Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

The emblem Rhett held in his hand bore only three stars, signifying that the Bi Ze family was currently only an earl's family. But whether earl or marquis, such titles meant little to Rhett—they were not worth his concern.

What intrigued him about this family stemmed from a recent conversation with Hypaster, after helping to eliminate the orc forces surrounding the Reim Kingdom. Hypaster had shared a story from his younger days, during which he sold himself into servitude with the Bi Ze family for several decades to learn alchemy. This contract allowed him to gain resources and eventually enter the alchemist's guild.

Hypaster's talent was discovered during his time with the Bi Ze family, leading to his redemption by the Circle Tower, where he began his path to greatness.

Rhett smiled as he gazed at the emblem, lost in thought.

"These crests all belong to prominent families around the royal city of the Reim Kingdom. It seems this Saint Domain mage had close ties with the royal family..."

"Hm? Wait, according to Hypaster, the former master of the Circle Tower met their end around this time. Fortunately, the Circle Tower still had a Saint Domain vice-master to maintain their power and status... Could it be that the person I or Taylors has inhabited is the former Circle Tower master?"

The idea sparked a sense of suspicion in Rhett, but without any definitive proof from the items in his spatial ring, it seemed unlikely that he was the tower master. He turned to Taylors, intending to suggest that he check himself for any space-related items or other objects that might reveal his identity.

At that moment, Taylors was already holding a ring and had closed his eyes, as if his consciousness was exploring another space.

Rhett held his breath and waited silently.

Soon, Taylors opened his eyes wide, his breath quickening as he stared at his father in shock.

"Father, I found a spatial item at my waist, and when I bound it to myself and took a look inside, I found the emblem of the Circle Tower master!"

"Circle Tower? What kind of place is that?" Manu interjected with a question.

"One of the world's top alchemical organizations…" Rhett replied, his face growing tense as he looked seriously at Taylors. "What else is in your spatial ring?"

"There aren't many items… Should I just take everything out so you can see for yourself?" Taylors suggested nervously. In such matters, he preferred to let his father take charge.

With Taylors' mental command, the items within the spatial ring began to materialize, neatly arranged on a broad, stable stone platform.

The platform had been created by Rhett using his earth-element powers. Although the original owner of his body had been a water-element Saint Magic Mentor, Rhett could not inherit the previous owner's insights into the mysteries of that element.

Fortunately, Rhett's own understanding of the earth element remained intact. However, the intense heat of the fire element, enhanced by the world's primordial forces, was absent here. This meant that although Rhett retained some of his understanding, the fire element had not yet developed the capacity to bear that knowledge's full power.

Nevertheless, with his grasp of the earth element's primordial force, Rhett could naturally sense the overwhelming presence of earth elements, and his strength was nearly on par with his power in the real world.

As Rhett examined the myriad items spread across the stone platform, he was momentarily dazzled by the selection. There were two bottles of bloodline elixirs, various common and rare alchemical potions—some of which even Rhett had never encountered—totaling over a hundred bottles. Such treasures could drive any mage to fight tooth and nail. Beyond these, there were meditation techniques, breathing techniques, food supplies, and other necessities.

But the most eye-catching item, and the one that drew Rhett's greatest attention, was the emerald-green cauldron that had toppled onto its side next to a large-bellied potion bottle.

This was the symbolic item of the Circle Tower master—the Emerald Cauldron!

In the morning light, the cauldron's surface shimmered with a crystalline green glow, stunningly beautiful. Though its actual use in potion-making was said to be average, its material was extraordinarily tough, nearly impervious to wear and tear. Even time's erosion was negligible, and not even a Saint Domain expert could easily destroy it. To the Circle Tower, it was a symbol of greater importance than its practical use.

Rhett approached, squinting as he gently stroked the cauldron's smooth, ice-cold surface, as if caressing flowing water. He let out a long breath. "Hypaster's words were true… The former master of the Circle Tower did indeed perish a thousand years ago. But it seems no one knew that they and another person fell together in mutual destruction…"

"So, what was the cause of the conflict between you and the Circle Tower master?" Manu speculated nearby. "I think understanding this will be crucial, especially since you have close ties with the royal family. Was it a personal grudge, a mission, or something else? Of course, if your only focus in this simulation is gathering information on the Blood God Patriarch, you could ignore this. But I believe that we should maximize our gains in each simulation and avoid wasting potential opportunities. We have plenty of time, and collecting information to defeat the Blood God Patriarch while gaining other benefits in this world are not mutually exclusive."

"I agree," Rhett nodded. "The Blood God Patriarch may not even have reached the Saint Domain at this point. I'm in no rush. And considering I have no idea where he might be right now, we should take our time and proceed carefully."

"Should we… head to Reim's royal city and the Circle Tower to ask around?" Taylors suggested cautiously.

"That's our best option," Rhett replied softly.

Two days later.

Rhett arrived alone at the marketplace outside the Circle Tower, watching the bustling crowds. The scene before him triggered a moment of nostalgia—everything felt so real. The layout of the market was almost identical to what he remembered from his visits to the Circle Market in the real world.

During his journey here, Rhett had learned his identity through questioning travelers and adventurers—he was the Chief Saint Magic Mentor of the Reim royal family!

