Chapter 13: A Great Harvest

"Bang... Bang Bang..."

The knocking sounds continued, but the fishermen responsible for the rhythmic pounding were growing restless.

At first, the sounds were strong and firm, but now they had weakened, becoming feeble and lifeless, as if the energy had drained from them.

"Put in a little more effort! Everyone will receive five copper coins when we return!" Bruno cheered them on.

Hearing this, the fishermen's enthusiasm visibly increased.

After all... they might be acting foolish, but they were earning real money!

"Bang... Bang Bang..."

Following Lopida's commands, the fishermen struck the ship's hull rhythmically, waving their wooden clubs. By now, they no longer cared about how ridiculous they looked or what their lord was trying to accomplish. They were fully immersed in the rhythmic pounding—immersed in the promise of five copper coins.

Watching this chaotic scene, Bruno started feeling uneasy. After all... he had high hopes for this method.

He snatched a club from one of the fishermen and personally joined in.

"Bang! Bang Bang!"

The fishermen, though still unsure of their lord's intentions, struck with even greater enthusiasm. After all, they were making fools of themselves alongside a nobleman—a story worth bragging about later!

Gradually, Bruno felt his wrist ache, but he persisted.

He wanted fish!

He needed food!

After some time, Bruno noticed the once-blue seawater darkening as if something was gathering around the boat.

"Thud—"

A muffled sound came from the hull.

The sailors and fishermen gasped, momentarily panicked.

"Did we hit a reef? Could it be a reef?" someone shouted in terror.

Tension gripped the boat.

"The fish... are here..."

Bruno's eyes locked onto the water, a triumphant smile creeping onto his lips.

This was the moment he had been waiting for.

"Master… what do we do? If we hit a reef, we might be shipwrecked... I can't even swim!" Lopida wailed in despair.

"Shut up and look at the water," Bruno said impatiently, nodding toward the sea.

"Huh? What could be in the wat—" Lopida froze mid-sentence, eyes widening in disbelief.

Schools of fish—countless, massive fish—swarmed around the boat.

Lopida felt like he couldn't breathe. So many fish... This was all food!

The fishermen also noticed the astonishing scene.

Then, someone shouted:

"The fish are here! The fish are really here! Quick, start catching them!"

A stunned silence fell over the boat.

Then, an uproar.

"FISH! LOOK AT ALL THE FISH!"

"WE'RE GONNA BE RICH!"

Fishermen and sailors alike were in awe, rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

How could this be?

Was this... divine intervention?

At that moment, they all understood—

This rhythmic knocking could summon fish. This was unheard of!

Their gazes toward Bruno changed.

A nobleman truly knew more than anyone else…

Lopida was utterly speechless.

He had always thought his lord was a frivolous, uneducated noble. But now, it seemed Lord Bruno possessed extraordinary knowledge and wisdom far beyond ordinary men.

No wonder Shabi always said the lord was a man of great intelligence. Lopida had thought it was mere flattery, but now he saw it was true…

Shock gave way to frenzied labor.

The fishermen, still in disbelief, worked feverishly.

To them, fishing had always been a matter of luck—throwing a net and hoping for the best.

But today, Bruno had revealed a new way.

A way that could mean never going hungry again.

If this technique worked every time, their lives could change forever!

They cast their nets wildly, not even worrying about the best spots. Wherever they threw their nets, they hauled up a bounty of fish—big ones!

Bruno watched as net after net was heaved onto the deck, the fish piling up chaotically. His heart pounded with excitement.

With this endless supply of fish and the seaweed gathered by the serfs, half of his food problem was already solved. He would only need to buy a small amount of wheat and flour. That should be enough to feed the workers who would build the wonder he had in mind.

Bruno let out a long sigh of relief.

Fish flopped on the deck, the cold air with the scent of the sea. But the fishermen paid no mind. Like tireless machines, they cast their nets again and again.

Sweat dripped down their wrinkled faces, but with aching arms, they stubbornly repeated the motions.

The sheer number of fish thrilled not just Bruno but also the fishermen.

At that moment… they glimpsed a new future.

Time passed, and soon, the boat was overflowing with fish.

Satisfied, the exhausted fishermen slumped against the towering pile of fish, feeling an unprecedented sense of security.

Even as more fish swam beneath them, the boat could hold no more. It was time to return home.

One by one, the fishermen stood at the ship's railing, gazing wistfully at the fish left behind.

This was a harvest!

A magnificent, exhilarating harvest!

Bruno knew this success would change everything.

With the food issue resolved, there would be far less resistance to building his sky garden.

Now, he only needed to solve the funding problem, and the grand construction could finally begin…

Thinking of the system's promised reward, Bruno's heart pounded.

He could only hope it wouldn't disappoint him…