Chapter 112 — The Second Crop Trial
S.C. 1511 — Mid January
Foosha Village — Underground Lab (Botanical Chamber)
The botanical chamber felt warmer than usual.
Not because of the lanterns…
but because Ren had been waiting for this day with quiet excitement.
Today marked Day 15 since the mini-crop experiment began.
Tomatoes.
Lettuce.
Beans.
Six pots.
Three with normal soil.
Three with diluted stabilized extract.
And today—
Ren would check the second-stage results.
Zemo sat beside him upright, ears tilted forward like a tiny inspector.
Ren took a slow breath.
"Let's see if the extract is truly reliable for edible plants."
Pot 1: Tomato (Control vs Extract)
Ren stepped first toward the tomato pots.
Pot 1A — Normal Soil
The tomato sprout had grown decently.
Two small leaves.
Straight stem.
Healthy.
Exactly what Ren expected.
Pot 1B — Extract Soil
Ren's eyes sharpened.
The sprout was slightly larger.
Leaves wider.
The stem was firmer, holding itself upward confidently.
Not supernatural.
Not explosive growth.
Just… stronger.
Ren gently touched the leaf.
Warm.
Smooth.
Healthy.
Zemo leaned in and sniffed once before nodding.
Ren wrote:
Tomato Extract Growth — +12% Size, +8% Stem Strength
Stable. No abnormality.
Pot 2: Lettuce (Control vs Extract)
The lettuce sprouts had pushed their tiny pale leaves through the soil.
Pot 2A — Control
Leaf edges small and rounded.
Pot 2B — Extract
Leaf edges slightly larger.
Color deeper green.
Ren raised a brow.
"So early… Lettuce is usually slow."
He held up both pots side-by-side.
The difference—small but clear—was visible even without tools.
Zemo wagged his tail.
Ren wrote:
Lettuce Extract Response — Enhanced pigmentation, +10% leaf spread
No instability.
Pot 3: Beans (Control vs Extract)
Beans were always honest plants.
They showed stress quickly.
They absorbed nutrients aggressively.
Ren approached carefully.
Pot 3A — Control
Good germination.
Healthy seed split.
Expected early leaves.
Pot 3B — Extract
Stronger early root penetration.
More leaf area.
Less yellow tint.
Ren gently dug the soil with a wooden stick to check the early root.
His eyes widened.
"Well… that's impressive."
Zemo peeked but immediately backed away at the smell of wet soil.
Ren wrote:
Bean Extract Response — +15% early root mass, +10% leaf area
No deformities.
No overgrowth.
Balanced.
Ren's First Big Conclusion
Ren sat down slowly, notebook open on his knee.
He stared at the six pots.
They were…
normal.
Healthy.
Stable.
And the extract-enhanced ones were simply better.
Not dangerous.
Not unpredictable.
Not like the wild forest reaction had been.
This was safe.
This was usable.
Ren whispered:
"Zemo… this is real. We can grow food better… safer… faster."
Zemo nudged his hand gently.
Ren smiled softly and began writing a full page:
Extract-Enhanced Crop Trial — Midpoint Summary
Tomato:
strain resistance
stronger stem
No toxicity
No abnormal growth
Lettuce:
faster leaf development
improved green coloration
No curling
No thickening
Beans:
stronger root formation
healthier early leaves
No twisting
No irregular branching
General Notes:
All reactions consistent with mild nutrient enhancement.
No mutations.
No chemical burns.
No soil instability.
No unexpected symptoms after 15 days.
Conclusion:
The stabilized extract is suitable for long-term edible crop agriculture in small doses.
Ren sat back, exhaling deeply.
This was more than a scientific victory.
This was independence.
If the island could grow food…
Ren wouldn't have to rely entirely on Foosha.
Future workers wouldn't starve.
His merchant group could sustain itself quietly.
This was the first step toward self-reliance.
Future Plan
Ren looked at the pots again.
"After day 30, we move to the island for a real mini field trial."
Zemo barked in agreement.
A tiny supply farm.
Hidden.
Safe.
Efficient.
The dream was coming closer.
Zemo's Taste Test (Attempted)
Just as Ren leaned closer to inspect the lettuce pots again—
Zemo opened his mouth and tried to bite a leaf.
Ren yanked the entire pot back instantly.
"NO! That isn't for eating yet!"
Zemo froze mid-bite, eyes wide with guilt.
Ren narrowed his eyes.
Zemo slowly lifted his paw and placed it on Ren's knee as an apology.
Ren sighed.
"…Fine. But not the test plants."
Zemo wagged his tail.
Closing the Day
Ren covered the pots with breathable cloth screens to prevent insects from entering through vents.
He dimmed the lantern.
And as the room grew quiet, he whispered:
"This is the beginning of real agriculture for our base."
Zemo curled up next to the pots as if guarding them.
Ren smiled.
The crops grew in silence.
And Ren's future…
grew with them.
End of Chapter 112