At dusk, the impoverished little country welcomed two guests.
The Land of Waves lay near the sea and was practically an island. Thus, its people made their living from the sea. Fruit and vegetables were rarely seen in the crude market, which was dominated by seafood.
Ye Zi and Kimimaro walked through the market. Few stalls remained on either side of the street. Night was approaching, and it was almost time to pack up.
"Lord Ye Zi, they all look so listless." Kimimaro held Ye Zi's hand and spoke softly.
Ye Zi did not respond. His gaze swept over the dispirited islanders of the Land of Waves, his face utterly calm.
If obtaining something required ten thousand times the effort, then one had to pursue it with a hundred thousand times the effort. Without that mindset, even if one held hope in their heart, they would ultimately face cruel despair.
The two of them passed through the market streets and headed toward the harbor.
The islanders of the Land of Waves showed little reaction to the arrival of strangers. They merely regarded them with indifference.
By the time Ye Zi and Kimimaro reached the harbor, night had fallen. Only two stone houses stood beside the docks, their windows glowing with dim yellow light.
The salty sea wind rushed into their faces. Waves struck the stone walls of the harbor, producing a steady succession of splashes.
Eleven ships were moored along the shore, both large and small. The largest was evidently a cargo ship. There was only one of that size, and it was probably the only large vessel in the Land of Waves used for trade.
Ye Zi led Kimimaro to one of the stone houses and lightly knocked on its weathered wooden door. After a moment, a young girl's