At my house…
"So fast, it's already August, more than three weeks have passed…," says Aldo, gazing out the frameless and glassless window in my wooden house. Outside, small, soft raindrops fall as if they're dancing. Each drop lands on the leaves of the guava tree bending over the pond. His distant eyes take in and enjoy a rainy morning in this Samel swamp.
The gloomy sky, with a soft gray hue, diffuses the light, creating gentle, calm beams throughout the village. The air is thick with the scent of wet vegetation and dense organic mud, mixed with the faint aroma of decaying leaves, creating a unique blend and fragrance here.
When the raindrops hit the wooden roof of my house, they create a rhythmic sound, a gentle and repetitive beat that blends together. The wooden window without a frame or shutter lets in the fresh scent of rain and a cool breeze occasionally, while the raindrops hitting it create a delicate tinkling sound, almost like a symphony.
High above, tall trees catch many raindrops, creating soft rustling sounds as the leaves sway and move rhythmically like ballet dancers. The rain seeps through the dense foliage, dripping from leaf to leaf until it reaches the bushes and the waterlogged ground below. The sound of rain hitting the water in the swamp is a gentle splashing, intertwining and overlapping, each drop creating tiny ripples that spread outward, merging with millions of other ripples, adding a subtle touch to nature's symphony.
The swamp creatures react to the rain in various ways. Frogs with rough skin in different colors, some even transparent enough for Aldo and me to see their internal organs, croak louder, more frequently, and continuously, their calls echoing across the water, while insects shelter under leaves and in crevices. Small birds perched on high branches fluff their feathers and occasionally take flight, their wings flapping lightly in the damp air. The subtle movements of fish and amphibians below the water's surface add a faint disturbance, almost imperceptible to the serene scene. Best of all, there are no Giant Crocodiles here.
"Yes…," I say.
"It seems our business is progressing quite smoothly… thanks to all your efforts, Veritas," Aldo praises me, although his face shows no emotion.
"It's nothing, it's all for our grand plan. So I don't mind traveling across the west to expand our business connections. From the first week, we've had some merchants approaching us, and many small factory owners and shopkeepers sending us orders… Using enzymes in the production of bread, beer, wine, juice, fish sauce, confectionery, and jam is creating a trend across the west, even spreading to the southwest and central regions. So, even without much direct advertising from me, the demand is clearly increasing day by day," I say enthusiastically.
"At this rate, we might surpass our year-end target," Aldo responds.
"Fermos' enzyme sales are going smoothly, product sales have doubled compared to last week. I think we should consider expanding our production scale soon," I suggest.
"Obviously, we'll need to buy more slaves or hire additional local workers and purchase more extraction equipment," Aldo nods in agreement.
"But we can't just buy larger extraction equipment for the home extraction process," I add.
"I know, but the backward technology of this world doesn't allow us to innovate…," Aldo replies.
"But the nobles can own technology close to or equivalent to that of Earth, the drawback being that it uses Manatite or Mana from people to operate and is costly. And the Rahman Al-khouri family is a potential supplier for this issue!" I suggest excitedly.
"If we upgrade to small-scale industrial production, we'll need to buy washing tanks, centrifuges, grinders, cutters, cooling equipment, sterilization equipment, and many other devices. In short, it's very costly!" Aldo argues.
"Or we could use the magical devices of a group of Europeans in the Noir autonomous region, profit-sharing at 1:1. I know them and have connections with them," I respond.
"A viable alternative? Interesting! Are there Earth people like us settling in the west?" Aldo asks, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, according to calculations, there are still 5% free Earth people in the western region, equivalent to 10 people, the rest are in other areas. Although the west has its form of Islam, which can be quite harsh on Earth people, if you're talented enough, you can still live well, like Zihao," I say.
"Wait, there are 5 of us, adding Zihao makes 6, so there are four Europeans in that group. Why has the total number of free Earth people decreased from 60,000 to 200?" Aldo asks, surprised.
