Monitoring

The Minks were stealthy in their movements and could gain access to many places if they had been trained well enough and had the experience to do so.

The main problem was that their infiltration and spying on others was far more difficult inside a building full of people.

The Minks were used to using the forest to cover them or their other surroundings that were far more familiar to them.

If one of the heirs had entered a building then they could only wait patiently for them to leave unless they decided it was best to risk causing a commotion so that the heirs could be checked on.

The Minks were on the island to test the heirs but there was room for trade to be done whether it had been done in the past or would be in the future so relationships needed to be maintained.

Acting recklessly and causing problems in public was a way to hinder what they were there for so they could not act so recklessly.

Maximillion had followed others inside a shady area towards a building which he entered so the Minks watching him could not follow unless they wanted to risk getting into a battle with those who control that area.

When each of the heirs had entered a shop, those watching them had lost sight of them during that time.

Unless they came back out, then those watching over them would have to wait patiently and would report back to the family head if there seemed to be some sort of problem.

They were trying to provide surveillance and protection towards the heirs for Rufus then he would be the one to make the decisions if he felt that there was a problem.

Once he heard about how Maximillion had followed someone foolishly into a place that looked shady, he sat back and massaged the space between his eyebrows. 'Ah.. my foolish grandchild. Please do not do anything that will bring harm to our business here. There is one more…'

He turned to the Mink wearing a black cloak. "What about the other children."

They responded detailing what information had been collected. "Each of the heirs have begun spending their funds and Pixel had already spent hers. She requested for some of you lady Cleo's funds and was granted it.

Young lady Cleo had bought a little for herself and her fiancé. Young lady Felice has purchased books just like the other young ladies. Ahem.. but young master Milo has not done anything yet."

Rufus nodded. "Hmm.. it seems that the girls of the family are a little smarter and have looked into ways to gain more knowledge about their surroundings before they make another move.

How has Pixel spent everything already and why has she borrowed from Cleo? It is strange for someone like her to fail to keep some funds aside for the rest of her days here."

Rufus was well aware that Pixel would usually not make such a simple mistake and would spend everything recklessly on the first day.

If there was something that she needed then she would request for it and would use her earnings from her businesses to pay back those that were not given to her as presents.

There were hints in her past behaviours that she would not lend something without giving it back and if she used it then it would be replaced or paid for.

Rufus knew that Pixel would pay her sister back but she only had a couple of days to do so.

By then, they would have already been back at Zou where the berries would be useless and could only be put aside for a later date.

Pixel could give Cleo the equivalent goods for what she owed back at Zou but that would defeat the purpose of the test which was set up to have no outside resources or assistance.

It made Rufus quite curious about how she would handle it.

The black cloaked Mink answered. "It seems that young lady Pixel had bought a Log Pose along with a newspaper and books. Upon gaining more funds from young lady Cleo, she started buying some cooking tools and ingredients."

Rufus put his hand under his chin and pointed towards the black cloaked Mink. "Keep a close watch over what she will do next and… ahem! Bring back a sample of whatever she comes up with but be discreet about it."

He thought to himself. 'My granddaughter cooks with her mother and has done so for a young age but I have never had the chance to taste anything made by her. My granddaughter is not filial at all.'

The black cloaked Mink hesitated and said. "I thought that there is no outside interference?"

Rufus coughed and waved his hand to shoo them away. "There is no problem in me or others buying something that my grandchildren are selling so long as the price paid for it is fair and it will be used."

The black cloaked Mink left the room and thought to themself. 'Was there such a rule? Why can I not remember it? Well.. if the master says so then I cannot argue against him.'

He did not know that it was just Rufus that wanted to see how his granddaughter's cooking was after his curiosity towards it had increased over the years from the reports from the shadow guard watching over her home.

If there was a product that attracted his attention then he would purchase it on the island so the rules of the test could not get in his way if he wanted something that the heirs were selling.

Attracting the attention of the family head to make him purchase something was also a valuable skill to be had.

If one of the heirs that could inherit the family could do something similar then they would be able to gain his support to allow them to inherit the position much sooner.