Chapter 291: Lumina
The next morning, all the residents of Conch Isle sensed a difference. It was a strange feeling, not quite like the day before, but the fact that the faucets in their kitchens and bathrooms were working again was the best news they could have hoped for.
Having installed two water systems according to the newly released town plan, Faye Yardley was very pleased with her results.
’Indeed,’ she thought. ’While the island’s inhabitants had lost their Systems and found it inconvenient, I, the Island Master, am still a member under the System’s administration. I can directly use the System’s conveniences to make life a little more comfortable for the islanders.’
Then, she took the large, black digital case she had obtained and installed it right in the center of the island. With that, the island now had a communications signal.
Although her raft could be docked at the edge of Conch Isle, the System had notified her that it couldn’t remain there long-term.
This meant today was the last day it could be docked. Afterward, she, the Island Master, would have to leave her own island.
’Who was I supposed to complain to about this?’
After Franklin Yardley woke up, he did indeed seem much more human.
His gratitude toward Faye Yardley was no less than Willow Yardley’s.
He also guaranteed that he would complete the tasks she assigned, remain steadfast on the island, and assist the current village head, Wyatt Thorne, in managing the island’s people.
Faye Yardley gave him an All-World Communication Phone she had gotten from Nora Nash back on Coralisle. She had saved her own number, Ethan Yardley’s, and Zachary Pierce’s in it, telling him to contact her anytime if something came up. If he couldn’t reach her, he could try the other two.
Then, she took him onto the island to find Wyatt Thorne, found him an empty house, and set it up for him to move in.
She left five small wooden boats for the islanders to use communally.
As for building a pier or anything like that, she figured she’d deal with it after she got her hands on some suitable blueprints.
To protect her island, she also left Bramble behind.
Then, under the watchful eyes of the islanders, the massive Dragon Turtle Raft slowly departed from Conch Isle. Just as when it had arrived, once it was a short distance away, the island was once again shrouded in a thin mist.
Going from a sunny, calm sea to a turbulent ocean of crashing waves, dark clouds, flashing lightning, and torrential rain, Faye Yardley felt a momentary sense of unreality.
Standing before the floor-to-ceiling window and gazing at the scene outside—strange yet familiar—Faye was briefly stunned, but then a natural smile spread across her face.
Perhaps she had already fallen in love with this life of excitement and adventure.
"Willow, what’s today’s date?"
"It’s August 13th. Do you have something special planned, Sis?"
Faye Yardley hummed in acknowledgment. She remembered having an invitation card for some time in August.
She retrieved it from her warehouse. A gold-stamped invitation card. Just as she thought, she hadn’t misremembered—it was for August 15th, an invitation from the City Lord of Lumina.
If she recalled correctly, it was Zachary Pierce who had given it to her.
She still had a deed to a property in Lumina, so she had to go.
’I should start getting everything I need ready in advance.’
’Of course, I’m not sure what I need to prepare, but I can always browse the trading market for some of those nice, handcrafted items.’
For some reason, Faye Yardley was in an exceptionally good mood today.
The fact that she owned an island didn’t feel entirely real to her, but she knew it was true. She was officially an Island Master now.
Looking down at the invitation card in her hand, Faye Yardley smiled. "Lumina, here I come~"
With such terrible weather outside, Faye Yardley had no intention of going out to suffer in it. She turned, sat back down in the swing chair, and opened the group chat. Only then did she notice that Leo Sloan was missing from their small chat group.
There were also many messages that @’d her.
Faye Yardley didn’t scroll up to read them. She just typed: Hello, everyone. Mr. Sloan and his family have all moved to my island and become residents. You don’t need to worry about him.
Bonnie Callahan: Babe, you’re finally here! This is great. I’d love to go to your island and become one of your residents, but it seems like my family has some reservations.
Kyle Lewis: I asked Mr. Sloan before. The contents of that confirmation form that’s been circulating are real.
Completely bewildered, Faye Yardley asked: Where did it circulate from?
Kyle Lewis: No idea. The full details of the confirmation form are on the national channel. A lot of people are clamoring that signing it means completely losing their freedom, that their lives would be in your hands. Confirmation_Form.jpg
Faye Yardley: Oh, well that’s true.
Although she didn’t know where the leak had come from, the content wasn’t fabricated. According to the System’s confirmation, the details were accurate, with no alterations or slander. So, after a moment of thought, Faye Yardley decided not to pursue the matter.
There was no point in investigating, mainly because she wasn’t sure if she would ever actually want to gather 200,000 people anyway.
Even if she couldn’t reach that number, she would definitely need to increase the population.
’That being the case, it’s not a bad thing for everyone to find out sooner rather than later.’
Those who truly wanted to sign up for the island wouldn’t be discouraged by a simple confirmation form.
As expected, time would slowly widen the gap between people.
Faye Yardley didn’t know what else to say to the group at that moment.
Still, she was quite grateful they had told her the news.
A message came in from Ethan Yardley: Faye, I’m sorry. That confirmation form was probably leaked by someone on my end. It must have caused you a lot of trouble. I’ve already kicked the person who sent it out of the guild.
Looking at the message from her brother, Faye Yardley blinked and replied: Oh, got it. It’s not a big deal. I don’t really care what other people think, and I hardly ever read the public channel anyway.
She took the fruit tea that Willow Yardley handed her. It was warm. She took a sip—the temperature was just right, and the taste was sweet and tangy.
"Willow, let’s put some of this fruit tea in pretty glass bottles. It tastes really good. I think it would make a great little gift for people."
"Okay, Sis. That’s easy. I’ll make some extra."
Faye Yardley sipped her tea leisurely, her mind already racing with how to legally and properly claim ownership of the building on her deed once she got to Lumina.
’I’ve never done this before, but it doesn’t hurt to think it through.’
’I’ll need to bring a small Teleportation Disc. Once ownership is established, I can install it directly in the two-story building from the deed.’
...
「At 7:00 AM on August 15th」
The waves at sea gradually calmed, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, brightening one’s spirits.
Pinching the invitation card in her hand, Faye Yardley chose to use it.
In the blink of an eye, she vanished from the living room.
RING RING RING~
Faye Yardley had just appeared in Lumina’s fountain plaza when she received a call.
"Faye, where did you go? Where are you?"
Faye Yardley glanced around. A tall statue fountain was encircled by smaller fountains, their spray glittering with rainbow colors in the sunlight.
"This place? It’s Lumina."