play with the little cute blue fox.

Vincent soon entered Tula's sight. She thought the clean haircut made Vincent look a bit different and cool. "Waw, big brother Vincent looks nice." She complimented.

After the compliment ended, Tula picked Plow up from its warm bed in the blink of an eye. Plow urgently opened its eyes from the sudden change in temperature and a pair of large jugs cushioning its back.

"Shall we go and eat breakfast? Or do you girls want to stay on the bed?" Vincent walked over to the door, but the situation behind him felt a bit strange.

Lupa was clearly faking a yawn, and Ester peeked from time to time. Her crimson eyes were easy to notice.

-Yo, Kazumi. Did you say anything to Ester or Lupa last night while I was asleep?-

[... why am I the suspect? *sob* I feel betrayed by your words *sob*]

'This cheeky Kazumi must have said something for sure!' Vincent thought. He wore a poker face and went with Tula and little Plow to the kitchen.

"Morning, teacher, you look cool!" Lenn raised a thumbs up.

"Morning, elder brother, awesome look!" Renn did the same as his twin brother.

The two teens looked like a mirror reflection with the same clothes, height, and appearance. The only way to tell who is who when they talk in order or when the left-handed Lenn and the right-handed Renn pick something up.

"Vincent, it makes you look more mature. A haircut can change a person for the better." Yula also praised his new look. As a maid, Yula mostly saw good-looking and unique haircuts on nobles.

Commoners don't like wasting money on unnecessary services unless on certain occasions such as a wedding or a grand celebration.

However, adventurers are a different case. They want to promote their image; thus, many style their hair more memorable to stand out.

Although adventurers take quests from the Adventurers Guild, only with reputation and fame could they be requested for more commissions without the middle man.

Similarly, nobles are a different case. Nobles practically never visit a public hair saloon. They hire highly regarded hairstylists to their property instead.

So, unfortunately, hair saloons mostly make their income from adventurers, rarely from commoners and practically never from nobles, as they would not want to lose their reputation for using commoner services.

Yula then looked at her sons and placed her hands on her hip while adding, "Lenn. Renn. Now you know why I tell you that a haircut makes the man. That is why people keep mistaking you for the other."

Vincent smirked after Lenn, Renn, and Yula finished complimenting him. 'It's just a haircut. But I do look better.' Vincent thought while his ego started to inflate.

'How many complements can I receive today? hehehe.' Vincent secretly chuckled.

[Vincent, it's pretty funny. You want to keep a low profile, yet now you are happy to be noticed. Well, being followed by two beauties is enough attention, though... hahaha.]

"I just wanted to trim my hair. So I asked Ester and Lupa to do it for me. I didn't think I would get complimented this much, haha. You are making me blush, haha." Vincent laughed and decided to end this subject. Kazumi's words made him remember the most important rule. Fame equals a quicker death.

Not long after, Ester and Lupa entered the kitchen with a light blush on their faces. Vincent felt a bit worried Kazumi might have prepared a surprise behind his back.

Ester and Lupa looked at Vincent differently after their lives seem to have settle for now. With the new appearance, both felt like falling in love a second time.

As Vincent considered, Kazumi used Soul Visit on Ester and Lupa. The sly wisp Kazumi mentioned a thing or two about the next step in their relationship.

'The time is ripe.' Were the last few words Kazumi told them. Unbeknown to Vincent, Ester, and Lupa, Kazumi had a colossal secret waiting for them.

After everyone settled down, sitting comfy on a chair and eating a light breakfast, Tula raised her hand and asked, "Big Brother, where will you go today? Can I come? I wanna play with Plow outside."

Vincent took out the map Gevan gifted and placed it on the table. Then he shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, Tula, but I thought of taking a look at the quest board in the Adventurers Guildhall. Maybe I can learn of what is happening around the city as well."

Tula became unhappy for not being included. Surviving in Aero Forest was difficult, and the fight against the ants proved enough of her will to survive. Even if her mentality was that of a ten-year-old.

Tula puffed her cute cheeks and picked Plow up from the table. She lowered her head and cuddled with the little soft blue fox for comfort.

