Cyber Era Witch
Chapter 607 - 516: Suburban Picking

Chapter 607: Chapter 516: Suburban Picking

When city residents were on vacation, agricultural workers in the suburbs were still taking turns caring for the crops.

The Lanqiu Wasteland on the east side of Mingge Mountain had been transformed, establishing the Nestor Gold Medal Plantation. At this moment, staff members were working hard in it.

"Gold Medal Plantation" represents the highest standard in the Nestor Agricultural System. The environmental modification devices were installed more densely here. Exquisite glasshouse towers sprouted from the ground, connected by corridors, with each one covering a vast area.

Traditional vertical agriculture could at most achieve multilevel crop complementarity, but for the mythological agriculture of Nestor Corporation, they could utilize land efficiency to its utmost.

The workers laid planting soil on every level of the glasshouse, maintaining adequate lighting for each floor with sun lamps and a clever, terraced architectural layout. Each glasshouse had about six floors or more, reaching over two hundred meters high. Golden branches stretched out from the "environmental improvement device" at the center of the glasshouse, spreading throughout the layers of soil, enhancing their fertility.

Diligent agricultural workers took care of the crops here. Two hundred and forty people looked after the entire 8,000-acre Lanqiu plantation. Those who could enter the Gold Medal level plantation were all highly recognized technical experts in agriculture. With modern technology, they eradicated diseases and pests, and the crops were robust, full-bodied, and laden with fruit.

The colonel walked among them, feeling a connection. Apart from military skills, the colonel was actually an expert in banana cultivation. Aside from helping Nestor Corporation train the army, he always took the train to the countryside to work in Lanqiu whenever he could.

He was the son of a farmer and never forgot his roots. He had seen too many farmers suffer and lose out in his lifetime. However, at Lanqiu Plantation, the situation was completely different. The crops were taken care of by seasoned experts with rich experience, applying their knowledge and skills. Farmers were no longer synonymous with poverty and misfortune.

The entire glasshouse was summer-like all year round, so warm that it made one’s body toasty. Nourished by mythical resources, the green bananas grew fat and strong. The colonel alone could take care of at least 50 acres of banana land, which equated to more than 5,000 banana trees. His colleagues all urged the colonel to stay and become a professional banana farmer.

The grasslands facing the sun had been developed into pastures where high-quality beef cattle ambled, waiting to be led into the processing factory to become high-end steaks. Nestor Corporation’s employees took care of the pastures, cultivating and breeding fodder crops.

Further away were other vertical agriculture glasshouses, cultivating a vast number of cash crops to meet both domestic and international demands, including plums, persimmons, strawberries, cherries, plums, pears, fava beans, grapes, and flowers, as well as important tea leaves. Due to cultivation habits, the majority of the locally grown teas were green tea.

It was a scene of peace and prosperity.

After the colonel finished his part of the work, other employees took over, and he went to rest in the pavilion in the middle of the plantation. He sat by the round table where rice cakes and red bean soup were provided for free. Looking at the bowl of red beans, he remembered the first time he went home as a young man.

It was the year 60 by the calendar. The colonel had ended the first war of his life, sweeping away all forces in the northern part of the Agave Continent. Under his leadership, the first North Agave State Republic was established, and then he retired and returned to civilian life.

During autumn, he found his way back to the secluded village in the woods. The villagers, isolated from the world, had never associated the colonel with the military prodigy on the newspapers who won battle after battle. They urged him to hurry and take care of the bananas behind the house and the lean fighting cocks in the garden, chastising him for neglecting his wife and home, and accused him, a man of his age, of not prioritizing the village matters.

"You won the war, but why haven’t you brought anything home?" His wife complained from the doorway. She was a witch who had given up everything to marry the colonel, "Where’s your money? Where’s your status?"

"I didn’t fight for those things."

"But everyone else fights for those things. You may be willing to do that, but others are coveting the estate you’ve won," she said.

"It’s alright, we don’t have to worry anymore. The Union Banana Company has been defeated by me, and the whole company is disbanded," the colonel sat in the bare house, his heart clear, "I’ve handed this country over to prestigious people. They are all educated, more knowledgeable than I am in managing during peaceful times. Everyone has chosen their representatives. I’ve done what I needed to do."

"They are all scoundrels." She raised her voice, "You... you annoying ghost, you let a bunch of hypocritical opportunists steal your power, snatch the fruits of your victory, and you just come back to the village like this! And without a single penny! I’m telling you, there’s nothing left in this house, apart from beans and bananas!"

"Turns out we still have beans and bananas," the colonel showed more interest in the bean soup, urging his wife to make him a bowl quickly. While she grumbled non-stop, she served the colonel steaming bean soup. He consoled her, "Don’t worry, they made promises to me. They will make the people of the Agave Continent prosperous."