This identity was both unexpected and reasonable. Initially, he had wondered if he might be a member of the royal family, but with no items in his spatial ring confirming this, he couldn't be sure. It wasn't until he passed through various cities along the way and saw people bowing respectfully before him that he was convinced.

Even more interesting, after asking many people for details, Rhett discovered that in the eyes of the public, the Chief Saint Magic Mentor and the Circle Tower master were known to be very close!

With this in mind, Rhett no longer worried about his identity being questioned. Instead, he grew curious about what kind of conflict had driven him and the Circle Tower master to fight to the death.

Originally, Rhett had planned to return to Reim's royal city with Taylors, but after learning about their identities and relationship, he abandoned that idea. Given that it was well known that he and the Circle Tower master were on good terms, returning together would raise too many questions, especially if the master had suddenly become a third-tier mage. It would draw too much attention and hinder his plans.

Therefore, halfway through the journey, Rhett had to leave Taylors in a safe location—a small town called Withered Vine near the Dark Forest, a place they had once visited while searching for a Dream Eater.

Knowing his identity as the royal family's Chief Saint Magic Mentor, Rhett had used disguise techniques to alter his appearance and suppress his aura, gathering as much information as possible about this Saint Magic Mentor, as well as the current state of the royal family, the times, and the overall situation. Only after thoroughly preparing did he dare to come to the Circle Market alone.

Now, as Rhett walked through the market, his presence caused a stir among the supernatural beings milling about. No one dared to act rashly or make a scene in the presence of a Saint Magic Mentor. In fact, the crowd instinctively parted, making way for Rhett.

Rhett, however, did not carry himself with the air of a superior. Instead, he walked through the market with a gentle smile, taking in the details of his surroundings.

His slow pace was deliberate. From what he had gathered, this Saint Magic Mentor visited the Circle Market several times a year, always in a leisurely manner, as if simply taking a stroll. Rhett tried to replicate this behavior based on the information he had gathered, even stopping occasionally to look into various shops.

Though a thousand years had passed, the overall layout of the market, with its familiar street outlines, remained unchanged. Yet, all the shops and people within were different, as if he had stepped into a parallel dimension.

"Master Veras, welcome back! What can we do for you today?"

As Rhett paused near a shop with pink walls, a sweet, clear voice reached his ears, surprising him. He looked over to see a petite, delicately featured young girl about 1.5 meters tall, her face bright with youthful charm. Not only did she look like a girl, but Rhett could tell she was truly in her early twenties—a relatively young age in the world of the supernatural.

Rhett had stopped here out of habit, not expecting to encounter a shopkeeper who seemed to recognize him. The coincidence made him smile internally, though outwardly, he walked toward the shop, nodding kindly to the girl.

"I'm just browsing for now. Have you received any new stock?" he asked gently.

The girl, dressed in a black-and-white maid's outfit with black fishnet stockings reaching her thighs and trimmed with white lace, smiled back, dimples appearing on her cheeks. "Of course! The shopkeeper told me yesterday that the set of alchemical equipment you ordered has arrived. You can pick it up at any time."

"Did I order something here?" Rhett thought in surprise, though he quickly masked it with a look of delight as he stepped into the shop. "Well, this is a lucky day. Let's see where my order is…"

The girl giggled, covering her mouth. "The shopkeeper said that such valuable items wouldn't be displayed out in the open! Please have a seat; I'll go get the shopkeeper."

"No need, Neela. I'm already here."

A sultry voice called from the second floor. Moments later, a middle-aged woman descended the stairs, dressed in a black strapless gown with a black ribbon in her hair and a black gemstone necklace around her neck. Her all-black attire exuded a mature allure.

As the woman gracefully descended the wooden staircase, she spoke in a soft voice. "Neela, you may go now. If you're tired, take a break and let Rose take over."

"Yes, Miss Vina!" The girl, Neela, curtsied before quickly and lightly departing.

The middle-aged woman approached Rhett, her demeanor elegant as she straightened her ample chest, revealing a glimpse of snowy cleavage. Her emerald-green eyes locked onto Rhett's, and she parted her deep-red lips to speak.

"Master Veras… The items you ordered are far too valuable to be kept out here. Please follow me to the VIP room."

Rhett nodded, following the woman as she walked ahead, though a subtle frown crossed his face. This woman seemed rather… eager. Given his current appearance as an old man, could she really be interested in his body? Or was she seeking to attach herself to his power? It was certainly possible…

As the woman led the way, her full hips swayed enticingly. The sound of her high heels echoed on the wooden floor of the staircase and the second floor. The shop was quite large, easily covering a thousand square meters on the upper level alone. After rounding several corners, the woman stopped before a sturdy door made of obsidian, produced a cogwheel key, and inserted it into the door's lock. With a surge of fiery-red energy, the door slowly opened.

The corridors on either side were empty. The woman turned and winked at Rhett, her smile full of charm, before sashaying through the doorway.

Rhett stood tall, his expression unchanged, though inwardly he felt increasingly puzzled. It seemed that his relationship with this woman was more complex than he had initially thought. Based on the details so far, it was clear that they had interacted multiple times. Perhaps she wasn't merely interested in his body or trying to gain favor through his power; the connection between them might run deeper than he had assumed.

"Could she be a mistress? A lover?" Rhett's thoughts darkened as he considered these possibilities, feeling a growing unease.