Fantasy Family Simulator

“Huh? Is this Coiling Dragon?” Vicky’s beautiful eyes lit up as she stared at McCoff, her expression filled with both surprise and a hint of shyness. She wondered how McCoff had discovered her love for novels. In the past, only Wardelger and Milton knew about her secret passion for reading, and she hadn’t shared it with anyone else.

Especially in the past two days, as Coiling Dragon became wildly popular across the city, Vicky had felt a strong urge to get her hands on it. Being a work by the Lord of the city only made her more curious and eager to read it. However, her busy schedule with patrols and maintaining public order left her no time, and with Doton Trading Company being the only store selling it, the low-priced first edition led to long lines that she couldn’t join.

She had even considered pulling some strings to get a copy in a few days if she couldn’t manage to buy one herself. But now, someone had brought it right to her doorstep—what a pleasant surprise!

Holding the smooth, hard-cover book in her hands, Vicky felt its cool texture, but her heart warmed with gratitude.

“Haha, Rhett is a good friend of mine. This copy even has his signature—I personally asked him for it!” McCoff grinned smugly, feeling that Rhett had never been more useful.

“Really?” Vicky exclaimed again, astonished.

With that, the Coiling Dragon in her hands was no longer just an ordinary novel; it had gained a certain collectible value.

Quickly flipping through the pages to check, she confirmed the signature was genuine, and took a deep breath.

“McCoff, this gift is far too valuable, much more than just a meal,” Vicky said, staring directly at him.

That left Vicky momentarily speechless.

Brushing her red hair aside, Vicky didn’t act coy. With a hint of charm, she said, “Alright then, McCoff. After my patrol tonight, if you’re free, let me treat you to dinner at a fancy restaurant. Of course, if you’re busy, you don’t have to come.”

McCoff smiled and bowed gracefully, saying, “Miss Vicky, it would be an honor.”

“Hehe.”

Vicky flashed a charming smile, gave him a meaningful glance, and then turned to leave.

McCoff watched her graceful figure disappear, rubbing his chin as an unfamiliar but pleasant feeling washed over him.

On his way back, he felt as if he were floating on air, in a great mood.

Walking through the grassy area near the woods, he listened to the sound of cicadas chirping.

Sunlight filtered through the swaying branches, casting dappled shadows on McCoff’s face.

The grass beneath his feet felt softer than ever, and the birds in the trees seemed even more playful and adorable. Smiling, McCoff tossed some leftover crumbs from his morning meal, attracting a flock of birds to squabble over the food.

He continued to stroll leisurely, planning to return to the auxiliary castle to change into a more elegant outfit for the evening.

Lost in thoughts of the upcoming date, his eyes narrowed slightly. But suddenly, he tripped over something—a mushroom. No, this time he saw it clearly—it was a stone imbued with earth elements, half-hidden in the grass, that caused him to stumble forward...

“Damn it, Rhett! This has to be your doing!” McCoff cursed as he fell to the ground.

His angry voice echoed across the grass.

McCoff pushed himself up with both hands, picked up his hat, and glanced around.

“Rhett! Who else could it be? You’re the only one who would pull such a childish prank.”

Rustling sounds came from the branches, and a familiar figure emerged from the woods, pushing aside the foliage. With arms crossed, Rhett stood there, sizing up McCoff and shaking his head.

“Tsk tsk tsk, you weren’t paying attention. You tripped over such an obvious stone,” Rhett teased.

While tidying up his slightly disheveled clothing, McCoff retorted, “Nonsense! You’re a fifth-level magus; no one could sense your spellcasting.”

Rhett shrugged. “Oh? But I only used third-level magic. I noticed you were lost in your daydreams, grinning from ear to ear...”

Then, with a teasing glance, he added, “I know you too well. What’s the good news? Come on, share it with me.”

McCoff blushed slightly. “Ahem, nothing much, just enjoying the nice weather today.”

“Oh, by the way, could you give me another copy of Coiling Dragon?”

Rhett’s expression turned a bit odd as he looked McCoff up and down. “Why do you need another copy? You told me yourself that you’re not interested in novels and would rather enjoy the scenery than read.”

