Chapter 450

The woman quickly composed herself, shaking off the wistful look in her eyes and replacing it with a bright, welcoming smile. “This must be your first time visiting our market,” she chirped. “I can show you around.” Eleanor, eager to explore and learn more, accepted the offer without hesitation. “Alright,” she nodded. As they strolled through the bustling marketplace, Eleanor could feel the wary gazes of the locals trailing her every step. To them, she was an outsider—an unpredictable variable in their otherwise routine lives. But Eleanor wasn’t bothered. She observed the transactions taking place, her keen eyes scanning the stalls. Unlike what she had initially expected, the islanders weren’t bartering goods. Rather— They used shells as currency. It was a surprising revelation. These weren’t ordinary shells scattered along the shoreline; the ones used for trade were of a particular kind, rare and valuable. So, if Eleanor wanted to buy something—like the clothes she desperately needed—