CHAPTER 198: NEW CROPS

Viscount Roster didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So this task fell to him because Labrechaun didn’t dare come to the Tech Lab!

But thinking about it, it made sense. The elven race—whether high elves or common elves, whether wood elves or dwarf elves, even gray elves—all worshipped the God of Nature. Yet Labrechaun and his crew at the Golden Merchant Guild, because of some benefits he’d promised, resolutely switched allegiances and joined the Church of Technology. Now hearing that the God of Nature was in this Tech Lab, how would he dare come in?

Wait... That guy joined the Church of Technology because he recruited him. He was the missionary. And now he was facing the God of Nature...

Viscount Roster couldn’t help but break out in a cold sweat on his forehead.

"Relax. It’s just a few thousand elves worshipping another god. Back when a branch of hundreds of thousands of elves believed in the Lady of Night and forcibly transformed themselves into so-called dark elves, I didn’t care. Come to think of it, that was already 150,000 years ago." The God of Nature seemed to read Viscount Roster’s expression and said with a chuckle, "I don’t lack these trivial little faiths. In fact, I think they’re pretty good, like a fish in water, making the entire elven kingdom seem more lively."

"Don’t worry, I guarantee I’ll promote all three of your Nature No. 1—green, red, and blue." Viscount Roster quickly assured him. "Never mind anything else, at minimum, the entire Southern Territory of the Kingdom of Dawn will use them this year. The whole Southern Territory will definitely know about them. You might not know, but I also control a news company on the Magic Net..."

"I know, the World Economic News Agency. Don’t rush it now. After we get results, just have reporters shoot some videos." The God of Nature said with a chuckle, as if everything was under his control. "By the way, regarding planting, for areas that haven’t started yet, you can actually wait a bit. I estimate the Goddess of Agriculture and God of Abundance will have results soon too. Then you’ll have even better grain varieties."

Viscount Roster obviously didn’t know what had happened, but from these few words, he seemed to taste something. His brain raced, and he suddenly had inspiration. "If you and the other gods have quite a few results, I’m willing to have the World Economic News Agency open another independent section—the World Agricultural News Agency, or the World Economic News Agency Agriculture Channel. I’ll have lots of journalists, editors, and chief editors and other professionals track and report agricultural information, guaranteeing that everyone on the Magic Net will know about your results and those of the other gods..."

In the Tech Lab, Viscount Roster rapidly explained his ideas. The God of Nature, who had been somewhat dismissive before and seemed like everything was under his control, grew increasingly serious. Meanwhile, in the Goddess of Magic’s divine realm, Ren was communicating with the Goddess of Agriculture.

"You’re saying this crop called Golden Spike Grain can grow plants up to 2.5 meters tall, yield 1,600 pounds per acre, has a growth cycle of 80 to 100 days when planted in spring and 70 to 85 days in summer? And whether in high-altitude cold mountain areas or hot zones, it can grow everywhere. After maturing and simple drying, it can be stored for several years?" Ren looked with interest at this grain before him that looked a bit like wheat but was golden yellow.

Even in his previous life when technology was very advanced, grains yielding 1,600 pounds per acre were extremely rare. Moreover, looking at this growth cycle, some regions could completely achieve three harvests a year. Its various characteristics also fit the potential to be a staple food.

"Yes, I’ve verified it many times, testing in many different environments and climates. This is all information I recorded using the methods you provided." The Goddess of Agriculture shared all the data she’d recorded in her control group experiments with Ren through the database. "But..."

"But what? Just say it." While opening the database, Ren asked, "Tell me every detail. That’s the only way I can make a perfect judgment. Don’t worry, with this kind of yield, even if there are some small flaws, we can accept them. Or maybe I’ll have some suggestions to improve it."

As he continued reviewing the data, Ren became increasingly satisfied with this Golden Spike Grain. Almost the entire continent could plant it. Even in the Northern Territory of the Kingdom of Dawn, they could plant one season of Golden Spike Grain and then supplement with other crops. At most it would just take about twenty more days than other places, but those twenty-plus days seemed to make the Golden Spike Grain taste even better. This also fit a characteristic of commodity circulation in the industrial age.

From the data, this Golden Spike Grain was simply the perfect crop, at least the most perfect crop for now. If they used some druid potions or something, the yield might increase even more.

"When I first bred this Golden Spike Grain, the results were just like the data I sent you. But if you use the seeds from this Golden Spike Grain for planting, then the yield drops. If you use the grain with reduced yield to plant again, the yield continues to drop, and the germination rate is also affected. Over and over, in less than four generations, it probably can’t be planted at all. I can’t figure out what’s causing it." The Goddess of Agriculture hesitated, but finally explained the Golden Spike Grain’s special situation.

She’d been in charge of agriculture for quite some time. When people started domesticating food from grass, she was already watching from above. She believed she knew everything related to agriculture, but this time, following Ren’s selection methods, she’d encountered a major problem.

Ren was slightly stunned hearing this, but quickly remembered that in his previous life, those seeds seemed to have similar problems. However, he didn’t have much knowledge in this area and couldn’t immediately think of the exact reason. Still, he only paused briefly, then smiled and said, "You need to solve this problem yourself. But I think this doesn’t affect sending Golden Spike Grain to the mortal realm for planting right now. At worst, before solving the problem, every year you grant mortals a sufficient batch of Golden Spike Grain seeds. This way, you even have a reason to have them conduct a sacrifice and prayer ceremony every year as they’re about to enter the Month of Revival."

Of course, Ren wouldn’t only have the Goddess of Agriculture handle modifying the Golden Spike Grain and solving this problem. Once prayers began, facing massive amounts of faith, she’d probably find it hard to maintain her original intention to solve the problem in the future. Even if she was willing, it might take much more time. This was the influence of humanity and the craving of divinity!

Hearing Ren’s words, the Goddess of Agriculture was slightly stunned. She never imagined it could work like this!

But it seemed like it really could!