"You’re too young; they’ve deceived you." His wife sighed, "You helped them defeat the company. They will put on the uniforms you gave them, and soon they will run their own company, even more brutal than the original."

"If they betray me, betray the people," the colonel told his wife, "I will leave the village and fight another war against them."

"... Next time I will leave with you," she said, looking at the colonel, "I won’t let them deceive you."

They exchanged a smile.

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...That was an event that happened ninety years ago.

The colonel picked up a spoon with his dried fingers and looked at the azuki bean soup in front of him, then gazed around at the surrounding hillsides, forests, and agricultural sheds.

In this plantation, there were only lively young people who had pooled funds to buy many things. Every day, new entertainment equipment was moved into their activity center. They enjoyed a quiet and free life, relaxing wholeheartedly after work, under no pressure at all.

"You are indeed here."

The colonel heard the voice of a man; turning his head, he saw a man in a black trench coat, wearing a mask, and carrying a little girl walking into the pavilion.

He had corresponded with Xu Yang, they were acquainted with each other, knowing that he was the company’s internet surveillance director, a friendly person with substantial authority.

"Excuse me," the colonel sat up straight in his chair, "...kind sir, I would like you to help me look up someone, a witch. She was born 15 years after the Witch War, named Katarina Da Garde, born over the Renneru River. She was murdered by the company, but no matter how much I search, I can’t find her final days. It’s as if she has been erased from history."

"Murdered 35 years ago in the Axina Rainforest." Xu Yang had looked up information on the colonel’s wife, "A traitor sold her out to the Union Banana Company."

"I thought the Union Banana Company had long been extinct," the colonel lifted his head, "How is there another banana company?"

"It’s been rebuilt, now it operates independently under the Tortilla Big Hat Company," Xu Yang explained, "Agave Continent is quite chaotic now."

"As always..." the colonel muttered.

The colonel could still recall the initial appearance of his wife when she married him: she wore an exceptionally charming green dress, with a silver-threaded hair net in her hair and a cloak adorned with flower layers on the outside. She was slender and beautiful, with brown hair and brown eyes, known for her strong magic power, and met the colonel at a market, whereupon they decided to spend their lives together.

"I’d hoped it would be me who died before her," the colonel muttered with his head down. Katarina was proficient in a variety of mysterious spells, her magic power capable of establishing special protections and curses, setting up an indestructible secrecy spell for herself and the colonel, ensuring that if they were not killed on the same day, the survivor would live eternally until they avenged the other, "I thought when I woke up, she would be at the door to meet me."

They remained silent for a while, and Little Fool handed the colonel a tissue.

"It’s okay, child, the midwife said I only cried for a little bit even when I was born." The colonel folded the tissue into a small bird and gave it to Little Fool, who held the paper bird up high, watched it with amazement for a while, and then stuffed it into her little bag.

Little Fool pointed to the strawberry garden outside, and they accompanied her to pick strawberries.

Xu Yang carried Little Fool to an area close to the strawberry plants where she carried a little basket, picking off the bright, plump strawberries from above and placing them into the basket, occasionally eating a few herself.

"My strength is growing by the day, and I will soon return to my peak, just like the images of me when I was young that are printed on those cups," the colonel watched the teetering strawberries, which all seemed ripe and mature, "I’ve seen here the economic forms and military structures that can combat the company, all of which have given me much inspiration... I have failed many times in the Agave Continent."

"It’s been many victories." Xu Yang said.

"Many failures," the colonel shook his head, "When I go back this time, it will be my fourth charge against the company’s lines."

"You just mentioned economics and the military, but Nestor Corporation has more than that," Xu Yang nodded, "We also have technology. Tomorrow, the Nestor Corporation’s research department will be officially established. They are key to our victory."

If only this time it is an eternal victory. The colonel looked at Xu Yang, as if seeing himself on a distant afternoon leaving the village. If Nestor Corporation were to fail, to be destroyed, who would continue the fight?

Elsewhere, in the dormitory of Nestor Corporation’s scientific department, Miyazato Kazama sat on the sofa, staring at the smart device in her hand with a speech on it, mumbling incessantly, continuously adding details.

Tomorrow marks the inauguration of Nestor Corporation’s advanced research department, and she must make a speech.

Representatives from Nestor Corporation’s primary Witch Researcher and Human Delegation of 125 people, senior researchers from Xisheng and Witch Researcher representatives of 2840 people, and the recruited 600 Witch Researcher representatives from the fallen Kyoto Infinity, totaling over three thousand high-level experts and representatives, signify a tremendously powerful technical research team. Miyazato Kazama must deliver a stirring speech to boost their morale, encouraging them to serve Nestor Corporation with renewed spirit and vigor.

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