Chapter 28: Talent
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Zhao Hai knew very well that the Space Farm did not have any offensive ability, nor did it have any active defensive ability. Its only use was to plant vegetables or as a hiding shelter.
Zhao Hai was not confident in using the Space Farm to deal with the Carrion Swamp. Don’t forget that the Carrion Swamp was one of the five forbidden areas on the continent. Moreover, there were undead creatures and poison-type magical beasts, but the Space Farm did not have much attack power. How could he use it to deal with the Carrion Swamp?
Time passed unknowingly. Zhao Hai could not think of a good solution. In the end, he could only decide that if the magical beasts in the Carrion Swamp came out, they could only rely on the fort walls to fight them. If it really did not work, he could only bring everyone into the Space Farm. There were more than ten acres of land in the Space Farm which was enough to accommodate these people.
At this moment, Zhao Hai suddenly heard a commotion outside. He looked outside and realized that it was almost noon. The slaves should be coming back for lunch.
Just as Zhao Hai stood up and was about to take a look outside, he saw Meg, Wood, and Rock quickly walk in. The three of them immediately greeted Zhao Hai and bowed. “Young Master.”
Zhao Hai nodded and said to the three of them with a smile, “Ask the slaves to arrange these corn stalks and cobs outside later on. They will be used to start a fire. If those slaves feel cold at night, let them burn these things to warm themselves.”
Meg looked at Zhao Hai in confusion. “Young Master, what’s corn?”
Zhao Hai smiled and said, “Corn is the main crop we will plant in the future. Its yield can reach more than 1,000 kilograms per acre of land. The corn stalks and cobs can also be used to start a fire. I have already discussed this with Grandma Merlyn.”
Meg’s eyes lit up. She looked at Zhao Hai and said, “Young Master, is the yield of the corn really that high?”
Zhao Hai smiled and nodded. “It’s true. Alright, Grandma Merlyn is about to finish cooking. Arrange the food for the slaves, and come back for lunch. I have something to say later.” The three of them nodded and walked outside the castle.
At this moment, Merlyn walked out of the kitchen. She had also heard the commotion outside. She looked outside and did not care. Merlyn knew Meg very well and knew that Meg could handle the matters outside. She turned to Zhao Hai and said, “Young Master, come and eat. The food is ready.”
Zhao Hai nodded and followed Merlyn into the dining room. Merlyn went to the kitchen to serve the food, and Zhao Hai sat in the dining room in a daze. He realized that he seemed to be getting lazier and lazier. In the past, when he was on Earth, he had to prepare three meals a day and clean the room. He had to complete every chore alone.
Now, he was a Young Master in the Ark Continent. If he wanted to, he did not even have to wear clothes himself. Naturally, he did not have to do any houseworks. To be honest, this habit was really terrifying. In just a few days, Zhao Hai was already used to having others serve him.
While he was thinking, Merlyn had already entered with a plate. The food they were eating now was very simple. There was bread, vegetables, and some meat. This meat was only for Zhao Hai. Others were not able to enjoy them.
Although the food was very simple, Zhao Hai could tell that Merlyn had put a lot of care into it. In the entire castle, the food he was served was the best, and the food he ate was also the best. The entire castle was centered on him. This feeling made Zhao Hai very grateful as well as pressured.
He was not like Adam Boda. He had a sense of responsibility. The better Merlyn and the others treated him, the more pressure he felt. These people lived with him as the center. In other words, these people relied on him to survive. Although the Buda family was in a poor state now, as long as he was alive, the Boda family would exist. These people would not be bullied by other nobles. Perhaps Merlyn and the others were already very satisfied.
However, Zhao Hai was not satisfied. These people were living with him as the center, so he had the responsibility to give them a better life. In this situation, the pressure on him was really great.
Merlyn realized that Zhao Hai was not eating and was looking at the plate in a daze. She thought that Zhao Hai was dissatisfied with the lunch and quickly said, “Young Master, what’s wrong? Is this food not to your taste?”
Zhao Hai came back to his senses and turned to Merlyn with a smile. “No, Grandma Merlyn, the food is very good. I’m just thinking that when I can let everyone in the castle eat such a meal, I’ll be satisfied.”
Merlyn’s eyes turned red. She looked at Zhao Hai and smiled. “As long as Young Master has the Space Farm, you will be able to do it sooner or later. I believe in Young Master.”
Zhao Hai nodded and said, “Yes, that day will come sooner or later.” As he spoke, Meg and the other two walked in. Merlyn immediately went to the kitchen to bring out the food prepared for the three of them.
