The first few days of the Energy Stone excavation passed in the blink of an eye. A few minor incidents happened, but nobody died. The cause of the incidents was also fixed right away. The Excavation site looked properly at last.
The first batches of Energy Stones had been harvested, and the first trades were completed.
Michael managed to procure a handful of treasures from the Forest Elves. As predicted by his brother, the Forest Elves weren’t in dire need of the treasures he’d picked out. They were valuable but not desperately needed. That was perfect.
Michael managed to help the Greater Nature Spirit and Tatjana evolve one Nourberry stalk. It was merely one stalk, but that was better than nothing. In fact, it was a lot better than Michael had been hoping for when Tatjana proposed to evolve a single stalk of Nourberry. The resources and treasures required to upgrade the stalk drained most of the stock of Energy Stones they’d harvested, but it was worth it.
The evolved stalk of Nourberry was extraordinary. It spread even faster than the most notorious weeds and spread in all directions. It didn’t require as much energy and nutrients as Nourberry and could be treated harsher. Of course, that didn’t mean the energy consumption was low. The more the evolved Nourberry grew, the more energy was required to supplement its size but also its continuous growth.
It was good that Michael had enough energy stones to feed the evolved Nourberry. It devoured the energy stones whole and was given enough nutrients from the Greater Nature Spirit, the fertilizer created in the ranches, and through other sources to keep growing.
Michael ordered the expansion of all ranches. It was only a matter of days before the supply of evolved Nourberry would exceed its demand. From that point onward, the evolved Nourberry would proliferate and cause trouble. Michael was not a fan of trouble. He’d rather avoid it if possible.
The existing ranges expanded, and more ranches were built quickly. The dung produced by the livestock and a tiny portion of the harvested Energy Stones were added to the farmland of the evolved Nourberry, whose growth slowed down once the farmers pinpointed the perfect amount of energy and nutrition required to grow just enough evolved Nourberry to satiate the livestock.
“We can accelerate the evolved Nourberry’s growth once the population expands again. That said, we would need permission to access the warehouse and retrieve Energy Stones to ensure that the evolved Nourberry won’t wilt. We don’t know enough about the evolved Nourberry to understand everything …If it dies, we won’t be able to feed the livestock anymore,” One of the farmers requested hesitatingly.
The farmer felt increasingly uncomfortable asking their Lord for access to the warehouse. Too many valuable items were stored in the main warehouse and the farmers weren’t sure if their Lord was willing to trust them with those treasures. They were merely lowly far—….
“Take whatever you need. If you need anything else, just contact me or make an official request. My attendants will help you find whatever you need,” Michael agreed to the farmer’s request immediately. He didn’t even have to think about the answer.
“It would be great if you could also meet up with the architects. They researched the blueprints of advanced farmlands, which can be implemented better into the Untamed Jungle than the current farmland. I’ve long since noticed that the smaller farmlands are great for a wide variety of plants, but they are very annoying for the farmers and everyone else responsible. It is cumbersome to tend to every farmland while weaving around the trees and bushes of the Untamed Jungle.”
Michael looked apologetic at the farmer, “Please bear with it until we can implement a better solution. It might not be perfect, but we’re slowly getting there.”
“O..oh…Okay. Sure. Whatever you say, Sir!” The farmer could barely catch his voice. He stared blankly at their Lord as he turned around to inspect the other plants that had mutated over the last two weeks. He checked on the Artifacts and Relics they’d received from the Forest Elves as well but didn’t pay much attention to them. Lilica and others were more familiar with their Relics. Michael trusted they would do a well enough job. There was no need to supervise them while oblivious to what they were doing.
Michael smiled in satisfaction once he checked the ranches, farmland, the Greater Nature Spirit, and a few other spots.
“The Purifier Plants are working better than expected,” He noted.
“I noticed that as well,” Rebecca agreed, “The Purifier Plants not only purify the smell and harmful substances released by the livestock but also improve the air quality throughout the Pentagon Fort dramatically. I think they also purify the energy, though the extent is probably minuscule.”
The food supply was definitely not a problem anymore. The evolved Nourberry and raised livestock solved that problem.
They had been lacking resources beforehand, slowing the expansion after the Pentagon Fort and the 10th settlement in Paradise Valley had been completed, but that wouldn’t be an issue anymore. The Energy Vein changed everything.
Michael doubted sincerely that there was anything he couldn’t afford right now.
His life as a Lord in the Origin Expanse was getting more exciting. Michael was getting somewhere. He was growing in power and as a person…as the Lord of his people.
Besides the excavation of Energy Stones and the Pentagon Fort’s farmland changes, nothing much about his territory changed. Despite that, the Valyr came to him one day to inquire about the Energy Stones.
“Who told you about the Energy Stones?” Michael asked Zira, who had been deployed to act as the Valyr’s representative.
Unfortunately, Zira remained silent. She shook her head slowly, “I am not allowed to tell you. Just know that we know a lot.”
That answer didn’t sit well with Michael, but a subtle use of Mind Reader told Michael that Zira didn’t know the exact answer. All she knew was that one of their leaders informed The Valyr Lordess’ family about the Energy Vein.
Michael was unsure what to think and feel about that, but he decided to accept the situation as it was.
“Please accept this gift. We want to congratulate you on discovering the Energy Vein and hope that you’re open to negotiations.” Zira smiled brightly while igniting her body. It was coated in blazing flames instantly. “Of course, we would love to continue trading Soultrait Symbols with you.”
