Sea Survival: My Luck is Off the Charts

After she quietly inquired with the system, it gave a vague reply, only stating that the Merlings’ stance was friendly. However, she did receive one relatively clear answer: marine resources would be more abundant in areas where Merlings were present.

Eamon must have sensed her reluctance, for he said, "Miss, islands with Merlings are rarely attacked, because they are a peaceful species."

’They bring peace?!’

It would be a lie to say Faye Yardley wasn’t tempted, but she decided to cross that bridge when she came to it.

’Besides, they would only stay if Jennifer took a liking to the island’s marine environment.’

"Let’s just eat for now. I don’t even know how to be a competent Island Master yet."

This couldn’t have been more true. Faye Yardley didn’t even know what benefits the island could bring her.

’Could the Superpower Crystal Stones from those strange elephants be part of the Super Warrior plan?’

’After all, the island would need its own defensive force.’

’And besides wanting to protect their families, any warriors who moved to the island would surely want to improve their own strength.’

’Of course, how to use those Superpower Crystal Stones safely was a major issue. Maybe I should have my brother find someone to test them first?’

"What are you thinking about, Miss? Your soup is getting cold." Jennifer smacked her lips while looking at the soup. ’One bowl per person, and no more. It’s so delicious, I want another.’

Faye Yardley chuckled at her little-glutton expression. "If you don’t mind, I’ll have to ask Jennifer to help me finish this bowl."

Jennifer immediately pulled the bowl in front of herself and said with a grin, "Thank you, Miss! You’re the absolute best!"

After speaking, she lowered her head and began drinking, GULP, GULP.

’She seems pretty easy to please.’

She took a short rest after her meal, went to the training room, and when she came out and lay down on her bed, she discovered that more design drawings had been added.

Many of them were revisions of the ones she had previously pointed out she disliked.

There were also completely new ones that Faye Yardley liked at first sight.

Of course, her liking them wasn’t enough. They also had to suit the tastes of the majority.

Since she had given people three days, she couldn’t start the voting now. That would be too unfair to those who worked more slowly.

’Though, knowing their speed,’ she thought, ’they’ll probably all be done by tomorrow.’

As it turned out, they were even faster than she had anticipated.

With the system’s help, the designers found creating the designs to be even more convenient and faster than they had imagined.

By the next day, many of the drawings Faye Yardley saw were already in color.

Each rendering was more beautiful than the one before it.

Faye Yardley printed each design from the system onto blank paper. For her own shop, she picked the design she personally liked best, then commissioned the designer and a carpenter to create the furniture.

"System, can I bring people with me to the shop in Lumina?"

[As the proprietor, the player may hire clerks to accompany them to Lumina. Based on the size of your shop, you may currently hire two clerks.]

This was certainly good news, but Faye Yardley immediately followed up, "As employees, will they lose their systems and rafts, just like the people who settle on the island?"

[They will not. The player’s employees are still considered participants in the survival at sea. However, many of their functions will be nerfed, and they will no longer be able to participate in maritime activities.]

’That sounds great,’ she thought. ’It seems much better than becoming an island resident.’

Faye Yardley decided to get all the details, pestering the system with questions until it stopped responding. By then, however, she had a clear understanding of the general situation.

It was similar to Eamon’s employment contract: they needed to have a specialty recognized by the system.

Furthermore, once they were in Lumina, they could use the Teleportation Array to return every five days.

And most importantly of all, their actions in Lumina would be monitored by the system, meaning they couldn’t do anything to violate the employee code of conduct.

Of course, as employees, they would require Faye Yardley to pay them a salary.

After some thought, Faye Yardley once again cast the Great Silence Technique on the main group chat, then posted a hiring notice for two shop clerks. One of the requirements was that a candidate must possess negotiation Skills. The application process was simple: upload a personal profile directly to the chat. Those with system-certified Skills would receive an interview notice.

The notice also explained that successful applicants would be stationed in another city and would no longer be able to participate in any of the system’s local activities. It ended by welcoming all interested candidates to apply.

Then, after attaching a recruitment file in the chat, she lifted the silencing spell.

The chat instantly erupted.

The matter of the design drawings wasn’t even settled, and now there was a hiring notice for clerks.

Of course, every one of them was very interested.

The prospect of no longer having to participate in all the system’s events was tempting enough on its own.

Of course, they also had many real-world issues to consider, such as how their families would react.

If they became clerks, would their families have a chance to become residents on her island?

Everyone knew Faye Yardley rarely stuck around in the chat after posting a message, so in the end, it was Eleanor Jonas who called her to ask.

Faye Yardley gave her an affirmative answer. "Of course. As long as they pass the background check from your side, Miss Jonas. I won’t accept any criminals."

"Alright. We’ll handle the screening for you, then."

When Faye Yardley woke up, she had already received numerous applications.

After all, applicants were required to have system-recognized Skills.

So, with the system’s help, a large number of them were culled right away.

After carefully sorting through them, Faye Yardley sent a list of six names to Eleanor Jonas, asking her to screen their families.

After all, anyone who had made it into the group had already been pre-screened.

By 9 a.m., she had a reply. The members of the six families had no major issues. Things like a bad temper or a stubborn personality didn’t count as failing to meet Faye Yardley’s requirements.

So, Faye Yardley invited the six candidates to an open area on her raft for a group interview.

You just have to admit that sometimes the chemistry between people clicks, and other times it clashes.

One candidate was perfectly fine, with no obvious faults, but Faye Yardley just couldn’t bring herself to like them, so they were the first to be eliminated.

Another candidate was a notch below the other five in terms of professional ability, but they had a very kind and approachable demeanor. Faye Yardley decided on that person.

The moment she made her decision, the families of the chosen candidates received island confirmation forms from her.

She contacted Eleanor Jonas and Zachary Pierce. Then she picked up some essential supplies they had prepared for the people on the island, along with the two doctor families she had previously asked them to find. At 2 p.m., Faye Yardley paid 1 gold coin, and half an hour later, the system transported her raft back to the Conch Isle Pier.

The new villagers had already been settled into vacant houses under Village Head Thorne’s arrangements. Faye Yardley disembarked from the raft, along with Jennifer and the two new clerks who had just come over on their Invitation Cards.