The Rich Cultivator

Four Months Later...

The journey after that day had been surprisingly smooth, without any major troubles. Tyler and his crew sailed from island to island, with Tyler steadily expanding his influence wherever they docked. He founded new branches of the White Merchant Group in every port city they visited, gradually building a commercial empire that was beginning to gain some recognition. In particular, the White Merchant Group had started to make waves in the New Rose Kingdom, and the name "Tyler White" was quickly becoming synonymous with success.

Unlike most merchants, Tyler didn’t bother renting spaces for his stores. Instead, he bought out properties, giving him more control and stability. He also made it a point to hire the slaves he had freed from his ship, giving them jobs as store managers and workers. This wasn’t just a business move for Tyler—it was a promise he had made to the people who had joined him. He wanted to offer them a new life, a purpose, and in return, he earned their unwavering loyalty.

Every time Tyler bought a new batch of slaves, he would follow the same process—freeing them and providing them with jobs in his expanding merchant business. However, this time, things were different. As they neared Cedar Island, Tyler made a decision. He wasn’t going to expand any further, at least not for a while. He had already established a solid network across multiple islands, and now, it was time to focus on something else.

Darla, meanwhile, was getting used to her new childlike body. The transformation had been a shock at first, but over the months, she had slowly adjusted. She explained to the rest of the crew that the captain had gifted her a natural treasure, causing her body to revert to a younger state. This revelation was met with a mixture of surprise and envy from the crew. After all, Tyler had access to some incredibly rare and valuable items, but no one dared to ask for one. They knew better than to expect such gifts from the captain without earning them.

However, not everyone was thrilled with Darla’s new appearance. Situ, one of the ship’s stewards, was a bit heartbroken. He had developed a quiet crush on Darla, but now that she had transformed into a child, he was unsure how to feel. He often muttered to himself, wondering if he would have to wait for her to grow up again before anything could happen between them.

One day, after mulling over his feelings, Situ approached Tyler. "Captain, I’ve been thinking... I’d like to settle down on Cedar Island once we arrive. Maybe open up a business there and—"

Tyler, who had been looking over some maps of their next destination, patted Situ on the shoulder before he could finish. "I understand, Situ. Cedar Island would be a good place to start over. You’ve been working hard for the crew, and I won’t stand in the way of you finding your own path."

Situ gave a grateful nod, but there was still a hint of sadness in his eyes. He had enjoyed his time on the ship and had hoped for something more with Darla. But now, things were different.