Free Web NovelLewis was never hard to find. In the afternoons, he was usually either making his rounds through Pelican Town—checking for damaged roads or broken public facilities—or at home handling paperwork.
So Leon went to Lewis’s house first and found him leaning over his desk, writing.
“Oh, Leon, we meet again.”
Seeing Leon step inside, Lewis didn’t blame him for not knocking—the front door had been left open by Lewis himself.
“Good afternoon, Lewis. I’m here to ask you something about the Calico Desert bus. Do you have a moment?”
“Of course.”
After exchanging greetings, Leon heard that Lewis had time to talk and sat down across from him.
“I went to the Calico Desert today,” Leon began. “On the bus, Pam told me that I currently own half the shares in the Pelican Town–Calico Desert bus route. I want to have a proper discussion about that.”
“Are you here to blame me for making that decision on my own?” Lewis asked.
“That’s part of it,” Leon admitted with a nod. “But I also have some concerns about how the income is being distributed.”
“The whole point of repairing the bus was to make it easier for me to go to the Calico Desert. Honestly, I don’t care about the bus’s turnover or profit. I don’t know how much money it can make me, but… the income feels uncomfortable to take.”
“I’m listening,” Lewis said with a smile, hands resting on the desk. “Tell me why you feel… ‘uncomfortable,’ that’s the word, right?”
Leon didn’t hold back. “Sure, I repaired the bus, but I haven’t been involved in its operation at all. Taking fifty percent of the revenue is obviously unreasonable. You might think I deserve it, but to me, it feels undeserved. I only fixed the bus—I didn’t invest more than that. It’s not worth half the shares.”
“So what are you suggesting?” Lewis asked.
“If I take nothing, I feel bad. If I take too much, I feel worse. So… I think ten percent is fair.”
“Ten percent isn’t much,” Lewis said, a bit surprised. “It’s the first time I’ve seen someone voluntarily give up their share. I understand your point, but I need to give you enough equity—this is a statement as much as it is a reward.”
He sighed before continuing. “You’ve seen Pelican Town’s situation—it’s not exactly thriving. To develop the local economy, I need both the hard work of our residents and a lot of outside investors. Pelican Town has no unique appeal. Without Stardew Valley, we wouldn’t even have tourists. And I can’t expect investors to be swayed by the scenery alone—they’re here to make money. I have to prove that investing in Pelican Town can bring solid returns.
“Your repair of the Calico Desert bus counts as an investment—and it’s the very first investment Pelican Town has had. As the pioneer, you deserve the best benefits. It’s both my thanks to you and a benchmark to show other investors that Pelican Town values contributions.”
“Like buying a horse’s bones for a thousand gold,” Leon said, thinking of the old idiom. “Has it worked?”
“Pretty well,” Lewis replied. “You may have noticed I didn’t spend much time at the last Egg Festival. That’s because I was showing a Zuzu City investor around Pelican Town and the surrounding area. He’s interested in starting a summer camp nearby—developing the eastern forest into a peaceful, scenic retreat for kids, without disturbing our community structure.”
Lewis’s smile grew wider. “Your story was my main selling point. I told him about the three-year tax exemption you received, the profit share from the bus—those gave him confidence. Right now, he’s very keen to invest.”
“If this summer camp happens, it’ll create a new source of income for everyone in town. Robin could handle construction and repairs. Clint could supply materials and forge tools. Harvey’s Clinic could deal with any illnesses or injuries. Pierre’s General Store could supply the kids with food and daily goods. Gus’s Stardrop Saloon could serve visiting parents. Willy’s fishing and Marnie’s ranching could be part of the camp activities. Everyone benefits.” fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
“That does sound like a perfect fit for Pelican Town,” Leon said.
“Exactly. And the families who send their kids to such a camp are often wealthy. They can afford high-quality produce. Sure, the Traveling Merchant’s Guild pays well, but compared to what parents will spend on their children’s well-being, they’ll happily pay even more for your premium crops.”
Lewis leaned forward. “This is an investment everyone can benefit from. Your example will be my case study for investors. That’s why the fifty percent profit share must go to you in full.”
“You’ve convinced me, Lewis,” Leon said with a smile. But agreeing to the fifty percent didn’t mean he was comfortable taking it.
“If I’m a shareholder, I should have the right to allocate my profits, right?”
“Of course.”
“Then I’ll keep ten percent. The other forty percent—I want you to donate it to Pelican Town for me. What do you think?”
“I… Leon, yes, that’s doable. Thank you.”
Lewis was stunned into silence for several seconds. When he finally spoke, his voice was thick with emotion, and Leon noticed his eyes were glistening.
“Maybe you are Pelican Town’s greatest stroke of luck, Leon. You have a heart of gold.”
“Cough, cough—no need for that. I just didn’t feel right keeping the money. That’s all. Anyway, I’ll get going. Don’t want to disturb your work.”
Leon stood quickly. If he stayed any longer, he was afraid Lewis might hug him and use his shirt as a handkerchief.
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