A wise man once said, "Money is for women to see, not for women to spend."
In times of scarcity, money and food are often mentioned together because, in special circumstances, food is a more reliable currency than gold.
War, natural disasters, or being stranded on a deserted island.
So the wise man's words apply perfectly here.
Lee So-yeon's petty scheme was clear to Chuck, thanks to his enhanced perception. Even without hearing it, he could have guessed. He countered her tactic with more force.
Because Chuck had more and better resources!
The lamb and sweet potatoes were just a starter. As trades continued, Chuck's resources would give him increasing leverage.
On this island, starving women tasting lamb would want a second bite. Tasting fruit wine would make them crave more. It was inevitable.
Temptation and greed drive people to do things they wouldn't normally do, to become people they weren't before.
Even if Lee So-yeon could restrain herself, what about her companions?
Once, Chuck controlled Yitong and Kaoru through fear of death and desire for survival. Now, though the methods were milder, the essence remained the same.
Using superior conditions to dismantle their dignity step by step, making them succumb to desire, and finally offering everything, including their bodies, to him...
Thinking this, Chuck, deep in the jungle, stored his items and activated the recall skill by a tree. The image of the sisters' long legs and exquisite, cool K-pop idol faces surfaced in his mind.
Those sisters were indeed top-tier.
The elder sister cool and elegant, the younger stylish and exquisite. Even he felt a slight itch.
The old Chuck might have been impatient, but not now. He had time and energy. With patience, the day he pressed the sisters together on his bed...
Would come sooner or later.
...
That evening.
Northern beach jungle, settlement.
In a clay pot, diced sweet potatoes and lamb boiled with fresh wild vegetables. The aroma made the gathered women salivate uncontrollably.
Almost everyone, including Lee So-yeon, sat by the fire, staring eagerly at the pot, longing for a sip of the fatty meat soup...
Except Lee Na-eun, who stood far outside the settlement, arms crossed, leaning against a palm tree, staring blankly at the dark blue sea.
Her pink hair was frizzy, her delicate face haggard, with heavy dark circles under her eyes.
Sometime later, the faint aroma drifted over. A familiar figure approached silently over the dry leaves, handing her a bamboo tube filled with meat soup.
"Eat a little, Na-eun. Don't be angry with Unnie anymore."
"I'm not angry. I said, if you dare deal with that man, I'll die to show you."
Hearing her sister's pleading voice, Lee Na-eun's expression remained cold. She stared resolutely at the sea beyond the jungle.
Two days ago, spotting Chuck in the jungle, she immediately returned to warn everyone, wanting to drive the intruder away.
But Lee So-yeon told her to calm down and went to negotiate. After fierce protests, Lee So-yeon had her tied up with vines alongside Tang Yumo while she met him.
When her sister returned with an agreement, Lee Na-eun despaired.
She knew her sister did it for their companions, not herself. But she was certain this path led to an abyss of no return.
Unable to stop it, she used the simplest, most resolute way to express her final objection.
Two days without food. The aroma from the bamboo tube made her shoulders tremble. Saliva flooded her mouth; every cell screamed for a taste. But she gritted her teeth and walked straight towards the beach.
"Go away! Don't bother me!"
Watching her sister's retreating back, helpless despair filled Lee So-yeon's face.
She understood Na-eun's worries perfectly. But what else could she do?
She didn't want to submit to a stranger, but they weren't there yet. The future was uncertain, yet Na-eun's extreme reaction left her at a loss.
Companions' survival mattered, but if Na-eun came to harm because of this, she would regret it forever.
Lee So-yeon returned to the fire, setting the bamboo tube aside. She watched the flickering flames and her companions enjoying the soup.
Desolation filled her heart. She sighed softly.
"Sigh..."
Her sister didn't understand her plight; her companions ignored her sister's hunger strike. Being caught in the middle was exhausting.
Then, a gentle voice sounded beside her.
"So-yeon, are you okay?"
Lee So-yeon looked up into Tang Yumo's concerned eyes.
"I..."
She wanted to say she was fine, but her nose tingled. Smiling bitterly, she lowered her head, letting tears fall.
"Not good. Not good at all."
"..."
Tang Yumo pursed her lips.
