Magic Herb Garden

In the following period, Rising Light Island once again entered a phase of large-scale land reclamation.

Thanks to the 150 slaves sent by Neil Bergman, the entire land reclamation progress significantly accelerated.

In less than half a month, 1,200 mu of farmland were developed on the eastern plains.

As the weather gradually warmed, led by James and Old Nob, Rising Light Island officially began the most important spring planting of the year.

However, the message Roland sent to Elizabeth to demand an explanation had yet to receive any response.

But recently, on the northern side of the Chaotic Sea Domain, the Black Knight Pirates and the Mandy Family once again engaged in a fierce naval battle.

Although it ended in a draw, the Black Knight Pirates destroyed three small territories protected by the Mandy Family during the battle.

This greatly angered the Mandy Family after the war, laying deep groundwork for the next major conflict.

Roland wasn't entirely sure about the reasons behind this battle, nor did he know if his actions had contributed to the Black Knight Pirates choosing to fight the Mandy Family.

What he did know was that he couldn't possibly participate in a war of this magnitude, and even a slight involvement would be unbearable for him.

Therefore, during this recent period, Roland, besides dedicating himself to refining potions, poured all his remaining energy into the construction of the territory's army.

This included not only Roland and the twelve other Mages, but also the fifty slaves being trained by O'Neal and Artur.

Whenever Roland had free time, he would visit them, both to win their favor and to supervise the intensity of their training.

Time slowly passed, reaching six months after Roland had established his territory.

After another three months of development, Roland's territory, though not as large in area as Neil Bergman's, was now comparable in strength.

Over these three months, the potion trade between Roland and Leslie, under Roland's management, gradually increased. His monthly income had slowly risen to over 1,400 gold coins. Coupled with the remaining 500 gold coins from Neil Bergman's previous compensation, Roland purchased another fifty male slaves and fifty female slaves, bringing the total number of slaves in the territory to nearly five hundred.

Furthermore, after three months of training, the fifty slaves had become increasingly robust under O'Neal and Artur's tutelage. Two slaves had even successfully advanced to Tier 1 Warrior, becoming Professionals, by using the breathing technique provided by O'Neal.

Upon hearing the news, Roland immediately declared the two individuals freed from slavery and granted them their freedom.

After these two successfully obtained their free citizen status, it caused a huge stir among the other slaves, motivating them to train even harder.

Roland was naturally delighted by this situation.

Although it seemed like Roland had lost two slaves by granting them free citizen status, he actually hadn't. While they had gained freedom, it didn't mean they could easily leave Roland's territory.

On the Saint Nor Continent, the control nobles had over their territories extended beyond just slaves.

Even free citizens had to obey the lord's arrangements, and to leave the territory, they needed a travel permit issued by the lord. Without one, they might be captured by ubiquitous slave patrols as soon as they left the territory and sold off by slave traders.

Therefore, even free citizens, without a certain status or strength, would not easily leave their homes to go elsewhere.

However, compared to slaves, free citizens undoubtedly enjoyed much higher status and treatment.

Upon becoming free citizens, according to the laws of the Terra Kingdom, their lives could no longer be decided by a noble's word. Even if they committed a crime, they had to be tried by the Kingdom's Court of Justice to be convicted.

Moreover, as free citizens, they also had the right to marry, have children, and receive compensation.

Thus, Roland not only had to guarantee these rights for the two individuals but also wouldn't lose two valuable laborers.

During this same period, Roland and the twelve other young individuals, including Ryan, also grew rapidly.

Not only had they all successfully cultivated the Meditation Method and become Mages, but with the help of abundant potions, three of them had already advanced to Level 2 Mage a month ago.

This allowed Roland's planned initiative to finally be implemented.

That was to establish a Magic Herb Garden within the territory.

A Magic Herb Garden was essentially not much different from farmland, but it was used to cultivate various magical plants.

On the Saint Nor Continent, as Alchemy became increasingly important for the path of Professionals, it also gave rise to numerous industries serving Alchemy.

The Magic Herb Garden was one of these, and a very important one at that.

Currently, eighty percent of the magical plants sold on the market were produced from the Magic Herb Gardens cultivated by nobles in their territories.

It could be said that without these Magic Herb Gardens, relying solely on magical plants grown in the wild, the current prices of potions would have increased severalfold.

However, establishing a Magic Herb Garden was not a simple matter. Although it didn't have specific land requirements, the magical plants grown within it could not do without the care of Mages.

Therefore, even though Magic Herb Gardens yielded good profits, not just anyone could cultivate them. At the very least, one had to have Mages under their command.

Of course, one could hire Mages externally, but once Mages were hired, the profits from the Magic Herb Garden would not be as substantial for the lord.

But for Roland, this was much simpler. Although Ryan and the other twelve Mages were not high-level yet, they were sufficient to care for some low-level magical plants.

