Chapter 50: The Random Box Frenzy Subsides
The random box frenzy had died down, and the territory's residents returned to their daily lives. Knights and soldiers dispersed to their duties. Administrators handled affairs within the domain, while I brought Sharel along to the farmlands.
Gazing at the fields already ripening into golden waves, Sharel stuck out her tongue in amazement.
"What the hell did you do?"
"It's the gods' blessings."
"...The gods really bestowed their favor on you?"
"That's what I said."
"No wonder it feels like the end times."
Sharel couldn't quite wrap her head around the situation. Still, staring at the wheat ready for harvest tomorrow, she couldn't deny it either. Without Demeter's blessing, the wheat wouldn't have grown this fast.
The reason I'd brought Sharel here was simple.
"How much is wheat going for these days?"
"Right now? Around 5 gold per sack. Wars have broken out one after another, and last year was a drought. It's the peak price season too."
"How much do you think we'll harvest here?"
"Hmm... about 200,000 sacks?"
"And that's worth?"
"A million?!"
"You got it."
"Holy shit, a million gold in just three days..."
At this point, even Sharel had to acknowledge me. Of course, harvesting in just three days like this was a one-time thing. Unless I entered the Tower of Gods to snag heavenly wheat seeds and growth agents.
This time, the gods had gone wild, showering me with over a million karma. Wheat seeds cost 10,000 gold per sack. Planted sparingly, they could cover a vast area. Growth agents ran 10,000 gold per vial—about 10 vials to cover the newly cleared fields. I'd buy 10 sacks of seeds and a generous 20 vials of growth agent.
That came to just 300,000 karma, but converted to funds, it was substantial.
"We gotta pull this off a few more times."
"...How much wheat are you planning to produce?"
"At least two million sacks. Don't you know to row when the tide comes in?"
"Won't the neighbors get suspicious?"
"That's what I'm hoping for."
I grinned wickedly. Once the giants returned, I'd rapidly conscript troops and swallow the eastern empire whole. With dwarves on hand, remodeling the entire territory was just a matter of time. That meant gobbling up everything before the emperor could interfere.
I'd been racking my brain on how to pick fights with neighboring lords—any opening they gave would be a godsend.
"Alright, you're in charge of harvest to sales."
"Me?"
"Honestly, you're the only one I trust in the territory."
"..."
Sharel halted mid-step, staring at me. After I'd torn apart her fiancés not long ago, hearing this must've felt off.
"What'd you eat for breakfast? What's with the sudden change?"
"Figured I'd try turning over a new leaf, more or less."
"Turning over a new leaf..."
She clearly didn't buy it. No matter how you sliced it, my track record screamed anything but reformed.
That evening, with most tasks delegated and the emperor's granted lands handed over, I could finally relax until the giants arrived. The gods knew my thug tech tree goals roughly, so they'd probably let me chill during the build-up phase.
They were obsessed with stirring up drama, leaving my brain a bit fried anyway.
Time to crack open that diamond-grade random box.
The gods started logging in. Purely as spectators this time.
"..."
No way it'd dud out cheap like that, right? The moment Mahadev mentioned duds as a possibility, opening it felt way more daunting. Giving out a diamond random box was probably a once-in-a-lifetime deal.
"Whew."
With the gods watching, backing out was impossible. If I'd mulled this solo, I might've waited a week.
Alright, let's do it.
Bang!
I steeled myself and opened it. A brilliant rainbow light burst from my body—what it meant, who knew. My mind fixated solely on please no dud.
The lights converged, dropping two sheets of paper.
Acquired 1,000,000 Karma.
"Huh?"
It hadn't sunk in yet. Summon scroll? Body mod scroll? Whatever. Snagging a million karma—heaven's currency—was a solid win.
The rainbow glow must've drawn the guards on duty.
"Milord! Are you alright?!"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Bro, what happened?!"
Sharel rushed in, followed by Steward Kane. I waved them off.
"Just receiving the gods' grace."
"Ha... for real?"
"Told ya."
As I pondered my haul, the gods chimed in.
Jackpot! With the gods hyping it, these were no ordinary items. That body mod scroll, though... I could already topple a mountain without breaking a sweat. What the hell would happen if my body got upgraded further? Kinda terrifying.
The crowd thinned out, and Dwarf Chief Kelt arrived with a few elders. Perfect timing. Opening the box had drained my focus—I needed a breather.
"Made up your mind yet?"
Kelt and the elders dropped to one knee.
"As promised, we pledge subordination to your domain. We'll obey faithfully."
"That's all well and good, but your tone's a bit curt."
"Hmph! Loyalty we swear, but speech we can't change! We've never bowed to humans. Don't expect flowery honorifics. I'm older than you, aren't I?"
"Hmph."
What to do with these guys? They'd obey, but they were clinging to their pride. No honorifics—just straight talk.
Beating the chief might make them strike, promises be damned. Tricky. I needed to work them to the bone, so I'd stomach the casual speech.
"If that's what keeps your pride intact, fine."
"Tch, thanks."
"Alright, time to put you to work."
"What needs doing? Don't worry—we craftsmen don't half-ass things!"
Didn't they just declare soulless crafting a moment ago? Whatever, no point nitpicking now.
"Your first job: build freight cars for the locomotives."
"Freight cars?"
"Gotta see it yourself."
"Hmph! For hauling cargo, modding our wagons would be better."
Time to shatter their arrogance.
"Follow me."
Aria's workshop. With dwarves flooding in, her artisans felt threatened. But their inventions had clinched victories, spawning rumors that dwarves weren't all that.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Late night, but Aria's forge blazed on. Massive funding for locomotive R&D kept lights burning past midnight.
Coincidentally, engines had been added just before the dwarves arrived. Ten-car trains now linked up inside.
Rails snaked from the workshop. Heading in, Aria spotted me and bolted over.
"Milord! What brings you here?!"
Like an excited pup. Her face was sweat-soaked. No hands-on work, but overseeing near roaring furnaces in late spring heat was brutal.
"Dwarves'll help with locomotive freight cars from now on."
"Oh... really?"
"Way better than what you lot make!"
The dwarves predictably flaunted their craft pride. Competition? Great for progress.
"You'll be shocked."
"Hmph! Too shocked today already. Nothing'll faze us."
"Wanna bet?"
I fired up the locomotive engine. Mana-powered, dead silent. Just crank whirs—no diesel roar. Electric car vibes, maybe.
The massive beast lurched forward. Seeing it haul insane loads, the dwarves gawked.
"Th-this moves?"
"Our lord's invention."
"Hmph!"
Their faces darkened. They fancied themselves tops in creation—learning I designed it? Mind blown.
But soon they geeked out.
"Ooh! Chief! One car could handle tons easy!"
"Tons?"
"Dozens even."
"Logistics revolution?!"
Excited dwarves. Knew it'd hook 'em. Brief pride bruise aside, work fever hit—they scrambled to dive in.
I slipped away. My job here was done.
"Now, time to use that body mod and summon scroll?"