The two men did not know the name of the person who had hired them. They had simply accepted someone's request to use a plant-based poison. In addition, the substance caused harmful weeds to grow faster, so the crops died and weeds grew in their place.
"Can we fix this by washing the soil and using plant growth magic?"
"Yes, but there is no need to wash it. The effect of the magic eliminates the effect of that potion. We might need to use more mana in the process, but nothing impossible."
"What are we going to do with the two of them?" Eris asked.
"We can kill them. It would be better to get rid of them," Lysandra said.
"No, it is better to erase this from their memories and make them think they accomplished something," Victor said.
Niko erased the memories of the two men and altered them so that both believed they had only used the potion and that nothing else had happened.
"What will we do now?" Eris asked.
"Keep watching, tomorrow we will begin cultivation."
They informed the Baronet of what they had done. He did not like the decision, but he respected it, since they had the Duke's freedom to do what they thought best.
The next day, Niko was in a bad mood. She hated using plant growth magic, but she did not complain much. First, Eris used water magic, soaking the soil. Then Lysandra scattered the wheat seeds, and after that Niko used her magic. They did this in several locations, and within minutes the farmers began harvesting. The process repeated several times until they were exhausted. Each time, a different crop was grown.
In another area, Niko made several apple trees grow. The villagers became interested in Niko's magic, but she paid them little attention. Victor stored all the harvest in an item bag and left it under Lysandra's care.
At night, other men went to another area and poured more potion into the soil. Victor did not want to interfere. He let the men do what they had been paid to do. Niko did not like it, she wanted to kill them, but she obeyed Victor. The next day, the entire process repeated, and more men appeared, pouring poison into the soil. This was no longer a problem, since the poison did not affect the use of magic at all. In addition, the soil was clean, and no one outside the village knew what they were doing. At least that was what they expected.
The Duke's suspicions were directed at another noble, Duke Magnus Ambrose, at least that was the name Victor had as a suspect, since the Duke had never revealed whom he suspected. Igis Carmine was a powerful man, but Magnus Ambrose was far richer and far more influential. There was a belief that he was wealthier than the King himself, yet no one knew exactly how vast his fortune was, nor how he could be so rich. Even though he owned many lands and was suzerain to many other nobles, the numbers did not add up. He should not have been much richer than the King, yet he was.
Victor did not know how else he could help Duke Carmine. What he was doing might help pull the Duke out of bankruptcy, but there was no way to compete with someone so rich and powerful. Actually, there was, but it would involve direct confrontation to reduce Duke Ambrose's wealth, such as war or invasion.
"Let's invade Duke Ambrose's mansion," Victor said.
"Wait, wait, what did you say?" Lysandra asked.
"What you heard. I think we should break into his house and steal some money. It is an easy way to weaken him, and that way we can help Duke Carmine."
"Wouldn't that be going too far?"
"It would, and it would be very risky."
"What is your reason for proposing this?"
"Just to make the Duke's fall easier and to make Carmine a little more influential and grateful."
"In a way it would be useful, but no, it is better not to do that."
"I agree. It is better to avoid direct confrontations."
Victor looked at Eris. She also refused.
"Fine, then we will not do it."
Five days passed. They secured a large harvest, but they still needed much more. The Duke sent a messenger to collect the item bag. The food would be distributed throughout the Capital and the cities of the Carmine Duchy. For protection, four S rank adventurers were hired, an exaggeration, but the Duke wanted security. His idea was simple. First, he would receive the item bag at the mansion. Then he would have the mansion staff separate the harvest into other item bags and send them to several businesses in the four cities. For that, he would hire more adventurers, all high rank, to guarantee safe delivery. These adventurers were expensive, at least three gold coins for work that could easily be done by a B rank adventurer for five silver coins. But he did not want to take any risks, so he spared no expense, even if it meant losing money.
Vans remained in the room making potions. He had many boxes stacked up, but he wanted to make other potions, such as healing and agility. Normally scrolls are used for agility, but their effect takes longer to activate, and potions are far superior to scrolls. Vans, although he enjoyed creating scrolls, still preferred potions. For that he needed an herb called flor de lorde. The easiest way to find it was around the outskirts of the city, so he decided to pick up a mission at the adventurers guild. He went in and came out alone.
At the guild, the adventurers watched him. Some were curious, others judged the way he carried himself. Even in simpler clothes, he still had an aristocratic air. His personality was restrained, yet the adventurers could sense it and kept staring at him.
He approached the mission board and chose one to gather medicinal herbs. It paid eight copper coins. He did not choose it for the money, only to pass the time and to increase his rank, since he still needed two more missions.
He went to the receptionist and handed over his guild registration card. She took the card and approved the mission for him. The other adventurers were still looking at him, pretending not to, but he noticed. He did not care.
In the city square, Vans saw a crowd forming. The Duke was there. He approached and looked at a boy of about twelve years old, wearing very expensive clothes and accompanied by some guards. Beside him stood a man in fine clothes with a child, also dressed in expensive clothing. The first boy was the second Prince Arold. The man next to him was Duke Ambrose, and the other boy was his son, Seif.
"What is happening?" Vans asked Duke Carmine.
"It is an annual event. The Prince tries to remove the sword from that stone. Then another invited noble tries, and if neither succeeds, it will be open for a week to anyone who wants to try. This is one of the ancient Hero's swords. He left it embedded in that stone and said that only a worthy knight would be able to remove it."
"What happens if someone removes the sword?"
"The sword becomes the property of the one who removes it. However, there are many people who want the sword, so the person could sell it for whatever price they wish."
"Are you going to participate?"
"Yes, every year I come here to try, since I was eight."
Vans watched. The second Prince approached the sword, placed his right hand and then his left on the hilt, pulled, and the sword did not move. He looked disappointed, but he seemed used to it. Then Duke Ambrose tried, without success. After him, his son also failed. Carmine was pleased. He did not show it, but he was very happy that the three of them had failed.
After some time, a line formed. Vans ended up joining it and stood behind Carmine. He did not want the sword, but he accepted the situation.
The Duke tried, and as expected, he could not remove the sword. Vans had no hope. He had no idea how to use a sword. The only times he had ever touched one were when he used magic script to enhance the Demon Lord's army weapons.
Vans placed his right hand and then his left on the hilt, gently tightened his grip, and removed the sword from the stone. Everyone was stunned. In two hundred and fifty years, Vans had been the only one to remove the sword.
"That is impossible!" the Prince shouted.
"I did not know you used swords," Carmine said.
"I do not."