There wasn’t much to say about the terminal on Geoffrey’s property—no imposing station or wide platform, just a simple track that ended abruptly.

Joey helped the professor out of the cab as she took in her surroundings. He noticed how deeply she breathed in the air and wondered if the mayor had mentioned the change in the lake's smell since the flood.

“This way,” Joey said, leading her down a gravel path past the warehouses. He wasn’t sure how Jeff transported his produce to town these days, but he guessed it was still by locomotive. With the rising cost of sirenia, however, Jeff might soon have to revert to slower horse-drawn carriages.

As they neared the lake, Joey paused, allowing the professor to take in the view.

“Is this your first time at Lake Grassum?” he asked.

“No, but it’s been many years. I’d forgotten how clear the water is.”

“My friend is probably in his office. Shall we?”

Geoffrey had built into the sand until he hit bedrock, then placed large stones on top, creating a structure that looked like an old fort from the pirate wars. He had likely drawn inspiration from Silverlake Ranch, where he and Joey had often played as children.

A canal connected the building to the lake, allowing animals to be brought in via a water elevator. Once herded into the tower, pumps flooded the area, bringing the sirenians to the extraction facilities.

It was a costly setup, far more expensive than building parlors on the shore, and running the pumps wasn’t cheap either. But while people had once mocked Geoffrey for the investment, no one was laughing now.

Joey and Esther climbed the stairs and entered through the open door. Joey noted that Jeff had hired a new secretary since his last visit.

“Hi. I’m Constable Joseph Jones, and this is Esther Lincoln. We were hoping to see Mr. Geoffrey.”

“You didn’t make an appointment,” the secretary replied curtly.

“No, but if you tell him Joey’s here, I’m sure he’ll make an exception.”

The secretary hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “Follow me. You can wait here. He’s in a meeting, but it should be over soon.”

“Thank you.”

Joey caught a meaningful glance from the professor. He hadn’t mentioned she was the emissary from the Science Academy. He shrugged and mouthed an apology, signaling he’d explain later. They sat on the plush sofas in the waiting room. Soon, the distant sound of a door opening and footsteps echoed through the hall.

“… walk you out,” a serious voice said.

“Thank you, Mr. Geoffrey. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the contract specified that the animals had to meet a weight requirement. I thought you’d keep them after the vacuuming,” a somber voice replied.

“Perfectly understandable, Mr. Wilson. Why don’t we reschedule for a later date, once the animals meet the terms of the contract? These are troubled times, after all.”

Joey and Esther watched as two men—one old, one younger—walked out, their expressions grim. They barely acknowledged Joey and Esther as they passed, their steps heavy with the weight of defeat. But Geoffrey’s warm voice soon cut through the gloom.

“Have a safe trip,” he called after them.

Then Geoffrey spotted Joey. He blinked in surprise before his face lit up with a wide, beaming smile.

“Joey! What are you doing here?”

“Well, you did invite me to visit.”

Geoffrey laughed. “I did, didn’t I? What a wonderful surprise!”

“Sir, they said—” the secretary began, but Geoffrey waved her off.

“No worries, Debbie. Joey’s an old friend. I’ll take it from here.”

As they walked toward Geoffrey’s office, he raised an eyebrow at Esther, clearly curious about her presence.

Inside, the office was cozy, with a thick red carpet underfoot and a fireplace crackling gently on one side. A large window offered a panoramic view of Lake Grassum, while another overlooked the vacuuming parlor, where men worked the cattle outside.

“It can’t be the original, can it?” Esther asked, eyeing a painting over the fireplace.

“No, not at all. Painting is just a hobby. This is my crude attempt at recreating the masterpiece,” Geoffrey explained with a smile.

The painting depicted a dark, stormy sea with a dead whale on the shore. A muscular man, tears streaking his face, hammered a bloody harpoon into a hoe. Joey recognized it instantly: The New Beginning, one of the most famous paintings from the whale extinction era.

“I saw the original at the Art Gallery in the capital once. Left quite an impression on me,” Geoffrey said. “I’ve tried painting it several times. This is the closest I’ve come, but Vincenzo’s work—his sea, the pain on the man’s face—just beyond my skill.”

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

Geoffrey turned to Esther. “By the way, I’m Geoffrey. And you are…?”

“Esther Lincoln,” she replied.

“She’s the ambassador from the Science Academy,” Joey added, watching for his friend’s reaction. Geoffrey’s eyes widened briefly before he recovered.

“I see. And I suppose you’re escorting the professor?”

“That’s right. We’re investigating the flood together.”

A flicker of alarm crossed Geoffrey’s face, quickly masked by his usual charm.

“That was sneaky of you, Joey. No heads-up about bringing the esteemed professor? I could have prepared a proper welcome. It’s not every day we have a representative from the capital. Can I get you anything? Apple milkshake? The secret’s manatee milk—it’s sweeter than dugong’s. Or perhaps apple cider, water, or whiskey?”

“No, thank you,” Joey replied.

“I’ll pass as well,” said Esther politely.

Geoffrey’s smile faltered with exaggerated disappointment. “What a shame. You’re missing out on our lake’s finest.” Joey noted how oddly theatrical Geoffrey’s response seemed, though his friend quickly moved on.

“Oh, silly me, Joey. I forgot your little trauma. I shouldn’t have offered.”

“It’s fine, Jeff. Don’t worry about it.”

Esther gestured toward a canvas covered by a cloth in the corner. “What about that painting?”

“That one’s not finished,” Geoffrey said. “It’s an original, actually. I rarely attempt those.”

“Let’s see it,” Joey encouraged. “It can’t be that bad.”

Geoffrey hesitated, then relented. “Fine, fine. You can see it.”

