Chapter 51: Catch It

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Catch It

"What’s the news?"

"Got my popcorn ready. The stage is yours."

"Hurry up! I’ve gotta get back to the grind! TAT!"

"Don’t keep us in suspense! Spit it out!"

[Pretty Guardian]: Okay, I’m saying it! I’m just gonna come right out and say it! Tomorrow is our seventh day in The Black Mist World, and a choice node is going to appear!

Seraphina Sinclair: "..."

’And here I was, wondering what they were going to say.’ That was written right in the "Basic Rules of The Black Mist World." Was there really someone who didn’t know?

To Seraphina Sinclair’s surprise, there really were people who didn’t know.

"???, That’s all you had to say?"

"Can’t you tell us something we don’t already know?"

"Huh? What do you mean? You all knew? Then how come I didn’t?"

"To the guy above, maybe go read the rules that came out of the starter pack?"

"What? What rules!"

"It’s a piece of paper with a lot of words written on it!"

The replier was clearly getting impatient, but the confused survivor was even more baffled. "There really was a piece of paper in the starter pack, but were the words on it actually useful? I was in a rush to the bathroom right after opening it, so I just..."

Er...

’Some people’s experiences were really something else.’

Today had been a real eye-opener for Seraphina Sinclair. She closed the regional channel.

’Speaking of which, I still haven’t held up my end of the deal with Miller’s Hardware.’

Seraphina Sinclair didn’t like being indebted to anyone. Now that it was on her mind, she immediately processed a Black Mist Catfish, cut off a piece of meat with her dagger, and sent it over to Miller.

[Miller’s Hardware]: Boss!!! Your timing is perfect! I was just wondering what to eat for dinner. Thanks!

[Blacktiger Ford]: A deal’s a deal. Don’t mention it.

And that should have been the end of it.

Seraphina Sinclair had just closed the chat when another message popped up.

[Miller’s Hardware]: Boss!!! This fish is so delicious! I just finished grilling it and took a bite, and I almost swallowed my own tongue! Thank you so much!

Reading his excited reply, the corner of Seraphina Sinclair’s mouth twitched. ’How long has it even been?’

’Is it really cooked through?’

’Well, you can eat silverfish raw. Catfish... even if you’re not supposed to eat it raw, it probably won’t cause any serious problems, right?’

[Blacktiger Ford]: You’re welcome.

[Miller’s Hardware]: Boss, if you need any other tools, just ask! I’ve got all sorts of miscellaneous stuff here!

’His handle certainly checks out.’

Seraphina Sinclair thought for a moment before replying: [Do you have a fishing rod or a fishing net?]

[Miller’s Hardware]: Uh... I don’t have those, actually. But I can keep an eye out for you!

Seraphina Sinclair hadn’t gotten her hopes up anyway. After a simple word of thanks, she closed the chat.

She stretched, her gaze returning to the mass of black water floating outside her door. The school of fish had temporarily dispersed, but the airborne lake was still there. Maybe she could continue fishing tomorrow.

However...

A thought suddenly occurred to Seraphina Sinclair.

"Since this lake is floating, could there be something else underneath it?"

She crouched by the door and peered down.

The black mist was as thick as ever, bottomless. But faintly, she thought she saw a Dark Gold reflection at the bottom of the lake.

"Is that...?"

Seraphina Sinclair squinted, but unfortunately, the light was too dim to see clearly.

’Should I try scooping it with the hand net?’

No sooner said than done!

She grabbed the net, stretched her arm as far as it would go, and tried to reach that glimmer of gold.

But it was too far away; she couldn’t reach it at all.

Seraphina Sinclair stared at the speck of gold, a growing conviction that it was something valuable. She strained, stretching her arm forward again. Realizing it was still out of reach, she stood up and squinted, observing it carefully for a while.

The golden point rested at the bottom of the water, quietly emitting its light.

It was a tiny speck, easily overlooked during the day, which was why Seraphina Sinclair hadn’t noticed it before.

’I can’t reach it...’

After a moment’s hesitation, Seraphina Sinclair retreated into her mobile cabin and contacted Miller’s Hardware, asking if he had a longer hand net or a pole.

He was very forthcoming, immediately sending Seraphina Sinclair a well-proportioned bamboo pole.

Seraphina Sinclair paused, then subconsciously used Insight.

[Ordinary Bamboo Pole (F-)]

[Description: If you have studied staff-fighting techniques, this is a fine weapon. If you have not, it is an ordinary pole.]

’It’s actually a weapon.’

’And he just... gave it to me?’

As if worried she’d feel bad about accepting it, he quickly added another message.

[Miller’s Hardware]: Boss, that thing’s just been gathering dust on my end, and you have a use for it. Besides, that fish meat was way too delicious! Totally worth it! If you need any other materials, just keep asking me! Look at my handle—I did this for a living in my past life. I know all the basic materials. Even if I can’t find one, I can probably whip one up for you!

[Blacktiger Ford]: Alright.

Seraphina Sinclair deftly tied the hand net to one end of the bamboo pole, fashioning her own extended salvage tool.

She used a strip of cloth, and the binding was reasonably sturdy.

When she returned to the doorway, the point of golden light was still faintly visible at the bottom of the black water, as if beckoning her.

"I’m definitely getting you this time."

Seraphina Sinclair took a deep breath and slowly extended the long-handled net toward the lake’s surface.

The length of the bamboo pole was just enough to make up for the previous shortfall. The net sank silently into the black water.

GURGLE...

A few bubbles rose to the surface.

Seraphina Sinclair held her breath, carefully manipulating the bamboo pole to guide the net toward the point of golden light.

The resistance from the black water was greater than she’d imagined; every inch of movement required immense effort.

"Just a little lower..."

Fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead.

Just as the net was about to touch the golden light, something strange happened. From Seraphina Sinclair’s perspective, the point of gold seemed to move, suddenly jumping a little farther away.

Seraphina Sinclair froze, her eyes instinctively fixed on the golden light, trying to determine if it had actually moved.

The golden light flickered in the black water, like a single gilded scale of a swimming fish, or a firefly winking in the dark night.

Seraphina Sinclair narrowed her eyes as an intense thought took root in her mind...

’Catch it!’

’Don’t let it get away...’

’It must be something good!’

Seraphina Sinclair tightened her grip on the bamboo pole and extended the net once more.

Drawn by the glowing fish swim bladder hanging around her neck, many of the small fish that had hidden during the day now gathered at the edge of the black water, splashing their tails.

If Seraphina Sinclair were to scoop with her net right now, she could easily catch a dozen or more.

But her entire focus was captivated by that point of gold.

’What in the world is it?! What is it?’

Seraphina Sinclair’s mind was consumed with catching it. When her arm grew too sore, she switched her stance. Thanks to the exercise she’d gotten shaking the fluorescent light these past few days, she managed a sudden forward thrust with the net. Just as she was about to catch the thing, it leaped a little farther away again.

"It’s alive?" Her heart skipped a beat. She tightened her grip on the bamboo pole, her gaze locked on the golden light.

She stared for so long that her vision began to blur. The only thing she could see was that speck of gold.

’Catch it... Catch it...’