Chapter 456: "Mr. Blake Also Likes to Fish

Chapter 456: Chapter 212: “Mr. Blake Also Likes to Fish

Sean: “Can I choose both?”

Elise: “?”

This answer was a little unexpected.

She gave Sean a meaningful look, as if to say, ‘So, you’re finally showing your true colors, little man?’

Sean cleared his throat. “Alright, alright. I’ll tell you. Just get off me first.”

‘If she squirms a couple more times, I’m really going to lose it.’

“Then tell me.” Elise knew when to quit while she was ahead. She got off Sean’s waist, lay down beside him, and smoothed her hair. “How did you know Howard was from the Grev Family?”

“Was it the family crest?”

“I didn’t see one.”

Elise specifically recalled what Howard had been wearing. He had on casual clothes and a sun hat, with nothing on him that would indicate he was from the Grev Family.

“There was.”

Sean said.

“It just wasn’t on his clothes. It was on his fishing rod.”

Howard’s fishing rod was different from the ones provided by the cruise ship. As a dedicated angler, it made sense he would have his own. The rod was carved with several rings that looked like a natural wood grain pattern. At first glance, you might mistake it for a pool cue. This was the crest of the Grev Family. Their family’s clothing also featured this pattern, because the Grev Family had originally made their fortune with Witch Wood.

It was a relatively common but high-demand Alchemy Material. Out of a hundred Magic Wands, at least eighty were made from Witch Wood, so one could only imagine how wealthy the family was.

That afternoon on the deck, Sean had deliberately scanned the area before sitting down, searching for his target.

He had noticed Howard’s fishing rod first, and that’s why he chose the spot next to him.

“Wow, so you had it all planned out.” Elise suddenly felt like an idiot.

When Howard was mocking Sean, she’d wanted to help Sean fire back. But it turned out that was exactly what Sean wanted?

‘Thinking about it further…’

“You carved those flashy, ancient runes on the fishing rod and patiently explained them to me… was that also to get Howard’s attention?” Elise asked.

“That part wasn’t,” Sean said, half-truthfully. “That was all for you. You know me, I’m only patient with my friends.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Elise huffed, a hint of jealousy in her tone.

‘But then again, being jealous over a man felt a little strange.’

So she changed the subject. “I understand how Howard took the bait, but how did you know the Grev Family manages the Golden Coast?”

Hoyev had only told them that the public-facing masters of Odingsburg were the Potter Earl Family. He had never once mentioned the name “Grev.”

Sean thought for a moment and asked Elise, “Do you want the subtle explanation or the direct one?”

Elise: “?”

‘There are subtle and direct versions of an explanation?’

“Let’s hear the subtle one first?” Elise asked tentatively.

Sean replied, “Maybe it’s because I’m just that smart. Or maybe it was a man’s intuition. I picked up the map, looked at the other side of the Winterless Sea, and there, scrawled crookedly, were the two words ‘Grev Family’.”

Elise: “…”

‘Making stuff up on the fly, are we?’

‘So “subtle” means subtly praising yourself?’

“Just give it to me straight,” Elise said.

“You’re the one who asked for the direct version.”

Sean suddenly started ranting, “The ticket has the words ‘Golden Coast’ written on it. To find out which family runs it, couldn’t you just look it up online? Are you stupid or an idiot, or are you senile? You don’t even know how to use the internet?”

Elise: “???”

Sean’s sudden, head-on verbal assault left Elise completely stunned. It took her a long moment to process it, and then she was both embarrassed and furious. Embarrassed because she hadn’t thought of something so simple, and furious, of course, because Sean had called her stupid. Her face flushed red with anger, and she shot back at him, “Why are you being so mean? So what if I’m dumb?”

“Don’t you know women in love are all idiots?”

“I do now,” Sean said.

Elise: “?”

‘Now I finally understand why Elvire is always mad at Sean.’

‘The guy is charming, for sure, but he’s also infuriating.’

‘Being with him could probably take a few decades off your life.’

“One last question,” Elise said.

Sean: “?”

“There’s more?”

“Are you a walking encyclopedia of questions?”

“If you say so.”

Elise didn’t care what sarcastic comments Sean was making in his head. She had to ask this question.

Because only by asking could she score a point back and confirm her suspicions.

“In your past life, did you really like fishing?” Elise asked.

Sean was a bit baffled. “Isn’t that obvious?”

‘If I didn’t like fishing, how would I know so much about it?’

“Then do you remember why your old friend’s friend, Mr. Hoyev, came out here this time?” Elise asked again.

Sean thought back for a moment. “To find the deserted island Mr. Blake used to frequent?”

“Exactly.” Elise’s gaze suddenly became profound. They were both lying on their sides, facing each other, already close. As their eyes met, the air instantly grew charged and ambiguous. Her gaze took on an invasive quality, as if she could see right through him.

“From what I know, Mr. Blake also enjoyed fishing,” Elise said.

Sean’s expression instantly froze.

“…Is that so?”

He subconsciously averted his gaze, avoiding Elise’s eyes. “Well, what a coincidence.”

Elise’s tone was playful. “Didn’t you, Mr. Sean, write a whole biography with Mr. Blake as the main character? You know so much about Mr. Blake, yet you didn’t know he liked to fish?”

“I did know,” Sean said, his stubbornness on full display. “But whether I knew or not, it’s still quite a coincidence, isn’t it?”