Still Fishing

Real-world developments are always more troublesome and unexpected than those in games or novels.

A week after Linsey's successful fishing trip.

Ailini's horse fell ill.

It was neither a malicious scheme nor a persecution with ulterior motives.

It was simply because of the fright from the forest, coupled with the gloomy weather and heavy rain these past two days.

The horses responsible for pulling the carriage fell ill.

Linsey used her Commodity Skill to identify the poor little animal and confirmed that it had pneumonia.

As a traveling merchant working alone, Ailini also prepared medicine.

However, the environment in the forest is dark and damp, so the medicine was not very effective.

Aside from relieving his beloved horse's pain, he couldn't immediately cure its illness.

So, right at the edge of the forest.

The horse lay half-lying down by the roadside, panting heavily, its hoarse "ha-ha" sounds distressing to hear.

And beside the lying-down horses.

Linsey and Ailini, who had already jumped out of the car, looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Ailini, how did you handle this situation before?"

The young merchant girl helplessly spread her hands:

"What else can we do but wait and see?"

"Either wait until the horse recovers or dies; or wait until we meet other people and discuss how to help."

"That's basically how it was handled."

As she said this, Ailini looked at the surrounding green hell-like forest and couldn't help but complain, "Honestly, if the profits weren't high enough, very few people would be willing to come to this kind of developing world."

"Even on the official road, it's as desolate as if you've wandered into a deep mountain forest!"

In just a few words.

Ailini's mind then turned to Linsey: "I remember... it's about two days' journey to the next town."

"Linsey, aren't you quite strong?"

Linsey became alert:

"What do you mean?"

"Look, Xiao Fang has been with you for almost three months now~~"

Xiao Fang is the name that Ailini gave to the horse.

At that moment, the young businesswoman gave Linsey a malicious smile, "After three months of companionship, shouldn't you repay me now?"

A bad feeling crept into Linsey's heart, and she asked tentatively, "You're not going to ask me to put on the reins and pull the cart for you and Xiao Fang, are you?"

As if afraid the person in front of her would run away, Ailini rushed over and hugged Linsey tightly. "There's no need to be so dramatic!"

"As for the carriage, I can pack up the goods and put them in my trading space to take it with me. But this kind of thing is very physically demanding, so you can just help me carry the horse!"

Linsey confirmed in a subtle tone:

"So the two of us, one leading the carriage and the other carrying the horse, walked together."

Ailini sensed that Linsey was about to break free from her embrace and shouted in a completely unladylike manner, "Wait, I can give you the money!"

"..."

Linsey certainly wouldn't waver for such a reason.

However, it was precisely because of Ailini's predicament that another idea came to his mind.

For the entire week, they followed the river.

Because Nine Bends City is a city where rivers converge.

The river in the nearby forest also undoubtedly leads to that city at the center of the world.

Since we can't rely on horses to move forward on the road, let's change our mind.

"Ailini, what do you think about us going by water?"

The young businesswoman paused for a moment, but quickly understood Linsey's thoughts:

"Waterway? But we don't have any boats!"

Linsey replied simply, "If we don't have a boat, we'll build one right away!"

"..."

"You can't possibly be like those craftsmen, able to create magical gadgets, can you?"

Ailini was right without a doubt.

But Linsey had no intention of revealing all her secrets, so she just smiled and said, "You're overthinking it."

"I only know how to build ordinary boats; the two of us can just glide along."

Linsey's plan is undoubtedly a solution.

Ailini then released her hands, went back to comfort Xiao Fang, and replied to Linsey, "That's fine too."

"But in that case, Linsey, you've done me a favor again. Should I charge you this time?"

Linsey didn't say anything definitive:

"If you don't want to pay, that's fine with me too."

Ailini looked up, her expression suspicious of the man who had made so much money off her. "What's going on? Are you being merciful today?"

Linsey had already taken out the axe.

He chopped down a Green Sandalwood with a few clatters, carved out a simple oar, and tossed it to Ailini, who was standing next to the horse.

The young merchant girl took the oar with a blank expression.

Looking up again, Linsey had already resumed her work, explaining, "If we're going to take a boat, someone has to row, right?"

Ailini pointed to herself with the oar in her hand:

"So... I'll row the boat?"

"That's right." Linsey nodded firmly. "I've already built the boat, so of course all that's left is to travel by boat."

Ailini was clearly still considering the feasibility of this.

Linsey then began to use her influence. "Ailini, you save money, I save effort, wouldn't that make everyone happy?"

Upon hearing the word "saving money," Ailini forced herself to think about it.

Looking at the wooden boat that Linsey had built with a few clangs, she had to admit that it was a reasonable suggestion.

"..."

Half an hour later, a small boat appeared in the river, gliding forward.

The trees on both sides of the riverbank swept past like a curtain of rain.

On the small boat, Ailini sat at the stern, laboriously rowing the oars.

A horse lay sideways in the middle of the boat, panting heavily.

As for Linsey...

He didn't actually hand over the rowing duties entirely to Ailini.

When building the ship, Linsey made a sail and placed it in the center. After the Resource Conversion, it would still be effective even in the forest, saving Ailini some effort.

It was under these circumstances.

Linsey sat alone at the bow of the boat, casting his Fishing Rod and engaging in somewhat shaky boat fishing.

If you fish up a wooden box, that's easier.

Linsey yanked the box open in mid-air and took out its contents.

But what if you catch a fish...

During the harvest, the fish tails inevitably swung wildly in the air, splashing water onto Ailini's face.

Then, one could often hear complaints on the ship. "Linsey, I've never seen anyone like you!"

"But aren't I helping you save money?"

"Then you should also watch your fish, don't keep splashing water on my face!"

"I can't control a fish's tail, but... how about I wipe it for you?"

"Watch out, don't step on my horse!"

In this way.

This makeshift team continued sailing along the river towards Nine Bends City.

[I don't want to write, I want to play Palworld!]

QAQ