Chapter 761: Chapter 436 Don’t Mess Around_1
Ange had no interest in being a city lord. If not for the silver coins and the promise of a market for his crops, he wouldn’t bother with that at all. However, the prospect of seizing a fertile piece of land for farming greatly excited him. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
However, Count Feiwo paused before giving a bitter smile, “If there were fertile lands, our area wouldn’t be known as the desert. Two mountain ranges cut off the abundant moisture from the south, resulting in a dry climate with little rain. The only river within our boundaries is the sand river that flows from the mountains, reaching up to Godfall Town.”
“The banks of the sand river are the main cultivation areas, but they are far from fertile. Most of the city’s food supply comes from outside, and if you want some land, feel free to buy it directly from the City Lord’s Mansion. Many barren territories are practically being given away because no one wants them.”
At the City Lord’s Mansion, the Silver coin spent fifty thousand Demon Crystals to buy all the wasteland along the Sand River from Northern Wind City to Godfall Town, at an average cost of a gold coin per acre, totaling up to five hundred thousand acres.
This price was neither cheap nor expensive. After all, it was just waste land, and the fact that it could be sold at a gold coin per acre was practically insane.
It would have been typically impossible to secure this purchase because it would mean enclosing both banks of the Sand River. Despite being a wasteland, isn’t there still a river running through it?
However, The Northern Wind Clan was preparing to leave, they didn’t seem to care about the kind of trouble this sale would present to the future rulers. Or perhaps there won’t be any trouble, after all, it’s just barren land. But regardless, they were no longer concerned, as long as they could sell for fifty thousand.
“Can’t we wait until after we win the bid for the city lord before buying?” Negris asked puzzled.
Both Silver Coin and Feiwo shook their heads simultaneously: “No no no. If we buy now, any issues that arise later would be problems inherited from the previous administration, something we can disclaim responsibility for. If we first become the city lords and then buy, it will be harder to shake off responsibility if there are problems.”
Leaving Negris stunned for a long time he mumbled, “Good point, all of you conniving merchants and politicians.”
Durken also sneered, “The caution of the weak, claiming for the sake of claiming. Who would dare to seize our territory now? Silver coin, what is your current identity? Not an ordinary person anymore, a little prudence is okay, but there is no need to be excessively careful.”
Silver Coin blinked in puzzlement, What exactly was his identity now?
The poor goblin merchant, even today, he still hadn’t adapted to his new identity- The God of Fraudsters.
Seeing his expression, Durken knew there was no point in explaining it further. He said impatiently, “It’s fine. Just proceed according to your plan. Leave the part of alchemy and forging to me when the time comes.”
Once a person’s thinking is rigid, both their behavioral patterns and thinking patterns tend to follow set habits. If he steps out of that comfort zone, he would be at a loss, unable to continue.
Silver Coin had the mind of a merchant, doing big things with small investment, pursuing profits, and taking risks in pursuit of super profits. If he were to adapt to his new identity, using power to oppress others, it would be very uncomfortable for him.
Following the Sand River towards Godfall Town, Ange excitedly held a stick, following the measurement markers provided by the official from the City Lord’s Mansion. He utilized the stick to create imaginary boundaries where he intended to lay claim to the land.
As Negris had said, everyone’s understanding of barren and fertile lands differed. Even in a desert, Ange could grow crops, let alone in a wasteland. It was all a matter of how much he wanted to invest in transforming the land.
To Ange, the wasteland soil was fertile. Even without improvements, he could grow some special crops. The only problem needing resolution was water scarcity, as even the most special crops required some water.
Throughout the journey, Ange pondered over this issue.
The official sent by the City Lord’s Mansion to measure the land was named Jimmy. He was respectful and cooperative all the way. When Ange occasionally misplaced his stick, claiming an extra few dozen acres here and there, he pretended not to see.
Since such a ‘docile’ fellow was not unpopular, Negris even chatted with him: “Jimmy, it’s hard for you to undertake such field work, do you get any allowances or subsidies?”
Jimmy gave a bitter smile: “There is no such thing as allowance, but I can get some rye bread to eat on the journey.”
“Uh, only this?” Negris was taken aback.
Jimmy gave another bitter smile, “It’s already good enough, at least I won’t starve to death. I took a few extra. If I get back early, the leftover bread can be taken home for the kids to eat.”
Negris blinked, “From what you sound like, has your family run out of grain?”
Jimmy shook his head: “Not yet, the salary and grain allocation we received from above is just enough for us to eat, but kids grow up quickly, they need to eat more, and they are always hungry. We are still better off. It’s the common people who have it worse. Many of them have run out of grain.”
“Sigh…” Negris too breathed a sigh.
He was already aware of the shortage of food in the city, but there was nothing they could do at the moment. If Ange’s entity was here, then the elf beans in Resting Camp would have been enough to feed the people of the city.
The problem was that, unfortunately, Ange could only grasp a handful in twenty minutes, which contained a few hundred grains. Even if he snatched with no rest for twenty-four hours a day, he could not save everyone.
Actually, the city is not really short of food. If all the noblemen like Count Feiwo were willing to their stock, the food problem could be immediately resolved.
However, under these circumstances, wanting them to be generous was too much to ask for. Only when Silver Coin secured the position of the city lord and had control of power, would there be a possibility of changing the situation.
“It’s so pitiful. Ji Li, Ji Li! Kvada, why are you running so fast!” When Negris turned back to call for Ji Li, he found she had already taken her bag and run far away.
At this moment, the Sand River ahead showed a significant drop, with a sharp drop of more than ten meters, forming dozens of small waterfalls.
After this drop, the Sand River made a big bend, flowing south towards Godfall Town.
Ange suddenly stopped here, looking left and right at this drop. He even jumped to look in the direction of Northern Wind City and was engrossed in this observation for quite a while.
“What are you looking at?” Negris asked curiously, sensing some fluctuations of Divine Power from Ange. There was no need to guess, this guy was definitely using some Divine technique again.
The only divine technique that could be used by his entity and could have an effect here was the Ring of Balance. Was this skeleton measuring something with the Ring of Balance?
Ange pointed to the drop and then to the direction of Northern Wind City, “Flat. Build dam. Raise water level. Irrigate field.”
“Uh, you mean, this location is at the same height as Northern Wind City? You want to build a dam here to raise the water level to irrigate your fields?” Negris verified.
Negris flew up for a view, observing the terrain. He mentally made some calculations, and had to admit, it was a technically and logically feasible plan. The only problem was that it would be an extremely massive construction project.
A massive construction project? Ange tilted his head in confusion.
Seeing his reaction, Negris felt a sinking feeling in his heart, “What idea are you having now? Tell us first so we can discuss it; don’t you dare act recklessly.”
PS: Still writing, probably won’t make it in time, update in the early morning