The Issue of Lake Water

Chapter 21: The Issue of Lake Water

In the evening, when Zhao Hai woke up, the weather was somewhat dark. Merine and the others had also returned. In the evening, they generally didn't go out much and used flares or oil lamps for illumination instead of magic stones to save resources. They needed to be frugal with every commodity.

After waking up, Zhao Hai saw that the slaves had finished their meals and were resting for the evening. In the past few days, they had been allowed to freely move about the castle and didn't need to worry about escaping. It was important for them to relax and rest well.

The slaves were sitting in the castle courtyard, chatting happily. Compared to their previous lives, this place felt like heaven. They could eat to their heart's content every day and didn't have to endure heavy labor. They had plenty of relaxation time, and they were grateful for such a life.

Initially, when they arrived here, they were somewhat desperate. They had heard about Black Wasteland and how it was nothing more than barren hills and Carrion Swamp, a place that was synonymous with death. They believed that they would starve to death if they came here. However, after spending just two days here, they realized that their master had extraordinary abilities. He could transform the barren land with mysterious magic into fertile farmland. They no longer had to worry about starving.

These people were just slaves. They had never seen someone with magic before, so in their minds, magicians were omnipotent and magic was incredibly mysterious.

Compared to their previous miserable living conditions, they were now treated like commoners and freed from the shackles of slavery. With the addition of the mysterious magic, their loyalty and devotion to Zhao Hai grew stronger. Invisibly, a strong bond was formed, and they no longer worked passively but with wholehearted dedication, hoping to escape their slave status as soon as possible.

Zhao Hai stood quietly in the castle, observing the slaves outside. He wanted to go and chat with them, but he knew it wasn't the right time. The slaves were oppressed for a long time, and when they saw nobles, they would become anxious and even kneel down without daring to raise their heads.

Changing a person's identity was easy, but changing their mindset was difficult. It was a long-term process to gradually transform their thinking. That's why Zhao Hai refrained from contacting the slaves for now.

Everything needed to be handled methodically and systematically. Rushing too quickly could lead to problems or even success that couldn't be sustained.

The land improvement and the hope of escaping slavery were undoubtedly crucial for these slaves. Their lives were now filled with hope, and they were no longer spiritless.

Zhao Hai was pleased to see the slaves displaying such enthusiasm because people with hope were the most creative and capable of showcasing their abilities.

At this moment, there was a knock on the door, bringing Zhao Hai back to reality. He solemnly said, "Come in."

The door opened, and Meg stood there. She looked at Zhao Hai and said, "Young Master, dinner is ready. Shall we eat?" Blockhead and Stonehead were standing outside the door, guarding it for Zhao Hai.

Zhao Hai nodded. He knew it was almost time for dinner, but he also felt somewhat sorry. Over the past two days, Merine and the others had not only been busy managing the slaves but also preparing meals for him. They were truly tired.

Although Zhao Hai could prepare his own meals, he couldn't forget his current status. He was being served hand and foot like a playboy. If he suddenly started preparing his own food, it would raise suspicions from Merine and Meg. After all, magic and battle qi coexisted on this continent, and there were many outstanding individuals. His skills were not particularly remarkable, and suddenly cooking would be out of character for him.

The group went to the dining hall and found that Merine had already set the table. There were bread, vegetables, a piece of meat, and soup. As a native Chinese, Zhao Hai couldn't really enjoy this kind of food. However, there was no other choice. Even if he wanted to have Chinese food, no one else would be able to cook it except himself, which made him feel a bit depressed.

After eating a few bites, Zhao Hai spoke up, "Grandma Merine, I think today's actions were too reckless. Tomorrow, we should improve the land in a more cautious manner."

Merine was puzzled and asked, "Young Master, why do you say that? Can't we improve the land? What if we can't improve the land here?"

Zhao Hai understood her concerns and immediately explained, "Grandma Merine, I think you misunderstood. It's not that we can't improve the land, but we can't do it near the castle. Think about it, our current strength is too weak. If these people find out that we have turned this area into fertile land, do you think they will spare us? We'll be done for."

Merine suddenly realized her oversight. She had been overjoyed with the land improvement today and hadn't considered these consequences. Now that Zhao Hai reminded her, she immediately understood. Zhao Hai was right. If the established noble families discovered their land improvement, they wouldn't let them off easily. They would be in serious trouble.

Although Buda Family had signed an agreement with the Empire, it was only valid as long as the Buda Family had a successor. If a noble family didn't have an heir, their noble title would be revoked by the king, and their fief would be taken back. Ordinary people often harbored jealousy towards those with talent. This was an undeniable fact.

Merine put down her utensils and nodded. "You're right. We were thoughtless, Young Master. We were only thinking about improving the land and forgot that the established noble families might not spare us. What do you suggest, Young Master?"

Merine had started to value Zhao Hai's opinions more and more. In the past few days, Zhao Hai had handled many things with a methodical and rhythmic approach. Coupled with his extraordinary abilities, Merine and the others had come to see him as a reliable pillar.

Zhao Hai also put down his utensils, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said, "Land improvement must be done, but we can't do it near the castle. It's too conspicuous, and it would be easily discovered by anyone who passes by. We need to find a more discreet location, somewhere hidden, where we can improve the land without attracting attention. We don't need a large area, just over a thousand mu will be enough to meet our needs. This way, it won't be easily discovered."

Merine agreed, "You're absolutely right. Tomorrow, I'll search for a suitable location around here. We'll make sure it's hidden. What about raising Blue Eye Rabbits and Scaleless Fish?"

Zhao Hai replied, "We should raise them. Scaleless Fish are easy to raise, and even if people discover them, they will just think we're struggling to survive. They won't pay much attention."

Merine agreed, "Alright, we'll raise them. But there's one issue with the water. I've noticed that there are no fish in the moat or the lake in the cave. Isn't that strange?"

Zhao Hai was surprised. It was the first time he had thought about this issue. As a former nerd, he wasn't particularly knowledgeable about fishing, so he hadn't paid attention to it before. However, as a Water element magician, Merine had noticed it.

Zhao Hai couldn't understand why there were no fish in the water. The water quality seemed fine, and it should be suitable for fish to survive. So why couldn't he see any fish? He hadn't analyzed this in the Space.

Puzzled, Zhao Hai asked Merine, "Grandma Merine, do you know why? The water itself is fine. I've analyzed it, and it's of good quality. It should support fish life. So why is there a lack of fish?"

Merine frowned and pondered for a moment before replying, "In ordinary water, there are two possibilities for the lack of fish. First, the water is poisonous and unsuitable for fish survival. Second, there are powerful Water element magic beasts in the water that have eaten all the fish. If the water isn't poisonous, then the second possibility is more likely. There might be fierce Water element magic beasts in the water."

Zhao Hai carefully considered Merine's words and found them reasonable. He recalled reading a news article on Earth about a fisherman whose fishpond was invaded by two powerful carnivorous fish that devoured all the other fish. Similarly, there might be magic beasts in this water, and if that were the case, it would be a serious problem.

Merine noticed Zhao Hai's expression and the worry in his eyes. She smiled and reassured him, "Young Master, there's no need to worry. If there really are magic beasts in the water, I'm confident that I can kill them without affecting your fish farming."

Zhao Hai was taken aback for a moment, and then he understood. This wasn't Earth; here, he couldn't just dive into the water and kill a giant sea creature. But on Ark Continent, where powerful magic existed, and with Merine being a talented Water element magician, she might actually have a way to eliminate the magic beasts in the water.