Chapter 380 - 380: Leaving the Deserted Island

"Damn it! Once I get back to Star City, I'm going straight to the most expensive restaurant I can find!"

Oliver rubbed his stomach and muttered to himself.

"I need to make up for everything my stomach has suffered!"

For someone born into immense wealth, Oliver Queen had certainly learned what hunger and hardship truly felt like.

…

While the newcomers were busy eating, Oliver quietly slipped toward their ship and sneaked aboard.

In a sense, this was the perfect opportunity.

Most of the people on board should have gone ashore for the meal, which meant security inside the ship would be at its weakest.

More importantly, nobody would expect someone like Oliver to be lurking on an island that appeared completely uninhabited.

Perfect.

Oliver moved silently deeper into the ship.

Looks like everything I learned on the island wasn't wasted.

His best option was to find a storage room.

A storeroom would contain food and fresh water, and it was unlikely to be searched frequently.

If he hid carefully, he might be able to remain there for several days.

Unfortunately, he had only taken a few steps when a man's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"And what exactly are you doing, sneaking around someone else's ship?"

Oliver stumbled slightly.

He had been discovered.

Without hesitation, he reached into his pack, pulled out his bow and an arrow, spun toward the voice, and fired.

He had spent far too long on this island.

Ever since being betrayed and thrown into the sea, Oliver had developed the habit of treating everything with suspicion.

The moment he saw the ship approaching, he had instinctively assumed the newcomers might be pirates.

That was why he had brought his quiver and wooden bow aboard with him.

But the arrow he fired suddenly veered off course inside the cabin.

Clang!

It struck a steel bulkhead instead, exploding into a shower of sparks without touching its intended target.

"Hey, hey, hey!"

The man's voice sounded almost offended.

"Attacking someone the instant you meet them is a little excessive, don't you think?"

A dark-haired man stepped out from the shadows and stared at Oliver.

"Who are you?"

Oliver showed no courtesy whatsoever.

He immediately drew another arrow and hooked it onto the bowstring.

The newcomer was naturally Karl.

At the moment, however, Karl was more puzzled by Oliver's behavior than anything else.

When did Green Arrow become the type to shoot first and ask questions later?

Does he think he's Batman?

"My friend…"

Karl glanced around theatrically.

"You're the one standing aboard our ship, yet you're asking who we are?"

Then his expression changed.

His voice suddenly became cold enough to send a chill through the cabin.

"Besides…"

"Are you sure you really want to know who we are?"

"If you insist on discovering our identities, the price might be rather high."

"The consequences could be very serious."

Oliver instinctively took a step backward.

The threat in Karl's voice was impossible to miss.

Still, he immediately argued back.

"This island is mine!"

"You're the ones who invaded my territory first, so naturally you should be the ones answering questions."

"What are you doing here?"

Karl burst out laughing.

He completely ignored the bow and arrow pointed at him and slowly walked closer.

"Oh?"

"This island has an owner?"

"Sorry. I thought it was deserted."

Karl shrugged.

"As for why we're here, there's nothing particularly secret about it. It's just a little difficult to explain."

He turned slightly.

"If you really want to know, why don't you come take a look?"

With that, Karl turned his back on Oliver and headed deeper into the ship without showing the slightest concern.

Oliver was somewhat startled.

Whatever else could be said about this man, he had courage.

Turning his back on someone who had just fired an arrow at him was either extremely confident or extremely foolish.

It almost made Oliver feel like the aggressor.

Unwilling to back down, he followed Karl deeper into the vessel.

But when Oliver entered the next room, he froze.

The entire space was filled with filming equipment and stacks of recording media.

If these people had intended to use the island as a warehouse for contraband, that would have made some sense.

A drug-production site would also have been understandable.

But why would anyone bring this much camera equipment to a deserted island?

Karl seemed to notice Oliver's confusion.

Without explaining, he casually opened another cabin door.

Several beautiful women were sitting inside.

Their glamorous appearance left Oliver staring for a moment.

"To tell you the truth, I originally came here to film some tasteful adult-oriented art."

Karl deliberately put on an embarrassed expression.

"That's why I specifically searched for an uninhabited island."

"I was planning a sort of Robinson Crusoe-style setup—an isolated-survival theme, completely removed from civilization."

He spread his hands.

"Running into you here really was an incredible coincidence."

Naturally, Karl had no intention of revealing his real reason for coming.

Oliver Queen had grown up in a wealthy family and had hardly lived a sheltered life before being stranded.

But after suffering alone on this island for years, suddenly seeing so many attractive women again was enough to leave him visibly distracted.

Then Karl's explanation finally sank in.

Oliver's expression changed.

Art film?

What art film?

These people clearly came here to shoot porn!

At least that explanation eliminated the possibility that they were pirates.

Pirates wouldn't bring this much professional filming equipment to an isolated island just for that.

Karl watched Oliver's distracted expression with great interest.

It was rare to see a future superhero looking this completely dumbfounded.

So he couldn't resist teasing him.

"Interested in joining the production?"

"With your face, you might even make the cover."

Oliver snapped back to reality immediately.

His eyes widened in horror.

He might have been a notorious playboy from one of Star City's wealthiest families, but putting his face on the cover of something like that was an entirely different matter.

His whole family would probably disown him, living or dead.

Oliver hurriedly shook his head.

Karl finally stopped teasing him.

He led Oliver back outside and introduced him to the others in his group.

Then he warmly invited him to sit down at their table.

Roasted meat, steak, and sweet wine were placed freely in front of Oliver.

Karl never even mentioned Oliver's earlier attempt to sneak aboard the ship and attack him.

Seeing how hospitable Karl was—and noticing that everyone else had already eaten plenty of the food without dropping dead from poison—Oliver finally relaxed.

He explained that he had been stranded on the island for years and thanked Karl and the others for the meal.

"What are you talking about?"

Karl waved dismissively.

"Do you really think we're short on food aboard this ship?"

"Just eat as much as you want!"

Karl grinned.

"I never expected to run into a real-life Robinson Crusoe in this day and age."

"You must have suffered quite a bit out here, so don't bother being polite with me."

Karl had originally planned to sit down and have a few drinks with Oliver.

But when he saw the way Oliver was devouring the food, even he was slightly surprised.

Then he thought about it.

Oliver had spent years on this island living mostly on fish, shrimp, whatever plants he could find, and the occasional seabird he managed to catch.

Now that an entire spread of food from civilization had suddenly appeared in front of him, there was no way he could restrain himself.

Karl decided not to interrupt.

Instead, he simply ordered his people to keep bringing out more good food and wine.

(End of Chapter)

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