Chapter 487: Blood Crystal Wheat

After doing this for about another hour, the bag in Gao De’s hand contained more than seventy crab-eye pearls.

“Call it a day!” Gao De saw the sky shift from blue to black and decided to stop for the night.

With gemberry to lure them in, he was confident about the 【Crab Disaster Risk】 task and didn’t need to rush—no need to “overtime.”

“Stay here and play, don’t wander too far—I’ll come back for you tomorrow morning.” Gao De glanced at Tuanzi, still brimming with energy, and after a moment’s thought, left it in the sea instead of putting it in the capybara bag.

Tuanzi nodded its small round head excitedly at Gao De’s words.

Waving goodbye to Tuanzi, Gao De 【strode off】 and returned to Montetown before night fully fell.

In this small town, the Sea Sentinel’s three-silver-dragon daily accommodation allowance was enough for Gao De to stay at the town’s highest-class, most upscale inn.

He checked into his room, put down his things, and prepared to go out.

First, find somewhere to eat; second, take a stroll around Montetown after dinner.

Just like in his past life, whether on training or competition trips, he always went out for a walk at night—effectively a free tour.

He hadn’t taken two steps past the main gate when someone called out to him.

“Master Gao De! Master Gao De, wait!”

He stopped and turned around.

It was the constable who had received him at the police station that afternoon.

“Constable Malcom?” Gao De recalled for a moment and finally remembered the man’s name. “What do you need?”

“Master Gao De,” Malcom hurried up, caught his breath, and said: “Chief Harper heard you’ve come to Montetown to resolve the crab disaster risk, and has prepared a banquet to welcome you. Please grace us with your presence.”

It’s said Sea Sentinel mages are well-treated in Bayro County.

But last time he went to Lagos City on assignment, perhaps because Lagos was a big city and local officials looked down on him; or perhaps because his rank was too low to merit attention; or maybe because his mission wasn’t welcomed by local authorities.

In any case, Gao De felt no respect at all—the notion of being “well-treated” was pure fiction.

But now, he finally understood.

“Welcome banquet.”

Good job.

He thought for a moment, then nodded. “Then please lead the way, Constable Malcom.”

He was going to eat anyway—why refuse a free meal?

Seeing Gao De nod, Malcom visibly relaxed.

The two walked through several cobblestone streets and arrived at their destination.

After all, the inn where Gao De stayed was already the town’s best, and other upscale restaurants and taverns clustered in the same area.

It was a tasteful stone-and-brick building, adorned with the elaborate decorative style unique to Dorn, its pillars elegant.

“Master Gao De, this is our town’s most famous restaurant—Chief Harper is hosting the banquet here,” Malcom said with a smile, stepping ahead and pushing open the reddish-brown wooden door.

As they entered, a warm wave of air greeted them.

“Welcome,” said a young waiter in black uniform, bowing slightly with a smile.

Malcom whispered a few words to him, and the waiter led them to a private room inside.

At the door of the private room, the waiter opened it and gestured for them to enter.

Inside, a long red peachwood table was set, covered with a tablecloth embroidered with intricate patterns.

Several high-backed chairs stood around it, their seats padded with soft goose down; in one corner stood a fireplace, its logs blazing warmly, dispelling the chill of the seaside town’s night.

A town that hadn’t even built a zeppelin base had a restaurant of this caliber.

Clearly, poor places don’t lack places for luxury spending.

Chief Harper of the police station was already seated in the private room.

Seeing Gao De enter, he rose instantly, stepped forward with a warm smile: “Master Gao De, you’ve finally arrived! I’ve long heard of your name—you truly are a young prodigy.”

“Long heard of your name?” Gao De wondered if he’d misheard.

You’re clearly a seasoned veteran—why say such fake flattery?

The man seemed to sense Gao De’s thoughts and added: “You were one of the standout new recruits in last year’s Sea Sentinel selection. You may not know it, but we’ve heard your name.”

“It’s said seedlings rise fast, but few reach First-Class Apprentice Mage in less than half a year after joining the Sea Sentinel,” Chief Harper said, half-flattering, half-sincere.

He hosted this banquet with such formality for two reasons: first, the Sea Sentinel’s status meant even a mere Apprentice Mage deserved respect—he, a small-town constable chief, dared not neglect it.