“Uh…” McCoff paused, remembering he had indeed said that. But he quickly recovered and replied earnestly, “So I should thank you, Rhett, my dear friend. Your Coiling Dragon made me realize the charm of novels. So please, give me another copy.”

“Really?” Rhett’s eyes narrowed in suspicion as he scrutinized his old friend, sensing something was off.

Suddenly, he remembered that in one of his simulations, McCoff and Vicky seemed to have a budding relationship…

A myriad of thoughts flashed through his mind.

“You… wouldn’t happen to have been on a date with Vicky, would you?” Rhett asked, blinking curiously.

McCoff’s expression changed dramatically, his eyes widening. “How do you know? And we didn’t—there was no date.”

Realizing he might have fallen into a trap, McCoff countered, “You’re bluffing!”

Rhett chuckled, now certain that his guess was spot on. He pretended to be wise, saying, “Some of my men mentioned that your relationship with Vicky is anything but ordinary. But that’s a good thing—you’ve been single for so many years. It’s time you had some companionship…”

McCoff was momentarily stunned, and then, seeing Rhett’s mischievous smile, he snapped, “Get lost!”

But then, as if remembering something, he calmed down and sighed, “Alright, I’ll be honest. Vicky enjoys reading novels, so I gave her the copy of Coiling Dragon you gave me. But speaking of which, your book has really taken Darkhawk City by storm. I bet it won’t be long before it spreads throughout the entire southwestern region.”

He continued, “Even some of your subordinates are eager to get their hands on Coiling Dragon. They all want to admire their lord’s masterpiece…”

Rhett, having expected this, replied calmly, “Don’t worry. I’ve already arranged for each of my subordinates to receive a copy of Coiling Dragon along with their salary at the end of the month.”

“Good thing I gave mine early…” McCoff thought, relieved.

Looking at Rhett, he smirked and said, “That’s more like it. We should all be more considerate of our colleagues. I was just helping you out by distributing it early, so you should give me another copy.”

“Like you?” Rhett glanced at McCoff. “Alright then, I’ll personally deliver the next one to Vicky.”

McCoff: …

Jokes aside, as a good friend, Rhett sincerely congratulated McCoff on finally finding some happiness.

After chatting for a bit longer, McCoff hurried back to the auxiliary castle. Rhett, on the other hand, returned to a quiet spot in the small forest, sitting cross-legged.

Taking advantage of the peaceful moment, he focused on deepening his understanding of the arcane.

Without any natural talent for the Arcane of Convergence, he could only hope that further insights into the Arcane of Dissipation would help him clear away the fog.

Around him, yellow sand swirled in the air.

Rhett held his breath, trying to evenly disperse his spiritual power, sensing as many of the elemental laws in the sea of elements as possible.

Gradually, he became deeply engrossed, losing himself in his meditations.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

Sitting in his room, Rhett closed his eyes, feeling the arcane of dissipation around him. He realized he had gained some new insights.

He opened his eyes and exhaled slowly, moving to the window to contemplate.

“My progress has been slow, though I’ve made some small gains over the past three months. But the arcane of dissipation is almost at a standstill.

“Still, any progress is good. At this level, even a small insight could lead to a breakthrough…”

After a long period of seclusion, it was time to relax.

Rhett gently patted the books on his desk, ranging from the first to the sixth volumes of Coiling Dragon, each one containing fifty to sixty thousand words.

Currently, only the first three volumes had been released to the public. As for the remaining three, Rhett had agreed with Carlton to release them by the end of the year to keep the readers’ anticipation high.

But delaying for too long wasn’t wise. It could dampen readers' enthusiasm and waste Rhett’s time—he wasn’t planning on only copying Coiling Dragon. A great literary thief should have more than one masterpiece...

“Master, Chairman Carlton is here to see you. He’s waiting in the first-floor hall.”

Svetta’s voice came from outside the room.

Rhett had already sensed his arrival and replied calmly, “Give me a moment. I’ll be right down.”

“Understood, I’ll let him know,” Svetta responded.

After tidying his attire in front of the mirror, Rhett leisurely left the room.

