[B3]Chapter 175: Meeting Chief Tauron

====[SnowNote]====

In chapter 169, the Abyssal Eternal Bloom was initially named Flora. However, I have decided to change her name to Bloom.

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“Linwe, can you assist this young man with the farm matters?” Gildor asked, his voice tinged with hopeful expectation as he looked towards the boy standing beside his chair.

Linwe replied with a beaming smile that lit up his youthful face, “No Problem, Grandpa. Leave it to me.”

Theo raised an eyebrow at their intimate interaction. It was intriguing; despite Gildor being a Canorian and Linwe a human, their interaction bore the warmth and familiarity of a close-knit family—a rarity given their differing races.

Gildor continued, “Ask Chief Tauron to set aside a hundred acres of land where we currently grow sugarcane, and inform him of our new plan.”

Linwe nodded firmly. “Okay, Grandpa,” he said. Turning to Theo, he added, “Just let me know when you want to start, and we can head out.”

“The sooner we begin, the better,” Theo responded casually.

“Then let’s go…” Linwe replied, motioning for Theo to follow him as they both exited the Embassy Enclave.

As they walked toward the lake where the vast expanse of the farm stretched out, Linwe decided to break the silence. “Are you worried about something?”

“Not really, but I am a bit curious…” Theo replied, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

Linwe glanced at him with questioning eyes. “About what?”

“Your relationship with Senior Gildor. He’s Canorian, and you’re human, yet you seem very close,” Theo explained.

Linwe chuckled softly. “Oh, that… Grandpa found me abandoned in a river, in a bucket, and took me in.”

“Raising a human child as his own. He’s a good soul,” Theo remarked gently.

“Yes, Grandpa has a big heart… And it’s not just him; all the townspeople treat me as one of their own,” Linwe replied, his voice filled with gratitude.

After a brief pause, Linwe’s tone grew somber. “Before I met you and the princess, I used to think humans were very selfish,” he murmured, almost to himself.

Theo responded, nodding to some extent, "Not just humans, but nearly all creatures are selfish unless you're a saint... You see, even your neighbors have turned their backs, believing the Canorians are aiding the demon race. Without darkness, light cannot exist. It's just the opposite side of the same coin..." His words carried the weight of ancient wisdom.

Linwe was left speechless, needing a moment to digest the truth in Theo's words.

After walking several hundred steps together in silence, they reached the farm.

Linwe said, "Wait here, I'll go and call Uncle Tauron..."

As Theo waited, his gaze swept over his surroundings. He found himself deep within the Canorians’ farm, encircled by bamboo fields.

Nearby, small houses and a larger one suggested where most of the farmers likely stayed to tend to the crops. Theo noticed two Canorians sitting beneath a tree, engaged in conversation but occasionally glancing his way.

It wasn’t just them; several other Canorians peeked through the windows of mud houses. Having been at the academy, the sight of humanoid Canorians with wolf-like features was no longer an unusual sight to Theo.

After a brief five-minute wait, Linwe returned, accompanied by a lean Canorian man with brown fur, who eyed Theo with suspicious gaze. The Canorian's expression was tinged with undisguised disdain as he addressed Theo directly, “So you’re the one demanding a hundred acres of land for farming?”

Theo glanced at Linwe, puzzled by the accusation as if he were here pursuing his own interests.

Linwe quickly interjected, offering an apologetic glance towards Theo before addressing the Canorian, “No, no, Uncle Tauron… It’s actually Grandpa Gildor’s directive. This brother is here to oversee the task, but we are all expected to cultivate the new crops under his guidance. Grandpa believes his expertise can help us address the food shortage effectively.”

The chief’s face briefly contorted with annoyance, but the weight of Gildor’s authority was not something he could easily ignore. With a resigned sigh, he conceded, “Okay, if it’s by Monarch Gildor’s command, then you can use the plot where the sugarcane fields are.”

“Could you show us exactly where these plots start and end?” Linwe asked, hoping to clarify the boundaries.

The chief grudgingly agreed and led them to the edge of the designated area, marking the boundary with a large boulder. He gestured towards a line where the bamboo lands began. “From there to here, it’s almost a hundred acres,” he explained.

Linwe nodded, appreciating the chief's assistance despite his clear reluctance. “Thank you, Uncle Tauron.”

