Island Diaries: My Life with Ten Beauties

Chapter 5

I remained silent.

The atmosphere became awkward momentarily. Leo gasped for breath and struggled to rise from the ground. The food I had tossed into the sea left Leo and Quinn with no further chances to scramble for it. Disinterested in their plight, I headed back to the shelter for some rest.

Seeing their disheveled appearance, Stella offered some consolation. "There's plenty of food we can get from the sea. Just catch some more later."

Leo's face lit up as he exclaimed, "Fishing? I excel at that! Last year during my trip to Norway, I participated in a local fishing contest—it was all about the skill of catching fish by hand, and I even won first place!"

He continued, "Have you heard of Beck Gibbs? He is the master of wilderness survival. I once followed him in the forests of Orleans, learning survival techniques in the open sea. What hardships haven't I faced?"

"Beck Gibbs? The one from the survival shows, trekking through forests and deserts?" Stella gasped in surprise. "That's quite impressive! We're in for a treat then!"

"Haha, just minor talents. There’s nothing worth bragging about," Leo said modestly.

Both women looked at Leo, their eyes filled with anticipation.

I sneered inwardly. If he were truly that capable, why would he pick up my discarded leftovers like a dog?

"Some people catch a few fish and think too highly of themselves. Today, I'll let you know you're nothing," Leo said dismissively, giving me a disdainful look.

Leo appeared keen to prove himself and showcase his skills in front of his attractive boss.

"Go for it. We're all counting on you!" Quinn watched Leo with admiration, her infatuation evident. She believed every word he said.

I sneered, turned my attention back to the campfire, and remained silent. How could Leo, a pampered scion, know anything about fishing?

As they made their way toward the shore, I disregarded them and ventured deeper into the dense jungle behind me. While food was taken care of, finding a clean water source was primary. The forest was risky, but it was worth a try during the day. Perhaps I could find some wild berries or coconuts to quench my thirst.

Deeper into the woods, I was struck by the density of the trees. Many of the plants were unfamiliar, and the oddly shaped insects crawling around were scary—especially since any of them could be poisonous. It was common to encounter bizarre flora and fauna on a deserted island, yet the peculiarities here seemed unusually excessive.

I gathered my spirits and moved forward with caution. I didn't find any coconuts or fruits, but I did come across a bamboo grove. I snapped a few bamboo stalks, and from inside, clear spring water trickled out. It was known as bamboo juice, which was not only drinkable but also held medicinal value.

Eagerly, I drank a lot of it. The water was sweet and refreshing, soothing my parched and fiery throat. Relieved from my thirst, I then used stones to split the bamboo into makeshift containers, storing five or six canisters of bamboo juice. I also sharpened the remaining bamboo ends into pointed spears for self-defense.

Over an hour later, I left the bamboo grove and headed towards a small hill I had noticed on my way. At the base of the hill, there were faint tracks and feathers that seemed to belong to a wild chicken.

Armed with a bamboo spear, I approached the hill and poured out some bamboo juice at what appeared to be the entrance to the chicken's den as bait. Climbing a nearby large tree, I settled in quietly, waiting.

After about fifteen minutes, a large gray wild chicken emerged from the surrounding bushes. It was substantially larger than any chicken I've seen—weighing maybe fifteen to twenty pounds, larger even than a turkey.

Without much thought, I held my breath and threw the spear. It hit the chicken's leg instantly. The startled chicken sprinted toward the deeper part of the forest. I quickly descended from the tree and chased after it.

Luckily, its injured leg slowed it down significantly, and it didn't get far before it could no longer run. I stealthily caught up, grabbed the chicken by the wings, and swiftly tied its legs.

"This large wild chicken will feed us for several days," I remarked with a smile.

As I got up and looked around, my eyes widened in surprise. Just five or six meters in front of me was a clear stream, its water flowing continuously. Happiness came so unexpectedly that I was momentarily stunned. On a deserted island, this was a crucial freshwater resource.

The tied-up chicken suddenly struggled fiercely, snapping me out of my daze. I quickly got up and looked around, trying to memorize the location. To avoid getting lost in the future, I made several marks at distinctive locations. With that done, I slowly made my way back towards the sea.

As I approached the beach, I intentionally concealed the wild chicken by wrapping it in my clothes.

Upon my return, I found Stella, Leo, and Quinn seated around the campsite. I walked over and surveyed the area, noting its emptiness.

"So, did you manage to catch any fish?" I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

At my words, they stiffened, unable to respond.

"Leo, I thought you were going to dazzle us with your skills. What happened? Why did you come back empty-handed?" I taunted coldly.

"You little punk, are you questioning me? Just as I got into the water, my leg cramped up, and it still hadn't recovered. Otherwise, catching a dozen big fish would have been easy. You didn't fare any better, did you?" Leo retorted, his voice laden with hostility.

He sat arrogantly by the campfire while Quinn dutifully massaged his leg. "Zack, at least Leo found some fruit. If you ask him nicely, maybe he'll share some with you," Quinn taunted, glancing at me with a smirk, clearly delighting in my supposed misfortune.

At her words, Leo flashed a grin, revealing his tobacco-stained teeth. "Go and wash my clothes and underwear, and I'll give you one," he said. Then, with a flick of his foot, he kicked a small wild fruit towards me.

"Keep it for yourself; you might need it when you're starving," I replied with a chuckle, then I unwrapped the cloth from my back, revealing the tightly bound large wild chicken.

Instantly, silence fell over the group, with Stella and Quinn's eyes widening in astonishment.

Leo's expression changed rapidly, looking as though he had eaten something utterly distasteful.