Chapter 284: Caught Off Guard by a Full Embrace
After successfully fending off eight consecutive hours of attacks, Faye Yardley finally relaxed, and a wave of exhaustion washed over her.
Nora Nash, who was beside her, reached out to steady her. "Are you alright?"
"Thanks, I’m fine. You’ve all worked so hard. Let’s all head back to my raft first," Faye Yardley said, downing another stamina and Energy Potion.
[Congratulations to Player Faye Yardley for completing Island Master Task 2. Island Master Task 3 is now active.]
[Island Master Task 3: How can an island not have permanent residents? Please invite 100 or more intelligent beings to become permanent residents on the island within 10 days. Note: The life and death of those who become residents will be in the Island Master’s hands.]
This task might be difficult for others, but Faye Yardley didn’t see it as much of a problem. ’As long as I spread the word, won’t it be easy to find a hundred people in the whole country who want to live a stable life on land?’
Not long after Faye Yardley returned to the raft, the time was up for the second group of people she had invited, and the system sent them away.
And so, the only ones left were her Otherkin friends from the All World Communication.
The group sat down on the veranda, and Willow Yardley, without needing to be asked, quickly filled the table with all sorts of delicious food and drinks.
Faye Yardley picked up a glass of juice and said, "You’ve all worked hard. Please, don’t be formal—help yourselves. I’ll be preparing a small gift for everyone later, and please, don’t refuse it."
Bella Dillon sat right next to Ludo and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Ludo, how come you came too? And thank you for what you did just now. If you hadn’t intervened in time, I’m afraid I would have been injured."
"Don’t mention it. It gets pretty boring staying on Coralisle all the time, so an opportunity like this to get out is wonderful." As Ludo spoke, he poured himself a bowl of glutinous rice wine. He took a sip and immediately liked it, then said to Faye Yardley, "Yardley, you can just give me this sweet wine as a thank-you gift later."
"That’s easy. Willow, go prepare some more."
Nicholas Momo had pulled Nora Nash over to the side by the bamboo grove, gesticulating wildly as he spoke about something, while Nora Nash just kept shaking his head.
Mike had reverted from his giant form to his usual burly self and was now completely focused on eating.
After sitting down, Dahlia White also picked up a glass of juice and began sipping it delicately. Suddenly, she said, "Faye, did you use up all those golden petals from last time? If you have any left, brew some for me."
"I have a little left. Hang on, I’ll brew it right now." Faye Yardley did as she said without delay. She wasn’t stingy, either, giving everyone a large, eye-pleasing glass of it. "Everyone, have a cup. It tastes pretty good."
Faye Yardley pushed a glass toward Mike, who had his head down eating. "Don’t choke. Have something to drink."
Then she called over the other two, who were deep in some unknown conversation.
Faye Yardley had them all sit down, raised her glass in a toast, and then said, "I know none of you are really in need of anything, but I hope you’ll all accept what I’ve prepared. Otherwise, I’ll feel too embarrassed to ask for your help next time."
As she spoke, she bought five beautiful carved wooden boxes from the trading market. After moving them to her inventory, she didn’t rush to put anything inside.
She hadn’t yet decided what to give them. Originally, she thought a bunch of Energy Stones would drop, since she had gotten them from killing polluted creatures before.
But despite killing so many creatures this time, not a single one had dropped. Faye Yardley gained a new appreciation for just how stingy the system could be.
Just then, Bella Dillon spoke up. "Actually, for helping you defend the island, we all received a reward from your side the moment we succeeded. I’m sure everyone else did too."
As she spoke, an Energy Stone materialized in her palm. "It was this, an Energy Stone. I got ten of them."
The others nodded in agreement. Though the amounts varied, they had all received them.
’The amount received is probably related to the number of kills, and maybe also to the time spent defending.’
Dahlia White mentioned she had only gotten four, but she wasn’t dissatisfied, since she had arrived a bit late.
Now Faye Yardley knew what to prepare for each of them.
"Then let me treat you all to a special meal," Faye Yardley said, standing up and excusing herself.
She planned to take out a Mysterious Fish and an Illusion Fish, as well as some meat imbued with Divinity, and have Willow prepare three dishes.
As for the other gifts, she could just fill the wooden boxes with things like the pearls she had occasionally found.
’Oh, right. For Nora Nash, I can also include that Information Pearl about him.’
After the dishes were served, Faye Yardley introduced them. "This dish is Mysterious Fish soup. Eating it can enhance your innate Talent. Next is pan-fried meat with Divinity. Eating it might awaken a superpower, but the consequence is that you can never set foot in the Land of Damnation. And this last one is Illusion Fish congee. I have no idea what effects the Illusion Fish will have. It could be good, or it could be bad—I really don’t know."
Ludo’s eyes lit up. "I know about this! Little girl, you really have a lot of good stuff. This trip was absolutely worth it. Eating this Illusion Fish gives the consumer a chance to gain a temporary superpower, like Invisibility or Super Strong Telekinesis."
"Only temporarily?"
"Still not satisfied, little girl? If you happen to get a power that matches your own abilities, it’ll give you a direction for your future Cultivation."
As they spoke, everyone helped themselves to a bowl of the Mysterious Fish soup first—it was too good to miss.
Mike and Momo were the ones who ate the meat with Divinity most enthusiastically. The others, however, didn’t touch it at all.
The Illusion Fish, however, was finished by everyone.
In any case, both hosts and guests thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
Dahlia White said happily, "Faye, if something this good happens again, remember to call me. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back now."
"Of course. Thank you for coming to help," Faye Yardley said, handing her a box. Dahlia White accepted it without ceremony, gave a smiling wave, and left.
Next, Bella Dillon and Ludo happily accepted their gifts and left together.
Mike glanced at his boss, tactfully took his thank-you box, and departed.
Momo looked from Nora Nash to Faye Yardley, chuckled, and then said, "Island Master Nash, are you sure you won’t consider my earlier proposal?"
Nora Nash’s answer was still a refusal. "I’m not interested."
Faye Yardley didn’t get involved in their conversation, but she was caught off guard when Momo suddenly pulled her into a tight hug. "Yardley, you can call me next time you need help, too. You’re a friend I acknowledge."
After letting go of Faye Yardley, Momo saw Nora Nash’s thunderous expression. He let out a loud laugh, grabbed his gift, and bolted.
"Are you in a hurry to get back?"
Nora Nash shook his head. "Sorry for arriving late."
Faye Yardley gave a radiant smile. "Not at all. If you all hadn’t shown up at the end, it would have been even more difficult for me to handle. By the way, this is for you. I don’t know if the information inside will be useful, but... it’s about you, so you should take a look for yourself."
She handed the last box to Nora Nash.