The flames extinguished, revealing a blush, “I have yet to learn how to control myself in excitement. I never had to learn more about Soultraits after all. It isn’t easy compared to martial arts. I’m probably not talented enough when it comes to Soultraits.”
Zira was very talkative today. She was excited and overflowing with joy. That was nice to see. However, that didn’t mean Michael was going to give them preferential treatment.
“I can also sell Energy Stones to the Valyr, but I’m not sure if you can afford to purchase Energy Stones in bulk. Small-scale purchases are possible, but they’re not that worthwhile for me. After all, you want to purchase Soultarit Symbols and Soultrait Upgrades,” Michael pointed out, “And you don’t mean to tell me that these chained men and women are the ‘gift’ you were talking about…right?”
“But they’re are the gift. You told us once that you will always need criminals. We picked out an additional batch of criminals and prepared to hand them over to you as a generous gift in Valyr’s name,” Zira responded, her eyes dead serious.
Michael nodded slowly and turned to one of his attendants, “Bring them to the prison.”
The attendant was about to heed his Lord’s command but frozen when he recalled something.
“My Lord…” He murmured. Michael barely heard him.
“What’s wrong?” Michael asked, his vibrant golden eyes staring intently at the youthful attendant.
“My Lord…We…We don’t have enough space for more criminals…”
Michael frowned deeply until he recalled that the Valyr must have continued sending criminals over the last six months. The prison in his territory wasn’t anything fancy. It wasn’t big either.However, it had been enough until now.
However, being out of the house – his territory – for half a year was enough to fill the prison to the brim.
“Alright,” Michael scrunched his nose, “Bring them to the prison entrance and wait for me. I will clean up this mess shortly.”
The attendant nodded and rushed off. He didn’t dare to look back. In less than ten minutes, the criminals the Valyrs had gifted Michael were at the prison.
“We should renegotiate a few things. I don’t consider the Valyrs have many criminals left, or am I wrong?” Michael queried sharply. He noticed a few ‘unique’ Awakened among the criminals Zira had ‘gifted’ him in the name of the Valyr. It was only obvious, but Michael figured that he would have to examine the criminals thoroughly to ensure they were actually criminals and hadn’t been framed.
“That…is actually part of the reason I’m here today. The Valyr wish to negotiate several contracts.” Zira responded, suppressing a heavy sigh.
“If the Valyr desire to discuss the Savannah Contract…please be aware that I’m not as weak as I used to be. Try to take advantage of me, and I will take the Savannah Region back!” Michael warned Zira, his voice growing colder with every word escaping his lips.
He took a step forward and unleashed a wave of his natural presence. However, unlike before, Michael’s presence had merged with a trace of the Wolf Curse and World Serpent’s presence.
His presence washed over Zira, whose body froze instantly. One moment, everything had been perfectly fine, and in the next instant, Zira felt like a massive serpent coiled around her body, tightening its grasp slowly. Simultaneously, a wolf seemed to tower above her, ready to tear her apart at once.
Her legs caved inward, and she slumped to the ground.
Zira swallowed heavily.
“I…understand…” She barely managed to say something.
Zira tried to get up, but her legs were glued to the ground. Her body didn’t listen to her anymore. She broke into a cold sweat and continued staring at Michael; her eyes widened in terror.
‘What happened to him? How is it possible that he is so…
different?’ She screamed in her mind. ‘Not as weak as I used to be?? Is that supposed to be a joke? The last time I met you, you were already…’
Zira wanted to say something, but she didn’t dare to. His vibrant golden eyes didn’t even consider her an opponent anymore. If anything, Michael eyed her like a predator eyed its prey. Zira was nothing more than that. She was a weak, defenseless prey trembling before its predator.
At this moment, Zira realized one thing. It was one of the things Zira’s mother had been worried about…one of the things the Valyr Lordess had prepared against.
The Valyr Lordess always asked; What would happen when the Lord of the Untamed Jungle decides to expand toward the Savannah Region?’
She, alongside the Valyr Clans, chose to exploit the Lord of the Untamed Jungle as long as he was on their side. They wanted to profit as much as they could and use the powers earned from Michael against him once he decided to move against them.
But Zira realized how foolish that was. Today, she learned that their plan was bound to fail.
Michael Fang, the Lord of the Untamed Jungle, could conquer the Savannah Region anytime. All by himself.
“We are not planning to alter a lot,” Zira stated hurriedly once she regained her voice. She tried to get up again but failed once more, “But we don’t have many criminals – Higher Lifeforms – left in our prisons. We don’t have any Higher Lifeform criminals left. It’s not like we’ve been collecting them as treasures in the first place. It was already a wonder that we had enough to supply you for this long.”
“We need to alter the contract because we cannot provide you with more criminals. Of course, we could trick you and sacrifice our Higher Lifeforms, but we do not wish to do that. Furthermore, you also mentioned that you only want criminals who deserve to die. But…we have no more criminals like that.”
Zira took a deep breath, her voice shaking, “Please let us alter the Savannah Contract and the other contracts. We have other things to offer. If we had nothing else to offer, I wouldn’t be here asking you for Energy Stones…right?”
Michael had long since retracted his presence. He unleashed his presence only for a second or two. It wasn’t his fault that Zira was affected by it for so long. Well…maybe he was at fault, but it didn’t matter.
“Tell me,” Michael said, the corner of his lips curling into a devilish smile, “What do you have to offer?”