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With a cat perched on his head like a hat, Leo quickly arrived at the Mountain Lake near the Mines.
Novices often make the mistake of fishing at the ocean in the early game simply because they receive the fishing rod at the beach. It's a trap.
Ocean fish are erratic, difficult to catch with the basic bamboo pole, and often less valuable. Sure, there are some high-value fish, but for a beginner with a tiny "fishing bar," it's an exercise in frustration.
Lake fish are superior. The Carp literally doesn't move—it's free money. The Largemouth Bass is worth 100g and is easy to hook. In terms of cost-effectiveness and stamina usage, the lake destroys the ocean.
"I ate a mushroom skewer for this," Leo muttered, his eyes burning with determination. "My fate is determined by me, not by heaven!"
Leo, burning stamina to force the game mechanics, turned into a ruthless fishing machine.
No bait? No problem. Bamboo pole durability? Infinite.
As long as he had stamina, this rod wouldn't break even if Yukari Yakumo was playing tug-of-war with it.
"Meow!"
Feeling the vibration of the rod, Leo yanked it back, hooking a Carp into mid-air.
Chen (Orange), who was sunbathing on top of his head, meowed a battle cry. She leaped up, caught the Carp mid-air with a graceful backflip, landed on her feet, and dunked the fish into the cooler.
Perfect coordination.
"Well done, Kitty."
"Leo is amazing too, meow!"
Leo high-fived Chen's pink paw pads and cast the line again. Human and cat worked together like a well-oiled machine.
From a distance, Marisa, Reimu, and the others—who were out for a walk to digest their mushroom feast—watched the interaction with fond smiles.
Anyone who gets along with Chen can't be a bad person.
Twenty fish disappeared into the cooler in record time. It only took a few hours for Leo to complete the unlock quest.
"Chen," Leo said solemnly, kneeling down. "I formally invite you to play in Stardew Valley. Do you accept?"
He placed Chen on top of the cooler full of fish, treating the moment with the gravity of a marriage proposal.
"I do, meow!"
Chen, in her black cat form, held her head high and accepted.
A card resembling an ID Card materialized in the air. Chen placed her paw on it. The card erupted in light, displaying her info and a cute paw print stamp.
Stardew Valley Resident No. 001 Name: Chen (Orange) Residence: None (Homeless)
At the same time, a new function unlocked: Phone Duplication.
It was free. Leo could now spawn countless smartphones identical to Yukari's. These devices allowed residents to contact him, browse his shop, and access the Commission Board.
"Congratulations, Chen."
Leo handed her a phone with a crimson paw print design on the back.
"As the first resident, you can choose any house to live in. If you want to build your own, that's fine too. Check the map app to see available lots."
He opened the map for her.
"Meow... I don't understand," Chen squinted at the screen. "What are all these 3D boxes?"
She was just a cute cat. Why did she need to understand zoning laws?
While Chen was struggling, four heads leaned over her shoulder.
"Chen chooses this one," Yukari's slender finger pointed decisively at the most luxurious building on the map.
Youkai were not shy. They didn't believe in "humble beginnings." Whoever had the biggest fist got the best house.
Leo looked.
It was Lewis's Manor—the Mayor's house. The biggest, most ostentatious building in town.
"Leo, is that okay?" Chen looked up with big, watery eyes. Honestly, she just needed a cardboard box or a warm basket. A mansion seemed excessive.
"Of course," Leo smiled. "You are Resident No. 001. You get first pick. Let's go take a look."
The group walked south, passed the Community Center, and entered the town.
"These empty buildings are prepared for future residents," Leo explained as they walked. "But there's a catch. Every building comes with a responsibility. If you choose a house, you must fulfill its function. If you slack off, you get evicted."
He pointed to the white building. "That's the Clinic. If you live there, you have to be the town doctor."
"That one is Pierre's General Store. You have to run the shop."
"That's the Saloon. That's the Blacksmith. The Museum. The Carpenter's Shop."
"These places aren't free housing. You have to create value for Stardew Valley."
They arrived in front of the Mayor's Manor.
"The house you chose is the Mayor's residence," Leo said. "Its responsibility is Town Management. You have to mediate disputes, ensure harmony among residents, and organize festivals to keep everyone happy."
Chen blinked. Festivals? Parties? That she could do.
Leo tapped his phone. The blank nameplate on the gate shimmered and changed to: [Chen's House].
"You can change the name whenever you want. The map updates in real-time. Also, see these two dots? One is you, one is me. We share location data. If you get lost, just look at the map."
Leo pushed the door open.
Everyone fell silent.
The interior, which looked as luxurious as the Scarlet Devil Mansion from the outside, was... completely empty.
Just a bare wooden shell. No furniture. No wallpaper. Just echoes.
"Is it convenient for the Kappa Heavy Industries team to come over?" Yukari sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Although Nitori is a greedy profiteer, her technology is undeniable."
Yukari had assumed it would be furnished. Just like when she first arrived at the Wizard's Tower, she had actually pulled furniture out of her gaps to make it look lived-in for Leo. She hadn't realized the base state of the world was "unfurnished rental."
"It might be troublesome," Leo shrugged. "I need to complete unlock conditions before I can invite new people. Chen's task was just 20 fish. I don't know Nitori's task."
"If I don't invite them, they can't interact with the world. Unless I stand there and personally supervise every nail they hammer, they can't build anything."
He spread his hands. "There is one solution: Let me see the person. Once I meet them face-to-face, their profile unlocks, and I can see the requirements."
"I'm very curious what our unlock conditions are," Marisa chimed in.
She had sobered up from her mushroom high. She was eyeing the Apothecary building across the river. It looked perfect for her. If the condition was simple, she wanted to move in and experiment with brewing potions using Stardew ingredients.