There can't be a Harvest Moon in the RimWorld.

This is far more despairing than being resurrected naked in a graveyard full of ashes with only a wooden chicken leg, and then being told by a girl who looks like she's cosplaying as 2B that the fire is about to go out and that I have to be the one to rekindle it to save the world!

What else can I do besides giving the middle finger to the sky to express my carefree attitude?!

Hey, at least give me the Fire Keeper!

"Okay...that's not the problem..."

I comforted myself, thinking that if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. Even something like the "ultimate disaster" can be handled properly. Civilization can't have survived to this day just because of a naturally European face and good luck, right?

Even if that were the case, it wouldn't be a huge problem.

I could easily launch the "Wandering Earth" project, unite Harris and the Deep Space Fleet, and move the entire Mineral Town to the Edge World planet. Then everyone could go about their lives as usual, and it would still be a peaceful day.

…………

After a moment of silence with Boss Dart, he suddenly said, "Marcus, I might be leaving town for a week next month, so I'll be leaving the tavern in your care."

I was overjoyed to hear this: "Don't worry, Mr. Dart! I will take good care of Lin!"

The owner glared angrily: "You better listen to me properly! I was only talking about the tavern, not my daughter! I'll take care of my daughter myself, you don't need to worry about her!"

I asked, puzzled, "I was just joking... but judging from your tone, you're not planning to take Lin out?"

Mr. Dart said, "I'm just going out to see some old friends. It has nothing to do with Lin. What, is there a problem?"

I nodded and said, "It's absolutely a wise move for you to entrust Rin to my care! As long as I have a breath left, Rin will never face any danger, become a Jinchūriki, or become the cause of the Third Shinobi World War caused by some masked man!"

I'll protect Lin! I said it!

No amount of yellow flashes or white demons coming out to stop them could work!

Wait a minute...

This Lin seems to be different from the Lin I was talking about...

Oh wait... the yellow flash and the white devil don't seem quite right either...

The boss nodded absentmindedly and said, "Okay, then I'm relieved..."

He had barely finished speaking when he realized what he'd said and slammed his hand on the table: "You brat! You almost got me all confused! I was talking about the tavern, not when you're going to leave Lin in my care!"

Ugh, we've been found out...

The tavern was unusually quiet tonight, so even the only waitress, Lin, took the day off and went out to play.

Among the usual patrons, Professor Basil had been spending time at home with his daughter lately, Mr. Dick was quietly brewing wine at home, and old Sebala was mostly beating up Gray at home. It wasn't until after eight o'clock that Cliff came in from outside.

"Hey, Cliff! Why are you so late today?" I greeted him.

The weary young man smiled broadly, seemingly unconcerned about his physical exhaustion.

"After expelling insects in the mine today, I met Gotz on the mountain and followed him on his patrol. I also asked him some questions about Mount Mads."

Gotz seemed to have reached some kind of agreement with Harris. After Harris returned to space, Gotz, who had switched from being a seaman to a ranger, continued his daily patrols without ever letting up.

I patted the young man on the shoulder and looked at him with knowing eyes: "You're asking about work, right?"

Cliff smiled sheepishly, “Yes… unfortunately, Gotz said his job is voluntary and he doesn’t have the money to hire me…”

Upon hearing this, Mr. Dart and I exchanged a silent glance, but both of us wore malicious smiles.

Young man, you're so naive!

Although Gots's role as a forest ranger was voluntary and the town never paid him a salary, he was the only building materials wholesaler and builder in Mineral Town!

He makes a fortune from every repair and expansion project in the whole town.

The reason Gots rejected him was ultimately because he didn't want the young man involved in the mysterious events of Mount Mads; he was simply trying to keep him away.

"Cliff, who else did you ask?" Boss Dart asked.

Cliff looked up and thought for a moment. “I’ve been to Lady Lilia’s ranch, but a bespectacled man told me to stay away from his sister, and I don’t know what he meant… As for Grandpa Mook’s ranch, I heard you have to deal with cattle and sheep, and I’m not confident I can take good care of the animals… At the blacksmith’s, Grandpa Sebala didn’t answer me and even threw up all over me…”

I said with a bit of pity, "Your job search has been too difficult. Why don't you stay and work as an auxiliary police officer? I can provide you with three meals a day."

I thought Cliff would be overjoyed and agree, but to my surprise, he flatly rejected my offer.

"No need, Sheriff Marcus! I expect to finish the deworming in two more days, I can't trouble you any further! Being a pay thief isn't something to be proud of! I must earn my own living!"

well said!

Did you hear that, Thomas the Tank Engine!

I should have dragged that guy over here for a little ideological education, instead of lying in bed all day scamming for a paycheck!

Cliff said optimistically, "Although I haven't found a job yet, Jeff, the owner of the grocery store, has agreed to give me a chance. He said that as long as I do an unpaid internship for a month, I can become a full-time employee if I meet the requirements. I plan to go in a couple of days! Also, Jeff said that I need to pay a deposit of 10,000 yuan first. Can you lend me some of it?"

Hearing what he said earlier, Dart and I were still smiling and looking at this ambitious young man with approval. But when we heard Jeff's name, our expressions changed drastically.

"Don't go! That's a rip-off!"

…………

After much persuasion, we finally stopped the naive Cliff from falling into the hands of unscrupulous merchants and being exploited. We advised him to wait and see, and that Mr. Dart and I would find a way to arrange a place for him.

Before I left, the owner of Dart told me that the same TV I ordered was on its way and would arrive in a couple of days, and that I should remember to come to the store to pick it up.

