Strawberry's Great Harvest

Night fell.

Finishing his day's work, Daeren lay back on his bed, ready to rest.

"Today was so busy."

Daeren stretched, his peripheral vision still catching the light outside the window.

That was the glow of the furnace.

After bidding farewell to Lord Owen, he had taken advantage of the afternoon to go mining.

With the boost from the Neptune Greatsword, he had successfully reached the 25th floor.

He obtained a large haul of Copper Ore, Coal, Stone, and Quartz.

Outside, four furnaces were smelting Iron Ore.

"Copper Ore is abundant, just as expected from the Lucky Ring."

Daeren raised his left hand, the golden crescent on the ring looking quite elegant.

The harvest wasn't just that.

On the table lay a pair of Leather Boots and a Steel Light Sword.

Leather Boots: +1 Defense, +1 Immunity

Steel Light Sword (Level 1): 4~8 Attack, 0.02 Crit Rate, +2 Speed

One was a treasure chest reward from the 10th floor of the mine, the other from the 20th floor.

"Not bad."

Daeren thought about how to use them.

Tired from the day, sleepiness came quickly.

"Going to sleep."

Daeren yawned, placed the Dragon eggs by his pillow, and gently closed his eyes.

2:00 AM.

The entire farm was quiet. The four Copper Ingots had finished smelting, and the furnaces quietly extinguished.

Tap, tap, tap!

Accompanied by a soft tapping sound, a flickering light flew from afar, rising and falling.

"Hee hee."

A Sprite reappeared. Looking at the newly planted Strawberry Seeds below, it waved its little magic wand, scattering powder full of life.

The Strawberry Seeds absorbed the powder, rapidly gaining vitality.

"Hee hee."

The Sprite flew away.

The next day.

Spring, Day 14, Sunday, windy, 6:30 AM.

"Haa~, I slept so well."

Daeren pushed open the door and was stunned by the scene before him.

"Did the Sprite event trigger again...?"

Daeren subconsciously touched his Lucky Ring.

In the newly tilled land, 30% of the Farmland had sprouted crops. Red, plump Strawberries hung from green vines.

What were they waiting for?

Daeren raised his hand, put on his Straw Hat, and bent down to pick the Strawberries.

"Strawberry harvest... Strawberry harvest... Strawberry harvest..."

A harvest ballad involuntarily began.

He picked fist-sized, fresh Strawberries one by one, his mood soaring like his farming experience points.

Ding!

A pleasant sound, and the panel gave a notification:

[You have some matters to consider at the end of today]

Farming level increased to 4.

Daeren smiled joyfully, "One step closer to becoming the richest man in the Seven Kingdoms."

Strawberry harvest complete.

A total of 16 Strawberry, 13 of normal quality, 3 of Silver Star quality.

The number of high-quality crops is on the low side.

Still, being able to harvest a batch of Strawberry a day early is an unexpected joy.

According to the calendar, this batch of Strawberry should mature on Spring 21st for the first harvest.

Four days later, on Spring 25th, for the second harvest.

After two rounds of harvesting, the Strawberry won't have time to mature a third time before the season change, turning into pickles.

A month in Stardew Valley has 28 days.

Spring 25th and Spring 28th are three days apart.

This means that this batch of Strawberry, maturing and harvested today, will be harvested every four days thereafter.

That is: Spring 18th, Spring 22nd, Spring 26th.

These three days, respectively, will yield another harvest.

16 x 4 = 64

A total of 64 Strawberry can be harvested.

The base price of one Strawberry is 120 gold. The selling price for 64 Strawberry will be around 8000 gold.

These 16 Strawberry plants alone can earn enough for a Barn, plus a Cow.

Basic Barn: 6000 gold, 350 wood, 150 Stone

Cow: 1500 gold

"With Spring ending, the farm will be on track."

Daeren was overjoyed.

The remaining 29 immature Strawberry plants will yield 58 Strawberry by Spring 25th.

