Fantasy Family Simulator (FFS)

As for Rhett, he wasn't particularly close to Count Nilo, as today was their first meeting. Skipping this formal banquet was a relief for Rhett.

"Thank you, Count, for your hard work!" Rhett gave a respectful bow and flattered him, saying, "It's rare to see a commander with such responsibility and dedication as you, my lord."

"Haha, you flatter me. It's all part of my duty," Count Nilo waved his hand dismissively.

As the sun began to set, Rhett took Shilin and swiftly left the castle, heading back to Twilight City. He hadn't forgotten his plan to develop the fishery at Sun Lake. With the help of the Snow Elf Nina, who could accelerate the growth of aquatic magical creatures and plants, it would be a waste not to fully utilize her abilities and develop aquatic magical beasts.

Aquatic magical beasts, though a term used, refer to magical creatures that live in water. These are a few species discovered throughout history, known for their docile nature and low intelligence, making them suitable for farming without needing to be tamed or bonded.

These beasts have limited growth potential, and among all low-tier magical beasts, they are the least intelligent and weakest. Their only redeeming quality is their taste. Though they take longer to grow compared to regular aquatic creatures, once they reach the next tier, their meat quality significantly improves, becoming a delicacy that can fetch a high price.

To Rhett, the sooner he could introduce these aquatic magical beasts, the sooner he could start reaping the rewards. Especially with the help of the Snow Elf, developing these creatures would be like adding wings to a tiger!

However, he was concerned after recalling the simulation, which mentioned a tsunami hitting the eastern Blue Coast. This disaster disrupted his plans to procure aquatic magical beasts, and he wanted to find out what exactly had happened.

Following the central street, Rhett soon arrived at the entrance of Dalton Chamber of Commerce. By this time, the long lines at the nearby Dalton Auction House had shortened, and the crowd had thinned out. Rhett glanced at it but didn't pay much attention, instead stepping up the three glass steps and entering the Dalton Chamber of Commerce.

As the door opened, a bell rang softly, drawing Rhett's attention to the interior decor. The purple chandelier emitted a dreamy glow, and the floor was covered with gilded tiles, with colorful gemstones embedded in each corner and center, exuding a luxurious atmosphere. Rhett couldn't help but marvel at the grandeur of this nationwide chamber of commerce, which had branches from the capital to cities governed by counts.

Noticing a customer entering, a male clerk in a black and white checkered shirt quickly approached with a professional smile. "Hello, sir. How may I assist you today?"

"Do you have any aquatic magical beasts for sale, such as the Three-Eyed Firestripe Fish or Giant-Toothed Scallop?" Rhett got straight to the point.

The clerk clasped his hands in front of his stomach and apologized, "I'm very sorry, sir. We've been out of stock on aquatic magical beasts since last month."

This answer didn't surprise Rhett, but he feigned surprise as he asked, "Oh? Even Dalton Chamber of Commerce is out of stock? That's unexpected. Can you tell me when you expect to restock?"

The young clerk maintained his apologetic expression and patiently explained, "To be honest, we received word last month that a severe tsunami hit the eastern Blue Coast, causing significant losses to our business there. We're currently unable to supply our Twilight City branch with aquatic magical beasts. As for when we'll restock, we're still awaiting further notice."

"What kind of tsunami could cause such devastation..." Rhett muttered. Since his last simulation, this question had been lingering in his mind. In a world with supernatural powers, natural disasters rarely posed significant threats. For instance, skilled mages could easily deal with fires, earthquakes, and storms. Even tsunamis could be managed by water mages, especially in a prosperous trade area like the eastern Blue Coast, which surely had plenty of such talents. Therefore, Rhett suspected there might be some special reason behind a tsunami that even water mages couldn't control.

"The cause of the tsunami is beyond the knowledge of a humble clerk like me," the clerk said with a bitter smile. "Perhaps you could wait for a while, or take a look around the store. Maybe something else will catch your eye."

"I'll take twenty bottles of Boiling Potion," Rhett said decisively.

This was a part of his plan. If he couldn't get aquatic magical beasts, he'd purchase Boiling Potions instead. Among the spoils he'd seized from Clear Springs Town were over a thousand gold coins. Not being a dragon hoarding treasure, Rhett had no intention of letting the coins gather dust. He planned to use part of the money to maintain his territory's operations, and the rest to buy Boiling Potions to distribute among Tuck and his knights, boosting their overall strength.

The clerk's eyes lit up with excitement, and his respect grew. "Twenty bottles of Boiling Potion? Right away, sir! Please wait a moment," he said, quickly hurrying off to the side room.

Within two minutes, the clerk returned, and they exchanged the goods for the money. Seeing no reason to linger, Rhett picked up the beautifully packaged gift bag and prepared to leave.

At that moment, a middle-aged man, about 1.7 meters tall with a slightly overweight build and a shiny bald head, entered the store. His distinctive appearance caught Rhett's attention, and he couldn't help but take a second look, finding the man somewhat familiar.

The middle-aged man, upon crossing the threshold, noticed Rhett and the female knight standing protectively by his side. Surprised, he stepped forward to block Rhett's path.

"Who are you?" Rhett asked, his gaze puzzled. It was unexpected for someone to block his way, but the man's distinctive features quickly triggered his memory. He recalled seeing this man outside the Dalton Auction House earlier when he had passed by with his prisoners.

The clerk behind Rhett quickly spoke up, "Manager, this gentleman just purchased twenty bottles of Boiling Potion!"

Hearing this, Rhett learned the man's identity.

