Phoenix Rising: From Heartache to Heroism

Chapter 256 Good Cop, Bad Cop

"What are we going to do for lunch, then?"

"Why have so many of the town's restaurants closed up?"

"Are they no longer open for business? It's all rather peculiar!"

The inn staff were taken aback to find them all still in town.

"Didn't you lot go out rowing together?"

"No."

"Well, that's a shame!"

The inn staff looked genuinely sorry. "Your school had organised the rowing activity to finish up at Lake Skyward, famous for its crabs. Many of the town's restaurant owners were called in to help cook there, but you missed out."

Half of the restaurant owners were busy preparing meals, while the rest didn't want to miss the crab feast and set off early in the morning.

That was why the town was now so quiet.

On hearing this, everyone was dumbfounded.

Silence grasped them.

Then, shock grabbed their hearts.

What? Today's rowing is meant to end with a crab feast at Lake Skyward!?

Good Lord, we've missed out, big time!

Why hadn't they mentioned this earlier?

"Why didn't you tell us yesterday? I would have definitely joined

"Lake Skyward is near our town, and it's really renowned. Didn't you

"No."

fret. Even though we didn't prepare meals today, we've got plenty of instant noodles in the pantry to tide you

could instant noodles compare to a crab

They were speechless.

Words failed them.

had assumed rowing would be a fruitless task, but now they were told there

Haven't eaten a thing since morning, and

innkeeper motioned for a staff member to fetch the instant noodles, but cautioned, "Mind you, the instant noodles aren't complimentary." Silence hung in

the school, hence

was open for everyone, these students opting for noodles at the inn meant the owner couldn't extend

companions had already assembled

first-come, first-served, it was more of a motivational ploy for the rowers. In the end, everyone would have an

of fresh food awaited, buffet-style, offering everyone the

crab

could feast to

even acquire keepsakes carved from wood. They were made in the image of

these souvenirs. Every crab had little differences between one another, but all looked like they could spring to life at any moment. Post-feast, they were treated to crab-catching and a tour of the ecological

eclipsing

row back; transport was arranged, and they were all

end that couldn't

Violeta's group couldn't hide their

the boating trip, they had expected little in

know they were headed

photos and shared them,

at the inn, everyone else made do with instant noodles.

their meal with