At the base price of 120 gold per Strawberry, 58 Strawberry will sell for around 7000 gold.

"This money is enough for me to upgrade my pickaxe twice."

Daeren made his plans.

Pickaxe upgrade to Copper Pickaxe; 5 Copper Ingots, 2000 gold.

Copper Pickaxe upgrade to Iron Pickaxe; 2 Iron Ingots, 5000 gold.

A basic pickaxe can only be used before level 40. The Stone after level 40 is very hard, and mining ores is even more difficult, so tools must be upgraded.

An Iron Pickaxe can barely get you to level 120.

"The future is bright, so I can't slack off even more."

Daeren split the 16 Strawberry.

Three Silver Star quality ones were put into his inventory.

High-quality crops are naturally for personal consumption and sharing with loved ones.

The thirteen normal quality Strawberry were stored in the chest, no rush to sell them.

Once the Farming level reaches 5, there will be two profession choices.

[Shepherd]: The value of animal products increases by 20%.

[Farmer]: The value of crop products increases by 10%.

Since the early game focuses on farming, choosing Farmer to increase crop prices is a must.

Once he has the [Farmer] profession, selling this batch of Strawberry will fetch a higher price.

King's Landing.

Silk Street, Tavern.

Elisha, dressed in black, sat at a table, sipping a glass of Rye Wine.

"I heard you gave money to Lord Owen, how did you end up so disheveled?"

A tall, burly middle-aged man plopped down opposite him, slamming a large mug of ale on the table.

The man had a square face, thick black curly hair, and an arrogant expression.

"Jeremy, you have no idea what I've been through."

Elisha glanced at the other man and unceremoniously snatched the mug of ale.

Jeremy Leake chuckled, "Everyone knows Lord Owen is a laughing fool. If you give him gifts, you'll only ride a nag from now on."

He wasn't intentionally mocking, just lacking in tact.

This flaw almost earned him the Prime Minister's resentment.

Elisha wasn't bothered enough to get angry, content to savor the mellow aroma of the ale.

"Why aren't you saying anything?"

Jeremy, suspicious of this uncharacteristic silence, asked, "What are you planning to do next? Leave King's Landing, or pledge allegiance to some lord?"

Elisha had sold his only warhorse to buy a gift for Lord Owen and was now penniless. If he didn't worry about his livelihood soon, he'd become a wandering knight.

"I have a master now."

Elisha said dismissively.

Jeremy froze. "What did you say?"

Elisha put down his cup, revealing his sturdy physique, and declared proudly, "I've met Prince Daeren."

"The rumors are true, Lord Owen has a close relationship with Prince Daeren."

"I went through him and successfully met the Prince."

He paused, then, under Jeremy's excited gaze, reminisced, "The Prince bestowed upon me a precious fish. Every bite was filled with rich Vitality, leaving a lingering taste, so incredibly delicious."

Jeremy immediately stood up, urgently saying, "Elisha, recommend me to Prince Daeren."

The Lake Family hailed from Mugu Town. After the Darklin Family's downfall in Mugu Town, the Lake Family rebuilt Brown Castle. This was a period when the Lake Family was most loyal to the royal family.

As for whether serving Prince Daeren held a future? The Mad King was insane, and Crown Prince Rhaegar was far away on Dragonstone. Daeren was young and capable, generous with his gifts, already favored by the king, and was about to be promoted to Deputy Commander of the City Guard. Who knew whose star would rise in King's Landing.

"I don't have a backdoor for you."

Elisha sneered and stood up. "If you want to serve Prince Daeren, you must first join the City Guard."

"And all those like me, who want a promising future, join the City Guard first."

"The capable rise, the weak fall."

"Let all those deadwood parasites in the City Guard get out and make way for us."

With that, he picked up a brand-new Steel Light Sword and left.

Jeremy stared, dumbfounded, muttering to himself:

"City Guard..."