2 PM, Northern Island, jungle east of the river valley.
Lee So-yeon and two companions sat under a tree, staring at the deep jungle ahead, their expressions darkening.
Having waited nearly an hour, the man Lee So-yeon agreed to meet hadn't shown up.
"Sister So-yeon... could that guy have taken advantage of us and bailed?"
A companion beside her frowned and whispered nervously.
The skinned rabbit from the day before yesterday was meant to be roasted and shared. For the past week, the fish trap near the beach caught almost nothing. Everyone survived on dried fish stock, wild fruits, bananas, and vegetable soup.
Catching game was rare. Even a few pounds of rabbit meat were precious in this situation. Losing it for nothing would be heartbreaking.
"Don't worry, let's wait a bit longer."
Compared to her nervous companions, Lee So-yeon appeared much calmer.
But her crossed arms and nails scratching her elbows betrayed her inner panic.
Could he have seen through my plan?
A rabbit as a favor to gain leverage in future negotiations, build rapport, and make him covet her beauty to extract more benefits...
As a former K-pop idol, Lee So-yeon knew her charm well.
But they agreed on 2 PM during the morning call. It was nearly 3 PM, and Chuck was nowhere to be seen. Unless he saw through her and wanted to show he didn't value her by being late, there seemed no other reason.
"Could he have been... eaten by the monster over there?"
"..."
Hearing the other companion's guess, Lee So-yeon frowned deeper.
The northern river valley was extremely dangerous. About two months ago, shortly after establishing the settlement, a companion ventured too deep into the jungle gathering fruit and firewood and never returned. Lee So-yeon and her sister searched, finding only a shoe covered in blood and minced meat on the valley outskirts...
Since then, the river valley became forbidden ground. Fortunately, the northern beach and jungle were vast enough to sustain them until now.
But this man, Chuck, was the only hope Lee So-yeon had waited for so long. If he was wary, fine. But if he really died to the monster in the northern valley, she'd rather he had seen through her.
"No way. He's tall and strong. And from what Tang said, he's not ordinary. He shouldn't die just like that."
"Ms. Lee is right about that."
Suddenly, a laughing voice rang out. The three women looked towards the sound in unison. In the distant jungle, Chuck's figure finally emerged slowly.
Lee So-yeon's heart skipped a beat.
He heard that?
But looking at where he appeared, he's still far in the jungle. I didn't speak loudly. Is his hearing that good?
More importantly... when did he start eavesdropping?!
Despite thoughts flashing through her mind, seeing the approaching Chuck and his indifferent smile, Lee So-yeon forced herself to dismiss these concerns.
Regardless of her thoughts, she couldn't show weakness during negotiation. Otherwise, the groundwork and bait from two days ago would be wasted.
"Didn't we say 2 PM? Why are you so late without a word?"
Looking at Chuck's smile, Lee So-yeon frowned, not hiding her dissatisfaction, questioning him directly.
"Haha, sorry Ms. Lee. Something came up at noon, got excited and lost track of time."
Chuck stopped before them, stretching his waist and legs, answering truthfully while unloading the basket from his back.
After the essential oil massage, a fierce battle of intestines was inevitable. Since Yitong was also the cook, after pounding the two voluptuous mature women, it took a long time to recover and eat lunch. Chuck then dressed, packed, and rushed over, speeding through the volcanic zone again, deftly avoiding the giant bird.
So while he did see through Lee So-yeon's tactics, being late wasn't intentional.
Chuck's gaze fell on the palm basket behind the three women.
It contained only a few wild fruits and bananas, not even a fish.
He sneered internally.
Before coming, they agreed on the trade via text. For the first transaction, Lee So-yeon proposed fruits and bananas. Chuck's offering depended on what he brought.
First trade between north and south settlements—testing the waters was fine.
But Chuck didn't expect Lee So-yeon's "fruits and bananas" to be such a small basket...
Too shabby, right?
Even on a good day, Momo could gather this much just wandering around.
But looking at their expressions, they didn't seem to find it shabby. They were even expectant of what he brought.
He understood.
Chuck thought Lee So-yeon would invest more in this first trade to lure him into her trap. Unexpectedly, she started with maximum poverty.
Seems they really are poor.
