Chapter 159. The Streets
"Tsk." Charles pressed his face closer to the mirror and scrutinized his reflection. He seldom checked his own appearance in the mirror, but he still felt as though a stranger was staring back at him.
"Why is the change so drastic? I don't remember looking like this..." Charles muttered to no one in particular.
"Mr. Charles, what did you look like before?" Lily suddenly voiced out.
"I don't quite remember, but I believe I didn't look so... fierce," Charles answered as he put on his clothes again.
After what seemed like an eternity of observing himself in the mirror, Charles turned toward Lily, who was perched on the table, and said, "Come, Lily, let's go for a walk on the streets."
"Yay!" Lily chirped as she excitedly nodded her tiny head. Chart your course back to the origins of this substance at n0v^lbin
The human and mouse duo emerged from the captain's quarters and onto the deck of the Narwhale. Standing on the deck and peering at Hope Island, Charles noticed that the previous simple shelters had been transformed and now had a higher ceiling while covering a larger area.
If the previous shelter structure resembled a writhing centipede, the current infrastructure was like a huge octopus sprawled across the island. Its tentacles stretched out in every direction to cover the expanse of the island in accordance with the islanders' needs.
In the distance, individuals wore wide-brimmed hats and moved in and out of the octopus like diligent worker ants.
As Charles and Lily got onto the sandy shore, they finally got a glimpse of the street hidden under the shade of a tentacle.
Low houses lined both sides of the street. As Charles had passed a decree against felling trees, most of the homes were made from stones. Due to the structure's instability, most of the houses lacked a roof to prevent any collapsing incidents.
However, even such simple and rudimentary infrastructure managed to amplify the bustling atmosphere on the street.
Cradling Lily in one hand, Charles strolled leisurely on the street. He eyed the various goods displayed on the stone counters in the shop and noticed that the impressive variety of goods in the shops could easily rival those found on the Coral Archipelago.
"Mr. Charles, I want to try that!" Lily squeaked excitedly as she leaped off Charles' palm and dashed toward a drink stall.
"Banana liquor? Is this brewed from bananas? Charles asked as he pointed at the light brown liquid in a large pot.
Hearing the man's words, Lily stuck her head out of her cup. Planting her tiny paws on her hips, she shot an angry glare at the vendor. Charles promptly finished his drink and returned the empty cup to the vendor.
"Perhaps... but at least it eliminates the kinds of problems that plague other islands," Charles said before he picked Lily up and ventured deeper into the crowd.
In his perspective, Dipp was impulsive and hasty. However, if he were allowed time in a position of responsibility, he would soon find a way to most effectively carry out his duties.
As he continued his way forward, Charles encountered sights that he knew he would never find elsewhere. Whether they were disciples of the Divine Light Order, crew members of exploration ships, or early settlers, each person radiated an unmistakable energy and zeal.
Hope Island was in its initial development stage with boundless opportunities. Supporting oneself wouldn't be a challenge; as long as one was quick-witted, money could be made in no time.
As Charles progressed further, a vast square soon appeared before him. Staring at the expansive shelter overhead, he discerned that this was the heart of the octopus.
A massive bulletin board was hung up in the center of the square, and it was surrounded by a large group of people.
Charles went closer and could hear a voice from the crowd. Someone was offering explanations for the new decree that had just been passed to those who couldn't read.
"The gist of this mess of a message is that Hope Island is now selling land. As long as you have money, you can buy a plot of land and become a permanent residence. Oh, there's also an additional clause that your descendants would have to pay an inheritance tax for the land," a man said.
"Does the notice mention the price?" asked someone in the crowd.
"The price differs based on the proximity of the land to the island's center. The cheapest plots are priced at two million Echo."
"Oh my Sun God! Think about the amount of land on this island and how many Echo it could be worth! No wonder they say that once you become a governor, you'll never have to worry about money again," a Divine Light Order disciple in the crowd gasped in disbelief.
"I don't care what you guys think, but I'm definitely buying a plot. Living on this island is surely way better than any other place."
Lily tilted her head upward and stared at Charles. "Mr. Charles, you are so rich now."
Patting Lily on her head, Charles quickly scanned the faces in the crowd. People were engaged in fervent discussions and debate if they should purchase a plot of land, and if they were to do so, they were calculating which district would offer the best value for their money.
However, Charles realized that no one mentioned the Land of Light that would offer them virtually unlimited land.
"Hey." Charles tapped a man on his shoulder and asked, "Didn't the governor mention that the Land of Light is just right above us? He said that there's unlimited land there, so why is everyone creating a fuss over the land on Hope Island?"
The man eyed Charles with apparent disdain in his gaze. "Are you a child? Why do you naively believe everything you hear? Even if the Land of Light truly exists, the governor will surely guard the entrance and collect tax from common people like us."