Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

At the northern border of the Brain territory, in Deep Village, does that ring a bell?" The orange-haired woman gritted her teeth as she spoke, "Five years ago, you ambushed us when my mother was giving birth, causing my entire family to die at your hands!" Her last words were a furious roar, and spittle sprayed onto the fat man's face.

Rhett took a deep breath. Hearing about the tragic death of a mother stirred his emotions, bringing to mind the image of Nicole. Sympathy welled up inside him as he gazed at the orange-haired woman, his eyes deep with thought. He didn't stop her right away but continued listening.

The fat man remained indifferent, his expression unchanging as he casually replied, "Oh, yes, I remember now. I did ambush a pregnant female knight back then. Her husband resisted, and I killed him too. He fought desperately to protect a woman who escaped. That must have been you."

Hearing the murderer who had destroyed her family speak so lightly of his crimes, the orange-haired woman's eyes turned bloodshot, and her chest heaved violently, like a barrel of gunpowder ready to explode. Overcome with emotion, she gripped the hilt of her sword as if she might strike at any moment.

Seeing this, Rhett sighed; he couldn't remain silent any longer. These captives were indeed vile criminals who had committed countless atrocities, but they couldn't die now.

"Ahem, hold on a moment," he said, intervening.

The orange-haired woman turned her head, looking at the calm and composed man. His gaze seemed to have a magical quality, calming her emotions.

"Thank you, my lord, for capturing these deserving criminals," she said after taking a deep breath to steady her voice. "Everything I said is true, as you must have heard. Therefore, I beg you to allow me to personally take revenge and slay this man for my family!"

By now, a growing crowd had gathered, forming a circle around them, watching with curiosity. The murmur of voices filled the air.

Rhett frowned slightly, narrowing his eyes.

"My lord, there are too many people here. Should we find a quieter place?" The orange-haired woman, now somewhat calmer, noticed Rhett's discomfort.

Rhett looked directly at her and sighed. "Why don't you join me on the cart? We can find a more private spot to talk."

The orange-haired woman's expression brightened, and she climbed into the back of the cart. Rhett signaled the driver to continue, and the group quickly moved out of the crowd.

Among the onlookers, some recognized the emblem of Eagle Town on Rhett's chest, while others noticed the strength of the captives— all Tier-2 mages. Realizing this was no ordinary matter, they prepared to disperse and share the tale with their friends over meals.

As they left the city, Rhett and the woman engaged in a few brief conversations, during which he learned her name—Shilin.

Once they were out of Twilight City, Rhett had the convoy stop about a kilometer from the city. He jumped down from the cart and turned to face Shilin, who had followed him down.

"As I've explained, these people are my prisoners," Rhett began. "They are evil alchemists responsible for countless deaths and should face the kingdom's justice."

"But in the end, they will die regardless, so what difference does it make who kills them?" Shilin asked, her voice full of frustration.

Seeing her deep-seated obsession, Rhett raised an eyebrow and replied, "No matter who kills them, the outcome is the same, isn't it?"

Shilin was momentarily stunned.

Taking advantage of her hesitation, Rhett continued, "You should know that these individuals are just a small part of a much larger evil alchemy organization. Many more are out there, committing similar atrocities. The ones I captured hold valuable information that could lead us to the others. They need to be handed over and properly interrogated to uncover the rest of the network and prevent more innocent lives from being lost. If you kill them now, in a moment of anger, the remaining members could escape and continue their crimes. Is that the result you want?"

"I..." Shilin was left speechless, her mind in turmoil. She hadn't thought about it that deeply in her rage and hatred. Now, she asked herself, "Do I really want to see others suffer the same tragedy I did?"

Seeing her inner conflict, Rhett pressed on, "These people are doomed, so why not let justice take its course? Why insist on taking matters into your own hands?"

After a lengthy silence and deep contemplation, Shilin sighed, finally letting go of her impulsive desire to act.

Of course, the main reason she calmed down was her realization of the vast difference in power between herself and Rhett, a Tier-3 mage. Although he had been polite, he had made it clear that he would not allow her to execute the prisoners. No matter how much she wanted to, she knew she couldn't overpower him. Additionally, his words had made her see reason.

Gathering herself, Shilin bowed slightly. "Thank you, my lord, for capturing my enemies and ensuring they face justice. I will never forget this favor. If you ever need my help, I will gladly serve, no matter the cost!"

Her words were sincere, without exaggeration. No one could understand the agony of the past five years—the nightmares of that fateful night, the horrific scenes of her mother's death, and her father's desperate last stand. Revenge had been her sole purpose in life.

This man had helped her achieve that goal, lifting a heavy burden off her shoulders and freeing her from her nightmare. The heart that had been drowning in hatred now found peace.

In the past, she had been willing to trade her life, her body—whatever it took—for a chance at revenge. Now, she felt an indescribable gratitude.

"Ahem..." Rhett cleared his throat awkwardly, leaning on his staff. "Since your revenge is nearly complete, and you no longer need to wander, why not... join my territory?"

"Shilin, my territory could use someone like you!"

The invitation seemed sudden, but it was a calculated move based on a brief simulation Rhett had just run. From the results, he knew this was the right choice.

