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Chapter 488: A Thousand Scarlet Leaves
August 25.
Bay Territory.
Farm Outpost.
Clear skies.
The scorching sun poured down its light and heat unabated.
The tall rice plants swayed in the wind, rolling in waves.
A unique splash of red adorned the farm's surroundings.
The first batch of thriving Oriental Redleaf Mulberries had reached the fruit-bearing stage.
The crimson-purple mulberries were plump and enticing, exuding an irresistible fragrance.
Birds hovered in the sky, while predators lay silently in wait atop the trees.
This scene sparked conversation and laughter among the harvesters.
Matthew observed the slender golems thoughtfully.
Under the harvesters' control, the golems moved deftly through the layers of red leaves, their four elongated arms skillfully snipping ripe fruit.
Macaron chuckled gleefully, meticulously recording various data.
To him, the new harvesting golems still had room for improvement.
He proposed a brilliant idea.
"As the number of construct types grows, the workload for modifications and updates will increase."
"To better utilize their excellent characteristics, we could solidify and enhance their construct cores alongside physical improvements..."
Macaron's explanation was filled with spellcraft and construct principles, leaving Yaya visibly dizzy.
Matthew, however, grasped the essence immediately and summarized it in two sentences:
"Golems can also grow. Their autonomous development could replace some of the rigid data processing tasks."
"Future upgrades could focus on batch enhancements and advancements..."
In simpler terms, the plan was to upgrade these engineering golems with intelligence, turning them into magical versions of robots.
Moreover, allowing the golems to handle parts of their growth autonomously while keeping critical control within the territory's hands.
While the risk of betrayal by golems was low, Matthew preferred to have a backup plan.
Thousands of Oriental Redleaf Mulberries produced an unexpectedly high yield.
Matthew grabbed a handful, selected a few, and tasted them. The sweet and sour flavor was exceptionally delightful.
Even better, the dense magical aura not only enhanced the flavor but also slowly nourished the body.
For Professionals, these mulberries were excellent magical food.
Watching the bountiful harvest and the delighted faces of the harvesters, Matthew's lips curled into a faint smile.
After months of effort, the rewards had arrived, and the joy of the harvest was spreading throughout the territory.
Yaya enjoyed the mulberries with delight, grabbing handful after handful and stuffing them into her mouth, her teeth stained purple as she laughed heartily.
Beside her, Beelzebub was more focused on the diligent harvesting golems.
Their efficiency was remarkable; their scissor-like hands "snipped" through branches, harvesting a mulberry tree in mere minutes.
The fallen mulberries quickly filled sealed containers.
These containers were then swiftly loaded onto rail-mounted carts and transported to the farm outpost at top speed.
The highest-quality mulberries would be distributed throughout the territory, available for all to taste or exchange as magical food.
The remaining mulberries would be used to brew magical wine.
Sera stood silently, observing the joy on everyone's faces. These scenes subtly reshaped her understanding and thoughts.
"The first batch of 100,000 Oriental Redleaf Mulberries produced an average of 20 kilograms per tree, with the next batch maturing in seven days..."
"This is just their first growth cycle. By early spring, each tree should yield at least 30 kilograms," Sean reported, clearly delighted as he shared the data.
Everyone enjoyed the unique flavor of the mulberries, their faces unconsciously lighting up with smiles.
The joy of the harvest was infectious.
Confirming that the Redleaf Mulberries had settled into routine production, Matthew glanced at the lively fish in the nearby ponds and confidently declared:
"Let's all keep working hard. The future will only get better."
"If there's anything that needs improvement, make sure to give timely feedback."
Sean, brimming with confidence, patted his chest and assured, "Don't worry, Lord Matthew. We'll give it our all."
Matthew visited a few other farm outposts, only briefly surveying the situation. Once assured everything was on track, he felt at ease.
With the Life Tree growing, the cultivation speed of Oriental Redleaf Mulberries would increase rapidly, accelerating future expansion plans.
The vibrant red leaves symbolized Bay Territory's thriving development, didn't they?
Just as Bay Territory entered its harvest season...
The Grand Arcanist Cronorman, returning from aiding the Dwarven Kingdom, once again arrived at Bay Territory.
He sampled the sweet and sour mulberries with interest and introduced Matthew to his companions:
"These are ambassadors from the Dwarven Kingdom. And this is Lord Matthew, my disciple."
Matthew gestured politely to the anxious dwarven envoys, raising his cup with a smile:
"Our territory has many dwarven adventurers. They're exceptionally reliable. This is our Bay Territory specialty wheat beer; I hope you enjoy it."
One of the dwarves, Hammerhand, was momentarily distracted by the enticing aroma of the beer.
His hidden craving surged forth, overpowering his concerns.
Without hesitation, he took a sip of the clear, golden wheat beer, and his eyes widened as the fiery taste reached his stomach.
"This is excellent! Truly excellent!" he exclaimed, invigorated.
Hearing this, the other dwarven ambassadors eagerly took a sip as well.
The fiery, aromatic beer left them excited and energized.
Their brightened expressions did not go unnoticed by Matthew, who subtly signaled Beelzebub.
"Didn't you want to drink? Now's your chance!"
Beelzebub rolled up his sleeves and cheerfully fetched a large cask from under the table, pouring generous servings for the dwarves.
The beer-loving dwarves drained their cups without hesitation, grinning through the fiery aftertaste.
They looked at Beelzebub expectantly, silently urging him for more.
Smiling knowingly, Beelzebub brought out larger mugs and handed them over.
Everything unspoken was conveyed through the beer!
The Grand Arcanist Cronorman, slightly perplexed, eyed his clear beer and glanced at Matthew with a questioning look:
"What's going on?"
Matthew smiled faintly, making no effort to hide his intentions:
"I want to do business with the dwarves."