Upon arriving at the outskirts of Saltstar City in a rented carriage, the Fuller family members found themselves in different moods, quite different from what they had anticipated to be after their arrival in this city.
While some cast serious gazes at the province's largest city, others merely listened to the increasingly cacophonous sounds of the place reaching their ears.
Andrew bore a solemn expression on his pale, parched countenance. Today, he appeared a few years older compared to the spirited man who had departed from Martell Village weeks ago.
His once-dark hair had almost been taken over by white, having appeared along with his increasing pessimism.
'I have to find a doctor for Nina...' he ruminated on his top priority.
In his mind, this man was burdened with a whole world of problems on his shoulders. However, he purposefully ignored them until he could solve his biggest concern - securing the life of his youngest daughter.
Vicente remained physically unscathed, and Lauren, despite having lost her sight, would eventually be able to live without major mishaps.
Only Nina's future was hung with uncertainty!
As Andrew thought about Nina, this little girl looked out over the city in the distance while she sat on her father's lap, observing most of that place as their carriage drove down a hill.
However, she wasn't sure what to think since not only did everyone appear sorrowful, but she had lost her mother and could no longer hear.
So despite this magnificent seaside city before her, through where she could gaze at the sea, this little girl wasn't happy at all.
Lauren, on the other hand, was unable to see this place. Nevertheless, thanks to her brother's occasional descriptions, she was aware that the clamor she heard emanated from Saltstar City.
'We are finally getting to this place...' She sighed as she heard the sound of wagons, carriages, and people talking further ahead.
Her sense of hearing had been improving significantly since her recovery. Due to the loss of her sight, she could now hear things that others would have difficulty perceiving.
Yet, all that held little significance for her. All Lauren wanted was for the time to pass that would lead her closer to her Awakening.
Several weeks had elapsed since she had lost her mother, and she had now slowly accepted her circumstances. So bereft of her mother's presence and having turned blind, she knew that she would either have to learn to live like this or her life would be even more miserable than it already was.
Thus, she was focused on her impending fourteenth birthday, which was only a few months away.
Aside from her father's business affairs, one of the purposes of their family's trip to Saltstar City was her Awakening.
Awakening one's magical powers wasn't something a magician could go through just anywhere; only cities with a population that exceeded 50,000 inhabitants harbored the Awakening Temples, special places where Magic Gems were usually found.
Since she was close to coming of age and going through an Awakening, Andrew planned to use the opportunity to awaken his daughter's powers in the largest temple in Scott Province.
So, all Lauren yearned for now was to awaken her magical powers and return home.
From then on, she could learn to live better with herself and even plan what she had to do next.
However, her thoughts were totally different from what Vicente had in mind.
This black-haired youth's eyes were sharp like an eagle's.
He didn't see this city as a place to have fun and learn more about this world. It was his opportunity to start doing business with his father and gradually assume control of his old man's legacy.
'I will use this opportunity to finance myself and gather the necessary information for my family,' he plotted with a myriad of thoughts in his mind, recognizing the need for the basic information to discern the most favorable course of action.
He definitely couldn't steal anything for the moment since he didn't know whether magic could influence defenses, etc.
But as a bandit in his past life, he absolutely had no qualms about resorting to stealing what he needed to achieve his goals!
However, for now, he chose to keep this alternative aside and intended to establish contacts and gather information through his father's business associates.
His father had also already promised him 50% of the future profit he would make when Vice himself was behind the business, so this would offer Vicente the opportunity to earn coins on his own.
'We will stay in this city until Lauren awakens her magical powers. After that, we will return to the village,' Vicente mused as he watched their carriage approaching closer to the entrance to the city. 'At that time, I will join forces with Rory and begin my plans to establish my own organization.'
After his conversation with his older sister, Vice no longer touched the subject of revenge. He recognized that he was too weak and poor in comparison to his enemies.
He was no fool and wisely placed his purpose of revenge aside to focus on his organization's first steps, something he could do.
Yet, despite his conscious decision, the specter of revenge would repeatedly pop up in his mind, chafing at his determination.
While everyone inside the carriage remained silent, the coachman hired for the trip guided the horses toward the city's entrance.
"Where are we going, gentlemen?" the coachman inquired to the two guards accompanying the Fuller family.
Soren responded, "Take us to a decent inn. Nothing extravagant, but not too bad to the point that these children are in danger."
That man they had hired in Doctor Marcus' town nodded, he was well-acquainted with the area and soon steered them towards a suitable destination.
When they arrived in front of Lord's Lagoon Resort, the three men immediately unloaded the Fuller family's belongings while Andrew made his way to the reception area of the hotel.
While there were storage items in this world, those were expensive magical items for simple people like them. Hence, all the luggage they had brought from Doctor Marcus' town was in the carriage and had to be unloaded.
"Good morning, sir. Welcome to Lord's Lagoon Resort. Do you have a reservation?" inquired a beautiful blonde attendant shortly after observing the group that had just entered the front desk.
While Andrew was answering her, Vicente and Nina were gazing around, catching a glimpse of the beach that was not far from them.
When their father had paid the receptionist for the rooms in the resort apartment, they set off towards their temporary lodgings as Vice directed his sisters while taking their hands.
Nina was walking with difficulty, which had been worrying Andrew recently, while Lauren, due to her impaired vision, required a guide.
However, this was not a problem for Vicente as he adeptly led his sisters, and soon, they arrived at their temporary residence, where they would reside for the following few months.
The apartment featured only two bedrooms, a living room, two bathrooms, a kitchen, plus a delightful balcony overlooking the beach.
No one from this group wasted their time savoring the scenery, and as soon as their bags arrived, Vice diligently assisted his sisters in stowing their belongings in the closets, which the three would share from now on.
Then, as the two family guards stood outside that apartment, maintaining a watchful presence, Andrew went to his children's room and beckoned for Vice.
"Vicente, finish helping your sisters and return to me. Tomorrow, I intend to initiate the settlement of the business I had in this city. You will accompany me and lead some minor dealings I have scheduled," he said without much emotion before going back to his room.
After Vicente finished, he promised his sisters he would not delay in coming back and went to his father's room.
"Father, what did you want to talk to me about?" He inquired as he entered the room and saw his old man sitting in an armchair with a glass of drink in one hand and a large cigar in his mouth.