The Rich Cultivator
Chapter 191. Stalking

Chapter 191: 191. Stalking

"Big Sis... Trust me. This little guy is definitely worth it. We should try to lure him to our department," Hawk said, her tone unusually serious as she stared at the virtual screen before her. The urgency in her voice was clear. "If we don’t do something soon, our college might be permanently removed from the list of branches of Starfire Academy."

On the other side of the virtual call, Hawk’s superior, known simply as "Big Sis," was focused on several tasks at once. She wore a sleek, tech-enhanced helmet, her hands moving rapidly in the air as if typing on invisible keys. She seemed deep in thought, multitasking as she dealt with other matters.

"I understand," Big Sis replied after a brief pause. "He even has the medal, which means he’s definitely worthy enough to join Starfire Academy, according to our higher-ups."

Hawk felt a surge of excitement at Big Sis’s recognition of the boy’s potential. She was already imagining how recruiting someone like Tyler could save their department, and perhaps even gain them some fame within the academy. But her excitement was quickly cut short when Big Sis suddenly stopped typing and asked, "What do you know about him?"

Hawk hesitated for a second, blinking as if she’d been caught off guard. "He’s cute..." she blurted out, the words escaping her before she could stop them.

Big Sis raised an eyebrow. "And?" she prodded, waiting for a more substantial response.

"That’s all I know..." Hawk confessed, lowering her head in embarrassment.

A long sigh escaped from the other side of the screen. Big Sis pinched the bridge of her nose, exasperated. "So, let me get this straight," she began slowly, "you were just flirting with a young man you happened to stumble upon by coincidence?"

Hawk winced at how blunt her Big Sis was, but she wasn’t about to give up that easily. "A wise turtle once said, ’there are no coincidences.’ It must be destiny!" she proclaimed, trying to make her moment of discovery sound profound while conveniently ignoring how flustered she’d been when she first met Tyler.

Big Sis’s expression didn’t change. "That’s ’there are no accidents,’ and it wasn’t a turtle—it was a tortoise," she corrected with a shake of her head. "And this isn’t about destiny, Hawk. We need solid facts about this kid."

Hawk grimaced. She knew Big Sis was right, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. "Fine, fine," she muttered under her breath. "I’ll keep an eye on him. Maybe I’ll learn more about what he’s capable of. He does seem... different."

Big Sis looked skeptical but allowed it. "Go and keep an eye on him, then. Report back once you know more. We need to figure out what we can offer him that’ll convince him to choose our department over the others."

Hawk’s eyes gleamed with excitement. "Stalking him... I can do that!" she said with more enthusiasm than was appropriate for the task. She wiped away the small bead of drool forming at the corner of her mouth as she envisioned her new "mission."

┉┈ ◈ ◉ ◈ ┈┉

Meanwhile, Tyler, who had no idea that a perverted stalker was observing him, returned to shore after a productive day. As soon as his feet hit the sand, Darla came running toward him with enthusiasm, her face lighting up when she saw him.

"Boss White! Vice Captain Lily told me to check the specialty products of this island," Darla said, catching her breath before handing him a jar. "Other than pearls, seaweed, and some fish, these dried fish are pretty famous here."

Tyler took the jar from her, noticing the heavy, salty scent that emanated from it. He squinted at the contents. "Dried fish?" he asked.

Darla nodded eagerly. "Yes! According to the locals, these products are highly sought after on the other islands. The dried fish can be stored for weeks, which makes them really popular among adventurers. Fishermen here sell them to other islands once or twice a month."

"Good work," Tyler said, smiling. Darla blushed at the compliment, her heart fluttering. She’d developed a bit of a crush on her young captain ever since they began working together, and it was hard to resist how charming he could be in his smaller form.

Tyler’s expression grew thoughtful as he considered the information. After a few moments, he asked, "What do the islanders need? What’s in demand here?"

Darla snapped back into business mode, clearing her throat before answering. "They need almost everything. The islands don’t have advanced facilities, so they rely heavily on traveling merchants for their supplies. In fact, they’re eager to buy as much as they can from us. People from other islands in the Triangle are on their way to trade, too."

