They all followed behind Mary.
As they walked, the street opened into a lively scene filled with merchants calling out their wares. Stalls of every shape and colour lined the road, their tables covered with gleaming blades, strange artifacts humming faintly with mana, delicate jewellery sparkling in the sunlight, and countless other curiosities. The air smelled of polished metal, dust, and a faint sweetness from incense burned to draw in customers.
Vladislav's sharp eyes landed on a stand where spatial rings glittered under the morning light, laid out on a purple cloth to appear more valuable than they really were. His curiosity tugged at him, but Mary didn't even spare them a glance as she strode forward with steady steps, her posture regal, as if the street itself bowed to her presence.
"Grandma, I saw some spatial rings just behind us. Why are we not buying those ones?" Vladislav asked, his voice carrying genuine curiosity.
"We are not buying those ones because most of them are not the real deal," Mary replied calmly, glancing at him with a smile that softened her firm tone. "And even if they are, their storage is too small compared to what I want to give you. My grandchildren deserve the best, after all."
Laura walked beside Vladislav, folding her arms and giving him a teasing look. "That's why you have to be careful when buying things from street merchants. Most of them try to scam you. If you were alone, you'd probably have been tricked already, hehe."
Mary nodded in approval. "Laura is right. You must always watch out. If you don't want to get swindled, it is far safer to buy from the renowned shops. Those places sign mana contracts with the authorities, which makes it impossible for them to sell fakes or cheat customers."
"I understand now. I'll be more careful in the near future," Vladislav said, nodding, though inwardly his thoughts carried a tinge of worry.
Damn, if I really were alone, all my money would've been gone in no time… he thought.
Athelstan tilted his head. "What is a mana contract, Grandma?"
Mary's lips curved upward with pride at the question. "Good question, At. A mana contract is a binding agreement fueled by mana. It becomes unbreakable because the magic itself enforces it. For example, if someone breaks the terms, the contract punishes them. The backlash can cripple them… or even kill them, since the magic binds it directly to their core."
"That's terrifying," Asa said, her brows furrowed.
"Yeah. That's why people trust a mana contract more than the words of others," Mary continued. "Human beings are natural liars, after all. Given the chance, many will betray others if it benefits them."
"That disgusts me," Vladislav muttered, his face twisting with disdain.
Mary placed a warm hand on his shoulder. "That's just how the world is, Vlad. You may not fully understand it now, but when you grow older, you'll see more of the world's true nature." She patted him once and then stopped in front of a shop with wooden walls painted a dark brown.
"We are here," she announced.
The shop looked old from the outside, but not neglected. The wood was smooth, carved with faint patterns, and without cracks or holes. On the left, a glass window displayed several items, though nothing too rare. Above the entrance hung a plain sign with the words painted in neat lettering.
"Benson's Shop," Athelstan read aloud.
Asa snorted. "Isn't that a bad name for a shop? Did the owner name it after himself?"
"Yeah, he did," Mary replied with a small chuckle as she grasped the handle and pushed the door open.
Inside, the shop was far more polished than the outside. Shelves lined with goods filled the room, and several customers browsed the displays, their voices a low hum.
"At least the inside looks better than the outside," Asa chuckled.
They followed Mary to the counter.
The man behind it immediately stood and bowed deeply to her, his movements sharp with respect.
"Why is he reacting like that?" Vladislav whispered to Asa.
"I don't know, you tell me," she replied, equally confused.
Mary only gave the man a small nod. Without a word, the receptionist hurried to the back door, opened it, and gestured for them to follow.
They exchanged puzzled glances, but Mary's calm smile reassured them.
"Uhh, Grandma, the shop is back there. Why are we going to the storage room?" Vladislav asked in a hushed voice.
"You'll see soon," Mary replied, her tone carrying a note of mystery.
The receptionist led them through the storage area until they reached a plain wall at the far end. He pressed his hand against the surface, and suddenly the spot glowed with a bright, golden-blue light. The wall then sank into the floor, vanishing completely, and revealed a staircase that spiralled downward, its steps glowing faintly as if lit from within.
Their eyes widened in shock.
"We're going underground?" Vladislav asked.
"Yes. That is where the real shop is," Mary said as she handed the receptionist a gold coin and descended the steps without hesitation. "Come on, follow me."
