Even though Alina said so.
Talulah still found it somewhat unbelievable. Her handsome, gray eyes flashed with utter disbelief and, of course, a little suspicion.
She had known Alina for a very long time.
If Alina had awakened to Originium Arts, there was absolutely no reason to hide it from her.
Patriot moved closer.
The thudding of his tower-like body stepping on the ground echoed. Before him, Alina was incredibly small. The aura he emanated seemed to make the not-yet-fully-grown plant instinctively curl its leaves in fear.
He reached out a large hand.
He gently touched a green leaf.
The real sensation of this new life made Patriot feel a bit dazed for a moment.
How long had it been since he had seen a newly-born green plant?
In this snowy plain.
The only green plants were a few trees that could withstand the severe cold. This kind of 'delicate' crop, which could only grow in warm places, was incredibly rare in this world of ice and snow.
"How... did you do it... Alina..."
Patriot's voice was a bit rough, like a piano with broken strings. He spoke haltingly, and one could even hear the clear sound of him gasping for breath from his throat. His Oripathy was far, far more severe than an ordinary person's; the Originium had invaded his vocal cords, making it a problem for the powerful man to even speak now.
"Senior Patriot, look!"
Alina slowly opened her hand.
As the Originium energy in her body was activated, a faint green light of energy was slowly released from her palm, landing on the leaves of the green plant. However, after just a short while, Alina stopped, exhausted. The high-intensity experiment from before had already drained the power from her body, and she was now unable to demonstrate for a long period.
"!!!"
The three people in the meeting hall widened their eyes in an instant.
At first, they might have had some doubts about Alina's words, but when they truly saw Alina release her 'Originium Arts', everyone was immediately convinced.
FrostNova was a little surprised. "If that's really the case, Alina, doesn't that mean our future food problem can be solved?!"
Solving the food problem?
When this incredibly sensitive phrase popped out of FrostNova's mouth, the others' eyes all turned to Alina at once.
Alina, however, shook her head.
"It might still take some time. I need more experiments. My ability seems to only be able to catalyze the growth rate of food; it's still useless in an environment that is too cold."
Although Alina said so.
This was already a very good start. It could even boost everyone's morale.
Because of the good news provided by Alina.
The very serious atmosphere from the earlier part of the meeting finally eased up a bit at this moment.
Patriot left first to continue training his soldiers, while FrostNova rarely stayed behind, curiously observing Alina's green plant from a distance. Ever since she was captured and sent to the mines as a child, she had followed her father, wandering the remote ice fields. She hadn't seen a green plant in over ten years. To FrostNova, it was very much like a newborn baby—fragile, yet intriguing.
But she didn't dare to get close.
Due to her Oripathy.
Her body temperature was incredibly low. When her Oripathy flared up, it was even lower than the surrounding ambient temperature. She was afraid her cold hands would harm 'it' if she touched the green plant.
In the entire meeting hall.
Lucas Reeve didn't dare to let out even a sliver of his presence.
Too dangerous!!
This is just a village! Hey!
How is it more dangerous than the capital of Columbia?
First, there was that humanoid monster named Patriot, and then this young woman named FrostNova. Although this girl named FrostNova wasn't as powerful as Patriot, her soul was like ten-thousand-year-old perfect ice, solid and indestructible. Another one who could one-shot that tree monster from Bolívar...
This Miss Talulah was also extremely powerful. Her soul burned as hot as a raging fire. Although not as strong as the two 'monsters', Patriot and FrostNova, she was still much stronger than Franka.
I'm screwed.
Has Franka already become a unit of measurement this quickly?
For some reason.
Lucas Reeve felt like he wasn't in Ursus, but had changed maps entirely.
How come the BOSS that forced me to exhaust my soul to use the Holy Lance's projection to defeat in the last map has become a pushover that anyone on this map can one-shot? This makes me look so lame.
However, what Lucas Reeve was most concerned about was one of his own kind.
Inside Talulah's body, there was one of his own kind!