"Oh? As expected of Sir Rhett, such generosity!" The manager's eyes brightened as he smiled. "Hello, I'm Carlton Stamm, the manager of Dalton Chamber of Commerce's Twilight City branch."

Rhett was surprised and said, "If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Ralph the manager of this branch?"

He had learned from his son, Relay, that the previous manager was an older man named Ralph. Rhett had visited the store last year with Tuck and Relay, and Ralph had still been the manager then, not this bald man before him.

"That's right. Headquarters issued a transfer order recently, and Ralph was reassigned to another branch last month. I've only just taken over as the manager here," Carlton explained.

"I see."

Recalling the scene of Rhett escorting prisoners—all of whom were Tier-2 mages—Carlton's thoughts raced. In such a short time, Rhett had even gained the loyalty of a Tier-2 knight. Considering the information he had gathered from other nobles over the past month, he realized that Rhett was a newly risen noble with outstanding achievements on the front lines.

Carlton's years of experience in business told him that this Rhett was no ordinary person.

"By the way, Carlton, do you know anything about the tsunami on the eastern Blue Coast?" Rhett asked, thinking that as the manager, Carlton might have more information.

"The tsunami on the eastern Blue Coast?" Carlton echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Why do you ask, Sir Rhett?"

Rhett repeated his need for aquatic magical beasts.

Carlton's eyes glinted as he reappraised Rhett. After a moment, he said, "Sir Rhett, why don't we discuss this in private?"

Sensing there might be a lead, Rhett's eyes brightened. "Of course!"

On the second floor, in a quiet room.

"Sir Rhett, please try this fruit tea from the Blue Mountain Territory," Carlton said, using his magic to create water in the cups. As he gently swirled the liquid, the concentrated fruit tea diffused, turning a light red.

"Not bad, indeed. A balanced blend of sweet and sour with a long aftertaste," Rhett praised after taking a sip.

"Haha," Carlton chuckled, then got down to business. "Sir Rhett, you mentioned wanting to purchase aquatic magical beasts. As you said, the Three-Eyed Firestripe Fish and Giant-Toothed Scallop are suitable for farming. And if I'm not mistaken, you plan to cultivate them in your territory's Sun Lake as part of an industry?"

"Exactly!" Rhett confirmed, then asked, "Does this mean you can help me acquire these creatures? And what's the situation with the eastern Blue Coast?"

"As for the tsunami on the eastern Blue Coast, I don't know much myself. It seems to have been caused by a disturbance among the sea beasts, leading to the tsunami," Carlton replied, recalling the vague instructions from headquarters. He shook his head, adding, "In any case, I've heard the situation there is quite complicated and won't be resolved anytime soon."

Rhett's expression darkened. "Then why did you call me here?"

Carlton smiled mysteriously. "The eastern Blue Coast isn't the only place that produces aquatic magical beasts. I have a few friends in the capital who deal in aquatic products. Though their scale is much smaller than the eastern Blue Coast, they can certainly meet personal procurement needs."

"Oh? What types of aquatic creatures do they have?" Rhett's eyes lit up as he asked.

"Let me think… They have Three-Eyed Firestripe Fish, Giant-Toothed Scallop, Blue-Backed Prawn, and Frost-Shell Crab," Carlton recalled confidently. "As you know, there aren't many species of low-tier aquatic magical beasts suitable for farming. These four are among the few. After all, other magical beasts are either too aggressive or too dangerous for farming."

Rhett nodded slowly, having some knowledge of this himself. The four species Carlton mentioned were indeed the most harmless and unique-tasting magical beasts, prized discoveries from the past.

For example, the Blue-Backed Prawn, a water-type magical beast, only knew how to blow bubbles. However, its flesh, with a special bond to water elements, had a cool, jelly-like texture, beneficial even to ordinary people.

Then there was the Three-Eyed Firestripe Fish, a fire-type magical beast that lived in water. Despite being utterly useless in combat, its roe had a distinct flavor—rich and spicy yet without burning the throat.

Aquatic magical beasts didn't necessarily have to enhance one's cultivation. As long as they offered slight health benefits and exceptional taste, they could command a high price. Power was important, but so was enjoying life.

"In that case, Carlton, can you help me purchase some aquatic magical beasts?" Rhett eagerly asked, then added, "I can offer Ice Crystal Seeds as payment in exchange."

"What? Ice Crystal Seeds!" Carlton, who had been prepared for a straightforward deal, was visibly shaken by the offer.

Originally, he had intended to assist Rhett as a goodwill gesture, recognizing his potential and viewing it as a chance to establish a beneficial connection. However, the mention of Ice Crystal Seeds changed everything.

Carlton knew the value of these seeds, which were the fruits of the high-grade magic plant, Frost Dragon Nightshade. While not ingredients in high-grade potions for enhancing mental power or combat abilities, Ice Crystal Seeds were valuable for promoting the growth of water-type magical beasts, making them highly sought after.

At Dalton Chamber of Commerce, they would buy as many as they could get, never selling them to the public.

"Yes, last year, my son discovered a few plants. In one or two months, they should mature," Rhett said calmly.

Carlton was aware of the rarity of Ice Crystal Seeds, but for Rhett, their importance was significantly diminished by the presence of the Snow Elf. To develop his territory's industry, Rhett was willing to part with these seeds.

"Just a few plants? That should work…" Carlton nodded thoughtfully, then decisively said, "It's settled then, Sir Rhett. I'll help you acquire the aquatic magical beasts, and afterward, you can pay me with the Ice Crystal Seeds based on the number I find. How does that sound?"

"Pleasure doing business with you!" Rhett smiled, downing the rest of his fruit tea in one gulp.