Chapter 325 – Fishing for Giants 2
Sing was at a loss for words as he looked at the fishing spot that had appeared inside the Tower of Training.
‘How many people and resources were mobilized overnight?’
The area of the devastated island, which had been swept away by a cruise ship, was restored, and it was filled with fresh water where fish could thrive.
Such a fishing spot was connected to the first floor, with water pooling in part of the excavated solid ground.
Splash!
The water temperature felt different as he dipped his fingers in, and the taste of the water, when he licked it with his tongue, was also distinct.
Upon closer inspection, the bottoms of the various fishing spots, ranging from pond size to lake size, had various stones, from heat-retaining rocks to ice stones that lowered the temperature, all mobilized.
In an area where a substantial amount of metal had been used, Jonnas emerged from the water with a weary face, drying his legs with a towel given by a maid.
As he lowered his rolled-up suit pants, Sing mustered the effort to speak.
“What in the world is this?”
“As you can see, it’s a fishing spot. The Director and Agassi want to enjoy a new hobby.”
“I’m not asking because I don’t know what it is. How can such a… ridiculous scale of a fishing spot be created in just a day? And it’s not just any water they threw in.”
Just then, a fish jumped out of the water as if asking “Who called me?”
It launched sharp steel spikes from its scales, which Sing caught with his sword sheath.
It was a ferocious fish capable of taking down a typical fisherman in an instant.
“That’s a Thornfish. It grows in the Ironwater, known for its spines. It was caught overnight at the direct request of the Director, who is serious about collecting.”
Not just Jonnas, but other butlers, in rubber boots, were catching fish that emitted electricity from different lakes and tossing them into the waters, or releasing flame fish into boiling water, smoke rising from their hands.
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say they had caught every rare fish from around the world; the sight was chilling.
The Foundation could retrieve resources from anywhere in the world overnight if it wanted to.
Building the environment was possible too.
What would happen if this was mobilized for “serious groundwork”?
If it targeted key personnel in various nations for “assassination.”
“This is a rare opportunity. Why not enjoy it together?”
“I don’t have that luxury…”
As Sing was about to express refusal, the moment Jonnas snapped his fingers, his mind cleared.
The noise hitting his brain was so intense it made his body sway for a moment.
“You say there’s no luxury? That statement is the real display of luxury, isn’t it?”
“What do you know to interfere?”
“I want to help Agassi. Isn’t that why you still fear the Foundation? Yet when you have a chance to grow stronger, you hesitate and make conditions. Are you truly that strong?”
“…!”
“Feeling uneasy. Dreading to take a life. Wanting to protect nature. You can make excuses all you want. But at the cost of losing the chance to grow.”
Jonnas knew.
“Agassi’s collection has a clear purpose. The same goes for the Director. Think about how rare the opportunity to participate in the act of using the fishing spot, prepared overnight by the butlers of the Foundation, truly is.”
Such an opportunity could not be bought for any amount of gold.
The resources, the movement of personnel, the equipment, and the chance to use facilities.
All these services were enjoyed within the Tower in just one day.
Even if one had a thousand gold coins or ten thousand, it wouldn’t be enough.
It goes without saying how much ecological knowledge and understanding of capture were needed to create an environment where each fish would remain alive until it got classified after being caught.
Even at this moment, the Tower’s facilities were wriggling, trying to restore the terrain to its original form.
If the butlers failed to maintain the fishing spot, it could vanish as easily as a summer day dream.
“…I was short-sighted. I have no right to be arrogant. Thank you for the lesson.”
*
Oknodie had quite a knack for fishing.
“Hiyah!”
So strong.
This was fundamentally advantageous in a battle of strength against fish.
If the fishing rod was sturdy and durable, one could dominate a fish’s strength in an instant.
Squeak!
Manipulating the movements of the fish darting in all directions, the speed of releasing and reeling in line was quite extraordinary.
Like someone who had fished in the sea for years, Oknodie skillfully overpowered the fierce resistance of the rare fish.
Something felt like it had reached the realm of “experience,” transcending mere catches of easy fish.
“Have you ever fished somewhere before?”
To this question from the Director, Oknodie chuckled evasively.
“Impossible, right…?”
The Director’s mumbling hinted at Oknodie’s lack of fishing experience.
Her suspicious and secretive demeanor didn’t go unnoticed by the Foundation or even by the Director who raised her.
From Sing’s perspective, believing all suspicion stemmed from the Foundation’s Director, Oknodie’s behavior became all the more mysterious.
“Sing, the bobber’s moving!”
“…This time, I’m catching it.”
