After reuniting with Nina after a few days away tending to the Mazzanti family's business, Vicente spent some time with her, listening to what she had been doing at the academy lately.
Things were going well for Nina. Though she was ostracized by some prejudiced students from local wealthy and aristocratic families, she had her friends and was well-liked by her teacher.
At the same time, a new director had recently been appointed to the academy, and some of the new staff hired by this person were very kind to her.
All in all, Nina was doing well and was learning a lot. If everything continued the way it was going, she might become a scholar in the future, which would be the best scenario of all from Vicente's point of view.
He even planned to speak to Newton on Nina's behalf when she turned 10 to ask him to welcome her to his study place. But that was something Vice wanted to wait for.
As for Nina's physical situation, she still had limited mobility. Since Vicente had not yet been able to hire 3rd-stage professionals, he had no idea what would happen when she turned 14.
Fortunately, that was still more than five years away.
One of his goals, however, was to influence at least one 4th-stage doctor during that time, someone who would be his hope for repairing possible sequelae in his sister's body that could still be treated until she went through the Awakening.
In short, these were Vicente's long-term concerns. In the short term, given the speed of his progress and the contacts he was making, he was more or less at ease.
...
After dinner with his sister and Eve, Vicente left Nina in her room and watched her fall asleep next to him for the first time in many weeks.
He looked at his watch and realized it was time for him to leave for his meeting with Shelby, preparing to leave as Eve walked beside him.
"Eve, I intend to spend the next few days dealing with the family's most pressing problems. After that, I'll try to spend more time with Nina."
"That's great. She'll be thrilled." Eve smiled as she looked into Vicente's eyes. "Nina always says she misses studying with you."
"Hmm, I'll do that soon. Then you can take a few days off to hunt for your second pentagram and visit your sister in Martell Village." He declared as he stopped at the exit door of his residence.
"Thank you, Vicente. I'll make good use of my time." She thanked him as she bowed her head.
"Don't do this. We're family." He stopped her from completing the gesture by grabbing both of her shoulders.
Eve closed her eyes and smiled, partly in joy, partly in regret that she hadn't met Vicente sooner.
Seeing her eyes open, a little red and wet, Vicente understood what was on Eve's mind. "Don't worry. As much as the past can't be changed, the future is within our reach. One day, I will help you save your parents, Eve. I guarantee it."
Eve had been 'rescued' by Vicente from becoming a prostitute in Rory's mother's brothel. She had an older sister who was an "employee" of the Heidi Point establishment in Martell Village back then, having almost become the third in her family to enter the world's oldest profession.
But Rory had chosen her and introduced her to Vicente, who had then brought her to his side to look after Nina.
Vicente had already rescued Eve's older sister from a life of prostitution, and she now served as secretary to the Fuller family in Martell Village.
Meanwhile, Eve's mother, who had been forced into prostitution when her daughters were 7 and 5 years old, was still in the same situation, having been forced to leave her two daughters with Heidi Point.
Eve's father and her sister had gotten into trouble about 10 years ago, incurring the wrath of a troublesome person in Saltstar City. This person had decided to punish him in the worst way, sending him to prison, taking his wife, and forcing her to become a prostitute.
Eve knew all this from her mother's letters. Her mother had been forced to write letters to her daughters and husband about the things she had to do for a living!
The man behind it all was that cruel!
Aware of his friend's story, Vicente had already promised Eve that he would help her. But now that he was getting stronger, he repeated his promise, showing the blonde woman he hadn't spoken without the intention when he heard her story.
"Don't worry about it, Vice. You already have a lot on your mind. If I'm strong enough in the future, I'll take care of it myself." She said as she wiped her eyes and smiled at him. "Now go. I don't want you to be late."
Vicente looked at her in silence for a moment and then left, but without changing his plans to help his friend's family.
He already wanted to save Lauren. Doing so with Eve's parents would add absolutely nothing to the difficulty of his journey!
With that in mind, Vicente made his way to the Burt family estate, where Eve had arranged to meet him.
...
Arriving in the more affluent area of Millfall, Vicente was soon at the doorstep of the Burt family, a local rising power that had a good chance of becoming a noble family in the near future.
There were two ways for a family to become a noble power in the Seidel Kingdom. The first was by appointment by the king, which usually involved the overthrow of other nobles. The second and more complex was to buy the title of nobility, which was extremely expensive and difficult to achieve, but it was possible.
Most of the land in the kingdom was already owned by the many noble families in the state. But some lands might be less attractive to own than others. With the right offer, nobles of higher status, like Dukes, would agree to sell part of their territories.
In such a sale, the buyer would become a noble by owning land in the kingdom.
But why would anyone do this? Simply because nobles had rights that went far beyond the use of land!
Just by having the title of nobility, families could pay less taxes and have access to strategic materials, independent military groups, resources, and people with great power and influence.
In a way, the title of nobility was like a ticket to important events that only those with an "invitation ticket" could attend to.
Without such an "invitation," you wouldn't even know about the important events around the state, sometimes outside the kingdom's territory!
Thus, noble titles were of great value.
The Burt family was a power trying to obtain a noble title through the second method. Vicente knew this, and as soon as he arrived at this family's estate, he saw this was a power that really had the necessary conditions to become a noble house.
This family's estate was as luxurious or more luxurious than some of the noble estates Vicente had seen in recent years.
The front door opened as he looked at it, and a beautiful woman dressed as a butler invited him in. "Vicente Fuller, welcome to the Burt estate. Please come with me. The lady is waiting for you in the garden."
