CHAPTER 251: THE CANTEEN

In the three short weeks since its creation, the twenty-five-house block had transformed into a vibrant, thriving world of lush, green life.

The first harvest was underway, and the bounty was beyond their wildest dreams.

Massive, perfectly formed potatoes were being pulled from the rich, black, living earth. Ears of maize, their kernels plump and golden, were heavier than any they had ever seen on Thanad.

The tomato vines were laden with ripe, crimson fruit. The air inside the massive greenhouse was rich with the smell of fresh soil, growing things, and the faint, sweet scent of blooming strawberry flowers.

Their production rate, accelerated by Serena’s initial blessing and the perfect, 24/7 cycle of simulated sunlight, was so high that they were already producing a significant surplus in just few weeks.

Tonight, for the first time since their arrival in the Nexus, the Sparkborns would feast.

Adrian had declared a planet-wide celebration. The long, depressing lines outside the food distribution centers, where people had been receiving their single, daily Nutritional Pack, were gone.

In their place, a massive, joyous feast was being prepared in the central plaza. The scent of real food; roasting corn, stewing vegetables, baking potato bread, all wafted through the entire sector with an intoxicating aroma.

Everyone smiled and laughed with delight as they ate. It meant more than a meal for them; it was a reclamation of their culture, their identity, and their future.

In the midst of the celebration, Adrian held a quiet meeting with some members of his council in their small house, the sounds of joyous celebration filtering in from outside.

"The numbers are in, boss," Charles said, his face a mixture of awe and disbelief as he looked at his PAD, the sounds of the joyous feast filtering in from outside. "The Genesis Garden is... too successful. The harvest is already far beyond what we need to feed our people for the next month. We might have to start storing the surplus with you because our current storage facilities are completely inadequate."

A wide, proud grin spread across Eli’s face. "Surplus? Lad, that’s not a problem. That’s a product!" he boomed, his voice full of excitement. "We can sell it! We can sell it all!"

This was the moment Adrian had been waiting for. This had been his plan all along. "Exactly," he said, his voice cutting through the excited chatter. "We will keep more than enough for our people’s needs. The rest, we sell. Tomorrow, we enter the market."

"Are we setting up a stall in the Mall, then?" Karl asked, remembering what Adrian had told him before.

But Adrian shook his head. "No. We’re not ready for that yet," A daring smile played on his lips. "I have a better idea. A more... practical one."

Everyone looked at him in surprise as it became clear he wasn’t revealing the rest of his plan just yet.

He had learned from his PAD that leasing a stall in the Mall’s Supermarket cost a hundred credits a day. That amount, which would have been a fortune a week ago, was now considered affordable to him with his new loan.

But that still didn’t push him to take that route. Every new business needed advertisement, a way to stand out. And that was what he planned to provide.

Adrian looked up, his gaze settling on the Elven princess. "Nyra. You’ll be following me tomorrow. We’ll be visiting the Normat sector."

The council members murmured in confusion, but Adrian didn’t elaborate further. After some more less important talks, he retreated for the next course of action.

Alone in the room, Adrian pulled out his pad. He had long learned that communication wasn’t cheap. Placing a call cost five credits upfront, plus one more for each minute spent on the line.

But this was an expense Adrian was more than ready to make. He had credits to spare now, and building alliances was worth far more than a handful of digital currency.

He tapped in Mex’s contact code, the one the Normat rider had shared during their first encounter. The PAD beeped once, twice, then connected with a faint chime. On the other end, Mex’s voice came through, laced with genuine surprise.

"Adrian? Strange of you to call. Is everything alright?"

"Everything is fine, Mex," Adrian replied calmly. "I want to ask for a favor."

"A favor?" Mex’s tone shifted to curiosity. "Alright, shoot. What’s on your mind?"

"It’s not much," Adrian replied. "But I’ll be coming around to visit tomorrow, and it’d help if you could raise some interest among your people. You know, spread the word about a special event happening. Get a crowd gathered, nothing too formal, just enough to make it lively."

There was a pause on the other end, until finally the Normat responded. "That should be doable, but do you mind telling me what this is all about? You’ve got me interested now."

Adrian shaked his head even though Mex couldn’t see it. "It’s a surprise. But trust me, it’ll grab your interest too. Just rally a few folks, and I’ll handle the rest."

Another brief silence, then Mex let out a low laugh. "Okie dokie then. I’ll get on it. See you tomorrow, Adrian."

"Thanks, Mex. Appreciate it." Adrian hung up before the call could drag on for too long, watching the PAD deduct the credits with a satisfied nod. He stored the device in his [Inventory] and whispered to the empty room, "Now that’s done. One last thing to make it better."

’Visit Factory.’

In an instant, the world around him changed, and he was in the familiar space of his workshop.

Adrian approached the work table with purpose. He needed something special for tomorrow, something to make a difference. And he knew what exactly to create.

***

The morning sun shone brightly over the Normats’ sector, casting long shadows across the wide, open streets. Unlike other days, today there were a few dozen people gathered on the streets, their faces a mixture of skepticism and curiosity.

A small group had gathered around the friendly Runner, Mex, who was trying his best to keep them entertained.

"What is this you’re showing us, Mex?" an young Normat woman asked. "I hope you didn’t call me all the way out here just to waste my time."

Mex shook his head, his smile unwavering despite his own nervousness. "No, Aunt Mia! You’ll love it, I promise! The human— Adrian, he said it would be something special!"

He entertained the skeptical gazes he was getting from the rest of the Normat with a friendly, reassuring smile, although inwardly he was praying that Adrian’s mysterious show was worth the reputation he was putting on the line.

Just then, Adrian, who had been standing still for some seconds under the intense stares of the tall, blue-skinned creatures, finally moved.

Stepping aside, he gestured to the empty space behind him and materialized a new object from his [Inventory], one that shocked even Nyra, who had no idea what he had been building.

It was large, dominating the space like a monolithic presence, and to those unfamiliar with his ingenuity, it almost looked like a oversized metal box.

But the Sparkborns would have known better, as they would recognize its resemblance to the Trailblazers.

This one, however, boasted four wheels and was much smaller in size, with an improved design that sleeker curves and reinforced panels suggested advanced engineering.

The side facing the crowd was what truly set it apart. There was no solid metal panel or tinted windows blocking the view; instead, it featured an open expanse, like a massive window that allowed a clear glimpse into its interior.

Rows of shelves and counters lined the inside, hinting at storage and preparation space, while vents promised controlled environments for freshness.

Integrated lights pulsed softly along the edges, ready to illuminate in vibrant colors, and speakers mounted on the roof suggested announcements or music to draw in passersby.

Topping off its blue-black aesthetics, which gleamed under the sun like polished obsidian, was a prominent "AD" sign arched over the top in bold, glowing letters.

Adrian turned to a stunned Nyra. "I haven’t introduced you," he said with a proud smile. He gestured to the vehicle. "Meet the Canteen. She’s our new food truck."

"Food truck?" The term was completely alien to her.

Adrian chuckled at her confusion and walked towards the vehicle, pressing a button that caused a ramp to lower. "Come on in," he said, gesturing for her to join him. "You’ll love it."