"Maybe you don't know, but from the beginning of this year to the end of the year, Executioners, Cazador, and Thaumatica have been active, searching, finding, and executing thousands of people. According to calculations, that's the remaining number," I sigh and reply, "This area hasn't been thoroughly searched by them, yet…"
"So… what's the common characteristic of them?" Aldo continues to ask.
"Having intentions to overthrow the current government, or revealing their true identities," I answer.
"Then we should expedite our cooperation with them," Aldo says urgently.
"Alright, I'll go right away." My face becomes serious as I prepare some food and a bit of money, then grab a long-stemmed lotus leaf as an umbrella and quickly head outside, leaving Aldo alone in the house.
The door opens, and Auburn steps in.
"Hello Auburn. Welcome back safely. How is Helzard doing?" Aldo hands Auburn a cup of Longjing tea.
"Good. We've completed the protection work, reinforced the defensive layers with fences, alarms, and repaired damages for ten villages, connecting them together. Helzard is currently resting; he's injured but not too seriously, so you don't need to worry. As for me and the miners, we've extracted over one ton of sulfur, two tons of phosphate, and half a ton of peat. Now, how do you want to handle these resources?" Auburn asks Aldo.
"Just sell them to the Heilop territory, specifically to the farmers and tanners," Aldo replies, handing Auburn a round plate with banh goi. The pastries are half-moon shaped, brown-golden, and have a crispy, flaky exterior, indicating they might have been deep-fried. The filling includes meat (likely bird), herbs, and garlic.
"What is this? Banh goi?" Auburn exclaims, eyes wide with surprise.
"Yes, remember to eat them with Helzard. It's a way to remember home and feel less homesick," Aldo says with his usual cold demeanor, but his voice is unusually warm and caring.
"Thank you..." Auburn responds, taking the plate of banh goi and dashing through the rain towards Helzard's house, one hand protecting the plate. "Helzard, wake up and eat these banh goi," he shouts.
Aldo sighs, sits down on a wooden chair, staring in another direction... Neva, wearing a gray-brown dress, approaches Aldo with a book, her voice lively and mischievous.
"Father, let's continue our study," Neva says playfully. She now has the habit of daily bathing and is more active than before.
"Please, Neva, we're the same age. In fact, you were born three months and twelve days before me. Just call me Aldo," Aldo replies, slightly irritated.
"Yes, sir!" Neva smiles mischievously.
"Alright, let's begin!" Aldo starts flipping through the book, beginning the lesson with Neva...
Meanwhile, Fermos is resting at the spot where Aldo encountered the reptilian people, holding a pen made of light yellow bamboo, admiring it with his eyes fixed on it. It's a pen modeled after modern ink pens but made from different materials. In a moment of carelessness, Fermos drops the pen into the water. As he reaches down to retrieve it, something suddenly surfaces, causing him to instinctively pull back his hand.
It's the woman Aldo faced yesterday, now soaking wet. Remembering Aldo's warning, Fermos feels a bit fearful. But the woman shows no hostility, even picking up the pen (which Aldo and Zihao designed to be water-resistant) and handing it back to Fermos. Hesitating for a moment, Fermos slowly reaches out and takes the bamboo pen from the woman. After that, she dives back into the water, which today is murky green with algae, and swims away.
"Thank you!" Fermos shouts towards the departing woman.
While diving in the swamp's water, the woman's lips curl into a bright smile for a moment.
The next day, Zihao quickly opens the door as soon as he hears the knocking. He opens the door with a creak, and standing before him are Helzard and Auburn.
"Oh, you two are friends of Aldo and Veritas, right?" Zihao's eyes half-close as he quickly adjusts his somewhat disheveled red Hanfu.
"Yes. I'm Helzard, their friend," Helzard smiles, extending his hand.
"Hello, I'm Zihao. Nice to meet you," Zihao shakes hands with Helzard and then with Auburn.
"What brings you two to me?" Zihao asks, looking them up and down.
