As the temperature gradually warmed, the seaside wind was no longer as cold and biting. The sun became brighter and more radiant, naturally attracting increasing crowds to the beach.
Today, Seashore City's visitors were exceptionally numerous, each one holding a small flag of various fish designs in their hands.
Seashore City was one of the oldest cities in America, its buildings heavily influenced by the western architectural style. The slight outdated plank structures had fishing nets hanging overhead, decorated with colorful swimming rings. Beside was a mannequin dressed in a swimsuit, a long fishing rod protruding from the rooftop and glinting under the dazzling sunlight.
On the central commercial street of Seashore City, each shop doorway was bustling with tourists. Inflatable kayaks were the main attraction for the tourists. However, fishing poles, fishing baskets, and bait were also being sold like hotcakes.
Today marked the start of the Seashore City's Recreational Fishing Festival, also known as the Angling Festival. The festival was designed to boost tourism and to breathe new life into the once depleted fishing industry.
Throughout the half-month-long festival, Seashore City hosted more than a hundred fishing competitions of various sizes. Large competitions offered high cash prizes, while small competitions handed out intricate souvenirs. Both professional anglers and fishing enthusiasts from nearby cities flocked here to participate.
Spring was an excellent season for fishing, especially around Seashore City with its stream outlets flowing into the sea. As the water temperature warmed, the variety of fish increased. Even with mediocre fishing skills, one could always catch a fish or two.
On the first day of the festival, the celebratory mood was palpable. Until dusk, there were still many small fishing boats scattered across the nearshore waters. Some anglers who had not had much luck were hoping to capitalize on the fish's increased activity at twilight, hoping to redeem themselves.
Above the calm sea, buoys marked permitted fishing spots. Beneath the clear waters, the hidden currents stirred. Boat after boat, their decks adorned with colourful flags, bobbed upon the waves. Anglers chatted away, rods in hand, discussing their day's catches.
On the beach, a group of three men carrying fishing rods trekked back. Hal and Lucifer were soaked, clearly they had ventured out on the sea with a boat and had gotten wet when fishing. Shiller looked dry, his trouser legs rolled up, showing he had been fishing from the river mouth, not once touching the water.
All three held their own pails. When taking inventory, among them, Hal had reaped the most, while Lucifer and Shiller's catches were negligible.
A disappointed Lucifer stated, "The fish are just too scarce here. The last time I went deep-sea fishing, I caught quite a few big fish."
"That's the thing about nearshore fishing, don't expect to catch several big fish in a day like you would when deep-sea fishing. You might not catch a single fish, but we're here for the fun of it," Hal responded with a smile.
Leading the way, Shiller turned back to look at Lucifer and asked, "Have you decided yet? Where are you planning on launching the bar?"
Hearing the question, Hal, too, looked at Lucifer and with a touch of exasperation said, "You've rejected all the storefronts I presented to you. Where exactly are you planning to open your bar?"
Lucifer plodded through the sandy beach with one shallow step followed by one deep one. With a deep furrow of his brow, he finally said, "It's not that I don't like them. Each location has its benefits. I'm just having a hard time deciding."
"How about this, tomorrow I'll take you to some slightly more remote streets? Those houses are more spacious, rents are lower, and there's still decent foot traffic. More options might help you make up your mind," he suggested.
Without saying a word, Lucifer nodded his agreement. They managed to get back to Hal's house before dark. Upon entering their home, they found an empty house, Hal's parents were not at home.
Hal briskly dried himself off and went into the room. On the refrigerator, he found a note, turned to Lucifer and Shiller, saying, "My uncle, who runs a boat rental shop, is overwhelmed by his booming business, so my parents have gone to assist him. It looks like we're on our own for dinner tonight."
Hal then took the two fish he had caught to the backyard, leaving Lucifer and Shiller who had almost no catch to watch dryly. Shiller walked up, saying, "Come on, let's prepare dinner. There's someone here who couldn't catch a fish and can't cook, should be really embarrassed."
Lucifer rolled his eyes, slouched on the sofa, and said with his arm over the backrest, "You wait and see if I have the last laugh. A year from now; this will be the hottest bar legend in Seashore City, and you, will never score a VIP ticket."
Hal chuckled and replied, "Let me remind you, the girls by the sea are gorgeous and hot. If your bar does take off, do let me piggyback on your success."
At the mention of this, Lucifer perked up. As Hal cleaned the fish, they chatted about the beautiful tales of Seashore City.
These two had quite a bit in common when it came to courting women – if they weren't sweet-talking the ladies, they were planning to.
Soon, the meal was ready. Simple fish sandwiches and hot soup were served. As they all gathered around the table, about to start eating, the door was knocked on.
The urgent banging made Hal furrow his eyebrows. He walked up to the door cautiously, peered through the peephole, then pushed the door wide open and asked the person outside, "Arthur, what brings you here? Come on in and dry off."
