On the rocky tide pools nearby, several Moonfolk girls carried baskets, prying oysters off rocks with knives and awls. Others squatted by a nearby faucet washing clothes.

Time truly flew. If not for the Bull and Horse Group’s airship returning again, she wouldn’t have realized it had already been a week since their Roro Boat moored at French Fry Harbor.

And although that week felt chaotic and blurry to Tail, the settlement truly had undergone many changes.

First, there was the situation inside the camp. The formerly empty eastern land had turned into rows of wooden huts. Crude as they were, they sheltered wind and rain just fine. Outside every door hung dried fish and pelts.

Helping players process game meat and fish had become the main income for most Moonfolk girls.

Some good at farming, led by Grandma Sangru, contracted farmland in the northwest of the southern district.

The Baiyue Province Development Company guaranteed farmland safety, jungle clearing, and provided high-yield seeds and tools. In exchange, the girls only needed to hand over half of their harvest.

For girls who had never owned land in their lives, such terms were shockingly generous, they didn’t believe it at first.

Only after learning Tail, the one who saved them, was a board member of the Baiyue Strait Development Company did they signup with confidence.

Beyond farming and craftsmanship, some young and beautiful girls joined the service industry, doing work most players preferred not to. Thanks to them, the once-empty camp became lively.

Not only did save points, stalls, and shops gain more interactive NPCs, even the infamous One Man Tavern became the bustling Men’s Dream Tavern.

Not only were there now beautiful waitresses, but their boss was finally freed from having to run everything alone. The players were finally freed from having to wash dishes themselves.

As the sun sank in the west, another fulfilling day passed.

As usual, Her Drunken Recluse called the girls to move tables and chairs to the beach to prepare for the evening’s business. But before they even finished moving chairs, a speedboat with a Federation flag approached the pier.

Muda jumped ashore first, walking toward the tavern with two sailors.

It had been a while since Her Drunken Recluse last saw him, so he greeted curiously, “Want anything to drink?”

Muda didn’t waste any time. He pulled out a telegraph note, confirmed the location, then asked the tavern owner directly, “Is there someone named Sisi here?”

Her Drunken Recluse blinked. He heard her name before. “What do you want with her?”

Muda answered briefly, “She arranged to meet me here. I’m here now, please get her...”

Before he finished, a voice called out from a short distance away. “I’m here.”

All three turned toward the voice.

A girl carrying a rifle and a rocket launcher walked over from the camp. The sea breeze brought the scent of blood. Her coat was stained with animal fur and drying blood.

Not only Muda, even the sailors behind him stared at her in shock.

But Her Drunken Recluse, used to such scenes, simply chuckled, “Good haul today?”

“Not bad. Didn’t expect a mutated brown bear in the tropical rainforest.” Sisi casually leaned her rifle and launcher against a table to reserve a seat, then held up four fingers toward Her Drunken Recluse. “Two beers, two orange juices, extra ice. My teammates are turning in the materials and will be here soon.”

“Got it.” Her Drunken Recluse raised her an OK gesture and walked toward the bar.

As Muda prepared to ask about the telegraph, Sisi handed him a clean envelope.

Muda raised a brow and accepted it. “What’s this?”

Sisi replied casually, “Someone asked me to deliver it to you.”

“Who?”

“You’ll know once you read it.”

Muda gave her a suspicious look, opened the envelope, and read the contents. Almost instantly, his sun-scorched face became serious.

Clutching the letter, he stared hard at her. “Where is he?”

Sisi replied calmly, “Dawn City.”

Muda froze. “You mean, in the River Valley Province?!”

Sisi nodded. “Yes... at that gentleman’s request, we’re planning to reopen the investigation of the South Sea Ocean Current Power Plant incident.”

At the mention of the power plant, Muda’s expression shifted sharply. He led her aside and whispered, “... The power plant? What’s the point of investigating that now? It’s been more than two months. Even if you find something, it won’t change anything.”

Sisi smiled faintly. “You never know unless you try.”

Muda stared at her for a long time before finally speaking slowly, “What do you need me to do?”

“Simple. Just help me get close. We’ll handle the rest.”

Muda’s expression twisted slightly. He glanced at the busted Roro Boat moored at the pier. “Get close? How? Are you planning to use that?”

“Of course not. Follow me.” Sisi grinned, turned, and headed toward the nearby warehouse district.

Muda gestured for the two sailors to wait at the tavern, then followed her alone.

She led him to a tin-roof warehouse near the beach.

“Here.”

Muda narrowed his eyes and stepped inside. The moment he saw the cylindrical submersible parked inside, his eyes sharpened dangerously. “You’ve been in contact with Shelter 70?”

Sisi ignored his hand dropping to his pistol and answered nonchalantly, “So what? Have you changed your mind?”

Muda was silent for a long time. Finally, he moved his hand away from the pistol and spoke quietly. “... Tonight at 10:00. Follow under my ship’s keel. I’ll take you there.”

Hearing his promise, Sisi finally smiled. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. It’s all I can do.” As he spoke, Muda glanced again at the damaged submersible.

The scratches and impact marks on its hull clearly didn’t come from Federation depth charges or torpedoes. Although he didn’t believe the truth would change anything, something in his instincts whispered, this time, they might actually uncover something.