"I suspect you might have been targeted to have your business ruined. But let not overthink about the double order and different district competition. Simply think of this extra coin to help you and your family." Vincent warned The fruit vendor of what he considers might have happened.

[So, we think alike. The Shrimpstar family will now be placed on our blacklist like that shady Blackheart family.]

The fruit vendor looked at Vincent with his eyes open from surprise and a broad smile from this fortunate encounter. "Are you telling the truth?" He asked.

"I don't like to lie, my friend. Here, let us help you push the cart near our house and unload. It's not a good idea to use my Bag Of Holding on the street we live in." Vincent requested.

"No! I will push the cart!" Lupa exclaimed.

Ester extended her hand and placed Plow on Vincent's arms, "Leave the strenuous things to us. I want your injury to heal with no problems."

"Thank you." Vincent then looked at the fruit vendor and continued, "Please follow me. My girls will help you move the cart. I can't help because I have multiple injuries covered by these bandages."

"I don't mind. Adventurers get injured most of the time. Resting to recover is also the job of adventurers. Lives do grow on trees like fruit, hahaha." The fruit vendor quickly placed the fallen apples on the cart, grabbed the remaining handle, and prepared to move the cart.

[220x Apples (Common Quality) gained.]

Not long after, Vincent stored the apples after moving the cart in front of Tula's family house and after looking around to make sure no one was looking at them. He didn't want to make the home of kindhearted people targeted by greedy people.

"Thank you for your help and purchase. I will have new and different stock in a few days or, unfortunately, weeks from my cousin now that the gates are about to open for everyone." The fruit vendor thankfully lowered his head and left with a lighter cart.

[We unintentionally received good info. We should be able to leave without much worry if the gates are about to open for everyone soon. However, the easy gathering quests will dry in an instant since F Rankers will also be able to leave.]

-Well, making the gray wolf accept Vopor is going to be necessary then.-

[On another note, did you notice how all the apples with different conditions are registered as the same? I guess withdrawing apples from the Soul Dimensional Storage is going to be RNG.]

-I don't mind. I intended to purchase the apples because of the preserving features of my portable time-freezing storage. Having an emergency food supply is always better than starving in a forest.-

-And... I might consider visiting the herbs shop we didn't go to last time. I would like to make some boiled apples. Maybe an apple pie too.-

[Yes, it would feel like home.]

After Vincent hid his guilt with Kevin's persistent positive and friendly attitude, Vincent started to try and cook food his mother made for him.

Regrettably, only the apple pie his mother loved to make was the only thing he could recreate. To Vincent, apple pie became his comfort food.

"Vincent Vincent, are you looking at more food *Pho?*"

Vincent stopped staring at the leaving fruit vendor while communicating with Kazumi and reminiscing his past. No one could hear Kazumi. Thus Vincent appeared to be staring or in deep thought.

"Let's go inside, chat, and then rest for tomorrow. " Vincent said. Then he knocked on the door, and when Tula opened, she quickly stole Plow and slightly frowned by the heavy cute blue fox. "You're sleeping with me tonight."

"No! *Pho*" Plow declined and jumped back on Vincent.

*Sigh* Vincent sighed and lied, "Maybe next time. We are tired and Plow as well. Familiars need their masters to recharge and be energetic on the next day."

Tula grumpily nodded and went to her mother.

*Day 56*

As expected in the following day, a butler knocked on the door with a luxurious carriage parked nearby in the morning.

Tula didn't wish to let Plow leave this time. However, Vincent insisted after inspecting Plow's stats and noticing the consumable Devour stats had improved by a lot.

[Name] Plow

[Race] Mutated Nine-Tailed Fox

[Age] 8

[Condition] Healthy

[Core] Tamed Mutated Core

[Traits] Devour, Digest, Mutated Blood Tails, Mutated Blood Control

[Stats] Strength 4 || Agility 3 || Perception 6 || Mana 0

[Stats] Strength 2 || Agility 1 || Perception 4 || Mana 2 || Time 9

'I hope we get to eat again. The nutritious costly food a noble can purchase is beneficial for Plow's progress. Nine seconds in a larger form. Hmm, I wonder how much bigger can Plow grow?' Vincent pondered while continuously ignoring Tula's tantrum. Plow could become stronger while filling his pocket with money upon success. A win-win situation, yet Tula wanted to spend time with Plow.