"Interesting," Tyler mused. "Darla, ask them if we can buy some land on one of these islands. Better yet, see if we can purchase an entire island."

Darla’s eyes widened. "An entire island?" she repeated, a little stunned by the sudden request. But seeing Tyler’s calm determination, she nodded. "I’ll speak to the elders."

As Darla hurried off to complete the task, high above in the sky, hidden by a powerful concealment array, Hawk was spying on Tyler from her hoverboard. She had been following him ever since her conversation with Big Sis, determined to find out more about this intriguing young man.

"Cute... rich... young," Hawk murmured to herself, once again wiping away imaginary drool as she watched Tyler’s every move.

---

Five days passed since Tyler’s crew had arrived on the island. In that time, Tyler had rented a manor where the group stayed together, using the downtime to plan and organize. Mana, their mysterious companion, had sent Tyler a telepathic message saying she was off to hunt treasure beneath the Triangle Islands, so her presence was notably absent.

Three days ago, Darla had come back with news about Tyler’s request. "The smallest island in the Triangle is Blueford Town," she reported. "It’s the size of a small town, and it’s the only one they’re willing to sell. The people there are struggling, and it doesn’t have much in terms of resources."

Tyler had listened carefully and made his decision without hesitation. "We’ll buy it," he had said, paying the full amount for the island on the spot.

Blueford Town was the smallest and poorest of the islands in the Triangle. It had no natural rivers or vegetation, and its residents had been eager to sell their homes, seeing no future for themselves there. But Tyler wasn’t deterred. He saw opportunity where others saw scarcity.

Over the next week, Tyler set to work on his grand plans for Blueford Town. Hawk, still watching from afar, was flabbergasted by the scale and speed of his efforts. In just days, Tyler transformed the rundown island into a bustling trading hub. With his extensive resources and sharp mind, he built a new port, marketplaces, and inns, turning Blueford Town into a center of commerce in the Triangle Islands. His efforts didn’t stop there—Tyler made strategic deals with the locals to secure exclusive contracts for their dried fish and other local specialties. He wasted no time in setting up a network to import goods from the New Rose Kingdom, expanding the island’s trade capabilities significantly.

Additionally, Tyler sent a team to establish a branch on the neighboring island to oversee import and export operations, while also hiring a group of mercenaries to assist with construction and maintain security. His efficient management quickly breathed new life into the island. The residents of Blueford Town were stunned by the transformation, going from poverty-stricken isolation to being at the heart of the Triangle’s growing trade. It wasn’t long before word spread across the nearby islands about the rise of this new trading powerhouse, now known as the White Trading Center.

Meanwhile, up in the skies, Hawk was watching the entire operation unfold with her jaw practically on the floor. She had underestimated Tyler’s influence, expecting perhaps a rich boy who was showing off a little wealth. But what she witnessed was something else entirely. Tyler was building an empire right in front of her eyes, and Hawk was at a loss for words.

Every day, Hawk reported back to her Big Sis, who was equally amazed by Tyler’s swift and strategic rise. "This kid... he must be from a major merchant family, right?" Big Sis guessed after hearing Hawk’s updates. "He doesn’t just have money—he knows how to use it. He’s got the connections and the foresight of someone who’s been trained for this."

"He didn’t even flinch at buying an entire island," Hawk added, still in awe.

Big Sis frowned, her helmet casting a shadow over her eyes as she tapped away at invisible keys. "We’re going to need something significant if we want to attract him to our department. He clearly doesn’t lack resources, and he has plenty of opportunities. What do you think he’s interested in?"

Hawk paused, thinking back to her interactions with Tyler. "He... uh... seemed to really like my hoverboard," she offered, recalling the way his eyes had lingered on the sleek device when they first met.

Big Sis raised an eyebrow. "Your hoverboard?

"Yeah he looked at it like how I looked at him."

"What does that mean?"

"He looked at it like he wanted to remove it naked and play with it."

"..."

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