Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 111
When the two reached the reefs, the water was around their stomachs, a height just enough for them to do their job. The water was clear, and they could see the abalones without any problem. They looked around and confirmed that there were no sea snakes nearby. The tide was slowly receding, exposing sharp rocks and seaweed-covered stones that shimmered faintly under the early light.
With the buckets floating beside them, slightly filled with water to maintain buoyancy and balance, they began their task.
Karlos and Brandon took a deep breath and dived into the water almost simultaneously. They spotted their respective targets clinging stubbornly to the rocks. Karlos took a few seconds to pry an abalone loose before resurfacing to place the catch into the bucket.
He glanced at Brandon, impressed by his ability to stay underwater longer. When Brandon finally stood up, he had already chipped off three abalones in a single dive.
They continued working despite the cold water. Their routine went on in silence, broken only by splashes and the scraping sound of metal against rock. Things became easier when the tide dropped to knee level, allowing them to move without diving anymore.
"Huh…?"
As visibility improved, Karlos noticed something strange. He stared at a section of the reef with confusion.
'I believe I already cleaned this spot yesterday. Why are there dozens of abalones here? Perhaps some abalones move into this spot overnight.'
Yet when he looked around, the abalones structure on the reefs didn't seem to have changed at all.
'Does that mean new abalones arrived overnight? Do abalones even move that fast?' He had no idea. He always thought abalones were like marine snails, slow and mostly stationary.
Perhaps this island is just so unique that many sea creatures want to stay near it.
He decided not to dwell on it. His job was simple, chip the abalones off the reef.
When the tide completely receded and the reef was no longer submerged, both men could move freely without restriction. The natural pools within the reef were filled with abalones. Shallow puddles glistened under the morning sun, clustered shells packed tightly together. Karlos and Brandon were grinning from ear to ear as they worked faster, motivated by the sight.
Now, however, their enemy was no longer the tide, but the sun. It beat down mercilessly on their backs, as if trying to cook them alive. If it were already noon, they probably wouldn't last long. Even their wet clothes were beginning to dry.
"I heard sunbathing before 8 am is healthy. It helps the body produce vitamin D," Karlos said casually.
"Yeah, I've heard that too… but shouldn't it be before 7 am?" Brandon replied.
"I guess so."
They ignored the sweat dripping down their faces as they crouched and continued collecting abalones. Even so, they remained alert. The island was known to be a resting ground for sea snakes, and what they had seen earlier still sent shivers down their spines.
Around 8:30 am, the tide began returning noticeably. At first, they could still move with water around their feet. But as the waves strengthened, catching abalones became difficult and dangerous.
"Let's do one last dive."
"Alright."
With their wet shirts clinging to their skin, the two dived into the reef once more. Karlos managed to catch two abalones before resurfacing for air. Brandon followed soon after, carrying even more. The tide had now reached their chests.
They walked out of the sea, their buckets now far from the water and heavy with abalones. As they placed their final catch inside, they felt satisfied. They had harvested more than yesterday, about two and a half buckets in total. They had definitely maximized their time.
With the tide returning steadily, they decided it was time to head to the fish port and sell their catch. They removed their wet clothes and changed, relieved to be dry again.
As they walked back to the beach, they were fortunate not to encounter any sea snakes. The sand beneath their feet was warm.
They loaded the buckets onto the boat, then pushed it into the water. Karlos started the engine while Brandon checked on the lobsters.
"One of the lobsters died."
"We can sell it at a cheaper price. No one will turn down a lobster anyway."
Living in a fishing town, lobsters were something they ate often. There were even times when Karlos secretly left seafood behind for them to snack on while drinking beer. Lobsters were delicious, and there was always demand for them.
"So when are the twins' birthdays again? I need to prepare gifts. Also… will there be alcohol?" Brandon asked.
Knowing how much Maya disliked alcohol, Brandon felt that this was the most important question.
"It's January 20. Bring money and gifts for the kids."
"Even money? Children's Blessed Day already passed. Why bring money?"
"Either money of gift. Also, wear something decent. The owner of the villa will attend, along with his friends."
"Damn. I guess I'll have to mind my manners then." Brandon muttered.
When they arrived at the fish port, it was as busy and crowded as ever. Fishermen and buyers moved constantly. Abalones and lobsters were premium seafood, and buyers wasted no time purchasing them. In total, the two earned 51,000 pesos.
Some fishermen were curious about where they had caught their seafood, but Karlos and Brandon were already gone. Even if asked directly, they wouldn't answer unless the person was a trusted friend.
The ocean was vast, but Karlos wasn't generous enough to share his fishing spots freely. At most, he would tell a few close friends. If others eventually discovered the island, there was nothing he could do. No one owned the island or the surrounding waters. Everyone had the right to fish there.
All Karlos could do was monopolize the place for as long as possible.
He and Brandon had already agreed to keep everything about the lobsters and abalones to themselves. They were well within their rights, after all, they were trying to protect their livelihood.
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[Author's Note:]
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