Chapter 184: Shopping

After inspecting the Spirit Garden, Leo stood in silence for a long moment. The garden was useful—there was no doubt about that—but another issue had just surfaced in his mind.

?Since he had decided to join the Freedom Convoy, he could no longer keep the truck isolated from everyone else. In normal times, Leo could easily bar entry to anyone. Emergencies, however, were another matter; the battle in Rendell City had already proven that. If a similar crisis arose, he might have no choice but to bring someone inside to save their life.

?Then there was the matter of the children in the convoy. Leo could already picture them running around the truck whenever boredom struck. If they happened to stumble upon this space... He glanced at the Spirit Garden. He knew he couldn’t bring himself to chase a group of kids away.

?Leo let out a soft sigh.

"Troublesome."

?The fix, however, was obvious: he had to hide the garden. Looking toward the cabin entrance, he called out,

"Storm."

?"Yes, Master?"

?"Can you put a partition around the Spirit Garden?"

"I want to hide it from anyone who enters the truck."

?"This is a simple matter, Master."

?A series of sharp clicks echoed from the walls. Leo watched as sections of the truck’s interior shifted. Metal panels glided out from the floor and ceiling with smooth precision.

?Clang!

?A thick, iron-like wall rose around the Spirit Garden. Side panels extended out to join it, boxing in the entire area. From the outside, the space now looked like nothing more than a massive storage compartment.

?Leo walked around the fresh partition, inspecting it from every angle. He found no gaps. The wall felt sturdy, thick enough that no one standing nearby could catch even a glimpse of what lay behind it.

?Leo nodded to himself.

"Okay."

"This will work."

?Unless someone made a deliberate effort to tear through the metal, the Spirit Garden was safe from prying eyes.

?Leo turned back toward the enclosed plot. ℯℯ𝑙.

"Now all that’s left is to plant some seeds."

?His eyes settled on the empty patch of earth.

"But first..."

"I need to know what I’m doing."

?Pulling out his Origin Card, he activated it. The familiar interface appeared before him, and he opened the shop menu to browse through its categories: Food, Weapons, Medicine, and Miscellaneous. He narrowed his search down to seeds, plants, and anything related to cultivation.

?After a short search, two specific listings caught his eye. He paused.

"What’s this?"

?The first listing was for a thick volume:

?Spirit Plant Encyclopedia

Price: 300,000 Zen Points

?Leo raised an eyebrow.

"Three hundred thousand?"

?It was a steep price for a single book. He opened the description to read further:

?A comprehensive encyclopedia detailing Spirit Plants—including their appearance, properties, ideal growth environments, cultivation requirements, and known variations. When placed near a Spirit Plant, the book’s pages automatically reveal an illustration and detailed summary of the identified plant.

?Leo’s eyes lit up. This was genuine utility. Rather than wandering the wasteland guessing the nature of every strange plant he encountered, he could identify them on the spot.

?He turned his attention to the second item:

?Beginner’s Guide to Growing Spirit Plants

Price: 30,000 Zen Points

?The description here was direct:

?A beginner-level manual outlining fundamental techniques for cultivating Spirit Plants. Covers seed preparation, planting depth, watering schedules, Aether exposure, environmental conditions, and common errors to avoid.

?Leo weighed the two figures: 300,000 and 30,000 Zen Points.

?In the past, spending 330,000 points on books would have stung. But between his recent battles and card rewards, he had amassed a solid reserve. He had more than enough to spare.

?Without another thought, he made the purchase.

"Buy both."

?[Ding!]

[Purchase successful.]

?Two cards settled into his palm. One featured intricate green patterns, while the other bore a muted brown design.

?Leo activated the first card, and a heavy volume materialized in his grip. He flipped open the cover. Detailed illustrations filled the pages, showing plants from multiple angles alongside neat columns of text.

?Leo nodded in satisfaction.

"This will save me a lot of trouble."

?He activated the second card next. The guide was considerably thinner. Glancing through the pages, he noted basic rules on Aether sensitivity, root depths, water amounts, and expected growth cycles. It wouldn’t turn him into a master gardener overnight, but it offered enough guidance to keep his first crop alive.

?Leo closed the manual.

"Good enough."

?He put both books away and reopened the shop window. Now he needed actual crops to grow.

?He browsed through the inventory until an entry caught his attention:

?Spirit Banana Plant Sapling

Price: 15,000 Zen Points

?Leo paused.

"A Spirit Banana sapling?"

?He opened the details:

?A young Spirit Banana plant capable of bearing fruit when cultivated properly. Requires fertile soil, clean water, and regular exposure to Aether.

?"This is exactly what I need."

?He completed the transaction.

?[Ding!]

[Purchase successful.]

?A new card joined his inventory.

?Leo kept browsing. Fortunately, he didn’t have to spend another fortune. In the Miscellaneous tab, three items drew his interest: three distinct varieties of seeds.

?Checking their details, he saw they were low-grade Aether Herbs. Though neither rare nor potent, all three were suitable for cultivation in an Aether-rich environment.

?He bought the set.

?[Ding!]

[Purchase successful.]

?Three cards showing small seed pouches appeared in his hand.

?Leo reviewed his haul: a Spirit Banana sapling, three packs of Aether Herb seeds, two guides, and a functional Spirit Garden. He had everything required to get his first batch into the ground.

?Returning to the soil, he set the books off to the side and summoned the Spirit Banana sapling. The young plant was modest in size, featuring a slender green stem and a cluster of broad leaves.

?Leo crouched by the dirt and opened the guide once more.

"Let’s see..."

?He followed the steps with care. First, he dug a small hole in the earth, set the sapling inside, and packed Spirit Soil gently around its root base. Next, he retrieved some Spirit Spring Water and poured a measured amount over the fresh dirt.

?Leo stepped back. The small plant sat undisturbed in its new home.

?No light flashed; no miraculous burst of growth occurred. Leo felt no disappointment—he knew full well that Spirit Plants required patience. He then set to work planting the three herb seeds in separate sections nearby.

?When the last seed was in place, Leo stood up.

"I hope I will see the results soon"

?He had poured hundreds of thousands of Zen Points into these books and resources, but the payoff wouldn’t come today. It would take days, weeks, or even longer.

?That was fine by him. As long as the crops grew while they traveled, the garden would eventually yield a steady stream of supernatural ingredients. And once he accumulated enough raw materials, he could finally test out the Spirit Wine Gourd.

?Leo glanced back at the small Spirit Banana plant one last time.

"Don’t die."

?He turned and headed toward the driver’s cabin.

?Behind him, the sapling and seeds rested quietly in the Spirit Soil.