Chapter 223: The Merfolk Love to Eat Fish
By the time Faye Yardley left Ludo’s private little shop, she had already earned his friendship. The two had even added each other as friends.
Ever since leaving the shop, Bella Dillon kept stealing glances at Faye Yardley, her eyes filled with disbelief. Although she knew Faye was the type of person who easily made a good impression, wasn’t this a bit too ridiculous?
Her own good relationship with Mr. Ludo was because he had watched her grow up, and their families were quite close.
But this was Faye Yardley’s first time meeting him, and she was the one who had dug up Mr. Ludo’s treasure! To still win his favor after that... Bella refused to believe it was just because Faye had called him a handsome gentleman.
"Hey, hey, how long are you going to keep staring at me? Aren’t we going anywhere else?"
Having gotten what she came for, Faye Yardley was naturally in an excellent mood.
The only thing she didn’t understand was why, if Ludo himself was skilled in so many things, the treasure he had buried contained nothing he was an expert in.
"Sigh, why are you so captivating? It’s so strange. What kind of magic do you have? I find myself genuinely liking you too, and I’m usually not this enthusiastic with other people."
Faye Yardley hooked her arm through Bella’s. "Oh, that’s because we’re best friends who’ve been through life and death together! Don’t worry about all that nonsense. Let’s go shopping! I haven’t had a proper look around your bustling big city yet."
"You’re right. Since you’re already here, it would be a dereliction of my duty not to show you a good time." Bella Dillon’s spirits were instantly lifted. "Come on, I’ll take you to see our specialty fish maw gelatin. It’s amazing for beauty, skincare, and replenishing stamina. There’s also some high-end fish skin that’s great for making clothes."
Faye Yardley truly felt that the special products of the Merfolk were rather horrifying.
’Are your special products just... parts from your own fish bodies?’
’Fish Meat can be dried and eaten, skin stripped off to make clothes, bladders removed and dried to make gelatin, bones ground into powder...’
However, Faye Yardley didn’t refuse. In fact, she happily followed Bella Dillon to those specialty shops.
Those specialty products were much more affordable; paying with silver coins was more than enough.
In the end, she spent a total of 2,000 silver coins on a pile of specialty products.
"Let’s go. For dinner, I’m taking you to have fish fillet congee."
"Bella, I never realized you Merfolk really love eating fish so much."
Bella Dillon burst out laughing. "Of course! When it comes to eating fish, we’re the experts."
Meanwhile, Nora Nash and her underlings were at Coralisle’s Betta Arena, a place filled with blood and violence. Nora was still in the private room with the best view, leaning back in her chair and watching the two fighters in the ring below with a detached, emotionless gaze. She even felt a little bored.
A big guy came over and sat down beside her, saying, "Boss, Miss Yardley went to Mr. Russell’s shop. Then that white-haired Merfolk took her to some of the Merfolk specialty stores. She didn’t buy anything particularly valuable."
Nora Nash didn’t even spare him a glance, her eyes still fixed on the ring below. No one knew what she was thinking.
After the match ended, a frail, red-haired youth emerged from a back door. Only then did Nora Nash raise a hand slightly. "Mike, as long as he survives his next fight, bring him to me."
"Yes, Boss."
As the big guy stood up to leave, he couldn’t help but ask again, "Boss, about Miss Yardley..."
"You have people watching her?"
"No, no! They’re there to protect her."
Nora Nash gave a dismissive wave of her hand. Just as the big guy was about to leave, she added in a low voice, "Don’t go looking for trouble. She’ll probably be safer if our people stay far away from her."
"Oh, got it, Boss." The big guy figured the Boss only meant for them to keep their distance from Faye Yardley, not to stop the protection detail. He decided the men couldn’t be withdrawn.
After finishing the warm fish fillet congee, Faye Yardley thought Bella Dillon’s recommendation was excellent. If she could, she would have ordered several more servings.
"So? It’s delicious, right?"
"It’s amazing. When I’m about to leave, remind me to get several orders to go."
’Speaking of which, I have no idea how many days this Invitation Card lets me stay. The system didn’t give a precise duration.’
’Does the lack of a time limit mean I can stay as long as I want, as long as I don’t feel like going back?’
’Two guests can’t use an Invitation Card to come to the island on the same day, but what about a special day like tomorrow?’
Faye Yardley thought she could have her brother try again tomorrow.
’Who knows what the thing he wants really is, anyway?’
"Let’s head back. Don’t be fooled by how prosperous it looks; it’s not very safe at night. Let’s go back to the auction house. I want to experience the top-tier treatment on the top floor." As Bella Dillon spoke, her eyes began to sparkle.
"If you’re that excited, then I’ll have to make sure I enjoy it even more."
The suite on the top floor of the auction house was truly enormous, and it had everything you could possibly imagine.
There was a huge swimming pool with water brought in through special channels, which prompted Bella Dillon to voluntarily shift into her original form. She was now swimming contentedly back and forth, beckoning Faye to join her.
Faye Yardley flatly refused. She would rather go back to the master bedroom and soak in the bathtub alone than swim with a giant fish.
Her tastes weren’t that peculiar.
Soaking in the tub and sipping a cocktail to the sound of soothing music, Faye Yardley felt a rare sense of total relaxation wash over her.
"Master, a guest is at the door. Here is their image. Would you like to invite them in?"
Faye Yardley saw it was Nora Nash standing outside the door and selected "accept." At the same time, she got up, changed her clothes, and came out to find Nora already sitting in the living room.
"Hey, you..."
Nora Nash turned and beckoned to her. "Come, sit. What would you like to drink? Hmm? You’ve been drinking."
"Mhm, want one?"
"Sure."
Faye Yardley took out two more freshly mixed cocktails, handed one to Nora Nash, and then glanced outside. "Did you trap Bella out there?"
"I’m just letting her swim a little longer, that’s all. Don’t worry, I haven’t hurt her," Nora Nash said, raising her glass to Faye.
Seeing Bella Dillon leaping and splashing around the pool in a huff, Faye Yardley couldn’t help but marvel at her friend’s boundless energy.
Sitting down across from Nora Nash, Faye Yardley raised her glass. "Thank you for today."
"No need to be so polite with me. If you’re going to thank me, then I’ll have to thank you back. So let’s skip the thank-yous."
Faye Yardley took a sip and smiled faintly. "Alright, then let me ask something I’m curious about. Are you still carving?"
She knew that Nora Nash’s wood carvings had special properties, and if they were available, she wanted to buy one or two.
As she spoke, Nora Nash took out a small wooden puppet. "I was originally planning to give this to you tomorrow, after I receive the Energy Stone to put inside it. So you’ll have to wait a little longer."
Putting down her glass, Faye Yardley reached out her hand. "Can I see it first? What will happen to this little puppet after the Energy Stone is put inside?"