He unveiled the painting, which showed an underwater scene. In the shadows, a giant eye loomed, its size emphasized by the small dugongs swimming near the surface. Dark tendrils snaked through the background.

“What an intriguing painting, Mr. Geoffrey,” Esther remarked.

“It’s based on a recurring dream I’ve been having,” Geoffrey explained.

“It reminds me of something,” Joey said thoughtfully.

“What will you call it?” Esther asked.

“I haven’t decided yet,” Geoffrey admitted. “Still thinking about it.”

After a brief pause, Joey cleared his throat. “Jeff, we were hoping you could help with our investigation.”

“What can I do?” Geoffrey asked.

“I was hoping you’d let us take a look around. We could see the animals, go to the lake, and you can share your unique insight as a local rancher.”

“Of course, of course. Have you ever seen a vacuuming parlor, Professor Lincoln?”

“No, I haven’t.”

“Well then, why don’t I give you a tour? As a producer, I care about the lake’s herds just as much as anyone. I’d be happy to show you around and answer any questions.”

Esther smiled. “That would be wonderful.”

“I have to say that I have never had the official tour of your estate myself,” teased Joey.

“Nonsense, Joey! You’ve been here plenty of times. This estate wouldn’t even have been possible without your late father’s help—may he rest in peace.” Geoffrey turned to Professor Lincoln, smiling. “You see, Joey and I were schoolmates. I was the poorest kid around, and Joey, well, he was the richest. His father was one of the biggest ranchers on the lake. I always wanted to start a herd, but no one would lend me the capital. Joey’s father was the only one who believed in me. He gave me my start.”

“Pops had a kind heart,” Joey said, nodding. “He loved helping people with potential.”

“He sure did,” Geoffrey agreed, his voice softening with nostalgia. “And don’t let Joey fool you, Professor Lincoln—your escort here is one of the wealthiest men in town. He inherited quite a fortune,” Geoffrey added with a wink.

They entered the vacuuming parlor. At the center of the large room stood a giant cylinder, surrounded by valves and pipes connecting it to the boilers in the next room. Men busily worked the machinery, attaching needles to the cylinder via thin hoses. Thirty dugongs stood patiently, seemingly unbothered as they were vacuumed.

The noise was deafening, forcing Geoffrey to shout. “So, the idea is to vacuum the blubber without causing the animals any pain! Those green needles over there contain a saline solution that enlarges the blubber, along with a local anesthetic. The men insert those needles into the plumpest parts—usually the midsection. Then they use the red needles. Those are kept hot by steam to soften the fat and make it easier to vacuum. The heat also cauterizes the wound so the animals heal quickly.”

Professor Lincoln leaned in, shouting over the noise. “Do they feel any discomfort? Any side effects?”

“No, no! It’s no more uncomfortable than a cow being milked. We take animal rights seriously. The blubber doesn’t do much for their insulation; it’s mainly for buoyancy. We take just a small percentage of the blubber to avoid affecting their ability to swim.”

“And how often can you vacuum them?” she asked.

“In a bad year, we can do it three times. In a good year, maybe six. On average, we get five barrels of oil per dugong annually. That’s about 750 liters per year, per animal.”

As they moved closer to the platform, one of the bulls was being vacuumed. The animal stood still, seemingly content. Professor Lincoln reached out and petted its snout, earning a relaxed snort from the creature.

“They’re harmless,” Geoffrey said with a smile. “Incredible animals.”

“It’s my first time seeing one up close,” Esther remarked. “They’re enormous!”

“Adults can grow up to three meters long and weigh five hundred kilos. Dugongs are the smallest sirenians, though. We can also handle manatees and even balatees in these facilities. Let’s go outside—it’s quieter out there.”

Once they stepped outside, the silence was a relief. Geoffrey sighed dramatically. “Great Ambyssus, it’s deafening in there. That’s why my office is soundproofed. Otherwise, I’d lose my mind.”

Joey noticed Esther frown slightly at the mention of ‘Ambyssus,’ the name that had been cropping up more frequently in recent days.

Esther broke the silence. “What happens to the oil after it’s vacuumed?”

“We boil it slowly for two to three days to get the right viscosity, then send it to the refinery.”

“Fascinating,” she said.

Joey cleared his throat. “Jeff, can we show her how you manage the herds? We also need to get to the lake. That’s the main reason we’re here.”

“Of course, of course! I’ll introduce you to Red, our chief herder. He’ll show you the works.”

As they made their way to the lake, they spotted Red. Geoffrey called out to him, and Red left his assistants, giving them quick instructions before joining the group.

“Red, you know Joey. Professor Lincoln, meet the finest herdsman on the lake.”

“Ma’am. Constable,” Red greeted them with a nod.

Geoffrey smiled. “I’ll leave you in Red’s capable hands. Red, show them the herd and take them out in the Nautilus if they want. I have business to attend to.”

“Yes, boss.”

Geoffrey turned back toward the vacuuming parlor, giving a brief wave. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Professor. Enjoy your stay in New Lisbon.”

“Thank you, Mr. Geoffrey,” Esther said.

Joey added, “Thanks, Jeff.”

As Geoffrey walked away, Joey noticed him casting one last glance over his shoulder, watching them as they spoke with Red.

Back in his office, Geoffrey began pacing, his thoughts racing. The first part of his plan had gone well. He had been the first to hear about what was happening at the lake, thanks to Red. Joey’s old man always said, "The early bird gets the worm." Knowledge was power, especially in business.

His next move had been to use that foreknowledge to empty the oil reserves at the auction house, driving up prices. In just a week, the cost of a barrel had tripled, giving him an incredible return on his investment.

But now, with Joey and the professor poking around, things were getting complicated. He could handle Joey, but the professor was a wildcard. How could he have overlooked the Science Academy sending someone? He needed to move quickly before they started meddling in his affairs.