“Mm.” Krobus nodded. If Leon liked it, he didn’t mind keeping up their usual arrangent.
Maybe it would even get Leon to visit the sewer more often.
“Thanks, Krobus.” Leon thanked him and chatted for a while before leaving the sewer.
Once outside, he headed straight for the beach. He had to show Willy the King of the Sewer fish he had caught.
But when he reached the door of Willy’s Fish Shop, he saw the “Out” sign hanging there.
After thinking for a mont, Leon guessed Willy had either gone fishing or headed to the bus stop for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Figuring the event wouldn’t last all day, Leon set up on the pier outside Willy’s shop to fish while he waited for him to return.
After all, catching a legendary fish and not showing it off to Willy would be like wearing fine clothes in the dark—no one else would appreciate it. Others might not get the allure of a legendary fish, but Willy, being an expert fisherman, certainly would.
Besides, Leon still hadn’t paid for the fiberglass fishing rod. Now that he had the money, he intended to settle that “try now, pay later” tab.
On a sunny spring day, the ocean’s offerings were limited: sardines, anchovies, halibut, large halibut, and herring in endless rotation. But mostly it was sardines and anchovies barely longer than a finger, which was starting to wear on Leon’s patience.
Having just experienced a ten-minute tug-of-war with a legendary fish, these tiny things he could yank out in seconds felt more like play than sport.
After reeling in yet another anchovy, he slipped it into his backpack, baited his hook, and cast again. This ti, the hook had barely sunk to the seabed before the reel spun wildly, the line stripping out several ters in a blink.
“Got a big one?”
Leon perked up, ready for a fight, when Anya popped up from the water—holding his hook in her hand.
“You rmaids bite bait too?”
Seeing her and the hook, Leon instantly realized she was teasing him.
“No.” Anya answered seriously, then tossed the hook aside.
“I ca to thank you for the information you gave us. Because of your warning, we increased patrols near our settlent and caught four Shadow Assassins. It saved my sisters’ lives.”
“It was nothing. I just passed the ssage along—credit goes to my friend,” Leon replied, reeling in his line and sitting on the pier’s edge to talk with her.
“Your Shadow Person friend?” Anya recalled what he had ntioned before and teased, “How can you be friends with a Shadow Person? They’re supposed to be hostile to humans.”
“I told you, he’s different. And he lives in Stardew Valley,” Leon emphasized.
“Fair enough. A Shadow Person living in Stardew Valley is special indeed.” Anya smiled, then added, “Please thank him on behalf of the rmaids.”
“Sure, but is that just verbal thanks?” Leon prompted.
“Of course not. I ca to Stardew Valley specifically for this. The rmaid Queen wants to invite you to the palace so she can thank you in person,” Anya explained.
“Can I bring my Shadow Person friend? He’s the one who did most of the work.” Leon wasn’t about to claim the credit for himself.
“I’ll have to ask the Queen. He is a Shadow Person, after all,” Anya replied.
“No rush. Let
know once you get an answer,” Leon said, casting his line again. No reason not to fish while they talked.
Anya dove beneath the waves, and sohow, in monts, she resurfaced. “The Queen agreed. You can go get your friend, and we’ll depart.”
“Krobus cannot leave Stardew Valley. Neither can you.”
Before Leon could get up, Rasmodius appeared on the pier in a flash of magic and spoke bluntly.
“Respected Guardian,” Anya lowered her head in greeting.
“Why?” Leon looked at Rasmodius in disbelief.
“Krobus can’t be out in the sun. As for you, it’s even riskier to leave by sea,” Rasmodius said.
“And why is that?” Leon pressed.
“The Witch has spies in the Council. She learned she’s been put on the wanted list and went into hiding. The spy also reported you as the whistleblower. If you go out to sea, I fear she’ll ambush you,” Rasmodius explained.
“I see.” Leon understood imdiately.
Of course he knew which Witch Rasmodius ant—the one who used Old Hans as a test subject. Instead of blaming herself or the mages hunting her, she was holding a grudge against him, an innocent bystander? And she might even try to attack him? Petty didn’t begin to cover it.
Were all magic-users like this? No wonder he didn’t have magical talent.
While Leon’s thoughts wandered, Anya spoke up, “The rmaids can guarantee Leon’s safety.”
“Feeding him is less effective than giving him a proper reward. And it’s not that I doubt your warriors’ skill—it’s your Queen I don’t trust,” Rasmodius said dryly. “Tell her to drop the pointless sches and bad jokes. If she wants to see Leon, she can co to Stardew Valley herself.”
With that, he pointed at Anya across the water. In the next instant, she vanished beneath the waves.
“Don’t worry. I just sent her back to the rfolk settlent. I didn’t harm her,” Rasmodius assured him when he saw Leon’s sour look.
“I’m not worried you hurt her. You sent her off so fast I didn’t even get to discuss the reward,” Leon said, shaking his head.
“They’ll give you sothing you’ll like,” Rasmodius said with clear distaste. “But you’d better not get too close to the rmaids. You know what I’ve told you about their… peculiarities. I don’t want your golden years spent at the bottom of the sea.”
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