"No! Don't go!" Tula grabbed Vincent's shirt and held tightly not to let him leave the door with Plow in his arms.

[Why don't we let Tula come with us?]

-...-

"Elder sister, you can play with us. We won't train and play with you instead." Lenn promised. Renn nodded beside him.

"No! I want Plow!" Tula refused.

*Sigh...* "May I ask if we could bring additional people with us?" Vincent had no choice but to ask the butler for additional guests.

"Yes, they may. My lord instructed me that the children of Koss are welcome to come. My lord is a great friend of their father's sponsor..." The butler suddenly started to sweat nervously and apologized, "Please forgive my blunder. I spoke inadequately in the weeks of grief."

"You heard him. Tula, Lenn, and Renn. Come with us." Vincent said.

Lenn and Renn raised a conflicted smile while Tula enthusiastically stole Plow from Vincent's arms and cheerfully beamed like a bright sun.

After Lenn and Renn informed their mother, the large group entered the luxurious carriage and left for the Sunrise mansion.

It was a bit crowded, so Lupa slyly shapeshifted into a wolf and sat on Vincent while grinning at Plow. Ester quickly grabbed Lupa's clothes and folded them. As the main star, messy clothes would be unsuitable in the presence of nobles.

'I need to shave Lupa's tail as much as possible. Shapeshifting back into a beastman without clothes will be problematic. I wonder if there is a hair growth potion in this world?' Vincent pondered as he didn't want a flasher in his family.

"Plow wants to sit on bed *Pho*" Plow demanded.

*Woof, woof* Lupa triumphantly barked and then winked at Plow to tease the little fox.

An like that, a staredown spanning all the ride to the Sunrise mansion took place.

*Sunrise family mansion*

The luxurious carriage arrived and stopped next to the fountain in front of the entrance. Everyone other than Lupa exited the carriage. Shortly the curtains lighted from Lupa's shapeshifting and then approached Ester and said, "Sister, did you see that fox looking unhappy? Hehehe."

"Don't tease Plow too much. Unlike you, she is a child." Ester attempted to stop the Vincent attention-grabbing rivalry between the two.

A butler and a few maids following him swiftly arrived. The butler greeted everyone and then respectfully said, "Please follow me, honored guests. I shall guide you to our lord."

Vincent looked at Lenn, Renn, and Tula to check if the siblings were still looking at the luxurious-looking garden. Then he turned his gaze on Ester, Plow, and Lupa. "Let's not make our hosts waiting for us. Let's follow this gentleman." He said to everyone.

The butler and the maids approved how Vincent talked in a respectful tone. They met with many proud people, both nobles and not. Some become arrogant after Marquis Byron Sunrise tests people by acting too friendly. As if he isn't a noble.

A while later, Byron, Vopor, a man with golden hair sitting in the wooden gazebo and the gray wolf sitting on a cushion, but leashed to a gazebo window pillar, entered their view.

"My lord, the guests have arrived. Shall I arrange refreshments for our guests?" The butler told Byron respectfully.

"Yes. " Byron ordered. Then he, his son, and the other man got up and greeting them.

"Another fine day, is it not? Let me introduce you to my friend and teammate Baron Leonis Lionheart." Byron introduced the man beside them.

Baron Leonis Lionheart looked about the same age as Byron, yet his golden hair had no gray hair. Furthermore, his pleasant gaze and his blue eyes quickly left the impression of someone to be trusted.

"Leonis here, also known as the truthful lion. He wanted to see your familiar talk since, unlike me, Leonis has never seen a talking familiar." Byron seemed cheerful.

"Please don't put it like that, Byron. Yes, I indeed wished to see a talking familiar with my eyes, but you're making it seem as if I don't go out... which I do indeed go out. " Leonis honestly said. "A lot, I might add." He added while brushing his golden beard.

"Pleasure to meet you, my lord. I'm Vincent. The red-haired and white-haired cuties are Ester and Lupa. Standing on the left is Lenn and on the right is Renn. Beside them is Tula. The three of them are Koss's children." Vincent then lifted Plow from Ester's arms and continued, "And this is Plow. Say hello Plow to the nice man."

"Plow says hello, golden man. *Pho*" Plow responded.

"I'm excited to see a fox talk. Its female voice is comforting to the ears." Leonis displayed an excited expression.

"Hahaha. You see how honest my friend is?" Byron laughed.