When the few of them were almost done eating, Zhao Hai turned to Merlyn and said, “Grandma Merlyn, arrange for the slaves to gather stones in the afternoon. Let’s prioritize this matter. I’ll handle the matter in the valley. You just have to send me over every day and bring me back.”
After seeing Zhao Hai’s magical Space Farm, Merlyn’s confidence in Zhao Hai increased greatly. She immediately nodded and said, “Alright, I’ll organize them to gather stones in the afternoon. Young Master, have a good rest in the afternoon.”
Zhao Hai nodded. He knew that he could not help much now. Because of the Void Water, his body was not as strong as those slaves who worked all year round. Moreover, it was impossible for Merlyn and the others to let him pick stones.
After eating and resting for a while, Merlyn immediately organized the slaves to gather stones. They still had some tools for mining stones. In addition, when this castle was built, the stones used were of good quality, so there was not much damage to the tools.
The stone weapons were not very difficult to make. They were mainly stone spears, hammers, and axes. It was impossible to make things that were too powerful.
Although they only had a hundred slaves now, and there were only fifty strong male slaves who could fight, they could not prepare too few weapons. Stone weapons were very fragile, and they had to prepare a few more spare weapons for everyone.
In addition, they had to get rocks to throw them at the enemies. After all, Zhao Hai and the others did not think of fighting those undead creatures and poison-type magical beasts head-on if possible. They did not have the ability to do so either. They could only rely on the castle to defend. This was under the circumstances that there were few undead creatures. Otherwise, they would not be able to defend at all.
However, the problem came soon. Although this was an iron mine in the past, it was an iron mine that had been mined by the dwarves. Moreover, the stone mine in the mountain was covered with the lake. Therefore, it took Merlyn and the others a lot of effort to find a mining site.
In the end, Merlyn and the others found a small mine not far from the castle, but they could not mine too many stones in this small mine. Merlyn could not help but sigh. This mine that had been mined by the dwarves really looked like it had been robbed. It was so clean that it made others want to cry.
After walking around for the entire afternoon, Merlyn and the others returned to the castle in frustration. They realized that the method of gathering stones to make weapons was not feasible. Firstly, they had no experience in mining stones. Secondly, the tools in their hands were not very convenient. Their efficiency was too slow. Moreover, there were not many stones here. Even if they gathered all the stones, it would not be enough. In the end, Merlyn could only tell Zhao Hai about this situation. This plan had to be canceled.
Zhao Hai really rested in the afternoon. His stamina was not good now. He woke up in the morning to exercise and had walked such a long distance. He was really tired and fell asleep as soon as he lay down.
By the time he got up, Merlyn and the others had already returned. Hearing Merlyn say this, Zhao Hai had no choice. It seemed like he could only wait. After Grimm returned, he would sell all the radishes and buy some weapons from outside.
Before Grimm returned, they could not do anything. If the undead creatures and poison-type magical beasts really attacked, they could only hide in the Space Farm.
Just as Zhao Hai was at a loss, Meg suddenly ran over excitedly. After entering the house, she immediately said to Zhao Hai happily, “Young Master, there’s good news.” Ever since Zhao Hai had improved the land for the first time and she had hugged him excitedly, Meg had unknowingly changed. When she saw Zhao Hai now, she no longer lowered her head. She was much more natural and lively than before.
Zhao Hai and Merlyn were stunned. Merlyn immediately said, “What is it?”
Meg immediately smiled. “Grandma, a slave came to find me just now. She said that she knows how to weave grass. She can weave the grass on the mountain into various things like mats, curtains, and straw shoes.”
Zhao Hai was stunned. Then, his eyes lit up. He thought that this was an opportunity. The rule that he had set to remove the slave identity of those people was that as long as they had a skill and performed well, they could remove their slave status. However, not a single one of those slaves had taken the initiative to say that they had a skill. Although they worked hard, Zhao Hai was still very disappointed.
Zhao Hai also knew that those slaves would not be able to change their thoughts for a while. They were afraid, so they did not dare to come forward. It would take a long time to change this situation, and someone had to set an example.
Those slaves had been oppressed for too long. Their thoughts were already rigid. It would take a long time to make them accept this new rule.
Zhao Hai was already mentally prepared, but he did not expect those slaves to give him a surprise today. Someone actually took the initiative to stand up. Although he had only mentioned an inconspicuous skill, he would be a good model. When Zhao Hai set that rule, he had put such a high reward for people to show their talents. Now, the talent had appeared.