Reincarnated as a Fisherman and a Dad Chapter 110
Brandon and Karlos worked together to pull the traps. It had been almost two months since Brandon started working with Karlos, catching lobsters and doing long-line fishing.
At first, Brandon was shocked that this place had so many lobsters. Each haul felt unreal, almost unbelievable. It was a mystery, but also a blessing, one that both Brandon and Karlos were grateful for.
In fact, a few kilometers east of the island was where Karlos and Brandon usually did long-line fishing. Last month, during salmon season, that spot had been abundant with salmon despite being close to the shore, where most people wouldn't expect to find large fish. Most fishermen had to venture farther out to sea, risking more fuel and time, just to catch salmon.
Brandon felt that the surroundings were unique. The sea was calmer, the air fresher, and the fish unusually plentiful, although he didn't know the exact reason why.
Even now, they had been catching lobsters for many days, yet the supply never seemed to diminish. It was as if the sea itself kept refilling them.
Almost as if this region of the sea was blessed by the Sea Goddess.
Brandon kept the thought to himself. He didn't want to make empty assumptions or sound foolish. Besides, as long as they kept working and earning money, he didn't mind the uniqueness of this fishing spot at all.
Once they were done collecting twenty-five lobsters, slightly more than yesterday, Karlos and Brandon grinned at each other with satisfaction. After securing the traps, they decided to check out the island.
"What time is it now?"
"Let me see…" Karlos took out his phone.
"4:54 am."
"Alright, let's go to the island now. We're already done catching lobsters. We can wait for the sunrise there. Once there's enough light, we can immediately start harvesting abalones without delay," Brandon said.
Karlos agreed and started the engine, the quiet rumble echoing gently across the sea.
Neither of them had a problem stepping into the water, especially when money was involved. If they could maximize their time catching abalones, it would be ideal. Fortunately, the weather was less cold compared to a month ago. The air carried a soft breeze instead of biting cold, making it far more bearable. If they had done this in December, Karlos might not have lasted long. He wasn't like Brandon, who had strong resistance against the cold.
As the boat got closer to the beach, Karlos suddenly sensed something and stopped the engine. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, an instinctive reaction.
"Did you see something?" Brandon asked, confused as to why Karlos hadn't docked the boat. The vessel gently swayed on the water.
"Brandon, use your flashlight and look at the island."
Aside from the moon and stars, the surroundings were pitch dark. It was a quiet, eerie kind of darkness where even the sound of waves felt distant.
"Alright." Brandon turned on the flashlight and pointed it toward the beach.
Every hair on his body stood on end.
A chill ran down his spine, and his breath caught in his throat. He couldn't speak for a moment. Even Karlos was shocked by what he saw.
"Fuck… this place is infested with sea snakes!" Brandon swallowed hard as he stared at hundreds of snakes crawling across the sand, their bodies glistening under the pale beam of the flashlight.
"Thank the Goddess we didn't step onto the island. Otherwise, something bad might've happened," Brandon said with a shaky sigh of relief.
Sea snakes were venomous and extremely dangerous. Even a small amount of venom could be fatal.
"You've got good instincts, Karlos."
"It's nothing. I just felt something strange when we got closer."
"We've never really inspected this island in the dark before."
"I mean, we couldn't. It's too dark."
The two men continued watching the beach as the snakes crawled slowly across the sand. Their movements were sluggish but deeply unsettling, making their skin crawl with discomfort.
"Let's… let's move away for now. Some of those snakes might crawl into the boat if we stay too close."
The engine revved again, and the boat slowly distanced itself from the island, leaving ripples on the water. Once they were far enough, the men began discussing their plan seriously.
"What now?" Brandon asked.
"We didn't see any sea snakes yesterday. That means they probably leave the island once the sun rises. Let's wait," Karlos said.
"But sunrise won't be until around 6 am."
"Then we'll have to wait another hour or so."
"What about the tide?"
"We don't have a choice."
The tide usually started to recede between 5 and 6 am, with low tide lasting one to three hours depending on the moon, local geography, and conditions. Yesterday, they worked for two hours until the tide returned. Even then, they continued until the water reached their chests, that was when they finally stopped.
With no other option, the two waited for sunrise.
To pass the time, they talked about simple things. Brandon mentioned that he was happy his parents now had a new form of entertainment which was watching television. However, he was also frustrated that his older siblings kept asking their parents for money, especially when that money originally came from Brandon himself.
Still, he never stopped his parents from giving them money. It was their choice.
Even so, Brandon admitted that it made him uncomfortable. His siblings were able-bodied adults who could work. They didn't need to squeeze their parents dry like that.
Their conversation ended when the first light of dawn appeared, a thin golden line breaking through the dark horizon of the sea. The sunrise was breathtaking. No matter how many times they witnessed it, it never failed to amaze and calm them.
Today, they had the rare chance to truly appreciate the view. The sky slowly shifted from deep blue to warm orange. Normally, they would already be working by now, pulling long lines or hauling traps. Only today did they have the time to properly watch the sunrise and admire its quiet grandeur.
"Let's wait a few more minutes before heading back to the island," Karlos said, and Brandon agreed.
Just as they expected, when they returned, the snakes had gradually disappeared back into the sea. The warmth of the rising sun acted like an alarm, driving them away instinctively. Karlos didn't know how it truly worked, but he was just glad the snakes were gone.
Once the beach was clear, the boat docked safely. Both men carried their buckets and tools. Brandon brought his flat screwdriver, the cold metal resting firmly in his palm.
With the sun lighting up the surroundings, revealing wet sand, dark rocks, and scattered seashells, they had no trouble moving around. Still, they remained cautious. After all, the snakes had only just left. There was always the chance that a few were still hiding under rocks or seaweed.
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[Author's Note:]
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