After leaving the tavern, I didn't go home immediately. Instead, I took a short detour along the stone path, passing through Rose Square and the ranch area, and went first to Lady Lilia's chicken farm.

"Dong dong dong."

I knocked gently three times on the door, and a round-faced man wearing glasses and an apron immediately opened the door for me. But the moment he saw me, his face fell, and he tried to close the door.

"Hey, hey, hey, brother-in-law, what are you doing!"

With lightning speed, I stuck out a foot to block the closing door, and braced myself with my arm, thus rendering Rick's efforts futile.

But he still stared at me warily, guarding the door and preventing me from taking another step.

"Rick, who's knocking at the door?"

Lady Lilia's gentle voice came from the kitchen. The round-faced youth quickly turned around, struggling with me with a fierce expression, while saying in a docile tone, "It's nothing, Mom... it's just... the wind!"

Taking advantage of the opportunity, I quickly peeked out and shouted, "Mrs. Lilia! Don't close the door, it's me! Mr. Dart asked me to pass on a message to you!"

When people get anxious, they blurt out all sorts of lines, but luckily the meaning was still conveyed.

Before Lady Lilia could reply, Poppy and Lin, who were chatting idly on the living room sofa, had already heard my shout.

The pink-haired girl came running barefoot over, angrily shoving her brother aside and saying huffing, "Rick, you're bullying me again! Why won't you let Marcus in!"

Rick was pushed aside, and his tight defenses collapsed instantly. He glanced helplessly at his sister, then stormed upstairs alone.

I looked at Popli apologetically: "I'm sorry, Popli, I made you and your brother fight again."

Poppy grabbed my arm, like a victorious rooster, and led me into the house with her head held high.

"It's Rick who's bullying me! I don't have a brother like that! Everyone in town thinks you're a good person, and he's the bad guy because he's always going against you!"

This girl's logic is truly heartwarming.

“Hey Marcus, what are you doing here?” Poppy said, and Lynn also turned her gaze to me.

I leaned against the back of the sofa, coughed twice, and said, "A heartless boss asked me to tell a maid that if she doesn't want to go home tonight, she can stay here, but she can't miss work tomorrow morning."

"Long live Dad (the boss)!"

The two girls cheered in unison, waving their little fists in celebration.

Poppy said excitedly, "Lin, we're sleeping together tonight! I still have so much to say!"

But Lin said with some distress, "I forgot to bring my pajamas, so I might have to go back..."

Popli, hands on her hips, said confidently, "You can wear mine~ I'll go upstairs and get some for you, you can come up and take a shower first~"

Lin nodded vigorously, and then the two little girls ran upstairs hand in hand, leaving me alone on the lake.

"Hey, Marcus, you're here."

The commotion in the living room drew Lady Lilia out. Her steps were very light and her movements elegant, but she could not hide her frail health.

That face, so similar to Poppy's, was filled with a tranquility and serenity unlike her daughter's, giving the house a warm atmosphere at all times.

I quickly stood up to greet them.

"Good evening, Lady Lilia!"

“I don’t usually have time to chat with Poppy. Rick cares about her a lot but always ignores her. It’s so good that you and Lin can come and keep her company.”

Lady Lilia nodded, covering her mouth with a soft laugh, "Dart is always so considerate, no wonder Margaret insisted on marrying him back then."

"Eh? Margaret... is she Lynn's mother?"

When gossip comes up, Lady Lilia reveals a universally understood expression.

“Yes, Lin’s mother and I were once best friends. It’s wonderful to see Poppy and Lin so close now.”

I thought to myself with a subtle expression, "How could Boss Dart, with that poker face, have attracted girls back then? It's truly unbelievable how diverse the world is..."

Lady Lilia smoothed a strand of her hair, sat down, and said softly, "Don't let his stern face fool you. Dart wasn't like this back then. He was very popular... Heh, never mind, it's all so many years ago. You young people wouldn't want to hear about that anyway."

No! I really want to hear it! And it has nothing to do with keeping a straight face, okay?

I simply don't believe that with Dart's current blond hair and square face, he could have been that handsome when he was young!

But in front of Lady Lilia, I always subconsciously restrained my usual playful manner, so I didn't continue to tease or make sarcastic remarks, and instead smiled and went along with the topic.

"Mr. Rod must have been quite the charmer in his youth to win your heart, right?"

Both had poker faces, but Mr. Dart had a square, househusband-like appearance, while Mr. Rhodes, whom I met, had a rugged, weathered charm that would probably make him quite popular with girls even in his middle age.

To give an analogy, if Dart is like Leonardo DiCaprio who has aged badly and is now playing with a water gun in his underwear, then Mr. Rhodes is like Keanu Reeves from "John Wick"!

Lady Clillia shook her head: "You're wrong, Marcus. What attracted me to Marcus Rhodes wasn't his appearance."

Lady Lilia fell into reminiscence: "I first met Rhodes at a birthday party one year. We only exchanged a few words. Margaret even joked that I felt like I'd lost my soul after talking to him. But after that, I never saw him again..."

Why are you disappearing so early?

So Mr. Rhodes's problem has been going on for more than just a year or two?

"and then?"

I imagined it would be the typical story of two people meeting again in a foreign land, falling in love at first sight, and getting to know each other again.

"At my birthday party a year later, I finally saw him again."

Lady Lilia's face was full of a happy smile. "During our conversation when we first met, I mentioned my curiosity about a certain ring mentioned in church documents. Rhodes traveled all over the Federation to find it as a birthday present for me, and by the time he returned, it was already my second birthday..."