Looking out at the sea, the Mad Old Man sat directly on the ground and said, "Miss Jenny, throughout this journey, I feel both familiarity and strangeness. In this world, many trivial matters often conceal huge conspiracies. I can’t understand them, nor do I have the energy to try. I also won’t ask why you called me to the Air Force Guy’s place to fish. I just have one request—tell me something that’s going to happen soon, show me your wisdom and foresight, and convince me! Then I’ll work with you, even fish."

Chun was surprised; this old man isn’t crazy! He sensed us!

But what did he mean by "both familiarity and strangeness"? Did other Nightmare Sleepwalkers look for him before? It could only be from the Oak City full of nightmares, right? So, the old man must believe a big organization is looking for him, which explains his confidence in his abilities!

However, why does his request seem related to astrology predictions? Did he realize I’m an astrologer?

Jenny was stunned: "This isn’t that complicated—"

The Mad Old Man waved his hand: "If you can’t convince me, I won’t do anything, no matter how simple it is. There’s nothing to discuss. Go ahead, say the sun will rise tomorrow, but I might not believe it; I think it’ll be cloudy tomorrow, hahahaha~~"

Holy Shit! His hint seems to relate to an astrologer as well; astrologers can predict the weather!

After laughing, the Mad Old Man’s expression turned serious: "If you can’t say anything, I’ll head back home! Don’t bother me again next time."

Chun suddenly recalled something significant and decided to take a gamble: "Jenny, tell him..."

Jenny said, "Outside the city, the Snow Crystal River Basin will flood, submerging some downstream farms."

Chun bet on this: although the Empire’s airship discovered the avalanche, they rushed to chase after the Water Element and didn’t bother notifying downstream. Moreover, with the Empire secretly pushing airship transport, they likely didn’t want to expose themselves, nor would they notify anyone.

Besides, the farms outside the city were seized by the Marquis, who was colluding with Oak City, so flooding the farms indicates that my alliance isn’t with Oak City’s Nightmare...

The Mad Old Man was stunned: "When?"

Jenny hesitated: "Maybe soon, almost."

The Mad Old Man laughed: "If the downstream farms really flood, that would indeed be an unfortunate major event! Well, such a big event will surely be announced in the city, so I’ll wait for the news! Anyway, it’s quite pleasant for an old man like me to accompany a young and beautiful lady by the romantic seaside!"

His gloating attitude seemed to show that he quite wished for flooding?

But the next moment, an annoyed voice came: "Still want to accompany young ladies by the sea? Dream on, old guy!"

Chun was startled, suddenly discovering a distant old man holding a fishing rod and bucket running over, filled with a burning obsession!

Holy Shit! Chun turned around, realizing the Fisherman was gone. He woke up sometime and physically ran over?

But the obsession remained, which was fine, not affecting!

The Mad Old Man was stunned: "Air Force Guy, you woke up?"

The Fisherman replied angrily, "Woke up because I had to pee!"

The Mad Old Man chuckled: "Do you think you’ll catch your decades-long dream fish today?"

The Fisherman tossed a bottle from the bucket: "Mad Old Man, you must believe in the ’power of belief’—Miss Jenny, care for a bottle?"

Jenny quickly waved her hand, but suddenly changed her mind: "Alright, I’ll have a bottle."

The Fisherman laughed: "That’s right, only by changing can breakthroughs be made."

The Mad Old Man disdainfully took a sip: "You’ve been fishing here for decades, drinking the same brand, why not change?"

The Fisherman got anxious: "That’s called persistence..."

Jenny took a sip and asked: "Gentlemen, won’t speaking loudly disturb the fish?"

The Fisherman came to his senses: "You’re right!"

But the Mad Old Man laughed heartily: "Since we can’t catch anything, might as well make noise and have a convenient excuse for failure..."

Though Chun listened to them bantering, he felt extremely conflicted inside, wondering whether the flood would come or not. If not, it would totally ruin the atmosphere...

But just then, a tall, thin figure with a wooden frame on his back approached.

Chun was startled again; Van Gogh also woke up and ran over!

He immediately set up an easel and stool, started painting from behind the three of them.

Fine, what a great atmosphere.

Life doesn’t have to be hurried everywhere, nor must one force breakthroughs of inspiration. Just watch Jenny drinking half-awake, listening to the old men banter, seemingly quite happy, no longer the "troubled Jenny", right?

This warm atmosphere was more suitable for sleeping. Chun decided to continue his nap.

...

PM, in-game equivalent of 4 AM.

Chun was suddenly awakened by a game announcement—Gem Starlight City announcement: Emergency bulletin! A sudden large flood in the Expansion Zone, prepare for emergency landing and risk avoidance for ships in the downstream Blue Crystal River Basin, as the first flood crest is expected to hit Blue Crystal River!

Chun shivered all over, the flood really came!

At this moment, the two old men bantering suddenly looked in surprise at Jenny, and Jenny looked towards Chun.

Well, since the disaster was my prediction, it wasn’t something to celebrate, but how can I hold it in?

The Mad Old Man finished the remaining wine in the bottle and said with emotion: "I keep my word, I’ll work for the new boss. But I know the rules, I won’t ask who the boss is! Boss, tell me what needs to be done, this old guy will spare no effort."

Does this mean I’ve recruited a subordinate? And indeed, very discreet, as I was worried about confidentiality!

Chun instructed Jenny: "Gather the four obsessions and try to catch the fish!"

The Mad Old Man smiled: "Turning the impossible into possible, interesting, then let’s start!"

As he spoke, the Mad Old Man also emitted a wave of obsession, four dream realms overlapping—not right, three people were already awake; this space could no longer be called a dream realm, but it felt similar!

Chun also wanted to try his never-used profession skill—system prompt: You activate the astrologer profession skill Basic Fishery Production Prediction, your team’s fishing success rate increased.

Uh... huh?

The skill effect is just this? It didn’t say the Treasure Phoenix Fish would necessarily be caught?

But at the next moment, the Fisherman lifted the rod: "Caught one!"

Chun was shocked, no way?

But it was just a regular little Huang fish!

—System prompt: Congratulations! You successfully predicted the fishery production, your Basic Fishery Production Prediction upgraded to level 2, achievement reward: Mana +1, Physical Strength +1, Carrying Capacity +1.

Holy Shit the skill upgraded just like that!

The Mad Old Man laughed: "Where’s that dream fish?"

The Fisherman excitedly cast the rod immediately: "Old guy, I haven’t experienced such a scene in decades—"

Before he finished, the bell rang again, the Fisherman lifted the rod, another one!

—System prompt: Congratulations! Your Basic Fishery Production Prediction upgraded to level 3...

Holy Shit! Chun quickly glanced at the sea; fish schools were gathering and surging beneath—could it be pulled over by the power of obsessions? Am I relying on their obsessions to continuously upgrade my prediction skill?