Chapter 83 - 11. Saint Nali (requesting to be read again)

Chapter 83: 11. Saint Nali (requesting to be read again)"Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Captain’s Office of the SS Lauren, owned by the Nali Exploration Company. Thank you for choosing a flight with the Nali Exploration Company. We have arrived at our destination, Saint Nali, and once again wish you a pleasant journey. A reminder to check your belongings for any items that might be left behind. If you find that you’ve lost anything, please report it to the headquarters of the Nali Exploration Company within seven days."

The captain’s announcement echoed through the ship once again. Fisher organized his manuscript papers, meticulously wrapped them in parchment, tucked them under his arm, and picked up his hand cane.

"Renie?"

The cruise ship slowly entered the vast harbor of Saint Nali. Even from aboard the ship, one could hear the bustling chatter outside. In the sky above, magic enforcement posts maintained order, with inspectors wielding firearms to ensure control below. Every month, there were always one or two instances of tourists scurrying around due to customs finding prohibited items, and of course, wanted fugitives getting caught.

Fisher donned his gentleman’s hat, called for Renie, and after waiting for a second or two, Renie, having changed her attire, emerged from the room. Her previously conservative black dress was Kado style, but she had switched to lace stockings with an astute understanding of male psychology.

This time her outfit had transformed into Nali Style women’s dress – a pale golden silk gown that accentuated her curves, her long hair tied back with a white rose hair accessory, and a white western hat completing the ensemble.

She looked at Fisher with a smile, then reached out to adjust his tie and gentleman’s hat. Her fingers mischievously brushed his cheek as she said,

"What’s the matter, spellbound? Compared to Kado’s conservative attire, you definitely prefer the Nali style, which is both beautiful and elegant, isn’t it?"

"I’ve been meaning to ask, where do you get so many clothes from?"

Fisher was baffled by where she acquired her clothes from, as Renie hadn’t brought any luggage with her on the trip, yet she often changed outfits.

"I bought them when I went back to Saint Nali."

"...You went back to Saint Nali to shop and then returned to the ship? Why go through all that trouble? You could have just gone to my place first and helped me clean up a bit."

Faced with Fisher’s clueless remarks, Renie darkened her face and pinched the muscles of Fisher’s arm, saying in a dangerously soft tone,

"Mind your own business!"

Following the flow of passengers, Fisher ran into Leba, a merchant he had met on the ship. Leba slowed down to greet Fisher, doffing his hat,

"Sir, I’m relieved the pirates we encountered earlier didn’t rob my goods, or I would’ve been in trouble... Oh, and here’s my business card. If you need any cigarettes or wine, please visit my store on Enco Street. Present this card and you’ll get a special price."

"Certainly."

Fisher took the offered business card, realizing that Leba’s store was a frequently seen chain in Saint Nali, indicating that he wasn’t just a small-time merchant as he had claimed.

After pocketing the card, he bid farewell to Leba and disembarked with Renie.

A number of local youths were eagerly approaching the disembarking passengers, their eyes lighting up at the prospect of carrying luggage for a fee. The service was not free, costing roughly 10 to 20 Narliou, depending on the weight of the luggage.

If given a little extra, they were also willing to carry the luggage out to the carriages, but Fisher had left most of his belongings in the Southern Continent, so he didn’t require their assistance.

"Fisher, I’ll wait for you outside."

At the customs checkpoint, Renie, lacking identification, naturally couldn’t pass through the government inspection with Fisher. She whispered in his ear before blending seamlessly into the crowd heading for customs, with a Hart Bird perched above the gate indicating her presence nearby.

Fisher glanced at the Hart Bird as he carried his luggage into the customs examination hall. This level was mainly for checking whether passengers were bringing dangerous items into Saint Nali. He remembered how a few years back, many traders had smuggled large snails from the Southern Continent, causing Saint Nali’s rivers to become overrun with them, impossible to completely eradicate.

The Council then issued the harshest customs ban to date, barring passengers from carrying any animals or plants through customs without special approval, to prevent a repeat of the Southern Continent snail incident.

Fisher had no dangerous items on him and quickly passed through after showing his documents, entering his hometown of Saint Nali.

The scent of the ocean and the lively atmosphere hit him as he faced a bustling crowd of government employees, local residents, newsboys, students, and government posters plastered all over the harbor.

"Environmental Protection Act—Take back our blue skies from the factories!"

