Chapter 150: Assassins

Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Assassins

With the newly sprouted avocado sapling securely anchored in the rich soil, Rowan turned his attention to the vast, shimmering fields of the Primordial Garden. The air was thick with the fragrant aura of overflowing mana as the domain’s bumper harvest reached absolute peak maturity. Guided by his Gardener of Eden authority, Rowan began systematically gathering the yield, moving through the lush plots with fluid, practiced precision.

His hands brushed across the vibrant vines, plucking plump Verdant Crown Tomatoes that radiated a soothing green glow, alongside massive, heavy Amethyst Solar Squash pulsing with stored sunlight. In the open plots, golden stalks of Aether-Thread Wheat rustled softly in the domain’s breeze, shedding pure mana particles as he harvested them alongside dense stalks of Vitality Grain. Nearby, rows of fiery Ignis-Bloom Sweet Peppers sparkled like burning embers, contrasting sharply with the crisp, refreshing chill of the Mature Frost-Melons resting in their frosty soil beds.

Rowan moved toward the floral terraced gardens next, carefully gathering delicate Solar-Flax Flowers and radiant Magma-Lily Blossoms, both rich in potent alchemical properties. Bushes laden with glittering Azure Dew Berries yielded handfuls of sweet, mana-restoring fruit, while deep within the dark earth, he unearthed sturdy, nutrient-dense Earth-Core Roots. From the domain’s pristine processing stone, he gathered sacks of finely refined Golden Spirit Flour, derived from the highest-grade crops.

Finally, Rowan stepped back into the orchard. Beneath the canopy of gleaming leaves, he harvested a fresh yield of luminous Amethyst-Gold Peaches and warm, radiant Sun-Crystalline Eden Apples. The sheer volume of high-tier botanical resources filled his spatial storage to the brim—a treasure trove capable of sustaining his squad, refining legendary elixirs, and empowering their attributes for the battles ahead.

Wiping a light sheen of sweat from his brow, Rowan paused beside the young sprout nestled between the peach and apple trees. The ancient stem was already thriving under the domain’s primordial energy. It wouldn’t be long before the extinct ancient avocado fruit reached full maturity, adding another priceless, forgotten crop to the legendary harvest of the Virgin Soil.

[Total Harvest]

Verdant Crown Tomatoes: 7 crates

Amethyst Solar Squash: 5 crates

Aether-Thread Wheat: 12 crates

Ignis-Bloom Sweet Peppers: 5 crates

Mature Frost-Melons: 2 crates

Solar-Flax Flowers: 2 crates

Magma-Lily Blossoms: 3 crates

Vitality Grain: 15 crates

Azure Dew Berries: 5 crates

Earth-Core Roots: 2 crates

Golden Spirit Flour: 15 crates

Amethyst-Gold Peach: 18 Pieces

Sun-Crystalline Eden Apple: 22 Pieces

***

With a single thought, Rowan channeled his inventory authority, sweeping the entire glittering harvest—from the plump Verdant Crown Tomatoes to the warm Sun-Crystalline Eden Apples—into his spatial storage in a seamless cascade of light.

Turning away from the orchard, he walked toward the colossal World Tree towering at the exact heart of the Primordial Garden. Its massive canopy stretched into the domain’s misty sky, radiating a soothing, ancient warmth. Descending the winding stone staircase carved directly beneath its subterranean root system, Rowan entered the quiet sanctuary of the tree’s lower basement. At the center of the chamber lay a pristine basin filled with liquid light—the Primordial Spring Water.

Reaching into his storage, he produced ten sleek glass bottles and carefully dipped them into the glowing basin. The spring water shimmered with pure, unadulterated vitality, capable of cleansing impurities, soothing physical fatigue, and quietly nourishing the body. Once all ten bottles were filled and capped tight, Rowan willed his domain to close, stepping smoothly back through the shimmering veil of The Virgin Soil and landing softly on his bedroom floor.

