Chapter 5 The Yellowfin Tuna

Kenneth spotted a long wooden stick near the riverbank and withdrew an exquisite dagger from his waist. Swiftly, he fashioned the end of the stick into a spear-like point. With intense focus, he fixed his gaze on the river. "Is he really going to try to attack that big fish like this?" Casey watched in disbelief. How can that be possible?! But then, in the next moment, she watched as Kenneth made his move. The wooden stick became a weapon in his hands, resembling a war spear as he hurled it with precision. The air filled with splashes. 'Splash!' Then, without hesitation, Kenneth leaped into the river. "Kenneth! Ah! Kenneth!" Seeing him dive into the water and get swept away by the swift current, Casey panicked and ran frantically along the riverbank. Her fear intensified as she noticed red liquid spreading in the water. 'Whoosh!' Kenneth's head popped out of the river in a rush. "Kenneth!" "Case, I'm okay, don't fret!" "Well, get over here quickly, Kenneth!" Kenneth was now a good thirty feet downstream from where he had entered the water. There seemed to be an undercurrent that had carried him off. Casey feared he might get trapped in an even stronger current and struggle to resurface. "Okay!" Kenneth paddled leisurely toward the shore. "Case, we've hit the jackpot!" Emerging onto dry land, Kenneth still gripped the wooden stick. Casey dashed to the riverbank and glimpsed something trailing from the stick's end. "Wow! Kenneth, you've speared that massive fish!" "Yep!" With that, Kenneth tugged the stick, and the fish in the water was revealed. "This fish! It seems to be a yellowfin tuna!" Casey exclaimed. She had read about yellowfin tuna in books; it was considered one of the finest delicacies among ocean catches! "Yeah, that's right! It's a yellowfin tuna. You've got a keen eye, Case!" Kenneth beamed with joy as he lifted the stick, hauling the yellowfin tuna ashore. This fish weighed at least one hundred and thirty pounds and was a wild fish. According to Kenneth's estimate, it could fetch anywhere from six hundred to one thousand per pound in a market located in a large city! Even retailing at one hundred pounds, it would still bring in a hefty sum of sixty thousand. "Kenneth, could this really be a yellowfin tuna?" Casey's breath quickened. She had heard her classmates discuss them; even the most common yellowfin tuna commanded a high price. The larger and heavier the fish, the greater its value. The one Kenneth had caught was around five feet long and weighed at least one hundred and thirty pounds. Even if sold at a discount, it could fetch hundreds per pound. Hurrying to the riverbank, Kenneth proudly displayed the fish, where Casey finally got a clear view. "It's real. It's definitely a yellowfin tuna. Given its size, weight, and its wild environment, it could easily fetch seven to eight hundred per pound in a big city." "Oh my god!" Casey gasped in disbelief. She had never seen so much money before. Moreover, Kenneth had effortlessly caught the fish with a simple throw. A basic action like that could turn into a potential windfall of tens of thousands. "Kenneth, please provide for me from now on!" Casey blinked her eyes sweetly, gazing at Kenneth with affection, nervously rubbing her hands together, hoping he wouldn't abandon her. "Tsk, tsk. Who taught you to say such things? How shrewd." Kenneth chuckled. "Hehe! Just kidding. So, how should we handle this big fish, Casey?" Easily embarrassed, Casey quickly shifted the conversation, avoiding any more playful banter with Kenneth. "I'll head to town later and see if there are any knowledgeable buyers there. It's not a big city, but if we can get a good price, it should be enough." "Kenneth, how heavy is this fish? Can we manage to carry it back home?" Casey asked, concerned about the logistics. "About one hundred and seventy pounds, not too bad," Kenneth replied confidently. He swiftly fashioned two ropes from nearby grass vines, securing the fish's head and tail together. With the makeshift sling in place, he hoisted the fish onto his back. "Amazing!" Casey marveled at Kenneth's resourcefulness and capability, giving him a thumbs-up in admiration. Ten minutes later, they arrived back in the village. Kenneth's house stood prominently at the village's highest point, near Brighter Lake and the mountains. From a distance, they spotted a figure waiting at the courtyard gate. "Kenneth, that's the village chief, Michael Bergstedt. You remember him, right?" Casey whispered. "I do. Mr. Bergstedt is the kind-hearted soul of our village. It's only fitting he became the village chief," Kenneth replied warmly. When Michael spotted Kenneth returning with the hefty fish, what he had prepared to say vanished from his mind. "Kenneth! I heard everyone talking about how you just got back. Did you go and catch a massive fish?" "Hehe, I got lucky with this one," Kenneth replied modestly. "Wow! This fish must be at least one hundred and thirty pounds!" Michael exclaimed. Having lived in Brighter Valley all his life, he had only heard stories from elders about such large catches in the famous lake; seeing one firsthand amazed him. He was utterly dumbstruck by Kenneth. "Yeah, around one hundred and thirty pounds," Kenneth confirmed. "Incredible! This fish should definitely be taken to town to sell. It will definitely fetch a good price!" Michael suggested eagerly. "I plan to head to town later, but it looks like there aren't any buses or transportation options here from our village," Kenneth explained. He had arrived in town the previous night at six o'clock and had to walk all the way back to Brighter Valley. In such a remote mountainous village with a small town, transportation was indeed inconvenient. "Ah, we used to have buses running from our village to the town, but then Ron bought over the bus routes between Learmel Hills and Hollow Springs. The buses stopped coming. Now, if you need to get to the town, you either have to cycle or pay Ron to use his cargo bike," Michael lamented. "Oh, Ron..." Kenneth sighed. It's Ron again. He was already forming opinions about the troublemaker. "Let's not dwell on Ron. He wields considerable influence in both our village and the town. It's best not to provoke him; just steer clear," Michael advised. "Kenneth, if you need to transport that big fish to the town, you can use my cargo bike. Cover the fish with a sack and quietly make your way there." "Mr. Bergstedt, would that be alright?" "Of course! I heard from other villagers that you'll be staying in the village. Hence, if you ever need help in the future, you can count on me!" Michael exclaimed enthusiastically. Kenneth couldn't bring himself to refuse. True to his word, Michael hurried back and rolled out the cargo bike. It was a rudimentary contraption powered by foot pedals, barely serviceable. While it would take an hour to reach Hollow Springs from Brighter Valley on a motorcycle, the cargo bike trip would likely take no more than three hours. "Case, I'll handle this on my own today. You and Mrs. Cadman have lunch and take it easy. I'll bring back some meat in the evening. Make sure to get some rest; you didn't get much sleep last night." "Alright, Kenneth. Don't worry about us. Take care of yourself out there." After that, Kenneth set off from the village on the cargo bike. With the fish concealed by a sack, concerned villagers merely greeted him without probing further. Brighter Valley nestled among towering mountains, necessitating Kenneth's journey along a mountainous route that, fortunately, suited the cargo bike. However, the path included steep slopes, exacerbated by the bike's inadequate brakes, making the descent perilous for Kenneth. His concern wasn't personal injury but rather the integrity of the village chief's fragile cargo bike. After more than three hours of cautious travel, Kenneth at last reached Hollow Springs on the battered cargo bike.