Looking at Lee So-yeon, she felt a sense of déjà vu, recalling the cave in the southwest bay.
An almost absurd thought surfaced.
Her past indecisive self protected no one and achieved nothing. Compared to her past self, these sisters—So-yeon for her companions, Na-eun for her beliefs—were much stronger.
But having experienced too much, Tang Yumo knew Na-eun was right.
Negotiating with Chuck was the first step to becoming his property. Tonight's meat soup was the first bait. Once this step was taken, the outcome was sealed.
So the only thing she could do was watch helplessly like before...
No.
If so, she might as well jump into the sea again.
Having died once, she had nothing to lose and didn't care about past persistence.
These sisters saved her, took her in, and treated her as a companion. Their safety was all she cared about now.
This time, she wouldn't be a useless bystander.
"So-yeon."
Tang Yumo's voice became much gentler, like the teacher she was when she first met Kaoru and Kaede.
"If you agree, I can go talk to Na-eun."
"Talk... talk to her?"
Lee So-yeon was confused but felt an inexplicable trust seeing Tang Yumo's expression.
"Tang... what do you plan to do?"
"Don't worry. Leave it to me."
Taking Lee So-yeon's silence as assent, Tang Yumo nodded, stood up, and walked towards the beach.
...
Splash, splash—
Two days without food left Lee Na-eun hypoglycemic. Sitting by the beach, her vision blurred intermittently.
Is starving to death painful?
She didn't know. But she was certain that rather than seeing her sister humiliated by a stranger and becoming a bonus herself, she preferred a quick end. Better to die early than live in misery.
But...
Still scared.
Tears slid down her pale cheeks.
The dark waves looked like the shores of hell, chilling her heart with fear. No one is unafraid of death, even by choice.
Suddenly, a figure sat beside her on the sand.
"Your sister is very worried about you."
"..."
Lee Na-eun wiped her tears quickly, glanced at Tang Yumo, and looked away.
"If you're here to persuade me for her, save it—"
"I'm not here to persuade you."
Interrupted, Lee Na-eun frowned, looking at the Chinese woman's profile suspiciously.
"Speaking of which, aren't you an old acquaintance of that man?"
"Sort of."
Tang Yumo's confirmation deepened Na-eun's suspicion.
"Were you sent by him from the start to bewitch my sister, and now me?"
Tang Yumo smiled bitterly.
"Not exactly... but it's my fault you suspect that. I should apologize."
"Too late!"
Tang Yumo's words agitated Na-eun. The more she thought, the angrier she got.
Indeed, if this woman hadn't told her sister about him, So-yeon wouldn't have had such absurd ideas and would have driven him away as Na-eun suggested!
Thinking this, Lee Na-eun glared at Tang Yumo's calm profile with tearful anger.
"Things turned out like this! It's all..."
"You're right. It's all my fault."
Interrupted again, Na-eun froze. Before she could explode, Tang Yumo continued.
"So this time, I will take responsibility."
"...Responsibility?"
Na-eun laughed in anger.
"How? How can you take responsibility?!"
"If things reach the point you fear, I will replace your sister as the bargaining chip for his trade."
Tang Yumo finally turned, looking at the stunned Na-eun with calm, gentle, and unprecedentedly relieved eyes.
"If it comes to that, it's okay. Everyone just needs to continue living as usual. I will bear this responsibility."
"Are... are you crazy?!"
Instead of relief, Na-eun looked horrified.
Tang Yumo was the newest member here...
Why go this far? What reason did she have?
"I know it's hard to believe, but I'm serious, Na-eun."
Tang Yumo looked into her eyes, her expression gentle yet firm.
"That man isn't actually cruel. What he wants is simple. But it's still cruel for you. You and So-yeon are kind people; you shouldn't face this cruelty."
"But I'm different. I should have done this long ago. Or rather... I should have done this from the very beginning."
Tang Yumo lowered her head, eyes flickering with regret and struggle, lost in memories. Soon, she looked up at Na-eun again.
"I'll strive for it as best I can. Though I don't know how much value I still have in his eyes, as long as everyone can live better, I have nothing I can't give up."
Under Na-eun's blank stare, Tang Yumo smiled, raising her hand to gently stroke Na-eun's pink hair like comforting a student.
"So don't worry. Your sister will be fine."