CHAPTER 249: GENESIS GARDEN (2)

With another gesture the holographic slate came to life. The white endless room was gone, and now they saw themselves standing on the familiar ground of their section.

Adrian didn’t give them much time to take in the sudden change as he immediately got to explaining.

"The plan is simple. We will clear this land. We will then construct a single, massive, transparent roof over the entire area, turning it into a giant, enclosed greenhouse. I’ll also erect a formation to ensure light is redirected in with efficiency."

The simulation showed massive support trusses being erected, followed by a great, transparent breathable ceiling that sealed the area off from the sky of the Nexus.

"Inside," he continued, "we will till the ground and install a simple, efficient irrigation system to bring in water."

The final image was of a single, massive, and beautifully simple indoor farm, with neat rows of soil stretching across the entire area, ready for planting.

"It will be the single largest and most productive farm you’ve ever seen," Adrian finished.

The three of them were speechless, captivated by the sheer, audacious simplicity of his vision. It was a perfect system. Now came the collaboration.

"Mum," Adrian said, turning to his mother. "Based on the crops we purchased, advise on the layout. Which plants need the deepest soil beds? Which need the most light?"

As the only expert on that field, she immediately began to provide crucial feedback, her practical experience refining Adrian’s perfect theory.

"The rows need to be spaced this far apart for the potatoes and carrots; they’ll need the deepest soil beds at the southern end," she said, her voice filled with a new, excited energy.

"The maize and wheat will need the most direct light, so we should put them in the center."

"Jeffery," Adrian continued, "structural integrity. That roof is a massive undertaking."

"Already on it, boss," the engineer replied, his eyes gleaming as he analyzed the simulation. "Building a roof with a clear span that large will be a challenge. We’ll need to create massive support trusses. But It can be done."

"Charles," Adrian finished, "organize the people. This is a massive construction project."

"I’ll draft a work-shift rotation immediately," Charles said, his mind already calculating the logistics. "We’ll need specialized teams. I’ll get it done."

For hours, they worked, the four of them refining the simulation, solving problems, and perfecting the plan.

By the time they were done, the holographic model was a flawless blueprint for their survival, and everyone was filled with a new, fervent hope.

It was Mara who brought them back to the one, final, critical problem. She held up a virtual sample of the grey, sterile substrate they would be using.

"Adrian... the plan is brilliant. But it all depends on one thing." She let the grey dust run through her fingers.

"I think this soil is dead. It has no life. I don’t think plants can grow on them."

This was one of the problems that Adrian had discovered during his initial analysis, and it was the one challenge he knew pure technology couldn’t solve.

The worried expressions on Jeffery’s and Charles’s faces showed they understood the gravity of the situation. A flawless plan was worthless if the very foundation it was built on was dead.

But Adrian was not worried. He was prepared.

"That is not a problem, Mum," he said with a calm, confident smile. "It is the last piece of the puzzle." He took a small, real sample of the sterile grey dust he had brought with him from his [Inventory].

"I have what I need to analyze its composition," he said. He then looked at the three of them.

"You have your tasks. Jeffery, begin the deconstruction of the houses as soon as we return. Charles, organize the workforce. Mum, the PADs for our people have been delivered to the sector’s collection platform. Please oversee their distribution for now."

He dismissed them from the Factory, leaving him alone in the Chamber.

A slow smile touched his lips as he weighed the soil. ’It’s been a long time since I did some real alchemy.’

***

Adrian didn’t waste a moment. He found himself standing before his work table in his workshop once more.

At the heart of the table sat a series of small trays, each filled with a handful of the grey soil.

Scattered among them were a few precious grains from the expensive crops he’d purchased.

They might have presumed the soil to be dead, but Adrian didn’t know for sure yet. He needed proof.

And that was what he was testing for now, in this controlled environment where he could isolate variables and observe without external interference.

He began by planting a single wheat seed into the first tray, pressing it gently into the dust.

Next be activated the runes he had set up, simulating optimal conditions: warmth, moisture, and light.

The setup mimicked a perfect growing environment. He then repeated the same process on the holographic studio, where he could accelerate it to yield results in minutes rather than days.

Adrian watched intently, picking up every microscopic shift. The seed should have swelled. But nothing happened.

The grain remained dormant, as if entombed in stone. He repeated the process with more crops. But nothing changed.

"It really is dead," Adrian finally confirmed.

What made soil suitable for cultivation was a delicate balance of necessary conditions.

It wasn’t much of a challenge to fix temporarily, at least. Advanced light magic could infuse the soil with artificial vitality, allowing the crops to grow.

But that was only a bandage; temporary and demanding. Unless the mage maintained the spell constantly, channeling mana without cease, the effect would fade, leaving the soil barren once more.

What Adrian needed was a permanent, self-sustaining solution. The easiest option was to create an alchemical catalyst that could be channeled through the soul.

This wasn’t like the usual alchemical creations where he simply had to follow an already developed formula.

This one required him to start from scratch. He would have to base the entire formula on the specific chemical and magical properties of the sterile soil he was working with, analyze its components, and then experiment with all the resources he had in his [Inventory] or could purchase from the Mall to see if he could create something.

Overall, it would require dozens, perhaps hundreds, of trials and errors. But Adrian was more than up for the challenge. This was the kind of complex, multi-layered problem his mind was built to solve.

Adrian began immediately. Accessing his [Inventory], dozens of possible herbs appeared on the work table