Above the mage

Chapter 392 Blood Crystal Wheat

After working like this for about an hour, Gao De had collected more than seventy crab eyes in the bag in his hand.

"That's it for today!" Gao De said, seeing the sky turn from blue to black.

With gem berries to bait the nest, he was confident about the task of "Hidden Crab Plague" and didn't care about the time; there was no need to "work overtime".

"You can stay here and play by yourself. Don't go too far. I'll come find you again tomorrow morning." Gao De glanced at Tuanzi, who was still full of energy, thought for a moment, and finally decided not to put it into the capybara pouch, but to leave it in this area of ​​the sea.

Upon hearing Gao De's words, Tuanzi excitedly nodded his little round head repeatedly.

Waving goodbye to Tuanzi, Gao De [staggered] and rushed back to Monte Town before nightfall.

In a small town like this, the accommodation standard of a Sea Sentinel 3 Silver Dragon for one day is enough for Gaode to stay in the highest-standard and most upscale hotel in the entire town.

He booked a room, put his things away, and prepared to leave.

First, we need to find a place to eat, and second, we need to plan a stroll around Monte after the meal.

Just like in my previous life, whether I was going out for training or to participate in a competition, I would definitely go out for a stroll in the evening, treating it as a paid vacation.

Before I had even taken two steps outside the gate, Gaode was stopped by someone.

"Master Gaode, Master Gaode, wait!"

He stopped and looked back.

It was the sheriff who received him at the sheriff's office that afternoon.

"Sheriff Malcolm?" Gaudy thought for a moment, finally remembering the name. "What do you need me for?"

"Master Gaode." Malcolm jogged up to Gaode, took a moment to catch his breath, and said, "Our Director Harper heard that Master Gaode has come to Monte Town today to help us solve the crab plague problem, so he has specially prepared a banquet to welcome you. Please do me the honor of joining us, Master Gaode."

It's said that Sea Sentinel Mages are very popular in Barlow County.

But last time he went to Lagos to carry out a mission, perhaps it was because Lagos is a big city and the local officials were arrogant and presumptuous; perhaps it was because his military rank was too low and they looked down on him; or perhaps it was because the mission he was carrying out was not welcomed by the local officials.

In short, Gaode has not felt any attention, and the claim that it is "well-connected" is completely unfounded.

But now, Gaode has learned its lesson.

"Welcome dinner".

Great job!

After a moment's thought, he nodded and said, "Then I'll trouble Sheriff Malcolm to lead the way."

Anyway, he was going to eat anyway, and since someone was treating, he might as well eat it.

Seeing Gao De nod, Malcolm visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

The two walked through several streets paved with stone slabs and arrived at their destination.

After all, the hotel where Gaode stayed was the best in town, and most of the other upscale restaurants and bars were also concentrated in this area.

This is a stylish brick and stone building with an exterior featuring the intricate decorations characteristic of Dorne, and exquisite columns.

"Master Gaode, this is the most famous restaurant in our town. The Director is hosting a banquet here," Malcolm introduced with a smile, pushing open the reddish-brown wooden door before Gaode could do so.

As soon as you enter, a warm and cozy atmosphere greets you.

"Welcome." A young waiter in a black uniform came forward, bowed slightly, and smiled.

Malcolm spoke a few words to the other person in a low voice, and the latter led them to a private room inside the restaurant.

Upon arriving at the private room, the waiter opened the door and gestured for us to enter.

Inside the private room, a long red peach wood table was set out, covered with a tablecloth embroidered with exquisite patterns.

Several high-backed chairs with soft goose down seats were placed around the table. In one corner of the room, there was a fireplace with a roaring fire inside, emitting a warm glow that dispelled the chill of the seaside town at night.

It's astonishing that a small town that hasn't even built an airship base has a restaurant of this caliber.

Indeed, even in poor areas, there are still places where luxury consumption is common.

Sheriff Harper was already seated in the private room.

Upon seeing Gao De enter, he immediately stood up, hurried forward, and greeted him with a warm smile: "Master Gao De, you've finally arrived! I've long admired your name; you truly are a young talent."

"I've long admired your name." Gao De wondered if he had misheard.

You're clearly a seasoned veteran, why are you spouting such insincere pleasantries?

The other party seemed to understand Gao De's thoughts and said, "You were an outstanding prospect in last year's selection of sea sentinels. You may not know it yourself, but we have heard of your name."

"Everyone says that new recruits advance very quickly, but it's extremely rare to see someone like you, who has only been with the Sea Sentinels for less than half a year and has already been promoted to a first-class apprentice mage," Director Harper said, half flattering and half sincere.

The reason he hosted such a grand banquet for Gao De was twofold: firstly, because of the status of the sea sentinels, even if the one who came down was just a trainee mage, he, as the head of a small town's security office, dared not neglect him.