Walking down to the quiet kitchen, Rowan opened the refrigerator and neatly lined the shelves with the ten bottles of Primordial Spring Water. Knowing his mother was carrying his future sister, ensuring she had effortless access to the purest restorative water in existence brought him an immense sense of relief.

With his home secured and his family nourished, Rowan stepped out into the bright morning sunshine and made his way toward the district’s commercial quarter. His destination was Eden’s Flagship Store, the family business built on the reputation of their local farm’s produce.

Pushing open the front glass doors, the shop’s brass bell chimed softly. Inside, the comforting scent of fresh soil and ripe fruit filled the warm air. Rowan’s mother and father were already hard at work on the main floor, carrying wooden crates and meticulously stocking the display shelves with fresh produce brought in from their farm. Seeing his parents working side by side in total peace made every brutal trial in the Crucible feel entirely worth it.

"Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad," Rowan called out with a warm smile, stepping into the store as his spatial storage hummed with the legendary harvest ready to transform their humble shop into something extraordinary.

***

The moment Arthur swung open the door to the back chilled storage unit, a breathtaking wave of crisp, mana-rich fragrance swept into the hallway. The sheer vitality radiating from Rowan’s legendary harvest filled the cool room with a soft, iridescent glow.

Crimson embers sparked softly from the Ignis-Bloom Sweet Peppers, while the golden luminescence of the Sun-Crystalline Eden Apples and the crystalline purple sheen of the Amethyst-Gold Peaches turned the ordinary wooden crates into shimmering treasure chests.

Martha walked in right behind her husband, her breath catching as she pressed a hand to her chest. "Son, these... these don’t look like anything from our lower fields. They look like artifacts!"

Rowan chuckled softly, leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. "It’s a specialized yield from my personal cultivation. They’re dense with pure, unadulterated restorative mana. Mom, I want you to make sure you eat at least one of those Eden Apples every single morning. The sun-elemental vitality in them will keep your energy up and keep my little sister strong."

Martha’s eyes softened, glistening with deep, motherly warmth. She gently lifted one of the glowing golden apples, feeling a soothing wave of peaceful energy instantly wash away the morning’s lingering aches. "Thank you, Rowan... it feels wonderful just holding it."

"If wealthy merchants or academy nobles catch wind of these, they’ll be fighting over the shop floor," Arthur said, shaking his head in absolute disbelief as he inspected a bundle of Aether-Thread Wheat. "A single crate of these could fund the store for an entire year."

"Then we’ll set the prices high enough to keep the store exclusive and secure," Rowan replied with a warm, confident smile. "And the best yield stays right here in the back, strictly reserved for the family."

With the storage stocked and their hearts full, the three of them returned to the front of the shop. As the morning sun climbed higher into the sky, illuminating the polished wooden counters of Eden’s Flagship Store, Rowan walked over to the front entrance and flipped the sign from Closed to Open, ready to take on whatever came next.

***

The soft chime of the brass bell greeted the first wave of patrons as they stepped smoothly across the threshold. The line had stretched neatly down the cobblestone sidewalk, composed of local regulars, wealthy merchant representatives, and a few off-duty Academy scholars. Despite their eager anticipation, no one pushed, jostled, or raised their voice. Word had long spread through the commercial quarter that Eden’s Flagship Store operated under strict, unwritten rules—and chief among them was maintaining absolute order in the presence of the young storemaster.

Rowan offered a warm, courteous nod to a familiar elder who entered first, his subtle Level 20 aura radiating a calm, grounding presence that naturally quieted the morning rush.

"Good morning, young Rowan," the old man chuckled softly, lifting his woven basket. "Word on the street was that your party returned safely from the Crucible yesterday. We were hoping the shelves might carry a bit of your special touch today."

