With the summons of the three, every member of the Mirthful Fairies Association soon gathered inside the vast Garden of Eden. Their expressions looked uncertain and doubtful with some of them even frowning.
"Why did the Pavilion Empress summon us? We're in the middle of service and abruptly calling for us like this is interrupting our job!"
"Calm down, there should be a reason why they called us here, or else, if they summoned us for some nonsense again, I will immediately resign, I'm very tired working for this Association whose pay is even lower than the minimum..."
Grace along with Kevin and Conner appeared causing a commotion amidst the workers. Kevin suffused an expression of dominance and when he lifted his arm, silence descended.
"I think that everyone in here knows about the suppression that the Medicine Pavilion is doing to us right now, right?" His words reverberated throughout the entire garden and no one refuted his words. Instead, they looked somber and despondent. Against a behemoth like the Medicine Pavilion, how could they possibly win?
At this pace, the Association where they worked in for several years would have no other choice but to close down and declare bankruptcy. They didn't want to see such a sight, but what can they do to change their fates?
"Ever since the establishment of the Association, the Medicine Pavilion has been an enemy of ours that we couldn't defeat nor hope to do so. However, this ends now, for we have formulated a plan that would surely crumble them if it succeeded..." His words ignited a commotion down below.
"Wait, what? Did the Pavilion Empress just say that she has a plan on defeating those old bones from the Medicine Pavilion?"
"Indeed, if my memory serves me right, she just said those words..."
"That's impossible! The roots of the Medicine Pavilion is deeper than our Association, we can't possibly defeat them by mere schemes!"
"Silence!" Conner's booming voice rang out and the commotion simmered down. Nevertheless, the faces of the men indicated their apprehension and doubt towards their plan.
"Everyone, please don't be afraid, because of the graveness of this plan, we can't divulge it to everyone as of now, but please trust me and your Pavilion Empresses, we will definitely stand up against them!" Grace stepped forward and pleaded.
"Shut up! Just what do you know about our Association, you brat! Do you really think that just because you have the Princess position that you can become so bossy and practically order us to die? If this Association wants to be annihilated by the Medicine Pavilion then count me out! I have my own family to think of, why should I risk my life for such an uncertain plan?" One of the employees below angrily retorted and turned his back, Conner's expression changed, but before he could step forward, Kevin stopped him and shook his head.
With their Association in such a critical state, it was inevitable that some would lose their faith and eventually collapse under the pressure and anxiousness of the unknown future. And furthermore, Kevin didn't want to have those people that only stood with them amidst their prosperity.
"I know that the success rate of this plan is uncertain, so those that want to resign can now do so, we won't stop you..." Conner said in a saddened tone, his expression looked despondent.
The employees who previously hesitated on resigning now had convinced looks on their faces. Turning towards Conner and Kevin, they shamefully hung their heads and said their farewells before walking away from the Mirthful Fairies Association.
"I'm sorry Pavilion Empress, but I have my own family to feed, I'm sorry but they are my priority..."
"I won't forget the times that we spent together, Pavilion Empress, but we have our own priorities, please forgive us and I do hope that you will be successful on your endeavor..."
Kevin didn't react, but he marked the faces and the names of those people that left them while they were sinking. Once they soar towards the skies once again, he will prevent them from returning.
Some employees that left were representatives of other Merchants and their disappearance destroyed the Mirthful Fairies Association. Right now, the Mirthful Fairies Association couldn't even be called an Association with a measly member count of twenty.
Witnessing hundreds of his trusted employees leaving his side. Kevin and Conner wore strange expressions on their faces. Grace couldn't help but sigh along with Dan as the two of them thought that the hearts of men were really as fickle as they expected.
But at the same time, Dan felt happy that he didn't have to personally weed out those unfaithful and once he reorganized the Mirthful Fairies, the chances of having a traitor on their side would be significantly lower.
Kevin and Conner instructed the remaining employees while Dan and Grace retreated back to the Garden of Eden and continued their experimentation.
Inside the Garden, Dan held a multi-colored bamboo in his hand. The bamboo looked as tall as a ruler and a horizontal mark could be seen on its body. The region enclosed by the horizontal mark had distinct colors such as red, green and blue.