Instead of fiercely jerking the fishing line that was swiftly pulled like an arrow, she smoothly reeled it in with a circular motion, letting the attack pass.
After absorbing the lesson from losing three fishing lines, she blocked the fish’s first dash, and as it leaped into the air, it shot spikes.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
With one hand gripping the sword sheath to block the spikes, Sing reduced his grasp on the fishing rod, taking the chance to rush accelerate.
Brought out like a pro.
Using a timing like confronting a swordsman, Sing planted his foot on the fishing rod to bolster his weakened strength.
‘If I only used my arms and legs, I would lose balance and drop the fishing rod in an instant.’
Recalling the five rods he had lost to the fish, he anchored himself to the ground like a single sword, channeling mana to stabilize his position.
With his unshakeable strength, he managed to block the surprise attack without losing the fishing rod.
Now that the Thornfish had exhausted its strength, it was time to strike.
Whoosh!
This time, the Thornfish rose to the surface at Sing’s will, not its own.
Before the fish could spread its spines, Sing released the fishing rod and executed a “Foot Slash,” severing the spout from which the spines shot.
Thud, thud, thud!
The sound was like capturing a steel ornament rather than a fish, as the Thornfish flailed in its last attempts to resist before dying with Sing’s sword embedded in its gills.
“Wow. You caught it on your twelfth try! Congratulations!”
Clap, clap, clap!
Oknodie’s applause felt embarrassing.
“Are you mocking me?”
“Of course not.”
“You caught it in one go.”
“I have my tricks!”
“But wasn’t it your first time fishing?”
“Well, I mean… the trick of swordsmanship!”
“…”
She was fumbling.
Although she felt the excuse was weak, it wasn’t entirely false either.
If her speed, power, and precision of the Foot Slash had been lacking, it would have been impossible to reel in the Thornfish just moments ago.
If one missed the timing, the fish would dive back into the water, regain its strength, and resist while shooting spikes.
In a prolonged battle, either the fisherman would tire out or fall victim to the fish’s spines.
“Fishing is quite challenging. Honestly, I underestimated it.”
“Hehe. But it’s fun, right? The collection effect is great too.”
“How does what you just caught change anything?”
“Um~ It increases projectile blocking chances by 5%! I’ll deflect any approaching magic or arrows!”
Surely, having had this experience, she wouldn’t fall for the same trick thrice could likely fend it off.
There was a sense of resentment in the way he spoke about the strength he gained as if it were a reward bestowed upon him.
Even while he struggled with the Thornfish, Oknodie had effortlessly caught various fish.
Her collection basket was already filled with dozens of fish.
That was enough quantity to feel accomplished.
But compared to her bright expression at the start, Oknodie’s face was gradually losing its excitement and joy.
The Director glanced at Oknodie’s face and pierced through her thoughts.
“It’s easy hunting, isn’t it?”
“Yeah?”
“If someone were to define hunting as merely cutting short the lives of prey brought in by another, the lazy noble would only recall the pleasant and convenient memories and agree. However, true hunters would deny it. Hospitality and hunting are different. In truth, this isn’t regular fishing either.”
“I’m sorry, I should have enjoyed it more!”
“Not at all. I only feel sorry for my daughter, who forced herself to try and enjoy it in consideration of this Papa’s reputation. I should have recognized her desire for fresh fishing.”
“What can be done? We can’t leave the Tower right now. Just being able to experience this is incredible!”
And yet, that was true.
Sing recalled how miraculous the experiences brought on by the Director’s power were.
But even though it was both their first time fishing, there was a deeper philosophy at play in the Director’s approach.
“It’s my first time enjoying fishing, but I’ve grasped its subtleties. Reading the hidden intentions of the opponent beneath the surface and fooling them to reel them in.”
“!!”
“A fine hobby you have there. Papa thinks highly of this pastime.”
Fishing… was it such a hazardous act?
Suddenly, Sing felt like he had pulled a key and turned it in a lock tied to a bear’s ankle.
Looking at Oknodie’s surprised eyes, he inadvertently realized.
A scary child.
A chilling child.
Had they just observed with such eyes, they would not have been able to perceive what lay beneath Oknodie’s surprise: her true feelings marooned deep within her heart.
That feeling had the hue of ‘trouble.’
If Oknodie viewed the world the way the Director did, the fact that their perspectives diverged—an insight she was acutely aware of—was evidenced before him.
The two were fishing.
Casting lines not for fish, but to bait each other’s inner thoughts.
Only now did Sing recognize what fishing ground he had been participating in.
