A week had passed since Reyhan saved Liora from the sea.
Today, he was cutting coconut branches to dry them for fuel to cook on the stove.
"Even though I have a system, why is my life still this hard? Not only have I been eating instant noodles for over a month, but I also have to chop down trees just to get fuel... sighhh,"Reyhan complained as he chopped the branches.
[Host, please do not complain. You only need to find more guests to earn money, then build more facilities and spread your reputation across the world. That way, you can eat anything you want. (smile)]
Hearing such useless advice from the system only made Reyhan more annoyed.
"Just shut up if you don't have a solution. Besides, you're the system—so give me more money or promote my resort so more people will come. That shouldn't be too hard for you, right?!" Reyhan said, trying to take advantage of the system.
[Host, please stop teasing me. As the greatest system and a role model among systems across the universe, I always follow the system code of ethics. I cannot help you carelessly outside of the existing program. If other systems knew that I helped my host like that, they would gossip about me in the group. Especially recently, a junior system has been asking me for guidance... if he found out I broke the rules, he would look down on me]
(Oooh, there's a way) Reyhan caught on to the system's words and realized there was still room for negotiation. He immediately started scheming on how to trick the system.
Then he said confidently, "So, if you don't tell them, they won't know, right? Besides, as your host, I'm living like in hell—eating instant noodles and fish every day without proper nutrition. If this continues, I'll die soon." Reyhan paused here to let the system think about it.
Seeing the system remain silent, he added, "And you, as my system, will become a laughingstock forever, used as teaching material for junior systems," Reyhan said to push the system further.
...
[Ding... Very well, in that case, this system will open a low-interest loan program for the host to survive.]
[Ding... The host can borrow up to 5,000 Royals for a term of one hundred days, with an interest of 10 Royals for every ten days.]
Seeing that the system had actually compromised, the corners of Reyhan's lips curled up slightly. With five thousand Royals, it was enough for him to buy plenty of food. And most importantly, it seemed this system could be tricked.
....
Reyhan bought several grams of beef, vegetables, barbecue seasonings, and a few bottles of cold beer and coke.
In addition, he also bought a barbecue grill, bath soap, some clothes, and a pack of cigarettes with a cool lighter.
After Reyhan spent over a thousand Royals to vent his frustrations, he went to call Liora and Rudy for a barbecue party.
...
"Reyhan, why did you buy so much food today? It must have cost a lot. Don't you not have any money?" Liora asked in confusion. Over the week, she had become familiar with Reyhan and Rudy, so she now felt very relaxed around them.
"Hahaha, I bought it on credit, but it's fine. Sooner or later, we'll be able to pay it back. Once we start making money, let's have a feast every day," Reyhan said in a cheerful mood. Indeed, once the resort became famous, money would flow endlessly.
"Hum..humm, just like you said, I'll collect later... watch out if you're lying," Liora replied faintly, chewing on freshly grilled meat. Her cheeks puffed up like a hamster, perfectly matching her rabbit ears.
"Wooff wooff!" Rudy barked in agreement. Of course, he meant the part about feasting every day.
...
"Ahhh, this is so good. Grilled meat is the best," Liora said, leaning against the wooden hut by the beach, feeling satisfied as she rubbed her slightly bloated belly from overeating.
Seeing Liora happy, Reyhan felt that this was the happiest day he'd had since coming to this world.
...
Somewhere out at sea, a 30-meter-long merchant ship was under attack by a ragged pirate ship. Although the pirate ship was only 15 meters long, it was faster than the fully loaded merchant vessel. The pirate ship, full of fierce and bloodthirsty raiders, managed to close in despite taking several cannon shots.
One tall, burly pirate stood at the bow of the pirate ship and shouted with excitement.
"Kids, kill the men and capture the women. After that, we'll head back and feast—jie jie jieee!"
His iconic laugh and killing intent filled the surrounding air.
"Long live the captain!!!" The other pirates shouted loudly and energetically.
Then, more than thirty filthy, rough men with yellow teeth and weathered skin boarded the merchant ship with swords and spears in hand.
.....
On the other side was the "Krasu," an inter-kingdom merchant ship commanded by a burly middle-aged man of about forty years old. His name was Krasu, a trader affiliated with one of the largest trade guilds on the continent, the Ocean Silver Compass Trade Guild.
This trip, he was selling the silk fabrics of the Enelish Kingdom to the neighboring nation of Myrrath, a round trip that normally took less than two months.
But who would have thought he'd be so unlucky as to encounter pirates on the way home? Normally, they could escape, but this time the cargo he brought back was porcelain and ceramics from Myrrath.
This made the ship heavier and harder to sail quickly. It was too late to unload the cargo, so he chose to fight the pirates with all his might.
He gathered the entire crew and his ten guards, bringing the total number of fighters to over sixty. Equipped with bows and decent swords, there was still a chance to drive the pirates away.
However, most of them were strong physically but inexperienced in battle, so casualties were likely.
Krasu stood before all the crew and shouted encouragement, "This time, the fight is unavoidable. So I, Krasu, ask everyone to fight for our lives. Anyone who kills a pirate will be rewarded with 2 gold coins. Anyone who joins the fight will receive 50 silver coins. And anyone who dies today will have 2 gold coins given to their family."
"Kill!!!" As expected, the sailors were fired up by Krasu's promise.