The top floor of Velin's Lord's Mansion had been converted into Newly Town's first laboratory.
This so-called laboratory had no precision glass instruments, no constant-temperature incubators, not even a single decent lab bench.
The only luxury was the enormous, mullioned wooden window that took up half a wall. It faced the heart of the Gray Sea Marsh, and abundant, unobstructed sunlight poured in, illuminating every last mote of dust floating in the air.
Several long tables, hastily crafted by amateur carpenters, were pushed together. Their surfaces were pitted and uneven, still bearing the scars of axe blows. On these tables, dozens of crude earthenware pots were neatly arranged, each one scrawled with the name of a marsh plant and its collection date in charcoal.
These were the hardier-looking marsh plants that Velin had ordered collected. He now needed to search among them for a specimen that could be cultivated as a food crop.
Among the dozens of experimental samples, Velin's gaze finally fell upon a single, unremarkable potted plant.
[Gray Marsh Poison Potatoes]
[Level: Unranked]
[Bloodline: Salt Marsh Rooted 12% (Black Iron Tier), Rock-Skinned Tuber 8% (Black Iron Tier), Mixed Bloodline 80%]
[Ability: Absorbing Salt]
[Overall Evaluation: A plant highly adapted to saline-alkali environments. Its tubers are rich in starch, but direct consumption will lead to cardiac arrest.]
[Possible Evolution Path 1: Sea Salt Potato]
[Evolution Method: Any enchanted loam, Moonlight Grass juice, cultivate in an ether-rich environment for three days.]
[Possible Evolution Path 2: Explosive Rock Potato]
[Evolution Method: ...]
A fatal flaw, but one that held an opportunity.
Velin's finger tapped the air over the entries for [Absorbing Salt] and [Sea Salt Potato]. 'This is it,' he thought. 'For this land with its extreme environment, this highly poisonous plant actually has a role to play.'
Best of all, he happened to have all the materials needed for the evolution.
'Enchanted loam...' Velin glanced toward the burlap sacks stacked in the corner. That was the first batch of "nutrient soil" Cohen had sent over. The etheric presence was potent, fully meeting the standard.
'As for the Moonlight Grass...' He took a small earthenware pot from a shelf. Inside were a few slender stalks of grass that emitted a faint, silvery glow at night. It was a common magical plant his men had happened to find a few days prior while collecting specimens in the marsh.
Everything was ready.
'The experiment begins now.'
First, Velin dug a Gray Marsh Poison Potato plant out of its pot.
He retrieved a stone mortar, placed several stalks of Moonlight Grass inside, and slowly ground them with a wooden pestle. A scent of fresh grass and earth filled the air as the leaves were crushed into a viscous, dark-green juice.
Next, with a sharp little knife, he scored a shallow cross over an eye of the Gray Marsh Poison Potato.
This would help the specimen better absorb the nutrients from the soil.
He dipped the tip of a feather into the Moonlight Grass juice in the mortar and applied it with exacting precision to the cross-shaped incision.
For the final step, he replanted the treated poison potato in a new pot filled with the enchanted loam.
All preparations were complete.
Velin closed his eyes, hovering his palm in the air above the pot. He began to channel his Spiritual Power, connecting with the part of his bloodline known as the "Forest's Song."
'Spring Messenger.'
His Spiritual Power extended from his body as if it were a tangible thing.
Through his perception, the normally slow process of evolution began to accelerate under the influence of Spring Messenger.
The glowing particles within the enchanted loam activated, and the active ingredients in the Moonlight Grass juice began to break down. Together, they surged toward the cross-shaped incision.
It was an immensely draining process.
Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. A drop slid from his jaw, struck the floor, and blossomed into a small, dark patch.
Just as he began to feel the strain, the poison potato's life energy finally intertwined, collided, and merged with the external forces.
'Success!'
The soil in the pot suddenly bulged upward.
A tender green shoot burst from the soil, sprouting and growing taller at a rate visible to the naked eye. Vines climbed upward, their leaves broader than the parent plant's, their color shifting from dark green to a more vibrant emerald.
Velin withdrew his hand and let out a long breath. He gripped the edge of the table to steady himself, his knuckles turning white from the pressure.
He reached into the rich, moist loam and pulled out a string of newly formed tubers.
They no longer had an ugly, rock-like appearance. Instead, they were a warm, earthy yellow, with smooth skins and a much larger size.
He picked one up, washed it clean with water, and tossed it directly into the embers of the hearth.
About ten minutes later, a toasty aroma like baking bread wafted from the embers.
Velin used fire tongs to retrieve the slightly charred tuber. He blew on it to cool it, then broke it open.
CRACK! The carbonized skin split open, revealing a creamy white interior. Steam rushed into his face, and the rich aroma flooded his nostrils. Velin couldn't help but swallow.
He tore off a small piece and put it in his mouth.
The texture was soft and mealy. The gelatinized starch coated his tongue, bringing a deep sense of satisfaction. As he savored it, he discovered a faint, sea-salt fragrance underlying the sweet base flavor.
'Delicious.'
Velin activated [Inspect].
[Sea Salt Potato]
[Level: Unranked]
[Bloodline: Salt Marsh Rooted 37%, Mixed Bloodline 63%]
[Ability: Absorbing Salt]
[Overall Evaluation: A food crop suitable for growth in saline-alkali soil. Long-term cultivation can desalinate the land. However, the toxins from the original Gray Marsh Poison Potato have not been completely eliminated; large-scale consumption will cause gastrointestinal discomfort.]
'...I should probably check with the system *before* eating next time.'
Still, it was a successful modification, no matter how you looked at it.
Velin scanned the other marsh plant specimens on the table, eager to press his advantage.
[Spiked Reed... Evolution requires a Wind Element crystal. Can be made into arrows after evolution. No cultivation value...]
[Marsh Duckweed... Evolution requires a Water Element crystal. Can be used as a supplementary ingredient for low-grade healing potions after evolution. No cultivation value...]
...
After looking them all over, he realized that for now, the only crop in this marsh with the potential for rapid modification and large-scale cultivation was the Sea Salt Potato.
'The problem of basic sustenance was almost solved.'
'But can I make money from this alone?'
Velin chewed the flesh of the potato, running some quick calculations in his head.
'What's the yield per acre? How many pounds can I sell for one Golden Sun? After subtracting costs for labor, transportation, and spoilage, what would be the net profit?'
'Then I think about the optimized Magic Potions from Barrett and Xiaolan, and the astronomical sums of Golden Suns involved.'
'And what about the potential Level 5 Magical Beast lurking in the depths of the marsh? How much would it cost to study it, to fight it?'
'By selling potatoes? I could sell them until the end of time and still not raise enough.'
The joy on Velin's face gradually faded.
Selling primary agricultural products was a rather primitive method of accumulating wealth. What he needed was startup capital—an "angel investment" that could support his expensive bloodline research.
He walked to the window, his gaze traveling past the small camp and out toward the distant sea horizon.
Beyond the sea lay the Haidi Duchy's most prosperous trade routes.
Countless ships plied the waters between several busy, wealthy ports, and the routes were controlled by the great commercial powers of the Duchy.
"Looks like I need to find a major buyer," Velin murmured, clutching the still-warm Sea Salt Potato.
"I won't be selling potatoes, though. I'll be selling the concept: the ability to turn salt flats into vast tracts of fertile farmland."