"Morning, Master Kenneth," Rowan replied easily, stepping aside to let him browse. "My parents just finished stocking the main displays. Take your time." ℴ

As the customers dispersed throughout the warm timber aisles, Arthur stepped out from the back room holding a polished wooden tray. On it rested a carefully curated display of freshly sliced Verdant Crown Tomatoes alongside a small bowl of glistening Azure Dew Berries, brought out as limited premium offerings.

The moment the tray entered the main display, the shop fell into a hushed, awe-struck silence.

The ambient mana lingering around the sliced fruit was unmistakable—pure, rich, and intoxicatingly crisp. A faint, emerald luminescence clung to the air above the tray, washing over the patrons like a cool mountain breeze. Several Academy scholars froze mid-step, their trained senses immediately recognizing the sheer quality of crops cultivated under a high-tier domain.

"Gods above... is that pure elemental mana?" a well-dressed merchant whispered, staring wide-eyed at the glowing berries. "I’ve attended high-tier apothecary auctions in the capital that didn’t feature produce this pristine!"

Martha stepped up behind the front register with a serene, radiant smile, her cheeks flushed with vibrant health. "Please, strictly one sample per customer for the premium harvest today. We want everyone to enjoy the morning yield."

Rowan leaned casually against the main counter, resting his elbow on the polished wood as he watched his parents seamlessly manage the admiring crowd. Between the steady ringing of the register, the hushed whispers of amazement, and the peaceful order his presence maintained, Eden’s Flagship Store felt less like a simple market and more like a sanctuary in the heart of the city.

***

Through the clean glass windows of the shop, Rowan’s heightened Level 20 perception picked up a subtle shift in the street’s natural rhythm. Three individuals dressed in muted grey cloaks were loitering near the mouth of the alleyway directly opposite the store. They lingered without browsing, their eyes repeatedly scanning the store’s side exits and entryways.

They had to be the lingering remnants of Garrek’s faction—or hired eyes sent to monitor his family.

Without disturbing the peaceful patrons inside, Rowan retrieved the Hoe of the World-Tiller from his spatial inventory and stepped smoothly out onto the sunlit cobblestone street. Before the loiterers could register his approach or disperse into the crowd, Rowan drove the tool’s heavy wooden shaft into the ground with decisive force.

[Vines of the Thorns]

A quick wave of 30 mana plunged into the stone pavement beneath them. Within a tight 5-meter radius around the stalkers, the ground ruptured violently as thick, jagged brambles and writhing green vines burst through the cracks.

Thorny tendrils lashed upward like living whips, coiling tightly around their legs and rooting all three men firmly to the spot. As nature damage bit continuously into their hides, the trapped stalkers cried out in sudden panic, thrashing frantically against the unyielding, thorny growth.

The commotion echoed through the storefront, bringing Arthur rushing out from behind the counter with a heavy wooden crate still in hand. He stopped dead in his tracks, staring wide-eyed at the writhing bramble patch and the ensnared men outside his shop.

"Rowan! What in the world is going on?" Arthur asked, his voice low and tense as he stepped up beside his son.

"Garrek’s men," Rowan replied calmly, keeping his hoe rested casually across his shoulder. "During our climb in the Crucible, Garrek’s party staged an assassination attempt on Squad 07. We wiped out his main team inside the tower, but it looks like a few lingering lapdogs were tasked with watching the store as potential leverage."

Arthur’s face hardened instantly, a deep, protective fury flaring in his eyes as he looked at the trapped operatives. "An assassination attempt... inside the Tower?"

"Don’t worry," Rowan reassured his father, his voice carrying an unyielding edge. "I’ve already anchored an earth-ward around the house, and these fools won’t be touching anyone in this family."

Rowan signaled a nearby patrol of the Constabulary. The local authorities arrived within minutes, taking charge of the scene as Rowan allowed the thorn vines to dissolve back into harmless mana particles.

The guards slapped heavy anti-mana cuffs onto the three bruised stalkers and dragged them off to the garrison for deep interrogation, guaranteeing that whatever remained of Garrek’s shadow network in the Citadel would be completely pulled up by the roots.