Chapter 1 Island Exploration

It took Feng Bujue only twenty minutes to reach the "Alfred Hotel" mentioned in the quest.

He didn't need to ask for directions or use transportation; he simply followed the people who had just disembarked from the cruise ship, who looked like tourists, and walked in one direction until he arrived.

After all... the island was only so big, and although there was more than one place to stay, only this one could be called a "hotel."

After arriving at the hotel entrance, Feng Bujue didn't rush inside. He stood on the street, peering through the glass wall into the lobby for a while, then turned and left.

As a very efficient person, Brother Jue would naturally not join the fun during peak check-in times. Anyway, he had no luggage to store, so it was better to use the time spent "waiting in line in the hotel lobby" elsewhere.

Thus, Feng Bujue's island survey began...

The weather that day was very nice; the temperature wasn't too high, and the humidity and strong winds typical of the seaside weren't too noticeable.

Feng Bujue found a small bicycle rental shop near the hotel. With his excellent eloquence and the bargaining skills unique to the Chinese, he successfully got a bike at a price that even made the shop owner faintly feel like he had been "scammed."

Then, armed with a "tourist guide" he had swiped from the owner, he set off along the island's ring road on the bicycle he had essentially borrowed on an IOU.

...

Cochiti Island is a typical tourist town, and such places often have some subtle commonalities: tourists love it, business people don't comment on it, most of the young natives want to leave or have already left, and the old people on the island all want to spend the rest of their lives there.

That's life on the island—one day is paradise, one month is the human world, a lifetime... well, almost no one stays here for a lifetime, not even the old people; they haven't always lived on the island.

Aside from the bustling scene during the tourist season, for the rest of the year, it is just a backward island town in terms of economy and living standards.

Luxurious hotel rooms, first-class public facilities, all kinds of modern products... these are all prepared for the tourists. The islanders can't afford that kind of lifestyle; they live ordinary lives, like people in second- or third-tier cities.

Apart from the tourism industry, which is only profitable for a few months of the year, what truly supports the economic and social stability of Cochiti Island is... tuna.

Or rather... "Herbert Company."

Forty years ago, when old Herbert set sail in his dilapidated little fishing boat, he certainly never imagined that one day he would become one of the most influential figures on the island and even in all of Wales.

Now, his picture has spread throughout Europe and even the world, of course... printed on various cans of fish.

Seven years ago, old Herbert fell ill and died, and his eldest son, John Herbert, took over the company. Today, the vast majority of residents who live on Cochiti Island are working for John.

Fishing fleets, canning factories, logistics companies... Herbert Company provides jobs for almost all adult residents on the island. The "Alfred Hotel" is not run by the Herbert family, but they have invested in it.

In addition, even the few police officers and civil servants on the island have to give Herbert some face when handling affairs; after all... their families also work in his factory.

In short, for the residents who live here permanently, this island is less like "Cochiti Island" and more like "Herbert Island."

...

The circumnavigation of the island took longer than Feng Bujue had imagined, partly because his physical strength in this script was worse than in reality, and partly because he often stopped to talk to passersby during the ride.

By dusk, Brother Jue had returned to the starting point. When returning the bike, the shop owner's expression seemed to say, "If I were ten years younger, I would have beaten you up."

Feng Bujue was also a little embarrassed, so he added some money to the bill, and then swiped a drink and two bags of snacks from the owner...

Eating as he walked, he returned to the Alfred Hotel on foot.

At this time, the hotel lobby was much emptier. Feng Bujue leisurely went to the front desk to check in. As he had expected, there was no shortage of rooms for a "single guest with no special requirements."

Because he had no luggage, he didn't need anyone to show him the way; he took his key card from the front desk and went upstairs.

The moment he got the key card, the system voice sounded at the right time: [Quest completed]

Feng Bujue took the opportunity to open the game menu and saw that the task [Check into the Alfred Hotel] had been checked off, and a new task had been added below it: [Await the incident].

"How straightforward..." Brother Jue muttered as he walked to the elevator.

Ding—

Just then, the elevator arrived.

Behind the slowly opening elevator doors, a figure appeared.

It was a middle-aged man, looking less than forty years old. His appearance wasn't particularly special; at least in Western Europe, this kind of Saxon face was very common. He was wearing a dark suit and a seemingly new Panama hat. The brim of the hat was pulled low, as if he didn't want people to see his face clearly.

When Feng Bujue brushed past this middle-aged man, there was no eye contact, let alone a nod of greeting. The two simply passed by each other normally, and neither showed anything unusual.

However, in those two seconds, Feng Bujue already understood that this person was probably related to the upcoming incident.

Because... with just one look, Brother Jue had guessed his identity and had already found some clues, perhaps, from him.

"Hey! Wait!"

Seconds later, just as the elevator doors were half-closed, suddenly, a man's voice came from outside, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

Feng Bujue's thoughts were interrupted by the shout, but he still helped the other person press the open button.

Soon, the elevator doors reopened, and the person who had shouted "Wait" appeared at the entrance.

"Haa... haa... thank you..." he said, panting as he entered the elevator.

Feng Bujue sized up the young man in front of him. At first glance, the young man's clothes were ordinary, but if one knew their worth, one would realize that he was wearing quite expensive brands, just in a low-key style. Looking at his appearance, he was clearly still a student, probably less than twenty years old. He was about the same height as Brother Jue, but his physique was thinner. Judging from his face and accent, this young man was most likely Chinese, and by the way... he was quite handsome.

If there was anything special about this young man, it was the sports bag he was carrying on his right shoulder. The zipper was not closed properly, and a cat was peeking its head out from the open zipper gap, looking outside.

For some reason... the cat's gaze seemed to be fixed on the middle-aged man outside the elevator, who was gradually moving away.