Around two weeks had passed, and it was now the 32nd day of Spring.
This might seem odd, considering that the game only ever had twenty-eight days per season. However, time in this world followed a different scale, with each season spanning three months instead.
Essentially, Spring 32 was also the fourth day of the second month of Spring.
'But that's a mouthful, so Spring 32nd it is' Anthony muttered in the room.
"What are you talking about?" Leonel asked, turning to his youngest with mild confusion.
"It's nothing, Father," he replied immediately, shaking himself out of his thoughts.
Leonel cleared his throat and continued.
"We've dealt with what we can, managed the farm, taken care of the farmhouse, and—"
He paused, hesitating for a moment.
"Anyways, I just want you to take care of yourself. This new life you're embarking on may not be easy at first. With Melina by your side, I have less to worry about, but know that you can always rely on us."
He finished by handing Anthony a bag of coins.
Anthony rolled his eyes at the sermon, but his expression turned serious at the last part.
"Father, I think you've helped plenty already. I can't accept this much money."
"Bah! It's just 10,000 gold, nowhere near your usual 100,000 gold allowance."
"But you already gave me 100,000 gold, plus the farm itself for support. How could I?"
"Please, you insisted on paying for the farmhouse renovations yourself. That's 30,000 gold down the drain. With how much you're spending, I'm worried you'll end up in the streets."
Anthony smiled awkwardly.
"I mean, I know getting the farm wasn't easy, so it's only right that I contribute. Though technically, the money still came from you."
"Haaaah, just take it. If not for yourself, then for Melina."
That made Anthony pause. After a moment, he finally nodded.
"Good. Call Melina for me. I have something to say to her."
When Melina entered, Leonel kept it short.
"I leave my youngest to you."
"That's to be expected, Governor."
"All right, off you go."
Riding in a red pickup truck, the journey would take around two days.
They stopped at Grampleton Village halfway through the trip to rest for the night.
'Grampleton? Sounds familiar' I muttered as we checked into an inn.
After booking two rooms, Mel and I had dinner before retiring early.
The following morning, we resumed our journey toward Pelican Town.
Seated in the passenger seat, I turned toward Mel, unable to bear the silence any longer. She had barely spoken since the beginning of our trip.
"Thanks for coming with me," I said, figuring I should at least express my gratitude.
"It's what I should do," she replied, her expression neutral.
Once again, the drive fell silent.
By the afternoon of Spring 34, we finally arrived at Greenwood Farm.
Greenwood Farm was larger than I had expected. I wondered what kinds of farm layouts existed in this world, but that could wait. For now, someone was sitting in terrace chairs.
It was Lewis, the mayor of Pelican Town.
He had a handlebar mustache, a green shirt, and a yellow tie, with shades of brown in his cap and trousers. His graying hair gave him an aged yet refined appearance.
In the game, Robin and Lewis were usually the first people to greet the farmer. But this wasn't a game, and I wasn't the farmer.
More importantly, Lewis was nothing like the friendly figure I remembered from my first encounter in Stardew Valley.
His expression was neutral, but his gaze was sharp. He stood to greet us and spoke without preamble.
"You're Anthony Ashbelle, correct? Here's the deed. Do take care of the farm."
That was all. He held out the deed for me to take.
From the corner of my eye, I noticed Mel glaring at the mayor. I gave her a subtle tap before accepting the document.
"Thanks," I said.
Lewis merely nodded before leaving.
"Don't mind him, Mel. But I'd like you to look into why he's acting this way. Maybe check on the other townsfolk, too. I have a feeling others might not be so welcoming either."
I waited until Lewis was out of sight before speaking.
"Understood," Mel replied, her gaze colder than usual.
"Do it discreetly," I added with a cough, suddenly worried she might do something drastic.
She nodded, and I turned my attention to the farmhouse.
The house looked familiar, yet different from the one I remembered in the game. The renovations we'd commissioned from Robin, the town's carpenter, had given the farmhouse something resembling its first upgrade in the game. Among other improvements, the house now had a kitchen, a bathroom, and a second floor with two additional rooms.
The interior was still mostly wooden, with light-brown walls and dark-brown flooring. There wasn't much decoration, but the necessary furniture was already in place.
The living room had a fireplace, a large television, a red patterned rug, and two rows of sofas.
The kitchen had dark-blue tiles, a large wooden table with four chairs, cupboards and cabinets, as well as an empty refrigerator.
The bathroom was fitted with light-colored tiles, a sink, a bathtub, a shower, and a toilet.
There were three bedrooms in total. The largest was on the first floor, near the living room. It had a king-sized bed, several cabinets, and a desk with a chair and a lamp.
The other two bedrooms were upstairs. Each contained a single bed, a cabinet, and the same desk, chair, and lamp setup.
Overall, the place was spacious, if a little barren.
Still, it would have to do.