Chapter 66

As Cyrus governs his territory and rebuilds the city, some obvious or latent problems begin to crumble and surface.

For example, food shortages, backwardness in thought and culture, even ignorance... monotonous and dull entertainment, city-state conflicts, and the ravages of war...

The territory he ruled was considered a very stable and peaceful place, but it was still frequently harassed and provoked by neighboring countries.

Therefore, Taylor and Daina were often stationed outside.

With cavalry forces deterring and repelling them, Cyrus wasn't too worried.

The issues he needs to consider include ensuring basic food and clothing for everyone, improving cultural literacy, enriching entertainment options, and especially grain production.

On the Western Continent, the grain cultivation system adopted a two-field system.

This means dividing the land into two parts, cultivating one part each year and leaving the other part idle, thus ensuring the fertility of the land.

However, this system also directly led to food scarcity, making it impossible for commoners and slaves to keep themselves fed.

Because of outdated farming methods and insufficient utilization of resources... there are simply too many potential problems.

People not only use oxen to plow the land, but also often use horses, since horses can be ridden or used to carry goods during the off-season, and they are cheaper than oxen.

However, there are both advantages and disadvantages.

Horse-drawn plows are not as powerful or efficient as ox-drawn plows. Most importantly, horses have too many uses: chariots, warhorses, etc. Horse-drawn plows are gradually being phased out.

This refers to wealthy families who, when they had the means, would use oxen and horses for plowing.

Without sufficient funds, the most common "tool" used for farming was slaves, but neither in efficiency nor speed could compare to using oxen for plowing.

Limited agricultural knowledge, outdated farming methods and technologies, and a shortage of labor resources are just some of the factors that have prevented grain production from increasing.

Even minor abnormal weather changes or man-made disasters can lead to reduced grain production and severe hunger and cold.

Over the course of three years, Cyrus tried to find solutions to this problem on several occasions.

For example, promoting integrated farming methods, such as grazing cattle and sheep on fallow land, can increase soil fertility with animal manure. The second step is to implement field management, including fertilization, land preparation, weeding, and pest control...

After all, soil also needs maintenance.

Land was extremely important to lords, commoners, and slaves alike, as it was related to their daily meals and taxes.

After effective decrees were issued and implemented within the Desinia Territory, food production did increase significantly, but population and climate issues remain important factors restricting agricultural development.

Now, the food crisis is on the verge of recurring.

Cyrus's solution was to go to sea to find crops with extremely high yields.

So much so that Samuel was thrown to Visas just a few days after arriving at the castle, to discuss the construction of the Cogit Sea Port with others.

This is of paramount importance.

Next is the enhancement of culture.

Currently, schools have been built only in the cities of Visas and Komoy Fort within the Desinia Territory.

First, we need to consider the issue of teacher resources and manpower to maintain school operations; second, we also need to investigate the level of acceptance of schools among the people in the territory.

Not everyone desires to learn.

Compared to these, most children of commoners or slaves hoped to participate in conscription, because this was a faster way for them to gain achievements and wealth.

The school was built in about a year, and then people were recruited and students were enrolled... to this day, the students' educational level is only at the primary school level.

Cyrus knows that cultural improvement cannot be rushed, and she is slowly exploring the process. Compared to culture, entertainment is more easily accepted.

That's why Cyrus talked to Boris about clothing design and other things.

Wool, linen, leather, fur... are common materials used to make clothing on the Western Continent.

Among them, the materials used to make clothes by hand are the most expensive.

Because it required extra time and effort, only nobles had the means and the right to wear clothes made from this fabric.

If a piece of cloth is dyed a beautiful color, its price becomes exceptionally high, and clothing made from such dyed cloth is of an even higher quality.

The Anas Empire possessed a unique dyeing technique that prevented fabrics from fading quickly and maintained their vibrant color.

However, its drawbacks include the use of a single staining method, long processing time, and complex steps.

This resulted in the limited production of dyed fabrics, which mainly circulated between the two great empires.

Cyrus needed this craft to provide a suitable foundation for the technologies he would develop later.

One of the commodities traded by the Nagabi Merchant Guild is fabric dyeing.

When Cyrus asked Boris to give her the craft for free, Boris asked for a reason.

Cyrus: "I won't let you suffer any losses. You should trust my abilities, Boris."

"Furthermore, the Nagabi Merchant Guild needs to demonstrate a certain level of sincerity if it wants to cooperate."

Boris finally agreed to Cyrus's request.

"The dyeing technique will be delivered soon. Also, many people have witnessed the changes in the Desinia Territory over the past three years, including the Anas Empire..."

After discussing the details with Cyrus, Boris said as he left, "Little Zuoyi, be careful. There are lurking wolves within the Anas Empire, and..."

