FL - Chapter 26: Fertilizer and Seeds

Once the Frost Giants' bodies had been removed, the stink of blood faded from the battlefield. For Louis, though, the true purpose of the expedition was only beginning: the Mana Marrow mine.

Mana Marrow was a core ingredient in explosive alchemical products. It was extraordinarily scarce; across the Northlands and the entire Ironblood Empire, deposits of this scale could be counted on one hand.

Fortunately, the vein lay deep underground and had never been discovered. Without the Daily Intelligence System, Louis would never have found it.

The knights guarded the perimeter while laborers in gloves and simple protective gear entered with pickaxes. They cleared rubble with care until a sharp *clink* exposed the edge of a deep-purple crystal, faintly luminous with mysterious energy.

"Take a small amount first and test the Mana Soil formula under Hilko's direction," Louis said. "Seal the rest for now."

He had no intention of rushing into full-scale mining. The work required specialists in tunnel support, extraction, and alchemical refining. His letter to his father had specifically asked for people with those skills. If the Duke sent them, so much the better; otherwise, Louis would need to hire experienced miners himself.

...

Spring sunlight fell across Crimson Tide Territory's fields. A mild breeze carried the smell of new growth as Louis surveyed the land from higher ground.

Only weeks earlier, these fields had been bare and freshly sown. Now rye shoots pushed through the soil, potato sprouts were rising, and turnip seedlings swayed in the wind.

"This year's harvest should be decent," he said, pleased.

Footsteps hurried up behind him. Mick approached, both anxious and excited. He had successfully proposed marriage, but had not yet reported it to his lord.

Though he was free now, his years as a slave still shaped him. He felt he needed his former master's approval before marrying. What if Louis objected? The worry showed in every step.

Before Mick could speak, Louis smiled. "Mick, congratulations on your engagement."

Mick stopped cold. He had not said a word. How had his lord known?

Surprise and fear tangled in his mind. He nearly dropped to his knees, but a firm hand caught him.

"You are the Chief Agricultural Supervisor," Louis said. "Stop kneeling over every little thing."

Mick came back to himself, his eyes reddening. Before he could answer, Louis pressed a gift into his hands: two smoked fish tied with string beneath a crooked bow.

"A wedding gift. Funds are tight, but I should give you something."

Mick gripped the fish, his lips trembling. Tears ran down his cheeks. He had never imagined receiving such a blessing from his lord.

"No tears," Louis said, patting his shoulder. "This is a happy occasion."

Mick sniffed and nodded hard.

"Now compose yourself. We have work to discuss."

Mick drew a breath, wiped his face, and stood straight. "Give me your orders!"

Louis gestured behind him. Mick followed his gaze and froze. Four enormous corpses lay at the edge of the fields, their broken, battered hides thawing to reveal dark-blue flesh.

"Th-those are huge..."

"Stop staring. I need you to turn them into fertilizer."

"Fertilizer?" Mick nearly bit his tongue. Who had ever used Frost Giant corpses as fertilizer?

Louis treated the order as perfectly ordinary. "Their muscles are rich in minerals. Processed properly, they will do the crops a great deal of good."

Mick's mouth tightened, but he was already working through how to process four mountains of fertilizer.

Louis then brought out a small cloth pouch and handed it to him with solemn care. It held half the Frostblood Berry seeds. They were too valuable to risk planting all at once. The system had noted Mick's exceptional agricultural talent, and Louis trusted him to cultivate them far better than he could himself.

Mick opened the pouch carefully. The seeds looked ordinary.

"What are these?"

"Frostblood Berry seeds," Louis replied. "Each is worth several hundred Gold Coins."

Mick's eyes widened. A single seed could have bought several hundred people like his former self.

"You are entrusting them to me?" His hands shook. One mistake could ruin them.

"They are exceptionally rare and need careful cultivation. Tell me at once if anything goes wrong. I have arranged the proper Mana Soil formula, but that will take time. For now, bury the seeds in ice and awaken their vitality."

"Yes, my lord!" Mick clutched the pouch to his chest. "I will protect every seed."

At that moment, a guard hurried over. "My lord, the girl you rescued has awakened."

(End of Chapter)