They all trailed after her, though their steps faltered when the opening closed seamlessly behind them, erasing any sign of the passage.
"We're not getting locked in here, are we?" Laura asked, fear creeping into her voice.
"Relax," Mary said, her voice steady. "We can always leave whenever we wish. That was just a safety precaution."
Relieved, they continued downward. At the bottom stood a heavy metallic door.
When Mary pushed it open, a breathtaking sight unfolded.
The underground chamber stretched vast and wide, its walls crafted from expensive grey marble that gleamed in the light of enormous golden chandeliers suspended from the high ceiling. Rows upon rows of shelves extended into the distance, filled with weapons of intricate design, artifacts pulsing with power, shimmering accessories, and treasures of all sorts.
The sheer scale of it left them stunned.
"Now this is crazy," Vladislav breathed.
"Crazy indeed. Now this looks like a real shop," Athelstan agreed.
"I don't even know what half these things are, but I can feel they're the real deal," Asa added, her gaze darting from shelf to shelf.
"This is one of the best shops in the city," Mary explained. "If you want quality, this is where you come."
Vladislav's eyes scanned the area and spotted several other people browsing. "There are others here, too."
"Yes, but not many," Mary said. "Not everyone knows about this side of the shop. Only those with a higher status are granted entry. Even wealth alone isn't enough."
Leon's curiosity piqued. "How did you know about this place, Grandma?"
Mary chuckled softly. "I know the owner. An old friend of mine."
An old friend, huh… Then he must be around Grandma's age, Vladislav thought.
They made their way to the counter at the far end, where a tall man sat.
At first glance, the children thought he was already standing, but when he rose to greet them, his true height became clear. He towered above them, easily surpassing two meters. His short ginger hair was neatly combed, and his well-trimmed beard matched its fiery hue. His brown eyes gleamed with recognition and warmth as he smiled.
"If it isn't my old friend Mary," Benson said, his voice surprisingly high-pitched for a man of his build.
Vladislav tilted his head back just to meet his gaze, his neck aching. Fucking hell, does he belong to some giant race or something? What the hell is with that physique…
"It's been a while, Benson," Mary replied warmly, shaking his massive hand.
"Tsk. I keep telling you to change your shop's name, but you never listen," she teased.
"What do you mean? It sounds perfect!" he said with a grin.
The group flinched and covered their ears at the sheer volume of his voice.
Fuck, can he just stop speaking so loudly? Vladislav thought.
"Hey! Lower your voice, you'll burst the kids' eardrums," Mary scolded.
"Ah, I'm sorry, young ones," Benson said sheepishly. "I forget sometimes how strong my voice is."
Mary almost cursed under her breath, but stopped herself, remembering the children were with her. She just sighed and shook her head.
"So, who are these children?" Benson asked, glancing at the group.
"My grandchildren and their maids," Mary introduced. "Athelstan, Vladislav, Asa, and Leon are my grandchildren. Clara and Laura are the maids."
They all offered polite greetings.
"Oh, really? I've never seen your grandsons before. Then again, you're always locked away in your estate," Benson said.
"It's not like you couldn't visit. My husband is your friend as well," Mary retorted.
So he's friends with Grandpa, too, Vladislav thought with a hint of surprise.
"Tsk, that bastard doesn't even visit me, so why should I visit him?" Benson scoffed.
If anyone else had heard him casually call a demigod a bastard, they would have been terrified. But for Benson and Mary, who had grown up together, it was nothing unusual.
"I can see this one here is the copy and paste of him," Benson said, pointing at Vladislav.
"And this one looks just like that brat Mikhail," he added, gesturing at Asa.
Asa stiffened. It felt strange hearing someone call her father a brat.
"And that one has Vladimir's hair and Genevieve's eyes," Benson continued, pointing at Athelstan.
"You got it all correct," Mary said with pride.
"Heh, my eyes are still sharp then," Benson chuckled.
He squinted at the group's attire. "Tell me, why do you people always dress in black? Your whole family looks like it's attending a funeral."
"Go tell that to the family's ancestor," Mary replied with a smirk. "We never forced the children. They simply like it."
Benson clicked his tongue. "I guess it runs in the blood. They all look like little demons escorting an angel."
Both of them laughed.
"So, what are you here for, Mary?" he finally asked, curiosity glinting in his eyes.