However, this peer of his seemed to be in a dormant state, just like he was in the beginning, not yet awakened. Or perhaps, it was suppressed by Talulah's own soul and couldn't wake up at all. But, this was still a ticking time bomb, one that could go off with a bang at any time. And... it seemed to be deeply, deeply fused with Talulah's soul. If he weren't also in a soul state, honestly, it would be very difficult to detect.
When Alina returned to her room to continue studying the crop.
Lucas Reeve was a bit dejected.
He thought he had arrived in a remote village and would become the guardian spirit of a beautiful country girl. But in reality, the country girl was Tang Sanzang... surrounded by a bunch of companions who could beat him to a pulp.
Whew~
Lucas Reeve sighed.
And Alina asked Lucas Reeve with some confusion.
"What's wrong, Mr. Reeve? Is something troubling you?"
"Not really."
Alina was a little skeptical; her intuition was very sharp, but she didn't press the matter. Doing so would make Mr. Reeve think she was annoying.
"Well, if you have any troubles, you can tell me, you know. Sharing with one more person will naturally share some of the burden."
Alina's smile was incredibly sweet.
To think there would be such a pure, angel-like girl in such a remote place.
This is a real angel.
Alina tinkered with the green plant in her room again. She worked for so long that she even forgot about mealtime. It was only when Talulah brought her dinner that Alina realized she hadn't eaten yet.
An afternoon's time.
Under Lucas Reeve's guidance.
The model for the miniature greenhouse was almost complete. Since she had the ability to catalyze plant growth, the greenhouse naturally only needed to solve the problem of insulation. Alina also discovered a problem: with her current ability, she couldn't catalyze a plant for too long at once. Excessive catalysis was actually harmful, like pulling up seedlings to try and make them grow faster.
By the time everything was done, the sky had already darkened.
Talulah and the others seemed to know that Alina was working on something important that would have a profound impact on the future of the Reunion Movement, so they didn't come to disturb her.
"It's time to sleep, Mr. Reeve."
Alina lay on the table, admiring the green plant that had grown vigorously after an afternoon of tinkering, her eyes full of happiness. Lucas Reeve, next to her, was like a teacher, patiently guiding her all afternoon.
"Mhm, you go to sleep."
Suddenly.
Alina's pretty face blushed slightly, and she said, stammering a little.
"Mr. Reeve, can you please go back into the bracelet for a moment? I want to change my clothes...."
"Oh~ Sorry, I forgot..."
Lucas Reeve had truly forgotten.
He had gotten used to being with Jessica.
Late at night.
Alina lay in bed, unable to sleep for a long time.
"Um... Mr. Reeve, are you asleep?"
"No."
"This is the first time I've ever slept with a boy.... I'm a little nervous," Alina said, her face red.
When she thought about Lucas Reeve being right beside her, she couldn't help but blush. She had grown up in the countryside and had never been to a city, so naturally, she hadn't had much contact with males her own age. Her thoughts on matters between men and women were on par with Jessica's.
"Don't be nervous. I'm a soul."
"Mr. Reeve, how did you become a soul?"
"I died."
"Sorry... How did you die?"
"Hit by a dump truck."
"Sorry..."
"Everyone dies eventually. As long as the consciousness doesn't perish, it isn't death."
"Mr. Reeve, what did you do before you died?"
"I was a teacher."
The two of them talked like this, one asking and one answering, late into the night. Finally, Alina couldn't hold on any longer and fell into a deep sleep.
——————
Columbia.
"Mmm~ Ceobe, I miss Mr. Reeve so much!!"
In the hundred-square-meter bedroom.
Jessica lay in bed, looking at the moon outside through the huge floor-to-ceiling window, unable to fall asleep for a long time. This was the first night Lucas Reeve had been away from her. Although Ceobe was by her side, Jessica still found it incredibly difficult to sleep.
Although Lucas Reeve had personally admitted that he only needed to sleep for a month.
But... Jessica was still a little worried that Lucas Reeve had just said it casually to comfort her.
She even... occasionally hid under the covers and wiped away her tears.
"Ceobe?"
Seeing that Ceobe next to her didn't respond, Jessica called out again.
"Zzzzz~~"
However, only Ceobe's light snores could be heard in the room.
