The Legend of the Fishermen of Sicily

Chapter 148 has been harvested!

"Did Enzo confess to Sandro?"

A while ago, the three of them worked together to harvest mussel beds, and Enzo said he didn't know how to bring up the topic of going to town with Sandro.

They also asked Leo and Bianchi to help them come up with a solution.

Bianchi made a very ugly expression: "No, Father will go out on an ocean liner. Enzo plans to sell the ship and take it to the city without anyone knowing after we leave."

Leo was even more surprised: "Sandro is going out on a ship going on an ocean voyage?"

Sandro is not young and his health is not very good. Can he manage?

Bianchi nodded: "The ocean season is the biggest event of the year for our family. Father will go with us whenever he can. He will be very busy and worried in the next few months. He probably won't be too concerned about Enzo when he hears that Enzo is going to the city... Actually, Father has always thought highly of Enzo. He should be more disappointed and sad than angry."

Leo continued, "When are you leaving?"

There's a farewell ceremony when fishing boats leave port, and since they're brothers, Leo plans to see Bianchi off.

Bianchi's tone was a mix of anticipation and reluctance: "I'll spend more time with my mom during these two weeks."

"Didn't you spend enough time with your mother before...?" Leo's lips twitched.

The two chatted for a while about the ocean season, and then Leo wanted to go ask Enzo about the ship.

I didn't expect the big guy to work so hard in the last period of time.

Bianchi told Leo that Enzo had actually gone out to sea today.

So Leo asked Bianchi about information regarding secondhand ships.

"Are you sure you want to buy the boat? Or are you just looking into it?" Bianchi asked.

"I really want to buy it," Leo said confidently. "After I finish my diving certification, I'm going to take the boating license test."

Bianchi looked shocked: "No need for certification. Fishermen don't have licenses, but they can still operate their boats without anyone checking."

Why does Leo always seem to seek out trouble?

Leo shrugged: "You know, I lack a lot of experience at sea, and this is also a way of learning."

Do you think I want to take the exam?

It's because I'm not capable enough...

Bianchi, not wanting to concern himself with Leo, the exam whiz, asked him, "How big of a boat do you want to buy?"

Leo tilted his head: "Actually, Enzo's ship was the perfect size."

Most fishermen in Marzamemi go out to sea in groups of two or three, and at most no more than five.

The main fishing boats are 8-12 meters long and 2.5-3.5 meters wide, equipped with diesel engines, and are mainly made of wood, with a small number made of fiberglass.

Any longer and it falls into the category of "large ship," with simple cabins where one can spend the night at sea.

Leo didn't need to buy such a large ship. Firstly, the cost of going to sea was high, and secondly, he couldn't find that many crew members.

After learning to drive, I'll need to buy a used car to practice and get through the novice period. Boats are much more expensive than cars, so it's better to proceed step by step.

Bianchi began searching his mind for information: "This type of ship is the mainstream size, and there is a large demand for it. The price depends on the specific condition of the ship and what kind of person the owner is. It could sell for 40 million, or it could sell for 80 or 90 million. It's hard to estimate."

"You mean, a fishing boat of this size would cost at least 4000 million?" Leo asked Bianchi to confirm the figure.

Bianchi nodded: "At least this number."

"Pretty expensive..." Leo grinned.

Bianchi suddenly looked down and started counting on his fingers.

"What are you doing?" Leo asked.

Bianchi fiddled with it for a while before finally answering, "Let me calculate how many sponges you collect would be enough to buy a ship."

"Don't mention the sponge." Just thinking about it makes Leo furious.

"Everyone knows you're a master at finding sponges," Bianchi said, giving up on the calculations altogether. "Even my dad knows about your recent exploits, and he didn't hear it from my brother, but from a friend of his who called to ask."

Things related to treasure are always very popular.

In Marzamemi, Andrei recounts the story of underwater treasures in the Mediterranean every day, interspersed with occasional briefings about what good things Leo has found that day.

Leo goes to an institution in Syracuse to learn scuba diving, and he still hears stories about the treasure... but the versions are different.

The version circulating in Marzamemi is that there is a precious sponge underwater.

The first version he heard in the diving class was that there was a kind of precious giant scallop in the Mediterranean Sea, and a large pearl inside could sell for more than gold. Recently, a skilled fisherman in Sicily has been able to find one or two every day.

The second version is that a mutated octopus has appeared underwater in the Mediterranean Sea, and scientists are using it to develop a drug that could save all of humanity. One octopus sells for more than gold, and recently a skilled fisherman in Sicily has been able to find it every day.

"When did gold become so worthless...?"

'

However, these rumors prove that sponges are indeed not treasures.

Leo needs to find another way to complete the mission.

When he saw the 50 points of [Reputation], he was prepared for a tough battle, but as the battle progressed, it disrupted all the clues—Leo was now completely lost.

This feels so frustrating.

Leo shifted his position, lying down, no longer wanting to listen to the students talking about the treasure; the more he listened, the more irritated he became.

He had scheduled his diving lesson well in advance.

However, the final class time was postponed again and again because of the lack of qualified teachers. In order to save money, the institution wanted to gather more students.

But this way, Leo wouldn't be able to save money.

Leo was already resentful when he came to class in Syracuse today. "The students aren't paying attention; they're all talking about treasures as soon as they arrive."

The teacher was even more baffling; he told the students to read a certain number of pages and then left, leaving them to study on their own.

Leo even doubted whether the teacher knew anything about diving.

Could it be that the teacher isn't qualified?

Fortunately, Leo didn't expect the teachers here to teach him anything; he was just there to get his certificates.

Five people came to class together today.

There were three fishermen and two girls from well-off families who got their diving certifications so they could go out and have fun.

Everyone was eager to get certified, so the institution followed Leo's suggestion in its teaching method—two theory classes in the morning and two practical classes in the afternoon, compressing the teaching cycle to the extreme.

After finishing the morning classes, everyone ate together at a nearby restaurant.

The two girls from wealthy families heard the rumors of the treasure for the first time today.

After listening to several fishermen talk for a whole morning, one of the girls made a point that particularly caught Leo's attention.

"Everyone is saying something different, and I don't know who's telling the truth and who's lying. Right now, I just want to get my diving certification as soon as possible and go swimming in the sea. It looks so interesting."

Leo, who was eating, paused.

A strange idea popped into my head.

Could this be something that someone is deliberately orchestrating behind the scenes?

Regardless of what valuable things the Mediterranean Sea may contain, everyone's attention has recently been focused on this sea, and it has been the subject of much discussion.

Locals say that the precious sponges from the Mediterranean were harvested hundreds of years ago and made into expensive daily necessities, which were then sent to nobles and courts.

Now, if we bring these old stories up again, wouldn't a small piece of everyday goods made from the same raw materials easily sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars?

Thinking deeper...

Isn't this the same trick that luxury goods merchants in later generations often used?

Historical narratives, scarcity-driven deification, artificial premiums... ultimately leading to a hefty profit.

Leo muttered under his breath, "Has any major luxury brand taken notice of Sicily yet?"

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