According to the books of the Mirthful Fairies Association. The Spring Yang Bamboo was a cheap Spiritual Plant that was often used as a container for cooking. However, Dan felt that such a usage was a waste, for if one carefully took the Spiritual Plant apart, they would discover salt crystals that Dan needed for his plan's succession.
In the end, Dan collected two pinches of red, green and blue salt crystals. Grace curiously stared at these salt crystals and found that they mysteriously shone under the light. The hazy light that they emanated, mesmerized the young maiden.
"How beautiful, they look like aurora lights from the north..." She turned towards Dan and asked, "Young master, what are we going to use them for?"
"If you want to know the answer to that question, try and take a taste of them..." Dan lifted an enigmatic smile and Grace said in confusion, "Taste them? Are they edible, young master?"
"Of course," Dan nodded his head, "If you're in doubt, let me taste them first and you follow..." Dan dipped his index finger on the red salt crystals and placed it on his tongue as a burst of umami encompassed his tongue. Dan's eyes couldn't help but narrow in pleasure due to the burst of flavors.
"What the hell is this, young master?! It tastes like fish!" Grace exclaimed in shock, abandoning her etiquette, she repeatedly dripped her saliva covered finger on the salt crystals as if they were the most delicious food that she tasted in her entire life.
"Yep, those salt crystals, red, blue and green tastes like meat, fish and vegetables, not only that, once a person uses a pinch of those salt crystals, they would feel full and don't even ask me about the nutritional value of those salt crystals. Remember, the Spring Yang Bamboo is a Spiritual Plant and could be considered as more nutritious than aged liquor."
Dan nodded his head in confirmation, the smile that spread on his face stunned Grace for a moment and when she regained composure, she thought and frowned, "How did the predecessors of the Mirthful Fairies Association miss such a vital discovery? If we sell these salt crystals to the slums community then no one could possibly die of starvation!"
Grace felt the sensation of satisfaction in her stomach that she felt just by ingesting two dips of those salt crystals. Her expression turned complicated, if this item was discovered at that time, then her sister wouldn't possibly do such a thing. But alas, everything was over and done, and the past couldn't be changed anymore.
Lifting her head, Grace found that Dan was becoming thoroughly mysterious than before. Previously, in the Great Forest of Manzur, Dan casually handed her a Heaven Grade Defensive Artifact and now, he easily discovered something that the predecessors several decades ago had missed.
Shaking the strange ideas forming in her head, her expression turned strange, "Young master, how about the turmeric grass, what's the use of that powder that you made from it?"
"Ah, that?" Dan's countenance, brightened, "That can be used as an antibiotic so that the chances of dying from infections would considerably decrease..."
"Antibiotic?" Grace mumbled in confusion towards this new term. Dan glanced at her and explained, "I can't really explain the intricacies behind an antibiotic, but it is something that will prevent injuries from worsening, think of it as a miracle drug that prevents people from dying of small injuries that became worse..."
Grace's expression flickered, "So then these are the two trump cards that the young master prepared in dealing against the Medicine Pavilion, however, young master, with our current manpower, how could we possibly mass-produce these two?"
"As for the turmeric grass, mass producing it is simple since everyone knows how to properly take apart a medicinal plant but for the Spring Yang Bamboo which is more intricate, how can we possibly do it at the shortest time possible?"
Dan crossed his arms and fell into deep contemplation, Grace had her point and it was a problem that he thought about ever since he formulated his plan. But since he was already riding the tiger, he had no other choice but to press on.
"I'll map the crucial points of the Spring Yang Bamboo that should be sliced off if we want to collect those precious salt crystals, after that, we'll hire carpenters that can help us make the machinery necessary to complete the job, cooperate with those men of yours and tell them about what I said to you just now, I think they may have an idea that is better than mine..."
Dan sent off his orders and Grace obliged, walking away, she went towards the Garden of Eden. However, before she could walk further inside, Kevin's voice reverberated from the Garden, "Princess, our employees are rebelling! They want to know who is backing our operations!"
Dan's figure froze, and a small smile lifted on his lips, "So the spies from the Medicine Pavilion is already starting to move? Those old geezers really are useless, utilizing such resources just for a mere Association that shouldn't even enter their eyes..." He shrugged and walked towards the direction of the Garden.