"..."
"Sigh...."
Jessica sighed, stroking Ceobe's soft hair and murmuring.
"I wonder how Mr. Reeve is doing right now...."
"Good night, Mr. Reeve."
Jessica gently caressed the necklace next to her pillow, which was like a guardian deity, and lightly kissed it before falling contentedly asleep.
——————
"Good morning, Mr. Reeve!!!"
Alina's gentle and energetic voice rang out.
Lucas Reeve yawned, floated out of the bracelet, and wished Alina a good morning.
He had chatted with Alina for a long time yesterday. This little girl could really talk.
And the first thing she did after getting up.
Alina checked on the growth of her 'treasure'.
Seeing that it had successfully survived the cold of the night, Alina breathed a sigh of relief.
In this snowy plain, the coldest time was late at night. Before going to bed, she was a little worried that even in the room, with the insulation of the small greenhouse, this crop might not survive. But... clearly, she had worried too much.
To save food, they basically didn't have the habit of eating breakfast.
The first thing Alina did when she got up was to use her ability to catalyze it.
A faint green light sprinkled onto the surface of the plant.
Instantly.
This plant, as if it had taken a stimulant, desperately consumed the fertilizer in the soil, absorbing the moisture from the soil at a speed visible to the naked eye. After a short while, new green leaves continuously grew skyward from the center of the tender, limp leaves. After a long time, as if its potential for the day had been exhausted, the rapid growth stopped.
Alina wiped the sweat from her forehead, satisfied.
She was very pleased with today's progress.
This plant?
Lucas Reeve looked at the leaves shooting up towards the sky; they looked a little familiar.
Uhh....
Isn't this a carrot?!
At this rate, it might mature in another day or two! After it matures, with this experience, they can basically increase production!
Probably.
A plant, under the right conditions, should take three to five days to go from seed to sprout. With Alina's current Originium reserves, she could probably catalyze it about 6 times in one go...
Hiss...
Although the quantity is far from enough, I will eventually grow! If I train more with Patriot in the future, I might be able to catalyze even more plants after I get stronger!
Thinking of this.
Alina once again felt incredibly grateful to Lucas Reeve from the bottom of her heart. If it weren't for Lucas Reeve, she wouldn't have this ability. Although she claimed it was her own Originium Arts to others, she herself knew that this ability was shared with her by Lucas Reeve.
As Alina was feeling grateful.
Another wave of Prayer Power flowed into Lucas Reeve's soul.
This was a win-win.
Noon.
As they were preparing for lunch.
Alina showed her results to Talulah and the other two again.
It was clearly a size larger than yesterday.
It might only take two or three more days to mature.
If.
Alina's news yesterday had given those present a hope for the future.
Then today was telling them that this future was only two or three days away...
The food crisis might really be solvable.
Thinking of this.
Patriot hadn't been this happy in a very long time.
As long as the food crisis is resolved.
Then the threat from Ursus would be greatly reduced.
And the next primary task would be to plan for insulated greenhouses.
To mass-produce, insulated greenhouses are essential.
But this was a big problem.
If the problem of insulated greenhouses could be solved, they wouldn't have been unable to grow crops on this ice field. But if the growth cycle of the crops only took three to five days, then the difficulty of the insulated greenhouses would be greatly reduced. They would only need to find a way to maintain the temperature for three to five days.
Just as the three of them were discussing their future plans.
A series of heavy footsteps came from outside the door.
Talulah frowned slightly.
She knew those footsteps; they belonged to Senior Patriot's Shieldguards. If the Shieldguards were coming... then it was very likely that something unexpected had happened outside.
"Come in..."
A Shieldguard in heavy armor walked in with heavy steps.
He gave Patriot a standard military salute.
"Captain! According to the scouts up ahead, a group of Ursus Infected Pickets is about to arrive at the village we are currently living in!"
"?!"
Alina, who was beside them, instantly became worried upon hearing this.
Because she had encountered the Infected Pickets yesterday afternoon when she went to trade for food, she was a little worried that she was the one who had led this group here. But... weren't those two people turned into idiots by Mr. Reeve?