Shrouded Seascape

The adults' conversation flew over Nene and her friends' heads. They didn't understand what the adults were saying. After all, matters of war and strategy felt distant and abstract at their current age. Compared to those, they were more interested in something else.

Squeezing through the crowd, four men in clown costumes and their faces hidden behind masks were pushing a cart over. They looked rather out of place and ridiculous. Waving the brightly colored jellies in their hands, they peddle their goods to the onlookers.

Jellies made from fish scales were lined behind the glass of the pushcart. Shimmering with vibrant colors, bits of fruits had been added to the jellies to make them irresistibly appealing to children.

"How much is one?" Nene asked as she fished out a coin that had Charles' face stamped on it from her pocket.

"It's cheap! Only ten Cori!" one of the clowns answered.

Hearing the price, a bitter expression flickered across Nene's face as she reluctantly put the coin back in her pocket. It was far too expensive. Though the new currency, Cori, was worth more than the old echo coins, ten Cori could easily buy three fish in the harbor district.

Though her mother earned a decent salary at the factory, Nene's past experience had ingrained a sense of thrift in her. There was no way she would spend on such overpriced treats.

Seeing the hesitation on Nene's face, the skinny boy next to her reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of crumpled bills. "Don't worry! Let me treat you guys! My mom gives me quite a bit of allowance daily!"

The bills exchanged hands, and soon, Nene and her three friends each had a small bowl of colorful jellies in their hands. With a smile gracing their lips, they admired the magnificent warships as they indulged in their treats.

The jellies sold quickly and it didn't take long for the clowns to empty their large metal container of jellies. But clearly, they had come prepared. Not long after, they reappeared with more jellies.

Business continued to boom. The four vendors worked so hard that their clown costumes were soaked through with sweat. They didn't even have the time to change their outfits.

When they had finally sold out all the jellies they prepared, they pushed their cart to a secluded corner of an alley.

The metal box was opened to reveal coins and bills filled to the brim, causing the clowns to laugh heartily.

"Boss! You're so amazing! I've never seen this much money in my life!" One of the bald clowns exclaimed in excitement.

"Stop shouting! Hurry up and start counting. I want to know how much we made," the leader snapped back.

As the four men removed their masks, their identities came to light. They were the four men who had used glow-in-the-dark materials to scam people in their tent.

"Boss! A total of 39,020 Cori! We're rich!"

A hint of satisfaction flashed across Johnson's face. This was way more profitable than the scamming business they did previously. The jelly was made from fish scales scraped off the market floor. As for the fruit, they bought half-rotten produce, cutting off the bad parts and using the rest to make it look fresh.

With such tight control over their costs, the nearly forty thousand Cori they earned was practically pure profit.

However, the large amount of money they earned wasn't the most important thing. The main takeaway was that Johnson had sensed an opportunity from the news. A war was imminent.

When a war started, the navy would be mobilized. Crowds would then gather at the docks to watch. The more people there were, the more money there was to be made.

"Boss, when you said you wanted to sell those trash at 10 Cori per serving, I thought you had lost your mind! But we actually sold out!" The bald man looked at Johnson, his eyes filled with admiration.

Johnson pulled out a sleek black top hat and placed it on his head. Adjusting the brim with a smug smile, he said, "What did I tell you guys earlier? People on Hope Island have money. Later, we'll deposit the cash in the bank. After that, let's celebrate and treat ourselves to a feast for all our hard work over the past few days!"

"Oh yeah!" the other three cheered.

Brimming with joy, the four of them began to change out of their ridiculous clown costumes and into casual clothes. Soon enough, they were seated in a lavish restaurant on the third floor, near a window with a perfect view of the bustling streets below.

One of Johnson's henchmen with a square jaw leaned in and asked softly, "Boss, I heard that the owner of this restaurant used to be Governor Charles' chef. If we are dining here, does that mean we get the same VIP treatment as the governor?"

Johnson regarded his underlings with a hint of disdain. "Keep dreaming. Do you know the nickname everyone has for Charles' exploration ship?

"The 'Money Ship'! Anyone who has worked on that ship is guaranteed to return rich. You think a wealthy central islander is going to cook for you personally?"

The square-jawed man scratched the back of his head and let out an awkward chuckle, saying, "Yeah, you're right…"

"Still, it's not all about getting rich. They could even lose their lives! I've heard that the crew on that ship has died and been replaced more than once," the bald man chimed in as he tied a white napkin around his neck

"Hell, even if they're dead, they died rich! As long as I can be rich, I'm willing to die for it! I have had enough of being poor!"

"Stop whining. Here are your shares. Hold it well," Johnson said as he tossed three thick envelopes onto the empty plates in front of his men.

His henchmen eagerly opened the envelopes in anticipation. But upon counting the money inside, they turned crestfallen.

"Boss, why do we only get 2,500 Cori each? We've been working so diligently day in and day out…"

Johnson's face hardened as he let out a snort. "Thinking that it's too little? I haven't forgotten how you guys sold me out to the Hope Island Admiral previously! If it weren't for my generosity, you wouldn’t be seeing a single Cori!"

The moment Johnson mentioned their betrayal, they hurriedly stashed the money away. Putting a smile of flattery on their faces, they shook their heads and apologized profusely.

Watching their feigned pledges of loyalty and pitiful expressions, Johnson sighed inwardly. Truth be told, he didn't want to rely on these useless fools, but the issue was that he was on Hope Island. Here, he was nothing but an outsider. Without them, he had no underlings to use.

Hiring locals on Hope Island came with high risks. Trusting someone from another island too quickly could get him sold before he even realized what had happened. Johnson would never allow himself to make such a mistake.

While they conversed, steaming plates of food soon arrived at the table.

Having worked all day without a meal, the men immediately dug in and devoured the dishes like starved beasts.

As they ate, they marveled and discussed the flavors, remarking that the food was better than anything they had never tasted before and was as expected from a cook who had served the Governor himself.

On top of the sumptuous food, being seated on the third floor came with its perks. Not only did they enjoy the luxury of fine dining, but they could also gaze out at the bustling ocean just beyond the glass, where the docks were alive with activity.

Just as Johnson raised his glass of brandy and swirled it lightly before tipping his head back to take a sip, his eyes landed on a young woman who had just stepped out of the stairway.

Her hair was a soft shade of flaxen blonde. With a faint smile gracing her lips, she walked across the wooden tiles on the third floor. Her enchanting presence made everything around her feel dull in comparison.

She wasn't alone. Following her was a couple and a small boy who had just learned how to walk. The boy clutched a well-worn shark plush, its fur fraying at the edges.

The waitress clearly recognized the family as she greeted them warmly before guiding them to an empty table. She removed the "reserved" sign on the table and pulled out a chair with a smile.

"Miss Lily, please have a seat."

"Thank you," Lily sat down and began placing her order. She was indeed Lily, but she was the human version of Lily on Hope Island rather than the Narwhale's gunner.

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