"Well, the village we just reclaimed from the lizardmen has a massive willow tree that's growing and spreading around, encroaching on the houses," Helzard explains seriously.
"So? If it's a willow tree cursed by the lizardmen's dark magic, Fermos and Aldo are making chemical weapons that cause explosions. Just ask them for some to burn the willow down. You don't need to come to me," Zihao sighs in response.
"But the strange thing is, every night a villager commits suicide near the willow tree, which then absorbs their blood and decomposes their bodies overnight. Then, a creature with bark-like skin is found seeking out children, draining their blood, and watering the willow with it," Auburn adds.
"But…" Zihao frowns, "You can burn it down, can't you?" Zihao's voice shows some irritation.
"That's the problem. If I could do that, I would have done it long ago. Since I can't, I need your help," Helzard raises an eyebrow.
"Alright. Let's go then!" Zihao prepares some important items, puts them into a leather shoulder bag, locks the door, and says, "Show me the way."
"Let's go," Helzard puts on his helmet, grabs the longsword on his back, and leads the way to the village.
Reaching the water, Helzard takes a large boat, and the three of them board it, letting it drift down the swampy, rotten-smelling waters.
"Where are Fermos, Aldo, and Veritas? Why aren't they coming with you two?" Zihao asks.
"Oh," Helzard laughs, "Veritas is still in the west, Fermos and Aldo are at the factory filled with equipment and machines in the mana-powered autonomous region, teaching workers (slaves) how to extract a new, higher-quality enzyme."
"You're quite close with Aldo and Veritas, aren't you?" Auburn asks.
"Not really. Aldo and I get along well, and he helps me improve my products, like adding beeswax to paper to make it waterproof… As for Veritas, I feel like we could become friends," Zihao replies.
"We're here, let's go ashore!" Helzard says, jumping onto solid ground.
Auburn follows, jumping ashore as well.
"This village is closer than I thought," Zihao says with wide eyes, then jumps onto the land.
"This way!" Helzard waves.
Zihao and Auburn follow closely behind Helzard. They arrive at an abandoned village where an old woman sits silently on a chair. Not far away stands a gigantic willow tree, its trunk so wide that many people couldn't encircle it with their arms, towering over the surrounding swamp trees. Large roots emerge from the ground like connected mounds, with some roots growing through the small wooden houses like ants under the willow tree.
Helzard and Auburn quickly move to the scene. Zihao follows, glancing at the old woman.
"You should leave here; this place is very dangerous. Go to the village of those two young men; just follow the river upstream," Zihao coldly says.
"I can't, dear," the old woman calmly replies.
"Is there a reason for that? If you have difficulty moving, I'll quickly take you to the village where you'll be safe!" Zihao responds with an unfeeling expression.
"No need, dear. I'm almost a hundred years old, very old and weak. I don't have much time left. I've lived here all my life, with many memories binding me to this place. You all go on without me," the old woman responds, her voice tinged with sadness and regret.
"Fine! I don't care what happens to you! But don't do anything rash, alright? You're old…" Zihao rolls his eyes and quickly follows the other two.
Upon arrival, they witness a horrifying scene. Dozens of white human skeletons are piled in a corner where a group of faceless, human-like creatures with bark-like skin are using heavy wooden blocks to grind the bones into powder.
Zihao looks around, not a single blade of grass or fallen leaf in sight.
"This is bad; they've cleared all the flammable materials around…" Zihao says.
"Alright then...", Zihao takes out three wooden swords with the words "偉大的惡魔殺手" carved on the blades, drops a drop of blood on each sword, and hands two of the swords to Auburn and Helzard.
The three swords suddenly emit a faint yellow light, causing Auburn and Helzard to gape in amazement at the sight before them.
"No time to be surprised, chop those strange creatures and roots, we need to find the source of this mystery," Zihao urges as he continues to drop blood onto his own sword.
Helzard and Auburn nod. Auburn tries chopping at a root segment, immediately creating a deep cut and severing the root. Flames spring up at the points of contact, and the severed root segment is gradually engulfed and incinerated by the fire. Auburn's eyes widen even more, and he smiles in delight before eagerly chopping at the surrounding roots with renewed energy.