Secondly, Director Harper is indeed very optimistic about Gaode's development and feels it's appropriate to befriend him.

Although he had heard some rumors about Gaode and knew that Gaode was not native to the Golden Flower Dynasty, there were potential problems for its future development.

But it's just a matter of a meal and a few kind words, and it doesn't cost much, so we should still entertain them.

In this way, if Gaode really becomes successful in the future, he may not remember this meal, but at least he won't feel like he neglected him.

Some people are really petty and narrow-minded; they can hold a grudge for a long time over the smallest grievance.

He invited Gao De to sit down, and Sheriff Malcolm followed suit and took his seat.

Commissioner Harper nodded to the waiter beside him.

The waiter understood immediately and quickly turned and walked towards the kitchen.

Before long, one after another carefully prepared dishes were served.

As a seaside town, the cuisine naturally focuses on seafood.

The signature seafood chowder has a rich seafood flavor that blends with the creamy richness, resulting in a silky smooth texture.

Grilled sturgeon, with its golden-brown and crispy skin, is served with lemon wedges and a unique local herb sauce. It melts in your mouth and has a rich and layered flavor.

There are also pies made with crab meat, with a golden and fluffy crust and a rich, savory flavor inside.

Gao De didn't stand on ceremony and, accompanied by Harper's flattering words, ate with great relish.

He accepted all the nice things, but he himself barely spoke, only occasionally nodding slightly or responding, maintaining the persona of a quiet, taciturn genius from out of town.

As a seasoned veteran, Director Harper wouldn't let the atmosphere cool down, no matter how little Godd said.

He occasionally praises Gaode Maps, sometimes introduces anecdotes or interesting customs of Monte Town, and occasionally mentions gossip about the Sea Sentinels. He's even more professional than a bard.

But no matter how they talked, they never mentioned Gao De's mission in town.

This is another example of his shrewdness.

Everyone knows how difficult the "crab plague" problem is to deal with, and Gaode's frustration is unimaginable. Therefore, Director Harper would never mention anything that might cause Gaode negative emotions, so as not to ruin this harmonious atmosphere.

With Director Harper's warm hospitality, the sumptuous dinner was finally almost finished.

Gao De wiped his mouth with a towel.

Seeing Gao De's gesture, Director Harper knew that he was about to get off the table, and nodded slightly to the servant who had been waiting on the side.

The waiter immediately withdrew, and a moment later returned carrying three small bowls of exquisite desserts.

The servants carefully placed three desserts in front of the three people, along with an exquisite ceramic spoon.

Gao De picked up a spoon, scooped out a spoonful, and put it in his mouth.

This dessert is somewhat like a yogurt cup, with some sliced ​​local fruit on top, followed by yogurt and honey.

But after taking a spoonful, Gaode was surprised to find that there was another layer of base ingredients under the yogurt and honey.

It is red, translucent, slender, and looks like a wheat kernel.

Driven by curiosity, Gao De scooped up another spoonful of the red wheat kernels, mixed them with yogurt and honey, and put them in his mouth.

These red wheat kernels are chewy, and paired with the sweet and sour taste of yogurt and honey, they taste surprisingly good even without all the additives and toppings of desserts from my previous life.

To Gao De's surprise, as he swallowed the dessert, an extremely comfortable warmth rose from within him, slowly flowing through his limbs and giving him a feeling of being full of energy.

Ok?

Gao De glanced silently at the dessert in the bowl, then scooped out a few more spoonfuls and put them in his mouth, finally confirming that it wasn't his imagination.

"Director Harper, what is this?" he asked, looking up at Director Harper.

This was the first time he had spoken voluntarily that evening, aside from being passively responded to.

"Haha, this must be the first time that Master Gaode has tasted Blood Crystal Wheat, right?" Director Harper said with a smug smile.

"Blood Crystal Wheat?" Gao De repeated, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, as if he were pondering something.

Meanwhile, Director Harper was already introducing Gao De to the project on his own.

"This Blood Crystal Wheat comes from the eastern part of the Nolan Continent."

"East." Gao De's eyes flashed, and he vaguely guessed the answer.

"Yes, it's a specialty of the Holy Empire," Director Harper laughed heartily. "Master God should know that the Holy Empire originated from a union of barbarian tribes, right?"

Gaode nodded.

He still had this basic common sense: several barbarian tribes had left the wilderness and come to the civilized area, where they joined forces to occupy an ancient city.

Then, starting from this ancient city, it slowly expanded outwards until it became the Holy Empire it is today, spanning three continents and enjoying its zenith.

"You know, barbarians are generally very strong," Commissioner Harper said, gesturing as if flexing his muscles, his tone slightly teasing.

