Landlord in the Arctic
Chapter 207 - 202: Departure
Feng Mountain’s response instantly transformed the crowd’s disappointment and anxiety into excitement and anticipation, and they all began to speak up.
"Good God, he’s buying another boat."
"Boss, is it going to be a big ship like the River Beach, too?"
"I’m signing up! Alvin, take down my name."
"I’m willing to wait, as long as you give me a job opportunity."
...
The crowd buzzed with fervent discussion, everyone thrilled by the good news.
Seeing this, Feng Mountain breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
’If this kept up, we’d probably have to cancel our plan to set sail today.’
"Alright everyone, please disperse for now. You all know where Alvin’s house is. Go find him later to register your names. Blocking the entrance like this will affect traffic."
The island didn’t even have traffic lights.
’What traffic?’
However, the crowd listened and began to disperse in twos and threes.
After all, they had only come looking for work today. It would be great if they succeeded, but no big deal if they didn’t. Still, getting a promise from the owner of the *River Beach* meant the trip wasn’t a total loss.
Feng Mountain turned to Alvin and said, "Have the crew check the equipment and supplies one more time to ensure nothing is missed. We need to set sail as soon as possible."
Alvin nodded and quickly went to relay the orders.
「Merchant Fishing Pier.」
On the *River Beach*, the final pre-departure checks were being carried out in an orderly fashion.
Crew members bustled about the ship, diligently inspecting every piece of equipment and carefully inventorying all the supplies.
The status of supplies and equipment was reported from each compartment to the First Mate, who then reported to the captain.
Alvin picked up the intercom and turned on the ship-wide broadcast. His voice, full of power and fighting spirit, ignited a fire in every crewman’s heart.
"Alright, boys! Let’s go out there and get that money! The Evil Sea will fall to the sword of the *River Beach*! Move out!"
His voice echoed through every corner of the *River Beach* via the broadcast.
Before his voice had even faded, the *River Beach* let out a long blast from its horn. The sound was like a battle cry, and amidst the cheers of the crew, the ship slowly pulled away from the pier.
The hull cut through the calm surface of the sea, leaving a long, white wake behind it.
Then, an explosive, blood-pumping song, "Johnny Boy," blasted over the ship-wide broadcast, its rousing melody instantly filling the entire vessel.
The time has come, let’s go, my boy.
For the sails are already hoisted high,
I’ve known for long, you’ll follow us,
To sail far away.
You’re old enough now, if you want,
So come on quick, we’re leaving now,
Come on, my boy, be quick now,
For dark clouds gather in the sky,
Johnny boy, Johnny boy!!
The rhythm of the song matched the crew’s heartbeats—fast and powerful.
Every drumbeat was like a war drum, rallying them for the journey ahead. The intense rhythm bored into their ears, reaching deep into their souls and awakening the passion and fire hidden within.
As the *River Beach* crashed through the waves, its hull rising and falling, everyone swayed to the rhythm, their faces beaming with excitement.
The crew waved their arms and sang along loudly with the music. Their singing, mixed with the ship’s horn and the sound of the waves, created a unique seafaring symphony.
Inspired by the song, Young Master Xu and Su Ziweng felt as if they had transformed into seafaring pirates.
The heroic melody ignited the fire of adventure in their hearts, and their blood pumped with excitement.
With a yell, they rushed out of the wheelhouse and onto the deck, shouting with their arms raised high. The only thing missing was a cutlass in each hand.
Feng Mountain took a can of beer and leaned against the doorframe of the wheelhouse. He tilted his head back slightly and took a sip, the cool liquid bringing a pleasant sensation as it slid down his throat.
His gaze fell upon Young Master Xu and Su Ziweng, who were cheering and jumping for joy on the deck, and the corners of his mouth lifted into a slight smile.
’Just you wait.’
’You’re happy now, but later you two won’t even have time to cry.’
By now, the sun had fully risen, its golden light spilling across the glittering surface of the sea.
The *River Beach* cleaved through the waves, forging bravely ahead. The white spray kicked up by its bow sparkled like crushed diamonds in the sunlight.
However, not long after the *River Beach* left port, a dock worker took out his phone, stepped aside, and discreetly made a call. He kept glancing back at the receding ship, a mysterious look in his eyes.
Lowering his voice, he said into the phone, "The *River Beach* has left port."
After speaking, the worker quickly hung up and returned to his post, acting as if nothing had happened.
Moreover, he wasn’t the only one. Many other workers at the pier were relaying the news of the *River Beach’s* departure in various ways.
Some hid behind stacks of cargo to send text messages, their fingers flying across the screens. Others pretended to be on break, making quiet phone calls from a corner.
Although their actions seemed covert, a careful observer would have noticed that something was amiss.
This sort of thing was commonplace at the Merchant Fishing Pier—an open secret among everyone there.
The Merchant Fishing Pier was like an information exchange. Every ship’s departure and arrival, its cargo status, and even its crew changes became a focus of attention for certain people.
The eyes of the workers and fishermen were like sensitive detectors, constantly monitoring every move on the pier.
Here, information was wealth, power, and the key to survival.
This was especially true for the *River Beach*, which had shot to fame during the snow crab season. It was like a brilliant star appearing out of nowhere, shining with dazzling light in the sky of the 2017 snow crab season.
Catching over 600 tons of snow crab in a single week and earning over twenty million had won it the title of this year’s "Snow Crab King," cementing the *River Beach* as the center of everyone’s attention.
The holds were piled high with snow crabs, like a small mountain built of Franklins.