Helzard grins mischievously, grips his sword firmly, and charges forward, slashing three strange creatures in half, causing them to be instantly engulfed in flames. Two other creatures with large wooden blocks approach Helzard, moving clumsily and swinging the blocks at him. With the speed of a half-demon, Helzard swiftly evades, spins around, and slashes the creatures in half. More tree bark-like creatures with wooden blocks swarm towards Helzard.
"Alright, bring it on!" Helzard grins mischievously and charges at them.
While Helzard and Auburn are fervently battling the strange creatures, Zihao is also using his blood-drenched sword to stab deep into the trunk of the tree in front of him. An explosion erupts from the point of contact, revealing a path leading to a coffin. The coffin lid opens, and a decaying corpse suddenly moves, emitting a foul odor that makes Zihao cover his nose. He shows no fear, as if he has experienced similar terrifying events before.
Zihao urgently takes out some red threads and ties them around the corpse, causing it to struggle. The yellow light from Helzard and Auburn's wooden swords continues to glimmer, igniting everything they touch. Dozens of tree bark-like creatures fall, and many large root segments are completely consumed by the red-orange flames.
"Helzard, Auburn! Bring those swords in here! We need to destroy this corpse before it's too late!" Zihao shouts while still tying the red threads around the writhing decayed body. Helzard and Auburn quickly move through the tunnel towards him, their sword light illuminating the path ahead.
The three of them combine their efforts, the swords glowing intensely, creating an unprecedented power. Together, they simultaneously stab the swords into the corpse's chest. The corpse is engulfed in red-orange flames, gradually disintegrating into ashes, taking the last foul stench with it. Once everything quiets down, the giant willow tree gradually turns into a black substance before disappearing into the void. Moments later, the three ascend to the surface.
Waiting for them is the old woman, her hostile eyes wide and glaring at Zihao.
"What?", Zihao sneers, "Did I ruin your childish plan?" He laughs mockingly.
The old woman growls and rushes at Zihao with abnormal speed. Helzard reacts quickly, drawing his iron sword and blocking the sharp claws. Auburn assists by kicking her in the stomach. The old woman staggers back, but Helzard slashes off her hand. Strangely, no blood flows, and the severed hand continues to move and attack the trio.
Helzard grits his teeth, focusing all his strength on his sword, stomping on the hand, and chopping it into pieces. His eyes flash with determination as he charges at the old woman with powerful, lethal strikes to her chest. Despite losing an arm, the old woman moves with terrifying speed, her sharp claws slicing through the air.
Auburn seizes the opportunity, quickly drawing a crossbow and firing a volley of flaming arrows at the old woman. The arrows fly swiftly, creating a dazzling light upon contact with her body. Though burning, she shows no pain, only growling, her roar echoing through the forest like the scream of a tormented soul.
Zihao realizes they need to find the old woman's weakness. He calmly observes her every move, seeking any sign that could turn the tide. Meanwhile, Helzard and Auburn continue their relentless assault, keeping her at a safe distance. After a moment, he smiles.
"Helzard, Auburn, fall back!" Zihao shouts, spotting a rare opportunity. His friends immediately retreat, giving him space to advance. He aims at the old woman, pulling out an ancient talisman inscribed with the word 海豹.
The old woman's eyes widen in horror. She tries to flee at her fastest speed.
"Zihao, do something! She's getting away!" Auburn urges.
Zihao mutters, and the talisman flies towards her.
The talisman strikes her chest, exploding into a brilliant light. The old woman roars, her scream echoing like the wail of a damned soul. Her body begins to disintegrate, her skin and bones crumbling and vanishing into the air.
Helzard and Auburn exchange glances before looking at Zihao. "You did it!" Helzard sighs in relief, smiling. Auburn nods, feeling equally relieved.
"Let's find the survivors," Zihao says, scanning the village for any signs of life.