Second, Chief Harper genuinely saw potential in Gao De and thought it wise to cultivate a connection.

He’d heard rumors about Gao De—that he wasn’t a native of Jin Quehua Dynasty, and his future held risks.

But it was just a meal and a few kind words—no real cost. He might as well treat him well.

If Gao De ever rose to great heights, he wouldn’t necessarily remember this meal—but at least he wouldn’t feel he’d been slighted.

Some people are just petty—they hold grudges over the smallest slights.

As he invited Gao De to sit, Constable Malcom took his seat at the lower end.

Chief Harper nodded to the waiter beside him.

The waiter understood at once and hurried to the kitchen.

Soon, dish after dish of carefully prepared food arrived.

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

A signature seafood chowder, rich with cream and briny flavor, smooth and velvety.

Sturgeon grilled until its skin turned golden and crisp, served with lemon wedges and a local herb sauce—melting on the tongue, layered and complex.

Also, crab meat pies with golden, fluffy crusts and rich, savory interiors.

Gao De didn’t hold back, eating heartily as Chief Harper’s compliments flowed.

He accepted all the praise but spoke little himself—only nodding occasionally or giving brief replies, maintaining the quiet, mysterious outsider-genius persona.

Chief Harper, a seasoned veteran, never let the silence drag.

He occasionally praised Gao De, occasionally shared amusing local tales or customs, even tossed in a few Sea Sentinel gossip tidbits—he was more skilled than any minstrel.

Yet he never mentioned Gao De’s mission in town.

That was his shrewdness.

Everyone knew the 【Crab Disaster Risk】 was a nightmare—Gao De’s frustration was obvious. So Chief Harper avoided anything that might trigger negative emotions, preserving the pleasant atmosphere.

Amid Chief Harper’s warm hospitality, the lavish dinner was nearly finished.

Gao De wiped his mouth with a towel.

Seeing the gesture, Chief Harper knew Gao De was ready to rise, and gave a slight nod to the attendant standing by.

The attendant immediately left and returned moments later with three small bowls of exquisite dessert.

He placed the three desserts before each of them, each accompanied by a delicate porcelain spoon.

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

The dessert resembled a yogurt cup: atop it were sliced local fruits, beneath them yogurt and honey.

But as he scooped, Gao De was surprised to find a layer of base material beneath the yogurt and honey.

Red, translucent, slender, like grain kernels.

Curious, he scooped another spoonful—this time of the red grain—and mixed it with yogurt and honey before eating.

The red grain had a chewy texture; paired with the sweet-sour yogurt and honey, it tasted surprisingly good—even without modern additives or preservatives.

But what Gao De hadn’t expected was that as the dessert entered his body, a warm, pleasant heat rose from within, flowing gently through his limbs and meridians, filling him with renewed energy.

Huh?

Gao De silently stared at the dessert, scooped a few more spoonfuls, and confirmed it wasn’t his imagination.

“Chief Harper, what is this?” he asked, looking up.

It was his first active question since arriving—everything else had been passive replies.

“Hahaha, Master Gao De, this is your first time eating Blood Crystal Wheat, isn’t it?” Chief Harper grinned proudly.

“Blood Crystal Wheat?” Gao De repeated, a flash of insight crossing his eyes—he suspected the answer.

Chief Harper, meanwhile, launched into his explanation.

“Blood Crystal Wheat comes from the eastern lands of Nolanda.”

“Eastern lands.” Gao De’s gaze flickered—he guessed the truth.

“Yes, the Holy Empire’s specialty,” Chief Harper laughed. “Master Gao De, you know the Holy Empire began as a coalition of barbarian tribes, right?”

Gao De nodded.

He knew this basic fact: several barbarian tribes emerged from the wilds, entered civilized lands, and seized an ancient city.

From that city, they expanded outward, eventually becoming the Holy Empire—its territory spanning three continents, at its zenith.

“You know barbarians are generally strong,” Chief Harper mimed flexing his muscles, tone lightly teasing.

“Besides their wild, uncivilized lifestyle, there’s another key reason: diet.

This Blood Crystal Wheat is a type of barley accidentally discovered by those barbarian tribes—not only delicious, but also replenishes Qi and blood. Eating it as a staple strengthens the body. Since it’s entirely crimson like blood, they named it Blood Crystal Wheat.”

