The Rich Cultivator-Chapter 378. Fun Streak Island (2/2)

Tyler and his crew aboard the White Pearl finally broke free from the oppressive embrace of the Pink Smog—an eerie, ever-shifting array that had wrapped around them like a curse.

The moment the ship pierced through the final veil of mist, the world seemed to exhale.

Wind rushed past the sails once more, the waves beneath them came alive with rhythmic splashes, and the suffocating silence that had clung to their ship vanished as if it had never existed.

The crew let out collective breaths of relief. Then, almost magically, a new sound emerged—faint at first, like a distant music box. The ambient notes, cheerful and whimsical, floated on the breeze and seemed to beckon them forward.

Before them unfolded a sight so surreal it made the entire crew lean over the railing in awe.

Fun Streak Island—true to its name—was unlike anything they had ever seen. The central landmass was a chaotic burst of color, an explosion of hues so vivid it felt as though the world itself had turned into a dreamscape.

Trees of impossible shapes and colors swayed with the wind, their leaves glowing in electric blue, candy pink, and molten gold. Some trees had fruit that looked like gummy candies; others shimmered with iridescent lights, as though housing miniature stars.

The shoreline was no less fantastical. Sand flowed in soft gradients of pastel pinks, baby blues, and lavender, like nature had painted it with cotton candy. Star-shaped seashells lay scattered on the beach, some of them humming quietly, as though alive.

In the skies above, hundreds of hot air balloons drifted lazily through the air—though calling them "balloons" hardly did them justice. Some were shaped like gigantic cats with twinkling eyes, others like spinning cupcakes or upside-down teacups. They bobbed and floated as if gravity was more of a suggestion than a rule here.

The port itself was a swirling hive of activity. Ships of all shapes and origins had anchored along the docks—sleek merchant schooners with golden sails, battered pirate vessels decked in skull flags and streamers, and even floating caravans shaped like animals or carnival rides.

But nothing drew the eye more than the massive castle looming behind the port. It wasn’t just grand—it was breathtakingly absurd.

A fantasy palace that looked like it had been stitched together from sugar and dreams. The walls shimmered like they were made of hard candy, the turrets spun slowly in place like carousel towers, and golden bridges arched over moats filled with glittering, rainbow-colored water.

Flags waved from every peak, and fireworks occasionally popped in the sky above, raining down harmless sparkles.

"Wow," Tyler muttered, shading his eyes as he took in the view before him. "Instead of a pirate turf, the island looks more like a..."

He trailed off, struggling to find the right word.

"An amusement park," Lily finished for him, smirking.

"Yeah, that’s it..." Tyler nodded slowly.

"And there are merchant ships here too," Mathilda added, scanning the busy port. "Guess I was worried for nothing. I thought we’d be the only merchants showing up to this place."

The White Pearl glided smoothly into the docking zone, drawing curious glances from nearby crews. Tyler chose to anchor a little farther away from the central pier, away from the rowdier traffic.

But the moment they began preparing to disembark, they were swarmed—not aggressively, but with practiced precision. Dozens of locals, clearly part of various portside gangs, gathered in front of them, calling out offers.

"Your ship will be safer with us! Hire our gang for guaranteed protection!"

"No, no, forget them! We’re cheaper and better! You’ll only get a wooden plank back if you trust those amateurs!"

Their voices overlapped in chaotic competition. Some held up flashy signs, others displayed crude pamphlets boasting exaggerated claims. Still, none of them came too close. It was clear they were used to operating under a set of unspoken rules—no touching, no threatening, only persuasion.

Tyler furrowed his brows, quickly realizing what was happening. "So this is how they run things here..."

"It looks like you can’t just leave your ship unattended," Lily observed aloud. "Unless you want to come back and find it stripped clean."

Mathilda raised an eyebrow. "It’s like a paid parking scam but with pirates."

Tyler smirked, then glanced over his shoulder at the crew. "No need to worry—we’re leaving most of our people on the ship anyway."

Just as he was about to wave the gangs off, a new voice cut through the chatter like a blade.

"Hey! This area belongs to us. We will be guarding any ship that docks here!"

