When Casey saw Vicente's little sister, he looked at her small body and saw how Nina walked, noticing the aftereffects of the incident she had suffered years ago.
He already knew about the tragedy of the Fuller family, especially the limitations of this little girl.
Looking into her eyes, he felt some of the things he had already heard in Martell Village and clenched his fists.
He closed his eyes and left the kitchen. "We'll talk later, Vicente. I have an appointment now."
Nina didn't understand what had happened, but she looked at the tanned man and then at her brother, wondering if she had done something wrong.
Vicente went to Nina's side and ran a hand through her black hair. "This is a friend. Don't worry about him. He was already leaving." He gestured to her, taking Casey aside to see what his sister wanted.
"Anyway, why are you getting up?"
"I'm hungry. I'm going to get something to eat." Nina quickly climbed onto the kitchen furniture and showed her brother who stole from the pantry every night.
'That's why you're growing up so fast...' Vice laughed.
...
Meanwhile, Casey was already on his horse, riding back to his apartment in town, looking at a necklace he usually wore around his neck.
On this necklace was a small mechanism that hid a photo of three people: an old woman, a child, and a young man, all with tanned skin and black hair.
'Grandmother, sister...' He put it back and clenched his fists until his veins and bones were visible.
Casey tasted blood as he gritted his teeth and remembered a night 15 years ago.
'One day, I will avenge what that bastard did to you!'
...
The night passed, and another day dawned in Millfall...
But at the very beginning of the day, at the headquarters of the Martial Court in this city, some of its members were already there, working for law and order.
In a three-story cylinder-shaped building in the city's center, a few army soldiers could be seen here and there, watching over the area.
Inside the building, dozens of people were already coming and going through the corridors, going about their daily business.
But on the third floor of that building, which housed the offices of the city's court representatives, a door opened, and an orange-haired woman stepped out next to an elderly man.
"Don't worry, Miss Shelby Staples. By the end of the day, this person's situation will no longer be a problem. At least from the point of view of the law, there's nothing left for him to be implicated in." The old man said as he accompanied that young woman.
Shelby smiled at the old man, grateful for his 'cooperation.' "I'm glad. I don't understand why a citizen who contributes to the peace and order of the city would have so many problems... But I'm glad to have conscientious people like you around."
The old man laughed and said. "Always. I'm ever open to conversation with young people who are committed to the local good."
"Hmm, thank you for receiving me, senior. I hope you'll come to my wedding in a few weeks. We'll have a chef from the capital behind the banquet." She said.
"Oh? I'll remember that when I get closer."
After waving to Shelby, the old man returned to his office, not getting the slightest impression that such a young noblewoman wasn't happy about her upcoming wedding.
From the tone of her voice and her demeanor, Shelby seemed anxious and very happy that this moment was approaching.
But few understood what was on her mind.
'Fucking Marcus. You're trying to screw me but just wait. We'll see who ends up worse off.' She clenched one of her fists while maintaining a gracious smile as she walked alongside Molly through the corridors of this building.
"Is everything going to be all right, miss? The Symons family won't leave your friend alone." The red-haired woman beside Shelby asked.
"I know. But for now, the Martial Court is on my friend's side. At least it will be until the Viscount returns from his journey." She said, sensing that the kind of danger Cesar might face in the short term was different.
"But he'll have problems for sure. I'll send him a message through my student later."
"That's better." Molly sighed. "It would be good to avoid seeing him now that Mrs. Staples has her eye on you."
Shelby stopped smiling, remembering the lecture she had heard from her stepmother the night before.
Remembering how her bloody fiancé had sought out Amy, Shelby hated him even more for using others to act against her and Vice.
'Marcus, you'll pay me for spreading rumors about me. Just wait. I'll give you back what I went through yesterday 100 times worse in a few weeks.' She mischievously smiled for a moment before returning to a neutral expression.
'Don't think I'm going to marry a worm like you!'
...
Later, Rory had finished the first training session he had had time for in the last few days.
After almost two days of working around the clock to resolve the Mazzanti family's situation, he had found a moment of peace to do his magic training and had made some progress.
But he was still only 35% of the way to the Senior Apprentice peak, far behind Vicente, who was already close to the peak of his level.
However, knowing that he would be free of his responsibilities with the Mazzanti family for the next few days, Rory was relaxed about the delay in his progress due to lack of training.
'Tonight, Vicente will be back in charge of the group...' He thought as he got dressed, preparing for a morning of more responsibility. 'I'll use the time I have from today to get the last bit of information I need so we can break into House Irwin.
I also have to train. I have to become an Acolyte before the local situation stabilizes!'
It was evident to Rory when Vicente would hunt Magic Pentagrams. As soon as things in Millfall stabilized enough for the group to carry on in his absence, the strongest would go out to get their new pentagrams.
He didn't want to fall behind his friend and was aware of what he would have to do during the next few days of 'time off.'
But as he planned his next few days and prepared to go and sign new deals with merchants in the eastern part of the city, he suddenly felt something wrong as he left his family's building.
Swooish!
Looking up, Rory suddenly saw a speeding blade approaching his left chest!
"Shi..."