And today, taking advantage of the fine weather, Roland, along with Alice and the twelve Mages, arrived at the foot of the small mountain on the western side of the territory.

After Ryan and two others advanced to Level 2 Mage, Roland had already arranged for slaves to renovate and level the land at the foot of the mountain in advance.

This was the location where Roland would establish his Magic Herb Garden. With the arrival of summer, the snow covering the small mountain had melted into clear water, forming a stream that flowed down the mountainside.

This not only provided ample water to the surrounding land but also significantly increased the concentration of water elements in the area.

Therefore, this was a place on Rising Light Island particularly suitable for cultivating Water Flowers, a main ingredient for refining Water Element Resonance Potions.

Roland didn't have much experience with cultivating a magic herb garden for the first time. Furthermore, Ryan and the others were still too weak to take care of too many magical plants. Therefore, Roland only planned to cultivate ten acres of magic herb garden this time.

First, Roland buried ten low-grade water element magic crystals in the ten acres of already cleared land.

Magic crystals were different from the magic cores of magical beasts. Magic crystals were a rarer mineral on the Saint Nor Continent, and the elemental energy contained within them was purer than that of magic cores.

They could be used in most magical experiments and were very valuable.

The price of just these ten low-grade magic crystals alone was as high as two hundred gold coins.

And one magic crystal could only support one acre of magic herb garden for a year before being completely consumed.

However, compared to the profits generated by the magic herb garden, this consumption was nothing.

Taking the Water Flower as an example, one acre of magic herb garden could generally grow between seventy and ninety flowers.

The difference was mainly due to the Mage's specialization and environmental factors.

Based on Roland's estimation of the current magic herb garden's environment, if Ryan and the others were diligent enough, they could grow a maximum of eighty Water Flowers.

Of course, to be conservative, Roland only planned to grow seventy-five in the first year.

A Water Flower that took three months to grow was worth three silver coins, a six-month one was worth seven silver coins, and a year-long one could be worth sixteen.

In other words, one acre of magic herb garden could yield Water Flowers worth one hundred and twenty gold coins per year.

After deducting the cost of the magic crystals, one acre of magic herb garden could bring Roland at least nearly one hundred gold coins in profit annually.

Of course, this was for Roland. Others would still have to pay Mages' compensation. Even for his subordinates, calculating based on one Tier 1 Mage being able to care for one acre of magic herb garden, the annual compensation would be around seventy gold coins.

For Roland, Ryan and the others' compensation was naturally potions. Roland provided them with such abundant potions, so he wasn't just supporting them for free.

Therefore, these ten acres of magic herb garden could now bring Roland nearly a thousand gold coins in profit annually.

This profit seemed small, far less than that from potions.

But this was just the beginning. As Roland's strength grew, the more potions he could refine, and thus the more Mages he could cultivate.

As the number of Mages under him increased, Roland could cultivate more magic herb gardens.

And the more magic herb gardens there were, the more terrifying Roland's profits would become.

This plan was definitely difficult for any force on the Saint Nor Continent to achieve.

The very first step, how to cultivate Mages in large quantities, was a historical challenge.

But for Roland, who had an extremely high potion refining success rate, it was a simple matter.

Not only could it consume his excess potions, but it could also strengthen his Mage team, making it a win-win situation.

After burying the magic crystals, Roland casually clapped his hands and instructed Ryan and the others, "Ryan, you will live near the magic herb garden from now on. I will arrange for someone to build you cultivation houses."

After Ryan and the two others were promoted to Level 2 Mages, Roland intended to keep them hidden.

After all, it was no secret that they possessed inferior Mage talent. If their rapid level progression were exposed, it would inevitably expose Roland's potion refining success rate as well.

Therefore, in Roland's plan, he did not intend to reveal Ryan and the others until he was promoted to Advanced Apothecary.

"Yes, Young Master." Ryan and the others had no objection to Roland's orders.

"Young Master, I want to live here too. Although my mana is gone, I have a lot of experience in taking care of magical plants and can help you teach Ryan and the others," Alice said suddenly, a hint of longing in her eyes.

Roland certainly didn't want to agree to Alice's proposal. After all, who would want to be separated from an elf maid like Alice?

But seeing the hopeful look in Alice's eyes, Roland couldn't bear to refuse.

In fact, he had noticed during this time that Alice didn't have much affection for anyone other than him.

Even with Ryan and the others, she only reluctantly agreed to teach them because she was following Roland's orders.

So, although Roland was very reluctant, he finally agreed reluctantly.

"Mwah!"

Seeing Roland agree, Alice couldn't help but excitedly lean over and quickly give Roland a light kiss on the cheek.

"That's it?" Roland covered his cheek, wanting more.

But Alice clearly didn't give him the chance, and she darted into the small mountain and disappeared.