A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 573 Don't Mention My Name

As Rorschach made some progress, the investigation team's research came to an end.

Over the past few days, they have been sampling the cloud carpet and air elemental creatures raised by the Devourer Clan, and have also been gathering intelligence and information on local edible products from other tribes that have come to communicate with them.

Furthermore, I used my own stomach and body to conduct preliminary verification that the food from the air element plane could be consumed by the beings of the material world.

"Master Humboldt, what were the results of your investigation?"

"Hmm," he thought for a moment in response to Rorschach's question, "better than we imagined, but worse than we expected."

It is certain that cloud-borne fungal mats cannot be introduced into the material world in the original way of cultivation.

The atmosphere here is far less dense than in the gas elemental plane, so those fungal carpets could never float in the sky for a large area or for an extended period. There are also no active storms or lightning environments like in the gas elemental plane, so the nitrogen source is simply unusable by living organisms. Finally, even if the Forest Tower could modify them, and True Species filled the sky, it would be an ecological disaster, like a rain of spores.

"But overall, it's a good crop. Its growth and harvest cycle is shorter than current wheat, and almost all of the grown parts are edible, containing starch and more protein than wheat. The only downside is the risk of allergies."

"It is suitable for cultivation in a controlled environment. Next, we will screen out stable, high-yielding varieties from samples sent by various tribes, or try hybrid strains."

Transplanting to the prime material plane requires extreme caution, such as by controlling it in a closed culture tank supplied with specific gases, or by hydroponics.

Rorschach casually said, "There are two ideas. One is to transplant the crops you've chosen here, and try growing them inside the starship, but that wouldn't be enough to produce a large quantity. The other is to expand production in the gas element plane."

Humboldt agreed with his idea: "That's what we're thinking. Compared to the limited plains and grain-producing areas on the continent, the gas plane is all plains for the creep. If we can avoid storms and unstable gas masses, the scale of cultivation will reach a level that is unimaginable and incomparable to the prime material plane."

"However, once the grain is grown, how do we transport it out?"

"I discussed this issue with Ms. Caroline. Under the premise that the transmutation dust flow still exists, large-scale transportation across dimensions is an extremely difficult and energy-consuming task, a point that Master Cano also agrees with."

"Have you ever tried teleporting from the air elemental plane to the astral plane? And then using other means to bring it to our world?"

"That's one way. It's better than direct teleportation."

From the very beginning, Rorschach had been conceiving the idea of ​​creating a gap in the transmutation dust collectors on the ground, and whether a similar array of devices could be deployed in the sky to open a real gap, which would solve many problems. For example, entry and exit would no longer require such deep shields, travel would be more free, and passage would no longer be obstructed.

There is a semi-permanent gap, which may allow for the airdrop of supplies into the Prime Material Plane.

Humboldt stood up: "This matter is beyond the capabilities of the Forest Tower, and I won't dwell on it any longer. I hope Master Rorschach can help coordinate with the other elders. We will continue to push this project forward."

He hesitated before revealing some more intelligence: "According to our investigations in various places, the Empire's grain reserves are not optimistic. Cities generally have surplus grain, but the countryside lacks the capacity to withstand risks."

"The Imperial Army's requisition of grain did not take farmers into account, and famine may occur in rural areas after the start of spring this year. Not only will there be tragedies and unrest, but it will also give the Mother Goddess's followers an opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

"Only by ending this pointless war as soon as possible."

That would be best.

Subsequently, the Gas Vehicle Factory and the Precision Factory collaborated to modify a batch of agricultural machines capable of operating in the Gas Element Plane. They were longer in shape, with a main body resembling a canoe, topped with small airbags, allowing them to barely float in the upper atmosphere of the plane.

The two machines are linked together by a long polymer rope, which can be dragged to harvest large areas of mushroom carpet, greatly improving collection efficiency. When necessary, the harvesting rope can be replaced with a net to quickly move the mushroom carpet to follow nutrient-rich air currents and avoid strong storms.

The two agricultural airships were transported piece by piece, like ants carrying parts, until the technicians could assemble them. The same method was used for other equipment.

According to the first phase of the plan, the area of ​​the fungal carpet needs to be expanded thirtyfold within the next month, and a meteorological observation station needs to be built to track atmospheric composition and forecast the weather. Humboldt negotiated with the Thunderstorm Tower and the Storm Tower to see which party was interested and willing to participate.

Once the pilot project is successful, the second phase of the project will expand to a thousand times the existing planting area. Based on a cycle of fifteen to twenty days, it can provide food for approximately 50,000 people for a year.

Forest Tower estimates that Phase II will be completed within a year. For Phase III and Phase IV, more land needs to be explored, and efforts will be made to achieve the goal of being able to support the population of an entire state within five years.

Now, the Zwillinger Agricultural and Commercial Company is taking over the work on behalf of the Special Zone. The company manager reports to Luo Xia on the four-phase plan they discussed with the Forest Tower.

"Is this really okay? Won't the indigenous people have something to say?" Luo Xia felt that they still needed to respect the little blue people.

"They have no objections, at least they're cooperating with us quite well now." The manager was full of confidence. He was originally just a liaison for a few cooperatives, but he was specially promoted to project manager because of this big project, and he's putting in his best effort.

"We will provide various forms of support to the local tribes—no, now the Devourer Kingdom—including education and healthcare. We can also provide them with many inexpensive industrial products, which are treasures to them."

"His Majesty the Great Sage King heard that expanding the cultivation of mushroom mats requires many people and is willing to help us solve the labor shortage. He said that other tribes can be invited to help, and he guarantees that it will be voluntary."

"The journey between the kingdom and the various tribes is long and dangerous. We hope you can provide us with airships with large transport capacity to carry people, as well as armed airships for escort, to defend against threats from elemental creatures and wild beasts."

Are armed airships really only used for defense and escort? Rorschach didn't immediately agree, and asked again, "Is there anything else to report?"

"Yes." The manager immediately pulled out a business plan from the file folder: "To make it easier to establish the responsible party, do you think it would be better to register a company? 'Zweigling' is willing to provide funding and personnel to co-found it with the mage of the Forest Tower."

Luo Xia took the business plan, and the name of the new company was prominently displayed on the first page: United-Bacteria-Products.

"Hiss, why is it called that?"

"Because it's a collaborative effort from all parties, besides us and the Forest Tower, Master Humboldt said that other masters from other magic towers will also join in. Furthermore, the Devourer Kingdom of the Elemental Plane is also an important participant. So it's a multi-party joint venture."

The manager spoke eloquently, but only after finishing did he notice Luo Xia's slightly off expression: "Do you think this name is inappropriate?"

"No, no, no, very good! Good!" Luo Xia pushed the materials back to the manager: "Go ahead and do it, just don't mention my name in the plan, absolutely not."

(End of this chapter)