"Besides their own lifestyle, which is like that of a savage, how could they not be strong? Another very important reason is their diet."

"This Blood Crystal Wheat is a type of barley that those barbarian tribes accidentally discovered. Not only does it taste excellent, but it also has the effect of replenishing qi and blood. Eating it as a staple food can strengthen the body. In addition, its whole body is as red as blood, so it was named Blood Crystal Wheat."

"It was because of the discovery of Blood Crystal Wheat that these barbarian tribes gradually grew stronger and were able to leave the wilderness."

"Therefore, to exaggerate a bit, this Blood Crystal Wheat could even be called the founding material of the Holy Empire."

Director Harper shrugged. "Of course they won't admit it. In the Holy Empire's understanding, their ancestors relied on their perseverance and exceptional talent to escape the barbaric lands."

"But anyway, this Blood Crystal Wheat is quite valuable due to its remarkable effects and the stories and rumors surrounding it."

Furthermore, the cultivation conditions for this plant are extremely demanding, and the annual production in the Holy Empire is extremely limited. After consuming it internally, only a very small portion will flow out, making it very difficult to obtain.

"I happen to have some connections, and I can get a small batch of Blood Crystal Wheat every year." Although Director Harper was telling the truth, the boasting in his words was also very obvious.

"I brought some over specifically to welcome Master Gaode tonight, just so he could have a taste. I wouldn't normally serve this to other guests."

Since he had "shed blood," he naturally wanted Gao De to know so that the other party could appreciate his kindness.

"I've also benefited from Master Gaode's influence," Malcolm added, echoing Director Harper's words and praising Gaode once again.

They're all shrewd people.

But at this moment, Gaode's mind was not on these things.

"Director Harper, do you have any unprocessed blood crystal grains? Could you give me some? I'm willing to pay double the price," he said earnestly to Director Harper.

"Unprocessed blood crystal grains?" Gao De's request clearly surprised Director Harper. He paused for a moment before asking in astonishment, "What does Master Gao De need this for?"

"You're not thinking of trying to grow Blood Crystal Wheat, are you?" He quickly realized what Gao De was thinking and said in a slightly exaggerated tone.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Director Harper shook his head. "Master Gaode, you can forget about it. Blood Crystal Wheat is a hot-selling product, expensive and with no shortage of buyers. If it were that easy to grow, wouldn't it be flooding the market by now?"

His expression turned serious as he earnestly said to Gao De, "You are definitely not the first person to try to grow Blood Crystal Wheat. Over the years, countless people have tried to grow this stuff, but without exception, they have all failed."

"The cultivation conditions for this thing are demanding and top secret. Only the Holy Empire knows their cultivation requirements and methods, and they have done an excellent job of keeping it secret, never revealing the secret of Blood Crystal Wheat cultivation."

"Director Harper, I still want to give it a try," Gao De insisted, undeterred. "I've always been quite interested in herbalism and cultivation. I'm not ignorant of my own limitations; I know that growing Blood Crystal Wheat is almost impossible, but I'm just really excited about it."

"Oh? I didn't expect Master Gaode to like this?" Director Harper was surprised to hear Gaode say that.

In his mind, Gaode is a taciturn, socially awkward genius mage, but he also has hobbies that are so inconsistent with his persona.

A genius mage should only be interested in magic, so why would he dabble in these "miscellaneous studies"?

Despite his surprise, Director Harper readily agreed, "I brought a lot of Blood Crystal Wheat. After making these three bowls of desserts, there will still be some left. I'll have the servants sort it out and deliver it to you, Master Gaode."

"Thank you very much, Director Harper," Gao De said earnestly.

Commissioner Harper smiled.

Unexpectedly, Gao De, who had been working on it all night without any success, was finally moved by the Blood Crystal Wheat.

It was only the remaining twenty or thirty grains of blood crystal wheat, less than the amount used in desserts.

As for its value, how much can such a small quantity really be worth?

But the joy on Gaode's face was genuine.

By using some worthless trinkets, he befriended this promising and talented mage and made a fortune!

Director Harper was extremely satisfied, feeling that the meal was well worth it.

……

Harsh? Top secret?

Before the "great" Lady Flora, there are no secrets about plants.

Flora can definitely grow Blood Crystal Wheat, which others can't.

Why did he name the hybrid of cold-resistant wheat and golden wheat "Northwest Barley No. 1"?

This is because Gaode (the map service provider) anticipates that there will be even more varieties of barley on the northern lands in the future.

These are Northwest Barley No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4.

Now, signs of Northwest Barley No. 2 have emerged.

I got a free meal and a bunch of nice words, and I also received a powerful type of wheat seed.

Gao De was extremely satisfied, feeling that the meal was absolutely worth it!

(End of this chapter)