Rhett had long noticed that Shilin, at around thirty years old, had already become a Tier-2 knight, which meant she had considerable talent. While she might not be a prodigy, she had achieved this without any backing or resources—a remarkable feat. She was a small genius in her own right.

Moreover, the simulation had shown that the recruitment process would go smoothly, with no negative consequences. So, Rhett wasn't about to miss the chance to add a talented female knight to his ranks.

"Huh?" Shilin blinked, surprised by the request. She fell into a brief contemplation.

At that moment, she thought about her future. With her revenge fulfilled, what was next? If he hadn't invited her, what would she do with her life?

Her eyes suddenly clouded with uncertainty—she had no answer.

After some thought, Shilin realized that this lord had pulled her out of darkness, and she felt a sense of warmth toward him.

She softly replied, "I'm willing!"

Hearing this, Rhett inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. Adding such a capable knight to his ranks made him eager to see if she might become the strongest knight in his training grounds. Surely, her presence would motivate the other knights to train even harder!

"But... why does 'I'm willing' sound a bit off?" Rhett mused, rubbing his chin.

"My lord, is your territory in Eagle Town?" Shilin suddenly asked.

"Yes."

"Does it have a Sun Lake nearby?"

"Oh? How did you know?" Rhett was surprised.

"Three years ago, I traveled to the Dark-patterned Eagle Range and passed by Sun Lake. I even took a bath there," Shilin said with a smile.

"How coincidental! It seems you've had quite the adventurous past, haha," Rhett chuckled.

With her mind at ease and a newfound sense of belonging, Shilin seemed more open. Rhett noticed the change and felt gratified. He continued chatting with her, reinforcing her positive shift in attitude.

As they conversed, Shilin gradually opened up, sharing her experiences and thoughts with Rhett. By the time they had traveled another kilometer, she was in much better spirits. Gazing at the majestic Twilight Castle, she remarked with a smile, "Building a castle on a hill in the plains must offer a unique view of the sunrise and sunset every day!"

Rhett simply smiled, gazing ahead.

Twilight Castle sat atop a small hill, over two hundred meters high. Since its construction, the steep cliffs had been smoothed out to create a spiral road winding up the hill. At each level of the road, two knights stood guard.

As Rhett approached, the two guards at the base of the hill watched him closely. They couldn't leave their posts unless there was an imminent threat.

"Greetings, I am Rhett Green, Lord of Eagle Town," Rhett introduced himself before continuing, "Please inform Count Nilo that I have important information to report!"

Upon hearing this, and after seeing Rhett's emblem, the guards' eyes widened in surprise. "It's related to the evil alchemy organization!"

The two guards gasped, realizing the gravity of the situation. One of them adjusted his helmet and said seriously, "Understood, Sir Rhett, please wait here. I'll notify the count immediately!"

Soon, a knight clad in dark red armor descended the hill. He greeted Rhett warmly, "Sir Rhett, I've heard much about your heroic deeds on the front lines. Slaying a Blood Moon Werewolf is no small feat!"

"Ahem, I assisted," Rhett replied modestly, coughing lightly at the praise.

"Allow me to introduce myself—Wilson Armand, Deputy Commander of the Count's knights," Wilson said before gesturing up the hill. "Sir Rhett, the Count is waiting for you. Please, follow me!"

Rhett nodded and began the ascent.

Behind him, Shilin was impressed. The man she now followed had slain a Blood Moon Werewolf? Truly remarkable!

No wonder he had managed to eradicate the evil alchemy organization...

Before they knew it, the sun had almost set.

Rhett had been at Twilight Castle for half an hour, explaining the details of his encounter with the evil alchemy organization. From the first attack in Maple Town to the final cleanup in Clear Springs, he recounted everything.

Count Nilo listened attentively, and while Rhett's account was slightly modified to omit certain details, such as Blackstar's involvement, the count didn't press the matter.

After all, with the organization destroyed and Rhett bringing captives to claim credit, the outcome was clear.

With everything laid out, Count Nilo drummed his fingers on the table and concluded, "Sir Rhett, I've heard enough. You've done exceptionally well! The rest is just a matter of interrogation and capturing the remaining members. Once this is all over, I'll ensure your deeds are recorded and reported to the capital. You've earned great merit!"

The count, reclining on a plush chair, patted his leg and smiled. "Impressive, Sir Rhett. You haven't been off the front lines for long, yet you've already accomplished something remarkable!"

Rhett waved off the compliment. "It was just luck. These alchemists were getting bolder and more reckless. Madness often leads to downfall. If I hadn't taken action, someone else would have soon enough."

"Hmm... quite true," Count Nilo agreed, nodding thoughtfully. "The southwest border has been peaceful for so long that some have grown complacent."

Rhett remained silent, listening.

After a moment, the count frowned and sighed, "I'll begin interrogating the captives tonight. The sooner, the better. The longer we wait, the more likely their scattered members will flee the southwest."

"Which means... no banquet tonight," the count said, standing and looking directly at Rhett.

Typically, noble visits were accompanied by banquets, but exceptions had to be made. Tonight's interrogation was far more important than a feast.