Makes sense.
Since building the greenhouse, shed, and fishing pier, his household never worried about food. Their diet rivaled rural home cooking. Wild fruits and vegetables had long shifted from staples to nutritious snacks.
Chuck's valuation of these supplies differed vastly from Lee So-yeon's.
The situation might be even easier than he thought.
Months ago, these supplies might not have tempted modern people just stranded. But for survivors trapped for months like him, it was different.
"Mr. Chuck, may I ask... what did you bring for exchange?"
Seeing Chuck unresponsive, Lee So-yeon urged him, finally showing a trace of impatience on her polite, cool face.
Accepting her precious rabbit, making her wait an hour, causing a fight with her sister last night—if she got nothing, she'd be furious.
"Not much."
Chuck smiled calmly, bent down, and took a brick-sized package wrapped in palm leaves from his basket. He stepped forward and placed it in the hands of a South Asian woman approaching him.
"...What is this?"
The woman frowned, asking in curry-accented English. But the next moment, a faint aroma drifted into her nose, stunning her. Her throat swallowed involuntarily.
This is... the smell of meat?!
Faint smoky scent mixed with grease aroma made her salivate uncontrollably after two months without a full meal. Under Lee So-yeon's surprised gaze, she eagerly unwrapped the leaves.
When opened, the contents and aroma were fully exposed.
A large block of thickly sliced, stacked, smoked meat! And the smell... likely lamb!
Gulp.
Swallowing sounds came from all three women. What they coveted most wasn't the meat itself, but the source of the alluring aroma...
Fat. Or rather, the fatty parts of the lamb.
To modern people with ample food, fat isn't as good as lean meat. But in harsh conditions, fat is far more precious.
Carbs, fat, protein—lacking any causes health issues and cravings. The island offered fruits for carbs and occasional fish/rabbit for protein. But fat sources were pitifully scarce.
Besides fish oil and scant rabbit fat, only some fruit kernels offered a little.
Poor peasants of the old era worked all year to kill a pig for New Year, saving the lard for a year's cooking. Even the cracklings were treasured in dumplings, leaving a lingering taste.
Lee So-yeon and her women were in a worse state than old peasants. Imagine how tempting this high-quality smoked lamb was.
But that wasn't all.
"And this."
While they drooled over the lamb, Chuck bent down again and took out two cold roasted sweet potatoes.
He walked directly to the dazed Lee So-yeon, placing the substantial sweet potatoes in her hands. He looked down with a friendly smile.
"Is this enough?"
If Lee So-yeon wanted to use a rabbit as a favor, Chuck would return it with lamb and sweet potatoes.
Giving her a taste of her own medicine.
A rabbit couldn't sway Chuck. But lamb and sweet potatoes for Lee So-yeon... were different.
Though less in volume than the fruit basket, their value was incomparable.
Lamb was premium meat. Sweet potatoes were a real staple. In other words, to survivors living on fruits and coconuts, this was the long-missed...
Proper "meal."
"En... Enough."
Holding a sweet potato in each hand, Lee So-yeon's brain short-circuited from the shock. She missed Chuck's intent, completely immersed in the surprise and awe of the unexpected harvest.
"Good."
Chuck nodded, walked past them, picked up their basket, and turned to leave without hesitation.
"That's it then. Pleasure doing business."
"Mr. Chuck... wait!"
Finally recovering, Lee So-yeon shouted at his back.
Chuck turned calmly, smiling.
"Anything else?"
"This meat... and sweet potatoes, Mr. Chuck... where did you get them?"
"With my own hands, of course."
Chuck answered as if it were obvious. "This island is rich in resources. As long as you're willing to work hard, there's nothing you can't get."
With that, he walked into the jungle, disappearing from Lee So-yeon's sight.
She stared at where he vanished, unblinking. Minutes later, she turned and handed the sweet potatoes to another empty-handed companion.
"Don't waste the potatoes and meat. Cut them into chunks and make soup for everyone tonight."
"Okay!"
Her companions couldn't hide their excitement, hugging the food and running back towards the settlement.
Leaving Lee So-yeon standing alone, her expression growing complex.
As long as you're willing to work hard... there's nothing you can't get?
How can he say it so lightly?