Harbor City Workshop.
Full name?
There is no full name—the signboard simply reads [Workshop], a symbol of its authority throughout all of Harbor City.
Busy.
That’s the first impression you get inside the workshop.
At this hour in the morning, a fresh batch of raw Pearl Oysters had just been delivered.
Several apprentices were squatting by the side, working hard to wash away the mud and sand, while a few others were preparing polishing equipment nearby.
“Ami, you said you’re not delivering the Siren Idols today, why?”
“Uh, bro, you know there was a fight at the Market yesterday afternoon, right.”
“I know, I heard they didn’t go to the Fish Market to sell fish today, but what’s that got to do with deliveries? The last Order is ready—two whole bags of Siren Idols. If you don’t take them over, they’ll definitely come looking for us.”
“I really can’t deliver them, bro, because I… I got involved in the fight yesterday too.”
“Huh?”
Ella saw a familiar face and overheard this conversation.
Not far away, two apprentice workers stared at each other, eyes wide.
The older one was assigning tasks, telling the younger Ami to deliver goods as usual, but Ami had no choice but to ask for leave.
He got into the fight yesterday afternoon—one punch, and he gave a frogman a black eye!
“You… I… You just wait until the Boss deals with you!”
The senior apprentice turned and headed inside, while Ami stood there, head hanging in dejection, until he heard the sound of footsteps.
He looked up and was delighted: “Miss, why are you here?”
“We’re here to see your Boss about something.”
Ella smiled warmly.
“Could you help introduce us?”
“Y-yes, of course!”
He led the way, but after just a few steps, he remembered something and glanced worriedly at the pretty girl with the pink hair—no, big sister: “About yesterday, the Boss might be really mad, since it delayed the trade with the Sirens…”
“It’s fine, just take us to him.”
Ella said gently.
“We’ll explain everything to him.”
“That’s great!”
Ami led the way, guiding them through the workshop, the rest area, corridors and hallways, and finally across a large courtyard, until they arrived in front of a palace-shaped building—just much smaller than a real palace.
It was quite unique…
The senior apprentice who had gone to complain was standing at the door.
Seeing people approach, he looked puzzled.
“Ami, what are you doing here? Who are they?”
“We’re honored guests.”
Ella said directly.
“Move aside, don’t hold up important business.”
Though her tone was gentle, the senior apprentice felt a wave of anxiety for no reason.
By the time he realized it, his body had already stepped aside on instinct.
“That’s fine. You can get back to your own work now.”
Ella called Ami back too—after all, they weren’t really here to talk business.
If anything happened, she didn’t want him to get caught up in it.
Then, the two girls stepped into the hall together.
Though it couldn’t compare with a real palace, for a daily living and working space, the inner hall of the workshop was still quite large.
Aside from various decorations, there was no work equipment, and in this spacious room, there was only one person.
On the way, Ami had introduced him—the Workshop Owner, named Dagon.
His hair wasn’t short, a ring of thick beard, about one meter ninety tall, with clearly visible muscles and a dark complexion—the classic build of an old craftsman.
At the sound of footsteps, he looked up, his long, narrow eyes glancing at the two girls.
“Who are you? How did you get in here?”
This time, Celes stepped forward: “We’re from the Royal City, authorized by the Kingdom, fully responsible for Harbor City’s diplomatic policies, and here to conduct an in-depth assessment of the local development potential. We’re here today to ask you some questions.”
“So you’re honored guests from the Royal City. Please have a seat, I’ll go get you some tea.”
Dagon scratched his neck and went to fetch a teapot.
Celes noticed this gesture and frowned slightly.
“No need for that. We just have a few questions. Have you ever had contact with the Sea Spirit Clergy?”
“Sea Spirit Clergy? There’s no such thing.”
Dagon stopped in his tracks, answering where he stood.
“No one’s ever seen one.”
“Then who placed all those Orders for Ritual Supplies?”
“Just the Sirens you see everywhere at the Fish Market. Rituals are their tradition.”
“Do you know anything about a Shrine that doesn’t exist in reality?”
“Nonsense. Never heard of it.”
It was a shameless answer, but no different from other people’s testimonies—Dory had said the same.
“Do you ladies have any other questions? If not, I should get back to work.”
Dagon said.
“There’s still a lot to do today.”
Celes frowned again, unable to think of a good idea for the moment—but thankfully, she wasn’t alone this time.
She looked at Ella, only to see the pink-haired, thunder-girl step forward, arms crossed below her chest, her aura suddenly becoming more imposing.
“Master Dagon, all the Sirens are on strike today. The goods you finished yesterday can’t be delivered. Do you really still have so much to do? Why not take the day off?”
“You must be joking, Miss. Even without any Ritual Orders, I have plenty of work every day.”
He flexed his muscular arm, pointing toward the front hall.
“Take those untreated Pearl Oysters, for example—just handling them is hard work.”
“Oh? I saw that just now too. Do you really have to process so many every day?”
“Of course.”
Dagon answered with those two simple words.
His tone was still polite, but there was a hint of impatience, as if he’d added a silent “what else would I do?”
Ella curled her lips in a smile, as if her plan had succeeded.
“Master Dagon, you know, I’ve done some clerical work before, so I have some experience and understanding of economics, which leaves me a little curious.”
The pink-haired, thunder-girl beauty who once led the Demon Race’s Currency Reform, tilted her head adorably as she faced the Workshop Owner.
“The moon rises and sets every day, the tides rise and fall every day, and every day, many Pearl Oysters are washed ashore. Every day, there are fishermen who gather them and bring them here. So, it’s natural that finished Pearl Oysters are produced daily. But why hasn’t Harbor City’s Currency System collapsed?”
Dagon’s face darkened.
“I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Then you’d better listen carefully—heave-ho~”
Ella climbed onto a chair, looking down at him from above.
“I know why. Although Pearl Oysters are overissued every day, they’re also consumed every day. The Sirens use Pearl Oysters as Ritual Supplies, so the ones they get never return to the market.”
“You all control the daily Supply Control, creating the illusion of Barter, spending large amounts of time and fish to gradually turn Pearl Oysters into Harbor City’s universal Currency. Though your exact goal is unclear, it’s obvious this is your doing.”
Ella crossed her arms below her chest again, delivering her final verdict: “If I’m not mistaken, you’re one of their Priesthood, aren’t you?”