Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Nora Nash’s Reward
There was no denying that Isle 98 was beautiful. The entire island was like a world made of Crystal; the flowers that bloomed from the plants were all sorts of translucent crystals, shimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
Even though it was an island made of Crystal, it didn’t feel monotonous at all. Instead, it felt fantastical.
Have you ever seen Crystal bubbles?
They were released by the Crystal trees.
The Crystal bubbles bobbed up and down in the air, never drifting too far away.
An environment like this would make one unconsciously assume it all belonged to a beautiful, naive little princess. In reality, it all belonged to a young man with a melancholic air.
"Nora Nash, your island is so magical. It’s truly beautiful."
"It is, isn’t it? This is the inner island. The banquet is being held on the outer island."
Faye Yardley exclaimed, "You mean the whole island isn’t like this?"
"Of course not." Seeing her surprised expression, Nora Nash couldn’t help but remember the thrill of discovering a whole new world when he first saw this place.
He then decided to take this place and become its Island Master.
And in the end, he did indeed succeed.
It was just that he thought he had forgotten that initial wonder, when in reality, it had only been buried deep inside.
Faye commented admiringly, "The inner island is already so big; the outer island must be even larger. Is this the very center? When does the banquet start? Are we too early?"
Nora Nash smiled faintly. "Mm, you wanted your reward, didn’t you? Let’s go."
"Ah? Hahaha... How thoughtful of you, Island Master Nash, to remember."
"As if you would’ve let me forget."
Faye chuckled. ’Was I really that obvious? I haven’t even said a word since I got here.’
She kept pace with Nora Nash, following him through a grove of Crystal bubble trees until they arrived at the edge of a small, mist-shrouded pool.
"What’s in this pool?"
Faye truly felt that each new place here was more beautiful than the last.
Even a world from a fairy tale couldn’t be more magical than this.
Blinking her large eyes, she looked at Nora Nash with a silent question.
Nora Nash pointed to the pool, its true appearance obscured by the churning mist. "You’ve arrived at the perfect time. The banquet doesn’t start until after 12:00 PM. In terms you can understand, this pool can perform a full-body refinement, drastically increasing your physical Attributes. How’s that for a thank-you gift?"
"Really? That’s amazing!" Faye felt as if she’d been hit by a wonderful surprise.
"Mm, your power level is too low, so this is perfect for you right now. Go on in. No one will disturb you. If you can’t take it anymore, just shout ’Bubble,’ and a bubble will get you out."
As Nora Nash spoke, he turned and walked away. Faye watched him raise his right hand and snap his fingers. A dreamlike Barrier materialized out of thin air, separating them. A moment later, he was completely out of sight.
While Faye Yardley was jumping into the pool to begin her journey of refinement, Zachary Pierce and Ethan Yardley had already met up and been led by the big guy to the manor where the banquet was being held. A number of Otherkin who had arrived early were already gathered there.
They even saw quite a few humans from other districts. The big guy was exceptionally friendly toward Ethan and Zachary, even telling them to call him directly if they needed anything.
As guests who had been personally brought over by the "Fourth Brother," everyone there naturally understood that the two of them were not to be trifled with. Consequently, no one went out of their way to start trouble.
After saying goodbye to the big guy, Zachary Pierce spotted a familiar face and walked over with Ethan Yardley.
Logan Langdon and Chloe Hughes, who was beside him, watched the crowd grow. He was displeased. He had originally thought himself a one-in-a-million lucky soul, a true son of destiny. But as it turned out, not only had many others received an Invitation Card, but Zachary Pierce, from his own district, appeared to be receiving far better treatment than he was.
"What’s wrong? Not happy to see your own kind?"
"That’s not it. The more people who come, the happier I am. I might even be able to work out some collaborations here."
Chloe Hughes looked at the man beside her, saw right through his insincerity, and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Just as Logan Langdon was about to snap, she said, "Come on, I’ll take you to meet the other races. What some of them have is far more than what you humans possess."
Chloe Hughes’s words didn’t make Logan Langdon happy. ’After all,’ he thought, ’isn’t she just saying that what I have is too little?’
Still, Logan Langdon didn’t refuse. As long as it allowed him to get a head start and develop faster than others, a little humiliation was nothing.
As the start time for the banquet drew closer, the port of Isle 98 grew increasingly busy.
When a tall, magnificent ship bearing the crest of a giant octopus arrived at the port, the big guy was already waiting.
A tall, beautiful woman with long, curly auburn hair, dressed in a blood-red gown with a high slit, appeared on deck. She glanced at the shore before fixing her gaze on the big guy, saying with displeasure, "Where is Island Master Nash? Why isn’t he here to greet me?"
"Haha, a warm welcome to the beautiful Princess Octopus! Our boss is just making the final preparations for the banquet. This way, please."
"Hmph."
Though displeased, Princess Octopus still came ashore.
Princess Octopus made a grand entrance; the entire dock paused for her arrival.
Only after the party from Cephalia had departed did the dock come back to life.
"Hey, do you think Princess Octopus will really become our Lady of the Island?"
"Do you have a death wish? Talking about that at a time like this? If you want to die, don’t drag me down with you."
"What does it matter? They’re already gone."
But no one else would gossip with him.
However, everyone else was also secretly wondering if Princess Octopus would succeed this time.
They had even secretly started a betting pool, just without including the bigmouth.
A small wooden boat was speeding toward the port.
"No entry to the island without an Invitation Card!"
An Invitation Card flew out from the small wooden boat, which was quickly allowed to enter the dock.
The moment it docked, a silver-haired girl in a face mask leaped ashore. She didn’t forget to store her little wooden boat before taking off at high speed toward the banquet, not needing a guide.
Meanwhile, Faye Yardley looked like a boiled shrimp, her entire body flushed an unnatural shade of red.
But she hadn’t given up. ’Just hold on!’
The sound of the system prompts ringing out every half hour—[Constitution +1], [Spirit +1]—was simply too wonderful to resist.
Whenever she felt like giving up, the prompt would chime, and Faye would feel like she could hold on for just a little longer.
Eventually, she became delirious from the soaking. The moment she passed out, a transparent bubble instantly enveloped her, gradually lifting from the water and slowly rising into the air.
Not long after leaving the water, Faye was jolted awake by the cold.
Hiss—
"Why is it so cold inside this bubble?"
Faye was about to take some clothes out of her bag to change into when she heard another system prompt: [agility +1].
Her hand froze mid-air as if someone had hit a pause button. ’Should I stay in this bubble and keep grinding Attributes?’
"Faye Yardley, are you out of the pool?"
Nora Nash’s voice came from beyond the Barrier, and with it, the bubble burst with a soft POP...
