Chapter 92 - Business Plans

“Did you already finish the first stages of the farm, kid? I am impressed. You certainly don’t waste time.”

“Time is money, and you can buy time with some money as well, to some extent. Anyway, I need your help to contact people who could sell some apple trees of high-quality samplings as well. I heard that finding them in the capital would be easier, but…”

“You heard it right. The soil there is perfect for them. I heard that there are some people that can make them produce apples all year around, their secrets are pretty well-guarded, though.”

That was an interesting topic that made Zelos recall some things, like greenhouses. Greenhouses can potentially extend the growing season for apple trees and allow them to produce fruits for a longer period compared to outdoor cultivation. However, there are several factors to consider.

Greenhouses provide a controlled environment where temperature and humidity can be regulated. This can protect apple trees from frost damage in colder months and create a more favorable growing environment, potentially enabling fruit production during times when outdoor conditions would not support it.

Constructing and maintaining a greenhouse requires space, resources, and ongoing maintenance. Proper ventilation, irrigation, and soil management are crucial for the health and productivity of apple trees grown in a greenhouse setting.

“This shouldn’t be hard… I know how I can make that.”

“You do?”

“... I was just thinking out loud. I have some ideas about it. Well, I guess I have some connections in the capital, but I really don’t want to use it.” 

Zelos was already going to invest all the money he just got in building a proper shelter for his workers, and now he was planning to make a green house. Still, that could be another way to make some good money. Still, that knowledge could make him make some enemies in the capital. Since that was the core of the rottenness of the country, he liked that idea very much.

“Still, obtaining his kind of knowledge is kind of weird. It makes me think that I truly had an odd life before.”

After some time without any dreams or memories of his supposed previous life, that knowledge felt like a glimpse from that distant past. This unexpected recollection made him realize that perhaps there were other triggers aside from dreams that could help him recover those sealed memories. However, he couldn’t quite understand why or how these memories resurfaced now.

Whatever it was, it hinted at the possibility that there were more avenues for him to explore in uncovering the mysteries of his previous life. Perhaps more knowledge would make him have an easier life in that world… at least when it comes to finances.

In any case, after buying some things, Zelos went to talk with Hei. He found Heirina and Edea helping with some paperwork. They seemed a bit tired; it looked like they hadn’t slept a decent amount in quite a while. Since she was tired, Heirina wasn’t thinking very well.

“Look who has shown up, our famous and most beloved businessman.”

“Did she drink too much coffee?”

Edea nodded while showing a wry smile.

“I am going to leave in two days, so I came to finish things off here with whatever you need me to do. Irlan didn’t say anything like that and you can send letters, but I assumed that talking directly could still help.”

“Well, there isn’t much to say, really. Aside from the fact that Liry’s idea seems a bit weird since it can cause problems for the clans.”

Hei was right… they had no idea how creating another army would actually help them. They were usually made by clans, after all, but it looked like this one would work in a very different way.

“The connection with the natives is something that would benefit us all and I feel like Liry is slowly going to make Reina join things outside the mountains, but I wonder if that won’t cause a lot of issues. You also should be quite careful since you can be quite brazen and sharp tongued. You even already picked a fight with one of them, after all.”

“I didn’t start, so it is fine.”

“Putting that aside, will your things be in order when you will have to go to the mountains? What are you planning to do about that period?” 

As Zelos considered his training with Reina, the demands on his time intensified. Training sessions would consume a lot of his time. With each passing day, Zelos would feel himself growing stronger and more adept at combat, but this progress came at a cost - his time.

Realizing that he couldn’t continue to manage his business affairs while devoting so much time to training, Zelos stated to think about how he could ensure the smooth operation of his farm in his absence. The old farmer who tended to the cows was reliable enough, but Zelos’s own farm required more attention.

He understood the importance of having someone capable of overseeing the day-to-day activities of the farm. It wasn’t just about ensuring the crops were tended to; there were also maintenance tasks, potential issues to address, and decisions to be made.

Zelos needed someone he could trust to manage these responsibilities efficiently. However, finding such a person wasn’t an easy task. It required someone with knowledge of farming practices, reliability, and the ability to make sound decisions on Zelos’s behalf.

“Since Irlan will be working with you when it comes to management, perhaps I can send Heirina as well. We will need someone there to act on my behalf as well.”

“Dad, you can’t decide that without consulting me. I don’t like farm work more than paperwork.”

“You will be just monitoring things and you Zelos will also pay you and give you some discount on his products too.”

“I can’t give both, just one or another.”

“I don’t want to work for someone so stringy.”

“If I were stringy, I wouldn’t have shared my food supplies during the missions… I guess I won’t do that any more.”

Heirina groaned after that. While Zelos could be unbearable, at least he wasn’t self centered when it comes to things that he had.

Regardless, the idea wasn’t so bad… Heirina could be trusted, so that would be one less thing for Zelos to worry about. In the end, he accepted the offer. Irlan and Heirina would look after the post that was Zelos’s farm when the time came. Still, when something happens, someone else will have to do that.

Someone working for him probably can be promoted to do that when the time comes, they would be insane to try to steal from Zelos knowing how strong he could be. At the same time, that will motivate them to work harder.

Two days later, Zelos went to see the old man blacksmith and soon he found the results of his work. The iron balls had become iron projectiles. They didn’t lose any weight, but they looked a bit bigger. Once he received them, Zelos immediately threw one upward and when it fell, he punched the butt of the projectile that flew faster than an arrow toward a target. Zelos only hit the border of the target, but while he will have to work on his aim, the idea was functional.

“Is that how you are planning to use them? You are quite something…”

The old man blacksmith looked at Zelos’s fists and he couldn’t even see a mark in it. Still, Zelos lost ten points of health and his fingers were hurting a bit.

As Zelos went back to his farm, the weight of his new tools on his wagon reminded him of the peculiar path his life had taken. Here he was, a former slave now wielding swords and tending to crops, all in the midst of battles and conflicts. It was a strange situation but one that he had grown accustomed to over time.

With each step, Zelos couldn’t help but think about the peculiar twists and turns his life had taken. From working with animals to managing a farm between battles, his journey was certainly unconventional. While he felt himself growing stronger with each passing day, there was a lingering sense of unease within him.

Despite his progress, Zelos couldn’t shake the feeling that it wasn’t enough. There was something missing, something beyond the physical strength he was gaining. It was as if there was a deeper purpose, a greater goal that he had yet to uncover.

Health: 2080/2080

Magic: 700/700

Stamina: 1960/1960

Strength: 102

Vigor: 106

Precision: 84

Wisdom: 20

Willpower: 50

Traits: Regeneration Lv 98

“Well, I am making progress even if I feel that I am not,”

Zelos was carrying a bunch of wood on the wagon and tools as well to repair and improve the main building of the farm, but it was still only basic stuff that he could do. Trying to save money like that won’t work forever. When he leaves the farm to the mountains, he will have to leave the person behind responsible for handling the money and investing as well.

As soon as Zelos returned, Irlan went back home once it was confirmed that everything was normal in the farm. In fact, the first few plants had already emerged from the ground and the next phase of the process was about to start.

While he worked on that and improving the main building of the farm, Zelos hesitated quite a bit, but he still sent a letter to Liry asking her if there is some sort of merchant that she could recommend selling full grown apple trees and saplings as well.