As Theo crouched at the edge of the plot, he scooped up a handful of soil, feeling its cold, squishy texture between his fingers. Rising to his feet, he turned to Linwe with a sudden question. “How long will it take to get this land ready for planting?” he asked.

Linwe, unsure of the specifics, turned to Chief Tauron for confirmation. “Three days, right, Uncle Tauron?”

The chief, having shown them the boundaries of the plot, seemed unwilling to extend any further assistance. “I've shown you the lands, so I won’t help you further. If you want farmer to join you, then go and ask them directly,” Tauron replied brusquely before walking away

Watching Tauron’s retreating figure, Theo sighed. "Canorians have a strong sense of pride…"

“Uncle Tauron is nicer when he isn't grumpy,” Linwe murmured, trying to offer some solace.

However, Theo wasn’t interested in discussing Tauron’s mood. His priority was to start the task as soon as possible, but he needed the right seeds that could thrive in this soil and environment.

“Please ensure the land is prepared for planting as soon as possible,” he said, emphasizing the urgency before parting ways.

Returning to his room at the Embassy Enclave, Theo opened a portal that led directly to his farm. He was greeted by the sight of the Radiant Yggdrasil tree, vibrant and full of life. However, when his gaze fell on Lilith, who was slumbering on the bed, his expression turned somber. She was sleeping a lot these days, which Theo suspected was due to her condition not being fully recovered. He hoped for her swift recovery.

Shifting his focus, Theo approached the Nexus Demonic Farm Teleporter's console. He tapped the home icon, setting the Embassy Enclave as his secondary home. Since there was no teleporter in this location and returning to the Academy was easier, he made this place as his second choice. His primary home remained set at Baron Mansion in Ashenvale village.

He then navigated through different icons on the screen, finally tapping a familiar one to finalize his destination.

<<<<

[Kingsgate]

[Do you want to Teleport now?]

[Yes/No]

>>>>

As Theo tapped [Yes], he was immediately engulfed in an abrupt burst of blinding white light. The sensation of floating in vast, endless space briefly overtook him before he was firmly pulled back to reality, his feet landing solidly on the ground.

This was very different to his first experience with the teleporter when he had awkwardly fallen to the ground along with Elara. That time had also brought him a bitter introduction to Aerin who was ready to throw a punch. Now, however, Theo was much more adept at handling the peculiarities of teleportation.

He knew that even if an accident occurred during the process, it wouldn’t matter here; this city was his domain, and its people respected him. As the sovereign of the neutral region, Theo had earned a reputation that extended far beyond its borders. The tale of the young duke who defeated Count Cedric and the Eclipse Guild had spread far and wide, turning Theo into an enigma and earning him immense respect across the continent.

Upon arriving at the teleportation room, Theo found it empty. As he made his way to the entrance, he noticed a guard in a gray uniform leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, idly scratching his head.

'It’s better I leave this place without announcing my arrival…' Theo thought, employing [Blink] to slip away from the guard’s radar quietly.

Outside, the main street was bustling with activity. The sun had yet to reach its zenith, the day still gathering its full strength.

However, Theo’s destination was not one of the shops lining the lively street; he was headed for his Celeste Palace. At the palace gates, avoiding the guards was not an option.

"Welcome back to the estate, Your Grace," they greeted, bowing their heads in respect.

With a slight nod, Theo entered the Celeste Palace. Inside, the rich aroma of savory dishes wafted towards him. Brianna, noticing his arrival, paused her bustling activities. As the golden-brown haired lady greeted him with a respectful bow, Theo handed her a list.

"Prepare these items immediately and collect all freshly cooked dishes from the city, including those from the East Wind restaurant. Instruct all the maids to prepare additional dishes as well. Once everything is ready, store them in two separate storage rings and deliver them to me within three hours," he commanded.

"Yes, Master," Brianna responded firmly.

The main reason he needed these food items was for Bloom, whose appetite was insatiable. Fortunately, she was content to eat these dishes; otherwise, it would have been a headache to find beasts for her, especially since Theo avoided venturing into the wild to battle monsters.

Brianna bowed again and quickly withdrew to carry out the demanding tasks. Meanwhile, Theo made his way to his room on the second floor. As he opened the door, he noticed a familiar envelope lying at the doorstep.