Carlton was waiting in the hall, dressed in loose clothing today, with white balloon pants that, while making him look a bit bulky, also helped conceal his stout figure. When he saw Rhett appear around the corner, his eyes lit up, and a broad smile spread across his face as he moved forward to greet him.

“Lord Rhett, you look as composed as ever,” Carlton said with a wide grin.

“Haha, Chairman Carlton, no need for formalities. What brings you here today?” Rhett returned the smile as he walked over to the dining table.

Carlton pulled out a chair for Rhett and said, “It’s still about Coiling Dragon. Thanks to you, we’ve had countless people seeking to collaborate with us. Every day, visitors line up at our doors. If it weren’t for the firm restrictions on exclusivity, your book would have already spread nationwide.

“But rest assured, with us handling distribution and marketing, there’s no organization that can match our long-term benefits.

“Right now, we’re in the phase of building momentum and generating buzz without yet running ads. But by the end of the year, we should be ready to take things to the next level, and the profits will surely rise again.”

Rhett nodded as he listened, offering no particular opinion.

Carlton, full of enthusiasm, continued, “The southwestern region is fully covered, and the next step is the capital. From there, we’ll expand nationwide. I’ve heard from my superiors that the books for the capital are nearly finished printing, so it won’t be long before they’re released!”

Rhett took a sip of his steaming fruit tea, savoring the sweetness before replying, “Chairman Carlton, since I chose to work with Doton Trading Company, I have complete faith in your capabilities.

“If you manage Coiling Dragon well, I may consider you for my next project…”

“Next project?” Carlton’s eyes lit up, and he said eagerly, “Rest assured, as one of our top clients, you can count on us to meet any of your needs.”

“Oh? Any request?” Rhett set down his cup and smiled meaningfully.

Carlton froze, his smile turning awkward as he quickly amended, “Er, Lord Rhett, if you have any requests, please do tell me, and I’ll do my best to meet them.”

Rhett seemed to ponder for a moment. “Hmm, I do have a request, but it shouldn’t be too difficult for you…”

Carlton took a deep breath and asked cautiously, “Please, Lord Rhett, let me know. With the resources of Doton Trading Company, we’ll find a way to fulfill it.”

Rhett wasn’t surprised by his confidence. As their collaboration deepened, he had learned that Carlton’s family was one of the founding members of Doton Trading Company, with influential elders holding high positions within the company. As a direct descendant, Carlton had access to far more resources than the average branch chairman.

“I’m interested in learning about an ancient legend—the history of the Mermen,” Rhett said, fixing Carlton with a steady gaze.

Simply gathering historical information? That was a relief for Carlton. Doton Trading Company had an extensive collection of ancient texts, some containing secrets not widely known. Carlton himself had learned about them through his family elders.

He replied earnestly, “Rest assured, I’ll do my best to gather the information you seek. You’ve come to the right person—other branch chairmen might not be able to handle this, but I’ll get it done.”

“Thank you.”

Carlton nodded. “No need to thank me. But may I ask, Lord Rhett, why are you interested in the history of the Mermen?”

“For inspiration, and because I’m fascinated by these kinds of strange and ancient legends!” Rhett smiled, using the excuse he had prepared.

“I see!” Carlton nodded, fully convinced.

“Also, I’m curious about the secrets of reviving the dead…”

Carlton’s eyes widened at Rhett’s sudden statement.

Staring at Rhett with a mix of shock and disbelief, he stammered, “Reviving the dead? Are you planning to write a story about resurrection?”

“No, I’m looking for real accounts of resurrection—myths, secrets, anything like that.” Rhett’s eyes were deep, almost like the ocean, as he gazed at Carlton.

“This… might be difficult. I’ve never heard of any real secrets of resurrection.” Carlton drew in a sharp breath, finding the idea unbelievable. “Is this also for inspiration?”

“Exactly. Just do your best, Chairman Carlton,” Rhett said, pulling out a thin notebook and placing it on the table. “If you can handle these two requests, especially the second one, this book will also be handled by your company.”

Carlton blinked, then glanced at the unfamiliar notebook lying before him. The title read: Desecration.