As Ethan gave the order, his heart ached at the sight of his money dwindling, and he thought about their already poor reserves. With the current money reserves they had left, they would only be able to keep the kingdom running for a few weeks at most.
I must do something about this! We can't let it continue at this rate, we will not be able to sustain the kingdom much longer otherwise
The other problem they currently had besides the dwindling money was agriculture. The once fertile and abundant fields lay charred and barren after Ethan's stunt that led to their victory; the burnt fields were currently threatening the kingdom with a severe food shortage.
As they discussed what to do, the system gave Ethan a quest.
*Ding*
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Quest
Resolve the Kingdoms current food crises
Reward: 1000 gold
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Ethan scanned the quest, almost jumping out of his seat in joy. Relief washed over him—this was exactly what he needed!
However, the joy soon faded as he calmed down, assessed his situation, and pondered how he could resolve the crisis. Taking the time to think about it, Ethan remembered that the system had a peculiar function, one which he was not able to fully assess given the situation back then.
With a sliver of hope, Ethan headed straight for the system's shop. With a furrowed and tense expression, he opened the shop only to be overwhelmed by various objects and products, the likes of which he had never seen before.
This is it! Thank the elders!
The vast system shop was divided into many categories, including food, armor, weapons, mounts, daily items, etc. All sorts of items and products are at Ethan's disposal! The food market, significantly cheaper than others, was a viable solution. He looked at the dazzling array of items before him.
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System Mall
Food Market:
Moonstone Barley: This barley has a subtle, silvery sheen in the moonlight. Its grains make a smooth, flavorful ale. Grown in open fields. 10 Silver per Kg
Sunfire Corn: These tall, golden stalks produce large, sun-kissed cobs. The kernels are sweet and satisfying. Grown in open fields. 15 Silver per Kg
Frostbloom Carrots: These deep-blue carrots have a crisp, refreshing bite. They are best enjoyed roasted or in stews. Grown in icy terrain. 8 Silver per Kg
Silverleaf Cress: This leafy green with silvery veins has a slightly peppery flavor. It's delicious in salads or as a side dish. 5 Silver per Kg
Starfire Apples: These radiant apples are juicy and bursting with sweet flavor. Grown anywhere. 12 Silver per Kg
Stormgrape Vine: This vine produces dark purple grapes with a unique, earthy sweetness. They are perfect for winemaking. Grown on high mountains near storm-prone areas. 8 Silver per Kg
Nightshade Berries: These deep, almost black berries are sweet with a hint of tartness. Enjoy them fresh or in jams and pies. Grown in dark caves. 10 Silver per Kg
Volcanic Ember Peppers: These fiery red peppers have a rich, smoky flavor. Use them sparingly to add a kick to any dish. Grown in hot volcanic regions. 8 Silver per Kg
Golden Sun Wheat: This wheat produces golden grains that make the finest bread. It can be planted anywhere. 15 Silver per Kg
Ghost Pear Tree: This tree produces pale, pear-shaped fruit with a delicate sweetness. Grown in damp locations. 1500 Silver per Kg
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It could be said that the system really is powerful. As Ethan looked through the products, he couldn't help but drool over some of them.
Knowing he couldn't afford them all, he calmed his thoughts and found a crop that was perfect for the time being—Golden Sun Wheat. Considering the gold he gave to his soldiers, he only had about 108 gold left.
Without hesitation, Ethan decided to purchase the seeds of the Golden Sun Wheat, about 15 Kg worth of seeds. He spent about 5 gold coins on the wheat seeds.
Ethan smiled broadly. His previous tense and worried expression had long since lessened. With the addition of the new seeds, he only needed to prepare the fields and then await the harvesting time, which was another thing Ethan was looking forward to, as the system had given Ethan a small note regarding the wheat's harvest time frame.
Golden Sun Wheat grows two times faster than normal common wheat, which means that the harvest would take place around 45 days, of course, if the conditions allowed it.
"William, go look in the treasury. There should be a few kilograms worth of Golden Sun Wheat that should suffice for the time being. Make sure they are ready for planting and nothing happens to them." Ethan called out directly, as he did not waste any more time, wanting to move on with the seed planting as soon as possible.
William nodded, somewhat confused.
When have seeds been placed in the treasury?
Yet he did not voice his confusion and only followed his king's command with efficiency.
Seeing William leave the room with surprising swiftness, Ethan nodded in satisfaction before turning his attention back to the others gathered in the room.
"Who is in charge of Agriculture?" Scanning the crowd with a stern gaze, silently waiting for the person to appear before him.
Soon, a man of a rather tall stature and lean build, something akin to that of a warrior, came walking out from the crowd, his voice resonating through the air: "It is me, your Majesty. My name is Rhys Ironwood of the House of Ironwood."
He directly saluted with respect in his voice.
"How long would it take for us to prepare the fields for planting the Golden Sun Wheat?" Ethan asked directly, sensing the man to be honest and pragmatic based on his appearance.
Rhys glanced at Ethan, his grey eyes showing signs of pondering, and quickly replied, "I shall need to inspect the fields myself. Depending on the burns and damage done from the fire, we could be looking for anything between three days and two weeks of work to be done."