Outside was the burly figure of Arthur, coat dripping with water. He had clearly just swum over. Unfazed, he stepped into the house, wiped his boots on the doormat, then took the towel offered to him and quickly dried off, saying, "Oliver sent me. There's been a bit of a snafu, he isn't sure what to do and wanted to ask for your advice."
Hal immediately looked back at the two people in the room, Arthur raised an eyebrow, and Hal nodded. Arthur then coughed twice and raised his voice, "I'm starving! What smells so good?"
"Come in. Shiller made fish soup, which is perfect to dispel the chill in your body. Come have a bowl." Hal made room for him. Arthur entered the room and Lucifer glanced at him before continuing to eat his meal.
Arthur sat next to Shiller and asked, "Professor, are you okay? Oliver asked me to send his regards to you. We heard that you were wrongly imprisoned recently, and both Oliver and I were quite concerned about you."
"I'm fine, it was just a minor misunderstanding." Shiller took a sip of water, "Fortunately, the Federal Bureau of Investigation clarified the truth. I owe them, so I might have to work there in a few days."
Hal paused his fork cutting through the food, visibly surprised, he asked Shiller, "You agreed to work for the FBI? What are you going to do there?"
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation often encounters difficult criminals. They need my professional knowledge. The FBI Training School needs advanced criminology course instructors..."
Cough, cough, cough... Arthur and Hal coughed vigorously, causing Lucifer to lean backwards in distaste. Hal, wide-eyed, looked at Shiller, "You're going to teach at the FBI? Are they insane? Aren't they afraid... I mean... They don't know that you..."
Shiller shrugged, "Criminology is a systematic discipline with professional textbooks and teaching methods that do not involve any value debates. Furthermore, the curriculum is provided by them. I simply teach it according to the textbook and analyze cases. What is there for them to be afraid of?"
"Also, you view the world's spy agencies as too closed off. As far as I know, in order to infiltrate another country, they have to study the other's ideology. CIA agents will study the knowledge related to communism, and the KGB has a strong understanding of capitalism, otherwise, they wouldn't be able to deceive the locals during their infiltration missions."
Hal opened his mouth, acknowledging the sense in Shiller's words. Shiller then took a sip of soup and said, "After all, it's not like you guys haven't studied Marxism. Did it lead you to definitively choose that path?"
"In this world, there is no ideology that can convince everyone, nor any ideology that one would immediately convert to simply by understanding it. The only thing that can achieve this kind of brainwashing effect is magic."
"Books on this subject are not forbidden. You can buy them in bookstores. Even if you don't buy books, you can always understand a nation as long as it exists, by watching the news."
"Those who could be persuaded have been persuaded. If they still don't accept the ideology despite their constant exposure to it, that means it goes against their world view and is not the path they wish to take. Any further studies would be useless."
Arthur nodded and agreed, "That's right. Oliver is a staunch Marxist. However, I don't quite agree with everything he tells me. I am willing to strive for the oppressed minority, but I don't necessarily adhere to any ideology."
Hal concurred, "I'm not the kind of person who needs theories to support my actions. What drives me is more so my kindness and sympathy. Theoretical knowledge is not important, I just do what I can do."
After finishing their meal, Lucifer could tell that Arthur seemed to have something to discuss with Hal, but didn't want to do so in front of him and Shiller. So, Lucifer said to Shiller, "If I want to open a popular bar here, I should first check out the local bars. The timing is perfect, how about we go and take a look?"
Shiller glanced at Hal, who was washing dishes in the kitchen, nodded, and he and Lucifer then left Hal's house, walking along the path from the fishing grounds.
"Why are they being cautious around you?" Lucifer, somewhat puzzled, clucked his tongue and asked, "Haven't you been involved in the situation in Mexico? Or, did your paths diverge?"
"Nothing so complicated." Shiller shook his head, "Just that the previous investigation from the Federal Bureau of Investigation reached Oliver's ears. When I was exonerated and released from prison this time, Oliver felt that the FBI was creating trouble for me."
"Oliver thinks that no matter what, I'm just an isolated scholar still residing in America. If I continue to remotely guide them, something might go wrong someday. Since then, he barely contacted me."
"I presume Oliver instructed both Hal and Arthur to keep me in the dark, not to mention any troubles they faced, probably out of fear the FBI would target me again."
"He is quite principled." Lucifer sighed with admiration.
Soon, the two arrived at a bar in the center of Seashore City. This was the locals-only bar Hal mentioned. Even though the city was bustling due to the festival, this place remained quiet.
But it wasn't surprising. Compared to the various neon signs blinking and fancy décor in the nightclubs, this tavern appeared somewhat old-fashioned.
The sign, somewhat corroded by the sea breeze, was painted with the name of the place in white paint and coiled with dim fairy lights.
Once they had ordered two drinks and sat down at the wooden bar counter.