Chapter 10: Fisherman's Hut
Once Linkle had washed her slime-covered boot in a restroom on the second floor of the Potion Pavilion, she made her way towards the stairs that were still crowded with Veneers including the one with the Blast Mask. This time, Linkle donned the Couple's Mask which caused the Veneers to not attack her but stand aside instead. Not sure how long the effect would last, Linkle quickly rushed past them down the stairs. As soon as she was at the bottom, Linkle removed the Couple's Mask and made her way back to the entrance of Aveil Port. There, Linkle used the Port Key she obtained from the Chu Jelly Juice Shop to unlock the golden gates which automatically swung open.
"I've opened the Port Gates, Linebeck II," Linkle said into the Transceiver. "Now where do you want me to go?"
"Head to the Fisherman's Hut," Linebeck II said. "You'll find it along Mikau Bay next to the Spider House. There you'll have to deal with Sweet, an old sailor buddy of mine. Tell him you're a friend and he'll give you access to the Hidden Cove where my family is located. Now hurry!"
So with that, Linkle navigated her way past several warehouses and docks along the waterfront. Eventually, she came to a beach that was crawling with Veneers. Guessing this was Mikau Bay, Linkle decided to wade out into the water and put on the Zora Mask. Once the transformation was complete, she swam further out and dove underneath. To her surprise, the only fish she encountered were Skullfish which attempted to bite her but Linkle avoided them. She surfaced to get her bearings and noticed a couple of houses. Curious, she swam towards them and was almost out of Magic when she came up to the shallows. Removing the Zora Mask, Linkle felt the cold water seep into her clothes as she looked up at the two houses which were built on wooden stilts with ladders leading up to them.
They were both identical in terms of their white walls, triangular roofs, and sun-shaped weathervanes. But the one difference between them was that the house on the right had the insignia of a spider inside the sun-shaped weathervane while the other on the left had the outline of a fish. Because of that, Linkle figured that the house on the left was the Fisherman's Hut and climbed the ladder. At the top, she found a closed door and knocked on it. A small piece of metal slid open revealing a pair of beady eyes against a large pale face.
"What do you want? The Fisherman's Hut is closed!" said an angry, gruff voice on the other side of the door. "Find somewhere else to get your fish!"
"I'm not here to buy fish," Linkle said cautiously. "Are you Mister Sweet?"
"Don't call me 'Mister'! I'm not that old."
"I'm sorry."
"Now state your business! I don't have all day."
"I would like access to the Hidden Cove."
There was a pause and then Sweet said, "Who sent you? Dotora? The Happy Mask Salesman?"
"Linebeck II did. I'm an acquaintance of his."
"That's what they all say, before trying to off me! How do I know you're really a friend of Linebeck II's?"
"He's helped me since I arrived in Oshus."
"Sure, like I would believe you're actually from the surface."
"But it's true!"
"Look, I don't care where you're from but I'm not sure you're trustworthy."
"Well, how can I earn your trust?"
Sweet made a slight humming noise that sounded like groaning before speaking. "Are you familiar with Pictographs?"
"No, what are they?"
"You know, pictures that you can take on this little device called a Picto Box," Sweet said. "Here, I'll show you."
Sweet's beady eyes left the open slot for a short time before his big beefy hand slipped something trough. Linkle caught it, and beheld a small red and yellow box with a short telescopic lens and a small round button on the side.
"That's a Picto Box," Sweet explained. "Press the round button and you get instant pictures. Of course, you'll need to develop the film in order to get the pictures printed out."
"How do I do that?"
"Just head over to Lenzo's place. He'll develop the pictures for a small price of 10 Rupees."
"Okay, but what do you want me to do with this 'Picto Box'?"
"Take pictures, lass, but not just of anything that suits your fancy. In particular, I want you to capture images of Veneers wearing Garo Masks."
"Why?"
"There's a reward for anyone who can take pictures of them because they're seldom seen and hard to pictograph."
"Then how come I have to do it? I'm not interested in the reward."
"Who said anything about giving you the reward? That's for me!"
"So you're asking me to take the pictures for you, though you'll be one taking credit for it."
"That's the basic idea, lass, and if the pictures are good enough to win me the reward I might show you where the Hidden Cove is. Sound like a deal?"
Linkle looked down at the Picto Box and sighed. "Fine, I'll do it."
"That's a good lass," Sweet said and closed the slot. "Now don't come back till you at least have three good pictures of the Garo Mask-wearing Veneers."
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"You'll have to do what Sweet says, by the sound of it," Linebeck II said after Linkle had explained the situation to him. "He's a loyal fellow, but very stubborn. Though according to my resources, there's never been a contest that'll reward people for taking Pictographs of Veneers wearing Garo Masks."
"Could it be another ruse to get me killed?"
"Sweet's never been the type to hurt anyone, unless he was bribed by someone."
"Like Dotora?"
"No, he'd never let someone as powerful as Dotora sway him. He never liked the man from the start, even more after Dotora gained control of the Veneers. My guess is that he's lying about the contest to cover up that he wants Pictographs of the Garo Mask-wearing Veneers but is too cowardly to do it himself."
"But that doesn't make sense. Why would he want Pictographs of Garo Mask-wearing Veneers if it's not for some kind of reward?"
"I don't know. Maybe he's taken up a fascination with Garo Mask-wearing Veneers lately."
"Let's hope that's the case. So where can I find some?"
"I'm not sure. I think they go to a secret place that's only accessible to those who wear Garo Masks. So you'll have to find yourself a Garo Mask, whether through the Happy Mask Shop or a Veneer, and see where it'll take you."
To be continued…