“It was the discovery of Blood Crystal Wheat that allowed those tribes to grow strong and escape the wilds.”

“So, exaggerating slightly, this Blood Crystal Wheat could be called the founding substance of the Holy Empire.”

Chief Harper spread his hands. “Of course, they’d never admit it. In their view, their ancestors escaped the wilds through unyielding willpower and extraordinary talent.”

“But regardless, Blood Crystal Wheat, with its potent effects and the legends surrounding it, is extremely valuable.”

“And its cultivation conditions are extremely strict—the Holy Empire’s annual yield is tiny. After internal consumption, only a minuscule fraction ever leaves their borders. Getting any is difficult.”

“I happen to have some channels—I get a small batch every year,” Chief Harper said, speaking truthfully but clearly proud.

“Tonight, to welcome Master Gao De, I specifically brought some out. I don’t usually serve this to guests.”

He’d revealed the “blood”—he wanted Gao De to know, so Gao De would feel indebted.

“I’m also basking in Master Gao De’s glory,” Ma Erke added, both responding to Chief Harper and flattery Gao De once more.

Everyone here is sharp.

But at this moment, Gao De’s thoughts were not on any of this.

“Chief Harper, do you still have any unprocessed blood-crystal wheat grains? Could you give me some? I’m willing to pay double the price.” He looked at Chief Harper with seriousness.

“Unprocessed blood-crystal wheat grains?” Gao De’s request clearly caught Chief Harper off guard. He paused slightly, then exclaimed in surprise: “What does Master Gao De want this for?”

“You’re not thinking of trying to grow blood-crystal wheat, are you?” He quickly realized Gao De’s intention and said it with an exaggerated tone.

“What’s the problem with that?”

Chief Harper shook his head. “Master Gao De, don’t even think about it. Blood-crystal wheat is a bestseller—expensive and always in demand. If it were that easy to grow, wouldn’t it have flooded the market long ago?”

His expression turned serious as he spoke earnestly to Gao De: “You’re not the first person to try growing blood-crystal wheat. Over the years, countless others have attempted it—and all failed without exception.”

“Its cultivation conditions are extremely strict and top-secret. Only the Holy Empire knows the requirements and methods—and they’ve kept it perfectly hidden. No one has ever leaked the secret of growing blood-crystal wheat.”

“Chief Harper, I still want to try,” Gao De insisted, undeterred. “I’ve always been deeply interested in herbalism and cultivation techniques. I’m not naive—I know growing blood-crystal wheat is nearly impossible. But I simply can’t resist the challenge.”

“Oh? So Master Gao De has an interest in this?” Chief Harper was taken aback by Gao De’s words.

To him, Gao De was the quiet, socially awkward genius mage—yet now he discovered an interest utterly incompatible with that image.

A genius mage should care only for spells—why dabble in such “trivial arts”?

Despite his surprise, Chief Harper readily agreed. “I brought plenty of blood-crystal wheat. After making these three desserts, there’s still some left—I’ll have my attendant pack it up and send it to you, Master Gao De.”

“Thank you, Chief Harper,” Gao De said with solemn gratitude.

Chief Harper smiled.

He never expected that Gao De, who had remained unmoved all night, would finally be swayed by a few blood-crystal wheat grains.

It was only twenty or thirty leftover grains—fewer than those used in the desserts.

In truth, how valuable could such a tiny amount really be?

Yet Gao De’s delight was genuine.

By giving away something worthless, he had won the favor of this brilliant mage with a bright future—he’d struck gold!

Chief Harper felt utterly satisfied, convinced this dinner had been worth every coin.

…

Strict? Top-secret?

Before the “great” Lady Florala, no plant held any secrets.

If others couldn’t grow blood-crystal wheat, Florala certainly could.

Why had he named the hybrid of cold-resistant wheat and Jin Huang wheat “Northwest Wheat No. 1”?

Because in Gao De’s vision, the northern lands would one day host many more wheat varieties.

Northwest Wheat No. 2, No. 3, No. 4.

Now, the first signs of Northwest Wheat No. 2 had already appeared.

He’d scored a free meal, a heap of praise, and a powerful new wheat strain.

Gao De was utterly satisfied—he felt this meal had been worth every moment!

(End of Chapter)