Chapter 401 - 391: The Fog Has Cleared

"This should still be negotiable."

"Most of our personnel are currently committed to the development of Veridian Prime. If we pull any more away, the pace of construction there will likely slow."

Just then, a man who had been silent the entire time set down the documents in his hands. "I’ve just been reviewing the data," he began. "Besides its rich mineral deposits, this planet’s groundwater—or rather, its hot spring resources—are also exceptionally abundant. While we’re extracting the minerals, we could also develop it into a one-of-a-kind hot spring resort."

"The files specifically emphasize that we must not contaminate the groundwater during the extraction process. I imagine SoySauceDrunkard feels the same way."

His words instantly captured everyone’s attention.

He continued, "I just looked up some information on the Intelligent Brain. The hot springs on this planet are so unique they’re considered extremely rare, even on an interstellar scale. We could develop it into a world renowned for its hot springs."

"Besides, don’t forget the current state of Caelus’s environment. This planet might have something that could help alleviate the situation back home."

A tremor went through the room. ’Of course,’ they thought. ’How did we not think of that?’

They had Veridian Prime, and they lived in Elf Treehouses. Their own living conditions were countless times better than those in other countries.

Even so, many people still couldn’t afford an Elf Treehouse, forced to struggle for survival on the brink of death every day.

Meanwhile, thanks to Redlight’s persistent persuasion, SoySauceDrunkard finally relented, changing the profit split from 20-80 to 30-70.

Moira stared at the game interface before her. ’This shouldn’t look too contrived, should it?’

’Oh, whatever. Who cares? Time for bed. I have to get up early tomorrow.’

「The next day.」

Moira got up early and went downstairs to find Hugh Finch already eating breakfast. She glanced around, but Shane Rhodes and Kai York were nowhere to be seen.

Sensing her confusion, Hugh Finch explained, "They went out to exercise."

"They went out to exercise?"

’Isn’t there enough room for them to work out at home?’

"They went to shovel snow. It snowed for several days straight, but with the fog, all the clearing was left to the base’s robots. The fog finally lifted a bit today, so they went out to clear the snow."

Hearing Hugh say the fog had lifted, Moira walked over to the window with a fried dough stick in hand. Sure enough, the dense fog outside had dissipated.

It hadn’t vanished completely, though. The world was still hazy, as if veiled in white gauze.

Still, it was a significant improvement.

Moira scanned the area outside and, sure enough, spotted two figures clearing snow.

"Oh, right. About yesterday..."

Moira gave him a brief rundown of what had happened. "I’ve settled things with them. It’s a 30-70 profit split. As for taxes, the first three years are exempt, and after that, we can pay with the planet’s minerals."

Refusing to pay taxes or engaging in tax evasion was a serious offense in the interstellar community, a point Moira had stressed to Redlight and his team long ago.

"So you really plan on turning that planet into a ’Hot Spring Villa’ among the stars?"

Moira nodded. "Of course. With resources that good, it’d be a waste not to use them. Besides, the planet is perfectly safe, as long as its internal equilibrium isn’t disrupted."

"But what if someone tries to sabotage it on purpose?"

After all, the planet is only safe for now; that doesn’t mean it’s truly without risk.

Hugh wasn’t opposed to the Hot Spring Villa project, he just leaned more toward piping the hot spring water somewhere else.

The cost would be higher, but it would be the safer option.

"I’ve already thought of that. That’s why I’ve instructed the team over there to purchase a massive insurance policy for the planet before the Hot Spring Villa opens for business."

Hugh Finch was speechless.

He then gave Moira a thumbs-up.

’Leave it to you.’

Just then, Shane Rhodes and Kai York came in from shoveling snow.

"By the way, since the fog has cleared up today, do the three of you want to go home for a visit? You can take some fresh vegetables back with you."

With the blessing of the Water Wood Stone, Moira’s vegetable garden produced far more than the four of them could possibly eat. To keep the vegetables from growing old in the soil and depleting nutrients for the next crop, Moira had to harvest and dehydrate them for storage.

The three of them nodded. They had been pouring all their energy into the game lately, and the thick fog had kept them cooped up inside. Since the weather was finally nice, a trip home sounded like a good idea.

"But if we go, you’ll be all alone here," Kai York said.

"I’m not a helpless child, you know."

After breakfast, the three of them left, each carrying vegetables and some eggs.

Moira, meanwhile, did some light tidying up around the house.

The Treasure Chickens were laying a lot of eggs every day now. Even after the other three had each taken a share, there were still plenty left over—more than she could eat on her own.

Moira thought for a moment and decided to salt all the remaining eggs to preserve them.

Since there weren’t too many, Moira finished salting the eggs quickly. After cleaning up the mess, she got into her game cabin and logged in.

Upon entering the game, she saw that the workers she had hired in Aethelburg had already begun their tasks. Her once-disorderly territory was now much cleaner, with far fewer weeds.

Moira first ran to the distant lake to collect a good amount of water, then went to water the Treants to the north.

Nourished by the water, the previously motionless Treants stirred to life one by one.

They stared blankly at Moira, as if awaiting her next command.

"From this day forward, you are responsible for the security of this entire territory."

Upon hearing Moira’s command, all the Treants began to move, each heading off in a different direction.

’Looks like they understood.’

Next, Moira went to the southern forest. She cut a few branches that were the right thickness for making rings, then returned to the valley and used her money to buy the necessary processing tools.

In no time at all, a hundred rings and a hundred beads were finished.

This time, Moira didn’t do any intricate work on the rings’ surfaces. The natural grain of the Golden Beauty wood was already beautiful on its own. Once polished, the rings looked like amber from a distance.

But Moira didn’t stop there. She continued making rings and polishing beads.

Since she had to go to The Northlands for the Enchantment, Moira decided to bring a large batch with her this time to save herself from making multiple trips later.

’The galaxy already has products like the Space Button, so storage items probably aren’t worth much. And for spatial travel, they have Space Gates. Looks like I’ll have to focus my efforts on attack-oriented items,’ she mused.