Yula patted her daughter's head and comforted, "This is Vincent's home for now. You will see him again later."

"Tula, did you forget how strong you are? You punished the bad ants with your awesome powers. So I will give you an important job, o mighty Tula." Vincent rolled the map and stood up. He winked at Tula while continuing, "Protect Plow for me. Do you think you can do that?"

Tula raised her head and nodded with a bright smile. "Yup, big brother Vincent. I will stay here and punish all the baddies, hehehe."

Just like that, Tula became Plow's babysitter. Lenn and Renn also announced they would protect their family. As for Yula, the mother of the three smiled. She felt content that her children didn't look very sad anymore.

*Adventurers Guild Lusterfall Branch*

Vincent, Ester, and Lupa entered the guildhall. Not many people entered their sight. A few people sat on a table eating and drinking while one or two were looking at the large quest bulletin board. Furthermore, the inexperienced reception wasn't there. Another woman was in her place.

[That newbie receptionist must have been fired if she made more mistakes after us.]

Kazumi guessed.

Vincent then walked over to the large quest bulletin board and looked around while Kazumi recorded all the quests available.

"Hmm... it would be nice if we could find some herbs. We can raise some funds. It shouldn't be difficult and dangerous." Vincent rubbed his chin as he thought how much they could earn money from foraging in the wild.

"But, isn't the gate closed?" Ester asked.

"We will have to check about that. Do you remember what Gevan said? The lockdown might end soon. Also, do you remember how many people were here last time? Look, not many people are here now. Thus I guess many adventurers should have been permitted to exit." Vincent guessed.

[Did the Hero from another world become a great detective now? Hey, can you tell what I'm doing in your Soul Domain o great otherwordly detective?]

Kazumi had the same thought, but as Vincent mentioned this conclusion before her, she wanted to tease him a bit.

Kazumi seems to have a competitive nature similar to Lupa. Kazumi wants the be the most intelligent being in the group, it seems. Maybe it's because this is the only thing she can do to help.

Vincent sighed and prepared to leave. While walking for the large entrance door to exit the guildhall, three adventurers entered quickly with what seemed to be herbs in their hands. Vincent smirked as they might actually be able to leave the city.

*Lusterfall City South Gate*

A while later, Vincent, Ester, and Lupa arrived in front of the towering gate. Two soldiers approached and informed, "The City is under emergency lockdown. Only solo D Rankers or an E Rank party of adventurers can currently leave. Citizens must stay inside for their own safety."

"Well, that's great, my friend. We three are E Rank adventurers. Here are our identifications." Vincent took out the identification card and showed it to the moderately kind soldiers. Ester and Lupa quickly followed with theirs.

The card has the name, rank, and small image of the card owner. Thus using the 'Display Stats' command is unnecessary for simple procedures.

"You may pass, sir Vincent Agius. Adventurers Ester and Lupa can pass as well. Please keep an eye out for large ants. We still don't have confirmation that all of the ants are dealt with." The soldier respectfully said to Vincent. Maybe because Vincent has a surname, and Ester and Lupa don't.

The soldiers logged their exit and then let them pass. One of the two soldiers then nudged the other with his elbow and said, "I wonder who that Vincent guy is. Not only he has a surname, but the Adventurers Guild also gave him the title of Rising Star."

"Yo, don't poke your nose in the business of others, brother. We luckily managed to become soldiers because of the urgent recruitment drive."

"But, hah... we need to train a lot now... we need to reach the requirements to receive the full payment."

"Yeah, bro... all we can do is to work hard for our wives... I hope we can cure their cold soon..."

The soldiers seemed to have joined recently. They also appeared to have money problems and sick family members. Both soldiers then looked towards the slums with worried expressions.

*Rumput Forest*

Vincent looked around for animals or plants as they walked anticlockwise, heading in the direction of the East Gate. However, nothing other than a few poisonous or numb mushrooms were left by adventurers picking herbs needed for quest commissions.

For Vincent, these kinds of mushrooms are godsent. Making numb and poisonous paste would increase the group's survival chances in a challenging fight.