"Midterm election proposals of the Exploration Party, the renovation plan for the Fourth District."

"The agenda to care for war orphans has been approved!"

"The Southern Continent Subhuman Protection Association is under construction, ’Cherish Life’ is our slogan!"

Many citizens who hadn’t been to Saint Nali in a while paused briefly in front of the political bulletin boards. Fisher was among them, rapidly scanning the messages to infer that the Exploration Party, commonly referred to as the New Party, still enjoyed high support rates, before he moved on, cane in hand.

The road before him was not dirty muck but carefully laid clean stone slabs, with horse-drawn carriages on either side and a tram track in the middle for public transport. Fisher glanced at the stops, figuring that seven or so stations from there would take him to his rented house.

Renie unexpectedly appeared next to Fisher, watching him as he started observing the station and then playfully pouted and poked his shoulder, saying,

"Don’t take the tram, I’ll treat you to a carriage ride back."

Fisher turned and glanced at her, wondering where she suddenly got all this money. She had also paid for his handcane, yet when she had stayed by his side, she used to eat his food and spend his money. How had she become so wealthy after parting with him?

"Where did you get the money?"

"A lady’s secret stash, gentlemen should never inquire~"

She flirtatiously touched up her lipstick and then tugged at Fisher’s sleeve, heading towards the other end of the street. They passed by many hurrying travelers and scenic views, with buildings by the port adorned with blue and white griffin flags, symbolizing the heart of Nali, Saint Nali.

"How does it feel, being back in Nali? Don’t you feel your breathing has become smoother?"

"It’s alright, at least I can drink genuine wine and coffee now."

"That’s good... In a few days, I’m going to set off again to really visit the southern part of Kado. The time I spent with you was very delightful, not bad at all."

Originally intending to find an excuse to send Renie away, Fisher now found himself with a different feeling when she herself said she was leaving, making him somewhat want to keep her around. When Fisher turned his head to look at her, he found her also looking at him with a mischievous smile, as if waiting for him to relay his sentiment.

Or perhaps, a look was enough.

"Take care of yourself."

There was nothing to avoid. After all, even if Renie wasn’t the Undying Witch he was seeking, she was still a deeply familiar friend. With a response both sincere and serious, Fisher met her teasing gaze.

"Humph, I knew you wouldn’t have anything nice to say. So, what are you planning to do next?"

"Publish papers, and earn some money. Things are tight at home."

"Wasn’t it giving the carriage to that Dragon-man Species that made you broke?"

"The 1500 Narliou ticket I bought for you was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. In that sense, there isn’t much difference between you two."

"...We’re dividing up yours and mine?"

"’A lady’s secret stash, gentlemen should never inquire’..."

Fisher repeated Renie’s words with a deadpan expression, upsetting her and confirming in her eyes that Fisher was indeed the man with the worst temper she knew.

The two bantered as they walked toward the carriages that would take them directly to their destination, sparing them from squeezing into a crowded train for an hour to get to Fisher’s rental room.

It must be said, the environmental legislation might really be effective. On the day Fisher returned to Saint Nali, the sky was unexpectedly clear, with the ocean breeze blowing by the port and across the faces of every Saint Nali resident, bringing with it the scent of the sea.

"Sir, would you like to try our shop’s newest coffee?"

"Welcome to the Maid Beverage Store!"

"Sir, could you help me out? I haven’t eaten in many days..."

Fisher’s steps hesitated slightly as he turned toward the last voice he heard.

Next to the port’s church, a group of filthy beggars lay underneath the platform’s shelter, a gathering place for the homeless as Saint Nali often experienced rain. Police sometimes chased them away, but no matter how they were driven off, they would always return.

Fisher’s arrival in Saint Nali was in the afternoon. Many of the beggars were napping, with only a few still actively shouting towards the street, hoping to encounter kind-hearted people like Fisher.

Extending his hand, Fisher tossed two Narliou coins into the hands of a beggar and then continued forward, handcane in hand.

"May the Mother Goddess bless you!! Welcome to Saint Nali!!"

The beggar behind him kept bowing, but Fisher, without looking back, uttered a phrase that he couldn’t understand at all,

"You should have faith in Ramasitia, She can hear you."

The beggar held the coins in his hand and tilted his head, obviously clueless to the meaning behind the well-dressed gentleman’s words.

He just kept repeating,

"Welcome to Saint Nali!"