The Verdant Merchant-Chapter 113: i will update

Rowen gave her a small nod and a polite, "Good morning," before stepping past the counter. He didn't linger on her expression, nor did he ask questions.

The receptionist handed over the small packet of apple seeds. Rowen carefully tucked it into his bag before turning to leave the shop. After paying for it, he was now left with a total of 39 low-grade mana stones.

After buying the apple seed, Rowen didn't rush to his shop, but he had a different goal this time.

Rowen now had quite the money. This part of town was the nearest area to the upper district, where most wealthy families and talented students lived. After some thought, he decided to visit and see what it looked like. More than curiosity, he wanted to find out which additional path he could take now that he could absorb mana. Mage, Knight, or Tamer—he didn't know yet which would suit him, but seeing the difference with his own eyes might help him decide.

There was a building in the upper district called Cornerstone. Every city had one, built and funded directly by the federal government. Everset City's Cornerstone was no different.

The Cornerstone wasn't just a symbol of order—it was built to administer and protect the city. The staff there handled records, disputes, and trade permissions, but most importantly, they kept the federal government's presence visible even this far from the capital. For the awakened, the building also served another purpose. It was where one could request guidance, report monster sightings, and even receive basic information about paths like mage, knight, or tamer.

Anyone could step inside. Whether commoner or noble, awakened or not, the Cornerstone was meant to be a neutral place. The soldiers stationed there ensured discipline, while clerks and record keepers answered questions.

Rowen had never been inside before. From a distance, he had only seen the white stone walls and the small federal flag fluttering at the top.

To reach the Cornerstone, Rowen first needed to pass through the inner gate that separated the lower town from the upper district. Everset City had always been built with two layers of defense—an outer wall that protected the common people from sudden monster attacks and an inner wall that shielded the wealthier quarter and the federal offices.

The inner gate wasn't as large as the outer one, but it was stricter. Guards in polished armor stood on each side; they are equipped with military guns and modern man-made weapons. Each passerby was stopped and checked before being allowed through. The flow of people was slower here—merchants with permits, students from the elite academy, and officials with badges clipped to their coats.

Rowen tightened his grip on the pouch of mana stones at his belt. He had never passed this gate before, and a hint of unease stirred in his chest. Unlike the outer walls, where farmers and hunters came and went freely, the inner gate gave off a sense of authority and order that didn't leave much room for mistakes.

When his turn came, one of the guards raised a hand. "Purpose of entry?" the man asked, his tone flat but sharp.

Rowen swallowed lightly before answering. "I'm here to visit the Cornerstone. I… I want to ask about the awakened paths."

The guard studied him for a moment, eyes flicking from Rowen's plain clothes to the small pouch at his waist. Then he nodded and stepped aside. "You may pass. Don't cause trouble."

Rowen let out a quiet breath of relief as he stepped through the gate, entering the upper district for the first time in his life.

The difference was immediate.

The lower town always felt cramped—rickety stalls, patched rooftops, and the constant noise of people going around. But once Rowen stepped through the gate, the atmosphere changed completely.

The streets here were paved smooth, with working streetlights lining the sidewalks. Most of the buildings were reinforced concrete, painted clean, with glass windows that weren't cracked or covered in wooden boards. Federal banners hung on lampposts, and surveillance orbs floated quietly at certain corners, their faint blue glow reminding everyone that the district was under direct watch.

People walked with a different air. Students in neat uniforms carried books or training gear, likely from the city's Westlight Academie. Hunters and awakened in proper gear passed through, their equipment polished instead of patched. No one shouted prices on the street; the shops here had proper signs, digital displays, and even mana-powered doors that opened with a soft hiss when someone walked in.

Rowen adjusted his plain shirt and tried not to look too out of place. A few glances came his way, but most people ignored him—they were used to the lower town's people passing through for errands.

What caught his attention most was the Cornerstone ahead. Unlike the chaotic sprawl behind him, the building stood in clean, federal white stone, its sharp edges and glass panels reflecting the sunlight. A holographic federal emblem hovered above the entrance, shifting every few seconds between the crest of the government and scrolling announcements. Security drones floated above the front yard, while two soldiers in uniform stood watch by the doors.

It wasn't luxurious, but it had presence—solid, untouchable, like a reminder that the government's reach extended even here at the border.

Rowen tightened his grip on his pouch of mana stones.

Rowen stepped out of the Mage guidance room, the weight of the crystal assessments still lingering in his mind. He glanced down at his pouch—24 low-grade mana stones left. Looking at the wall clock, it was around 2:30 PM.

Even so, his thoughts weren't on money. They were on what he had learned: fully awakened as a farmer, with rare potential as a mage, and somehow able to connect with all five elemental affinities.

As he passed through the gates separating the districts, he felt it immediately—the shift in the air. The upper district was rich with mana, thick and nourishing, but the moment he stepped beyond, the mana was thin here.

It was a difference he had grown up with, but after spending hours in the upper district's dense atmosphere, the contrast weighed heavier than before. He adjusted the strap of his bag and quickened his pace, the familiar streets of the border town pulling him back to his small shop.

When Rowen opened the shop door, Shade leapt toward him. He staggered back a step, caught by surprise. The little shadow creature circled his shoulders, making restless meows as if complaining about being left alone all day.

Rowen said nothing. He just stroked her small head with his hand, calming her down, before gently setting her back on the ground.

He prepared a simple meal and ate quickly, hunger dulling his thoughts for a while.

The air inside felt different—fuller, richer. Looking around, he noticed the tomato and potato crops he had planted earlier had grown even more, their leaves bright and firm. Neatly beside them, new stock had piled up in the wooden shed, waiting for him to check later.

Curious, Rowen reached into his pouch and took out an apple seed he had purchased.

Rowen crouched down, brushing his hand over the dark soil. It felt slightly warm, pulsing faintly with mana.

"This should work…" he muttered under his breath.

He pressed the apple seed into the ground, then poured a trickle of water from the nearby wooden bucket. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, faint lines of light spread across the soil where the seed had sunk, vanishing as quickly as they appeared.

Shade, who had followed him inside the farm space, pawed at the ground beside him and tilted her head with a soft meow.

Rowen didn't stop at just one seed. He pulled the small bag open wider and planted them all, one by one, pressing each apple seed carefully into the rich soil.

Instead of planting them near the crops, Rowen had placed them along the border of the farm space.

By the time he emptied the bag, a tidy line of apple seeds lay hidden beneath the soil. Rowen wiped the dirt from his palms, then sat back, waiting—half-expecting them to burst into sprouts like the others, half-wondering if this time would be different.

Trees would take space, and he didn't want them crowding out the vegetables later. It was better this way—organized and neat.

Shade followed behind him, pawing at the soil where the last seed was buried. Rowen brushed the dirt off his hands and stood, glancing over the line of freshly planted spots.

"Now… let's see how long you take," he muttered.

One by one, small blue screens shimmered into existence above the freshly planted spots.

Rowen froze, eyes narrowing.

[Apple Tree Seed—Maturity: 12 hours][Fruit Cycle: 6 hours after full harvest]

He blinked, reading it twice to be sure. Twelve hours for a tree to grow. Then, once he plucked the apples, the tree would bear fruit again in just six hours.

"…Twelve hours for a tree?" he muttered, stunned.

The glow flickered once more before fading away, leaving the soil looking ordinary again.

Rowen shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside for now.

He made his way to the wooden shed at the corner of the farm space. Inside, new bundles of produce had already stacked themselves neatly: fresh tomatoes and potatoes.