Chapter 233: The Druid Greenhouse
July 1st.
Two months remained until the Netheril Empire's draft day.
Sevindon Arcane Report:
News Section:
One
Traces of undead have been discovered in the Loken Mining Area for the fourth time this year.
This has resulted in 42 deaths, with the Temple Knights of the Church of the Goddess of Wealth dispatched to deal with it.
Two
The Frontier Development Act has shown remarkable results.
The Empire has added 62 new towns, and after the draft day, qualified lords will be granted the title of baron.
Three
Orc wanderers have appeared in the Northern Wasteland; nearby lords are advised to prepare for defense.
Councilman Ironbeard stated, "The orc threat is minor; normal defenses will suffice. The Empire should focus more troops on developing new demi-planes."
Four
Archmage Karsas's approval process is progressing smoothly.
He is expected to gain the authorization to establish a floating city next year!
Battle Section:
One
The war in the New Continent is advancing smoothly.
A coalition of multiple nations has cleared a large number of magical creatures, and the Kingdom of Farsiko has discovered a high-quality mithril vein.
Two
The battle in the Shadow Plane remains tense.
The Sevindon Council plans to send a third floating city to provide support.
Three
Northeast Alert.
Hundreds of thousands of wandering barbarians are approaching and are expected to reach the northeastern part of the Empire in about half a month. Local lords should prepare for defense.
Arcane Section:
One
Archmage Iolum has improved the longevity spell, potentially extending its effects by 1/10.
Two
Archmage Cronormund has visited the Underground Dwarven Kingdom, and both parties are likely to reach a cooperation in metal smelting.
Three
Archmage Karsas invented Heavy Mana, which may be the foundation for a new school of magic.
International Section:
One
The situation in the underground world is becoming unstable for unknown reasons.
The Dwarven Kingdom has stated that nothing is amiss.
Two
The delegation of the Coal Elves is arriving in Sevindon, with their purpose for the visit unknown.
Three
The King of Farsiko has fallen ill and is suspected of being in a coma.
Four
The New Continent's development is booming. Spellcasting lords interested in exploration can apply to the local provincial council to have all transportation costs waived.
Closing remarks: Peace prevails!
Bay Town.
Sewer District.
The expected foul smell did not hit them; the clean and tidy underground passages were as well-maintained as the streets above.
Apart from a faint fishy scent, what intrigued Elona most were the tireless kobolds at work.
They carried baskets of dirt, with digging tools strapped to their hands and waists, looking nothing like the vicious creatures she had imagined.
Their busy figures captured Elona's attention.
"This way!"
Matthew's clear voice jolted Elona awake, and she followed him with Yaya and Guoguo in her arms.
The further they went, the wider the passage became.
A faint cool breeze blew through, carrying an increasingly strong scent of earth and a fishy smell.
A tall, slightly gaunt kobold led the way, followed by a large group of kobolds.
Their fierce aura made Elona nervous until they knelt respectfully, shouting in unison:
"Greetings, great master! Your majesty is like the radiant sun..."
Looking at Yaya in her arms, who was sternly commanding them to stand, Elona found her oddly adorable.
Matthew waved to Silver-Fang and the others, assessing their intelligence after the dragon blood infusion, and pointed to the passage ahead, saying:
"We're beneath the northern part of Bay Town, about two meters underground. This is where the territory's konjac is grown."
Elona was familiar with konjac.
She had cooked steamed konjac before and fondly remembered its sweet taste.
Guoguo, in particular, loved eating this magical plant.
Not only did it taste good, but it was also highly nutritious.
However, Elona hadn't realized that konjac was grown underground, especially at such a depth.
She instinctively reached out to touch Guoguo, who flapped her wings and whispered in her ear:
"Konjac is a low-level magical plant."
"Eating it can neutralize minor toxins and can be used in some basic potions."
"The leaves enjoy sunlight, and it requires nutrient-rich areas, but burying it underground helps absorb elements."
Though Guoguo's voice was quiet, Matthew heard it clearly and led Elona to a nearby wall.
Silver-Fang gently peeled away the surface soil, revealing a large clump of konjac embedded in the dirt.
Matthew plucked a large konjac and handed it to the curious Elona, smiling softly:
"Guoguo is right. That's why we plant konjac underground."
"Konjac has decent economic value, so we need to grow it on a large scale in the territory."
"It can not only provide nutrients for professionals but can also be used in potion making."
Elona blinked curiously, reaching out to touch the wrinkled surface of the konjac, asking instinctively:
"Konjac is a magical plant. Can it survive outside a Druid greenhouse?"
Matthew snapped his fingers, and a soft light appeared in his palm, gradually illuminating the surrounding tunnels and the soil walls that bore signs of disturbance.
Elona scanned her surroundings in disbelief.
She had thought Bay Territory might have a magical plant cultivation area similar to a "Druid greenhouse," which she believed was where she'd be most useful.
But she had never expected that, without any magical intervention or environmental control, the territory had such a vast konjac farm!
"This is unbelievable..."
Guoguo's eyes widened instinctively, fluttering around for a closer look, muttering to herself:
"Huh? They really didn't use magic..."
Even the Wisdom Tree in her hands emitted a faint glow, flickering as if in thought.
Using magic to influence such a large area would require an immense amount of energy.
Elona glanced at the konjac in her hands and closed her eyes slightly, listening intently.
"Water… gurgling..."
"Soil… whispering…"
"Hungry..."
Along with these faint sounds, a subtle feeling hovered in Elona's heart.
She thoughtfully reached out to touch the spot where the konjac had been planted and excitedly replied:
"Wow, everything the konjac needs is right here!"
"Lord Matthew, this isn't naturally occurring, is it?"
Matthew nodded, satisfied, watching as Elona's plant knowledge increased by 1 point, confirming his suspicions were correct. He smiled and said:
"That's right. Whether it's location, nutrients, or watering and fertilization, everything is controlled."
"The goal is to produce konjac on a large scale."
"However, there is one downside to this."
Elona's eyes lit up as she instinctively stroked Guoguo's head, suddenly realizing:
"Mass cultivation can lead to a decrease in quality, so we must regularly cultivate new varieties and continuously select the best ones!"
Matthew clapped his hands in satisfaction, admiring the slightly shy Elona, and said directly:
"Exactly. That's your next task."
"To help you carry out your work better, I'll have a large Druid greenhouse built for you."
"Your first mission is to cultivate konjac of higher quality and yield!"
Elona was shocked by the news, mumbling in disbelief:
"But I'm only a Level 2 Druid. Can I really do it?"
"Just give it a try. The territory has plenty of funds anyway!"