Chapter 183: Chapter 183: The Changes Brought by Eating Meat
Faye Yardley was quite pleased that the raft had gained a practical new function. It meant opening that chest hadn’t been a waste after all.
She stored the remaining two in her warehouse and tried to contact her brother, but there was still no response. ’Well, looks like it’ll be a while longer,’ she thought.
As soon as she left her room, she heard a joyous MEOW. A tiny black kitten, no bigger than the palm of her hand, leaped to her feet.
Faye Yardley was stunned for a moment, then it hit her. "The Bronze Cat? You’re alive?!"
"MEOW~"
After meowing, it circled Faye Yardley’s feet.
Faye Yardley bent down and scooped up the little black cat. "You really are alive! Now, let me see if you’re a boy or a girl."
The little black cat let out a terrified whimper and slipped from her grasp as if it had no bones.
"Sister, thank you."
Willow Yardley bowed deeply and solemnly to Faye Yardley.
"Stand up, let me take a look." Faye Yardley was genuinely curious about the changes.
Willow Yardley cooperatively spun around slowly, then reached out and took Faye Yardley’s hand.
Faye Yardley’s eyes shot open in surprise. "You... your hand is warm. It’s different from before—more natural, more human."
"They are. Your senses are as sharp as ever, Sister."
"But as you become more and more human, will that affect your lifespan?"
Willow Yardley shook her head. "My lifespan is tied to yours, Sister. This has no effect on that. Eating that meat just enriched my emotional range and brought my physical form closer to perfection."
"So you mean if I’m gone, you’ll disappear too?"
"Yes."
Faye Yardley murmured an "oh." ’So, the stronger Willow becomes, the more she can help me.’
’By that same logic, Rainie Yardley’s life is tied to my brother. So, wouldn’t improving Rainie also be a way to help him?’
’Never mind. I’ll wait for him to get back. I’ll give him the choice of whether to improve Rainie Yardley or not.’
’His attitude toward Rainie seems different from my relationship with Willow.’
’I guess I’ll never understand men. Their brains work in strange ways, and my brother is no exception.’
Faye Yardley used her free hand to pinch Willow’s cheek. "Not bad, Willow. You’ve really grown up. So, does this mean you can get energy from food now?"
"That’s right. You’re so smart, Sister. You figured it out without me saying a word."
"Hahaha! Willow, when you catch Blackwood later, help me check its gender."
Willow’s smile almost faltered. "O-okay, Sister. Um, Sister... is it possible that Blackwood is genderless?"
"Huh? Genderless? Does that mean it can be a boy if it wants, and a girl if it wants? Or even both at the same time?! Whoa, now that you mention it, that sounds pretty exciting."
Willow: ...
Inside the planting room, Eamon was working with true diligence and conscientiousness. He never expected to enjoy gardening so much. Back home, he couldn’t even be bothered to manage his own fiefdom.
He wasn’t sure if the planting room’s buffs affected him as well, but with every crop he planted and harvested, he felt himself improve just a little.
It was a feeling of being able to tangibly see his own progress, a sensation so captivating he was already hooked.
That was why he had refused every time Faye Yardley asked if he wanted to go ashore and leave the raft.
’Why would I go back? So my brothers and sisters can mock me for my lack of Talent?’
Seeing Faye Yardley enter the planting room, Eamon immediately hurried over. "Sister, perfect timing! Would you like me to transplant some of these flowers indoors? That way you can see fresh flowers every day and be in a good mood."
"Good idea! Hmm? What’s that blue flower? When did you plant that?"
"Those are from the seeds Second Sister sent over a few days ago. I think you call it plumbago."
"Nice. They bloomed in just a few days! Eamon, you’re getting really good at this."
Eamon chuckled. "Hehe, it’s nothing special."
"Propagate some more of the roses. I want them to eventually cover the raft’s entire railing."
"Okay, I can get that done quickly." Eamon then gestured to the grain section. "I’ve already harvested two batches of the sticky rice you wanted, Sister. Are you going to make rice wine? If you do, could I have a cup when it’s ready?"
Faye Yardley nodded. "Of course."
The planting room was thriving, and every single plant looked healthy. Faye Yardley had to admit, Eamon was incredibly useful.
She and Willow might not have been able to care for them this well on their own.
Actually, forget Willow. If it were just her, things would definitely not be going this well.
’So it’s true, you really do need help to get things done. You can’t do everything yourself. After all, one person only has two hands.’
"Eamon, you’ve been doing such a great job. Do you want a reward?"
Eamon let out a small "ah." ’I can get a reward? Isn’t this just what I’m supposed to be doing?’
"I... I don’t need a reward. Just letting me stay on the raft and take charge of the planting room is enough, Sister."
"Think about it."
"Well, if possible... it would be great if the planting room were a bit bigger."
’Even though it would make me busier, the more I plant, the faster my power will grow,’ Eamon thought.
’Compared to increasing my power, being a little busier is more than acceptable.’
Faye Yardley nodded. "Alright. If I get a chance to acquire an upgrade blueprint for the planting room, I’ll make sure to get it."
’I wonder what would happen if Eamon ate the meat with Divinity,’ she suddenly thought.
’Of course, it’s just a thought. I’m not that reckless or impulsive.’
’After all, Eamon is a truly indiscriminate eater—the guy even ate the ice off Tiberius’s outer shell.’
’If he ate it and underwent some drastic transformation, or if it wiped out his existing Skills, who would I even complain to?’
After taking a lap around the planting room and confirming there were no problems, Faye Yardley left Eamon to his work.
’I might as well use this time to head to the training room myself.’
’It’s not even 9 o’clock yet. If I go in now, I’ll be out around noon. Perfect timing.’
As it turned out, she received a call from Zephyr Sterling the moment she stepped out of the training room.
Answering the call and seeing the figure that appeared, Faye Yardley blinked. "Mr. Zephyr Sterling? Why are you glowing?"
Zephyr Sterling glanced down at himself and gave a wry smile. "When I got back yesterday, I noticed the Attributes of the meat I brought back from the island had changed. I cooked a little and ate it... and then I passed out."
"And you were out this whole time?"
"Not quite. I’ve been awake for over an hour, and the light I’m giving off has already subsided quite a bit. I saw your message... Er, I was reckless."
Faye Yardley didn’t know what to say to comfort him, and she wasn’t sure if his current state was a good or a bad thing. "So, how are you feeling now? Are you okay?"
Zephyr Sterling opened his right palm, said the word "Rise," and a ball of light the size of a soybean materialized in his hand. "I don’t know if my current situation is considered good or not. This is the strange ability I got from eating that meat."