Cyrus looked up, waiting for what was to come, but was suddenly pulled to Boris's side. Threads of her golden hair fell softly in front of her eyes, and a barely audible voice sounded in her ear.

[This book-reading app was recommended to me by a book-loving friend of ten years! It's incredibly useful; I use it to read aloud and listen to books while driving or before bed to pass the time. You can download it here.]

"Little Zuoyi, you'd better stay away from the Pope."

Boris's deep green eyes resembled the color of a lake bottom, as if studded with jewels and absorbing all the sunlight, unfathomable and seemingly hiding an unknown secret.

Cyrus had never seen green eyes more beautiful than Boris's.

He stared at it for a while, then asked in a low voice why.

Boris: "The Holy See is too complicated; don't get involved."

Cyrus didn't say anything more. Boris hugged him and then turned and left.

He saw them off outside the castle.

After the Nagabi Merchant Guild's caravan had gradually disappeared from sight, Cyrus re-entered the castle, only to find Segalot leaning against the window, presumably having been watching the scene of Boris saying goodbye to him.

Cyrus stopped in her tracks, meeting Segalot's golden eyes, which looked even more captivating in the sunlight streaming through the window.

After watching for a while, he walked over and asked, "When do you plan to leave?"

This statement was unexpected by Segalot.

He almost laughed again, and couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips into a smile, "So you want to get rid of me?"

Cyrus: "No, that's not it."

"... Just asking politely, doesn't the Holy See require your constant supervision and control?"

Segalot: "If I need to constantly oversee the Holy See, then there's no need for anyone else to exist, wouldn't you say?"

Segalot ruffled Cyrus's fluffy head, then lowered his head to look at her. "Little Zuoyi, you and Boris Abel seem to have a good relationship?"

Cyrus: "Between average and good."

Although we've known each other for a while, our pen pals and business partners aren't exactly close friends.

Cyrus didn't understand why Segalot was asking that question.

The next moment, he whispered, "You'd better stay away from Boris Abel."

Cyrus: "..."

He couldn't help but look at Segalot with a strange expression; that sentence sounded all too familiar.

"Why?"

Segalot: "Boris Abel is a complicated person."

Hmm, that sounds familiar too.

Cyrus remained silent, standing quietly in place, only nodding.

Segalot could tell from his expression how he was coping, so she ruffled his fluffy head again and said, "I believe you have your own judgment."

Cyrus pulled his hands down with both of hers and said calmly, "You don't need to worry."

He was about to let go of Segalot's hand, but the next second he was pulled into someone's arms, his nose bumping against a strong chest, filled with the scent of masculine charm.

Cyrus was stunned and didn't move for a moment.

A tall, handsome man embraced a beautiful, slender young man as they leaned against the window, sunlight casting dappled shadows on their silhouettes, a scene as beautiful as a painting.

Three days later, Segalot also left the Desinia Territory.

Cyrus hugged Black Sugar and scratched its little chin. "... Did he really come here just to give you to me?"

"Ouch."

Black Sugar squinted its golden eyes and leisurely flicked its short, stubby tail.

The Creator God used His hand to part the chaos and create all things in the world, bringing light and darkness, oceans and land, mountains and rivers to humankind...

He created seven life systems: gods, dragons, beastmen, giants, elves, dwarves, and mortals.

Each god performs their own function, bringing blessings to humankind.

Light God Griffith, Moon Goddess Caris, Mavis the Goddess of Wisdom, the Goddess of the Earth, the God of War, the God of Love, the God of the Sea...

Countless gods were created by the Creator God.

They listen to the will of the Creator God, love innocent and lovely children, pure-hearted boys and girls, and despise wicked people... They will respond to people's prayers.

The above are myths and stories that have recently been circulating in the Desinia Territory.

So far, the story only involves legends of the gods.

These stories first circulated in schools and churches in Visas and Komoy Fort, and were told only to children, where they were very popular.

But because the story was so well-crafted and interesting, it soon began to attract the attention of adults.

Subsequently, the story gradually spread throughout the entire territory.

There have been stories based on Creator God before, but none of them have the detailed system and understanding that are circulating in the territory today.

Each deity has a corresponding short story—their birth, abilities, and relationships with one another are clearly explained...

Each story stands alone, but upon reading them, you'll discover that they form a cohesive whole.

Word-of-mouth accounts are, after all, not a complete picture.

So when the Thorn Merchant Guild began selling books about "Tales of the Gods," many people, including commoners and slaves, gritted their teeth and, for the first time ever, spent ten copper coins to buy them.

"God of Creator God! I must be crazy, I actually read a book?!"

--Said a commoner who was clearly illiterate.