The voice belonged to a short, sturdy woman with messy black hair tied into a rough ponytail. She strode forward with confident steps, and the moment she appeared, the other gangs groaned and scattered. A few muttered under their breath but none dared argue.

"They’ve got territory lines drawn," Lily muttered under her breath, "Probably a union or alliance system. Each patch of the shore is claimed by a specific gang so they can collect protection fees without clashing."

The woman halted in front of them, hands on hips, surveying the group. "Don’t worry," she said with a crooked grin. "Our Darla Gang will take good care of your ship."

At that, Tyler and the others burst into chuckles.

The woman’s expression darkened for a moment, her gang members bristling as though they were being mocked. But then Tyler pointed to the ship’s cook standing beside him.

"Darla, you didn’t tell me you had a gang here," he teased.

The cook laughed and rolled her eyes. "This Sister’s name is also Darla. Mine’s just a coincidence."

Gang Leader Darla’s demeanor immediately softened. "Well, well! That must be fate," she said, eyeing her namesake with amusement before turning to Tyler who seems to be Captain of the ship. "And you are?"

"Tyler White," he said, extending a hand in greeting. "So, Miss Darla, is it really necessary to hire a gang for ship protection?"

Gang Leader Darla shook his hand firmly. "Technically, no. But it’s strongly advised. When a local gang is in charge of watching a ship, no one dares mess with it. You get respect—and insurance."

Lily sent a quick voice transmission to Tyler. Translation: ’if you don’t pay, the gangs themselves will loot your ship the moment you step away’.

Tyler sighed inwardly. He didn’t fear anyone trying to rob White Pearl, especially with the ship’s defensive arrays. But still, he had no interest in attracting unnecessary attention or provoking petty disputes.

"How much?" he asked simply.

"Just ten thousand Lydia," she replied.

"That’s cheap," Tyler said.

"Per day," she added with a grin.

"Still cheap."

Darla blinked. The gang members exchanged baffled looks. Most merchants or pirates haggled down to the last coin. But Tyler seemed completely unfazed.

Only someone truly rich—or dangerously confident—could say ten thousand Lydia a day was "cheap."

After a moment’s thought, Tyler said, "I’ll pay thirty thousand. Just make sure no one even gets within a hundred meters of the ship."

Gang Leader Darla’s eyebrows shot up. "Thirty? You serious?"

"Consider it a bonus for peace of mind."

"Yes, Boss White!" she replied instantly, practically saluting. The formality of ’Mr. White’ was gone, replaced by a deferential title. She had clearly decided that Tyler was someone worth keeping happy.

Tyler smirked. "Also, I’ll need a guide while I’m on the island. Someone trustworthy."

"Of course!" Darla turned to one of her subordinates. "Go fetch Alna."

The man gave a nod and jogged off without a word.

"Alna is my daughter," Darla said with pride. "She knows this island like the back of her hand—clever, quick, and, well, she’s got a good figure too. Perfect match for someone like you, Boss White."

Tyler nodded calmly. "Sounds good. We’ll wait here."

He pretended not to notice the strange looks the girls gave him after Darla’s comment about her daughter’s figure.

The group relaxed a little as the local gang members began casually spreading out, forming a loose perimeter around the White Pearl. It was clear that, despite their odd appearance and colorful names, they were professionals in their own way.

’Cook’ Darla nudged Tyler. "Boss, you really think thirty thousand Lydia is worth it?"

Tyler smiled faintly. "Buying peace is cheaper than dealing with chaos."

Mathilda chuckled. "Captain is always right."

Tyler narrowed his eyes. "Why are you flattering me? What do you want?"

Mathilda pouted with a sad expression. "Am I that untrustworthy?"

"Just say it." Tyler simply said.

"Fine... When you Bang that Alna girl, bring me too." Mathilda said while drooling over.

BONK

Mana appeared above her, knocking her on the head.

"Ouch!"

Laughter followed. As they waited, the island’s sounds reached them—cheerful music, the roar of rides, clinking coins, and a carefree rhythm of fun in the air.

Fun Streak Island truly did feel like an amusement park. But underneath the bright colors and playful charm, Tyler and others knew better than to let his guard down.