novelraw Chapter 215: Old Hans’s Sailing Log
Chapter 215: Old Hans’s Sailing Log
Watching Anya leave to complete her commission, Leon rubbed his chin, pondering her earlier behavior. In his mind, he tried to guess what kind of favor she thought he might ask of her.
Meanwhile, Willy and Gus, who had witnessed the entire exchange, exchanged a glance before leaning toward each other to whisper.
“Leon’s got a sharp mind,” Willy murmured, “but when it comes to matters of the heart, he’s not exactly quick on the uptake.”
“Maybe it’s just that he’s never thought about it that way,” Gus replied.
“That little mermaid’s eyes were practically melting when she looked at him. How can he not see it?”
“I didn’t see it either.”
“That’s why you’re single.”
“Pah. Then don’t come to this old bachelor’s saloon for meals anymore. I won’t be serving you.”
“Don’t be like that. I’m a bachelor too—we’re in the same boat.”
“So… you gonna tell him?”“No. I’ve already told Leon the story about mermaids and humans being together. He knows the risks involved.”
“That’s not fair to the little mermaid.”
“That’s her problem. If anyone should be complaining about unfairness, it’s the young women of our town.”
“You’ve got a point. Leon’s settled down here in Stardew Valley. We can’t just let an outsider snatch him away.”
“What are you two whispering about over there?”
After failing to figure anything out, Leon turned toward Willy and Gus, who were whispering with knowing grins, and felt an inexplicable wave of hostility. He couldn’t help but interrupt.
“Nothing,” Gus quickly said, waving his hands. “We were just talking about what to eat when we get back.”
“Yeah, Leon, what do you feel like eating?” Willy chimed in.
Leon knew they weren’t actually talking about that, but since these two old rascals refused to say, there was nothing he could do. He shrugged. “Anything’s fine, as long as it’s not fish.”
“But Gus only cooks fish,” Willy teased. “I’ve told him more than once that the saloon menu should have some poultry and livestock meat too, but he never listens.”
“If you want that kind of meat, cook it yourself. I’m not making it,” Gus said without hesitation.
“Why not?” Leon was genuinely curious.
He had originally thought Stardew Valley didn’t have land-based meat at all, but Abigail had told him there was a butcher named John in town who sold it. That made him wonder why Gus refused to cook such dishes.
“Because his ex-girlfriend was a ranch owner, so he won’t use livestock from a ranch in his cooking,” Willy revealed before Gus could answer.
“Marnie’s your ex-girlfriend?” Leon blurted out instinctively.
Both Gus and Willy shook their heads furiously. Gus quickly clarified, “Don’t spread rumors! My ex was a rancher from somewhere else.”
“Exactly. Gossip’s fine, but no making stuff up,” Willy added.
“So… you guys know about Marnie and Lewis?” Leon asked, testing the waters after seeing their reactions.
“If even you, a newcomer, can tell, of course we old-timers have noticed,” Willy chuckled.
“Yeah, it’s way too obvious. And yet those two think they’re hiding it well,” Gus said with a laugh. “If we weren’t worried about embarrassing them, the whole town would’ve pushed them to get engaged by now.”
“So why hasn’t anyone pushed for it?” Leon asked.
“Marnie’s open to it, but Lewis is afraid,” Gus explained. “He worries that marrying Marnie will upset the other business owners in town, since she’s the biggest rancher here. If she married him, he thinks people would talk.”
Willy nodded. “The real problem is that Lewis is afraid of marriage. He thinks once he’s married, his work will be dragged down by family responsibilities. But honestly, it’s ridiculous—everyone in Pelican Town supports him. If we had to pick a new mayor, we’d have to bring in an outsider.”
“You ever tried talking him into it?” Leon asked.
“Nope. We’re afraid we’d scare him off and he’d end things with Marnie entirely,” Gus said helplessly.
“This is something Lewis has to figure out for himself,” Willy added.
“Doesn’t make sense,” Leon muttered, shaking his head. He just couldn’t understand—getting married wasn’t like being sentenced to prison.
“We don’t get it either,” Gus and Willy said in unison.
Just as Leon was about to change the subject and pry more into Gus’s rancher ex, Anya returned—with another mermaid girl at her side. Both were carrying a box.
“The ship’s pretty badly damaged, but in the captain’s cabin, we found these two chests. They were well-preserved and hadn’t been soaked by seawater.”
She tossed the chests onto the boat, giving a quick explanation of how she’d found them.
“Thanks, Anya. Really appreciate it,” Leon said, waving Willy and Gus over to help move the chests.
“No problem. If there’s nothing else, we’ll head back underwater,” Anya replied with a shake of her head. Then she and the mermaid girl slipped back into the sea.
It felt to Leon like she might be avoiding him, but he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he joined Gus and Willy in focusing on the two chests.
“Open them?”
“Sounds good to me.”
“I’ll do it. If there’s anything dangerous inside, I can shield you two,” Leon said, stepping forward.
But the chests were locked, and without a key, there was no easy way to open them. Leon pulled out his Galaxy Watermelon Knife and handled the matter physically.
When both chests finally popped open, Leon froze.
One was filled with gold coins. The other held only a single sailing log.
Much as Leon liked gold, it was the sailing log that caught his interest.
Willy and Gus felt the same. Gold wasn’t going anywhere—it wouldn’t grow legs and run off. But the log might reveal why Old Hans had run aground on this island he’d used as a base. Had it been because of that giant python Leon had killed?