Cole summon a sharp wind to cut all the mature corn and store it, including its body on one of spatial ring that he has. As for post processing, he'll just hire some commoners and create some jobs.
When he bought the corn, it was the one sold for consumption. Its appearance before were the natural standard of food crop.
When he took out and check its appearance, one could clearly the spot the difference between the corn outside and what just Cole cultivated.
But it was to be expected since it grow from spiritual land.
However, he was surprise when a information panel pop out in Cole's vision!
Glossy Yellow Corn [Normal-Rank]
Affinity : Spiritual
Potential : ∅
[Introduction : A normal corn crop that becomes spiritual crop after being grown on treasure land. Due to limitation of normal crop, this Glossy Yellow Corn contain extremely low amount of spiritual energy. Longterm consumption can bring benefits for normal creatures.]
Normal crops refers to plants that don't carry any trace of spiritual energy, just like the corn Cole bought for the purpose of using it as seed.
Spiritual crops, on the other hand, pertains on crops that carry spiritual energy. Although it was low compare to medicinal herbs, it was beneficial after long term consumption. Spiritual crops were actually the crop cultivated specially for cultivators.
It was a sudden surprise but it was normal since the environment of the [Inner World] is different. In fact, Cole will be more surprise if the corn didn't improve despite the many positive factors that affects it.
Although it was a sudden surprise, Cole didn't mind it much.
Instead, he return on planting another batch. He don't know the exact number of people in the city but there should be more than 80,000 commoners. After all, the former Towering Tree City didn't bother to count the number of 'insignificant ants'.
Cole spend several days inside the [Inner World], cultivating the supplies he intend to supply for the city.
Of course, he didn't just cultivate corn alone. He also cultivate batches of rice for another staple food and some known vegetables like cabbage and eggplant.
Along the way, Cole manage to discover something. The more and longer he planted the crops, the more they improve.
For instance, the last batch of corn he harvested were still the Glossy Yellow Corn but instead of extremely low spiritual energy content, it contains high amount of spiritual energy. In addition, its information stated that it contains enough nutrients to support an adult mans need for two days. This means that a single high spiritual energy content Glossy Yellow Corn can make a man not hungry for two days.
It was the same for rice, cabbage and eggplant he cultivates. They improve everytime.
It was a good news for Cole. He like to eat food since it was one of the joy of being human but he don't find normal crops tasty.
But the improved crops he harvest become more tastier the higher its grade. Cole decided that he'll continue on improving crops for his own good.
Or he could just buy the seeds of more higher rank spiritual crops to save himself from the trouble of long cycle of improving the grade of spiritual crops.
With that in mind, Cole exit the [Inner World].
It was already evening by the time he came out.
And except for his mother, elder sister, elder brother, brother-in-law and Virgo, everyone were already waiting for him inside the main office of the city lord. Some were entertaining themselves like Lucky while some were silently cultivating like Fernan, Fernand, and Fernando.
Cole greet them and interact for several minutes before some ask to enter the [Inner World].
He then ask the others to leave the room and make themselves home in the big mansion as he have something to discuss with Dian.
Dian enter after the room become devoid with other people.
"How is it? Does it proceed smoothly?" He ask the moment Dian enter the room.
"Yes, city lord. The commoners cooperates smoothly."
Dian look at Cole with different light. He could tell that the city lord truly care for the commoners since no predecessor before him care about the commoners with the way that he do.
To former city lords, commoners were like a wild grass, left on their own to grow but were not cared for. In fact, city lord could be considered good and merciful by commoners as long as they weren't being suppressed in outright manner.
"That's good." Cole commented.
Suddenly he remember something important.
"Oh, Dian, I want you to list the name of merchants, family, or group that increase their prices on basic commodities, specially when it comes to staple foods like corn and rice."
Dian, as the butler of the city mansion that manage the city on behalf of unwilling former city lords before, knew the state of the city very well.
The drastic increase on prices on majority of commodities and service in the whole city didn't escape his eyes. However, most of merchants or sellers were controlled by external factors and can't do anything about it as long as the city lord himself didn't say anything.
But now that Cole is showing some concern regarding the matter, Dian could tell that the city lord is about to make a move.
"City Lord, rest assure, I'll take care of this matter meticulously. I won't let even a single of those profiteers escape from my eyes!"
Cole smile when he saw the determined glint on Dian's eyes. It was as though he's thinking that his list would become the divine judgement of those heartless merchant and families.
Afterwards, Cole ask about the statistics of the city.
The same as he thought, not everyone don't have the intention of leaving the city. Basically, migrating into different place is extremely hard, not to say dangerous.
In the road, not only they have to worry about attacks of wild beasts, humans were also as dangerous including bandits but also their fellow commoners.
If they manage to safely traverse the road, they then have to worry about their new life on foreign land. They first have to worry about their home, then their food and clothing.
Only those who have the plan and intention to migrate into another city in the first place that take the chance to receive the gold coins.
In addition, most of those who decided to leave the city were those families that got greedy in the prospect of money. Usually, these families were those that has many heads in their family. They probably thought that with the amount they'll receive, they can reestablish in any place.
Cole just shake his head upon hearing that. Just let them accept the consequences of their action. In any case, he don't have control to their choice.
On the other hand, the same as he thought, the thing that worried the commoners the most is their food.
This was expected. After all, this is not the first time that it happen.
The only pity is that the sudden change happen abruptly and most commoners didn't manage to stockpile foods.
The thing the city greatly needs now is more jobs for the commoners and meet their needs for food. Otherwise, even without the gold coins, they'll leave the city to look for chance to live.
Cole nodded his head since he already anticipate about it.
He then said to Dian, "Then, screen those you interviewed before and look for families that greatly needs a source of income. Visit and tell them that the city mansion will give them temporarily jobs."
Dian nodded his head and immediately made a mental note inside his head.
Cole then add more details about the job that'll be responsible for post processing of crops he cultivated and harvested inside the [Inner World] for several days.
Since Cole still have more matters to take care of, he only gave the general instruction to Dian and let him do all the work for more vital details. For the meantime, what he could give to him were just money funds.
Due to lack of manpower, Cole didn't try to add more task. He don't have much of a choice but to stick on the current project of the city.
"Oh, before I forget; since were now facing a lack of officers in the city mansion, I allow you to hire more personnel. Hire a number what you think is needed and don't worry about money, I'll provide it."
"Yes, city lord. I understand."
Cole then remember the Shattered Reality Dungeon Monolith that is now turning idle inside the [Inner World] since all of them become occupied with their own work.
One of the plan he have for the city is to cultivate a strong martial force. After all, only a powerful strength can protect and ultimately create the safe haven he intend to build.
And the sooner he start the plan, the sooner he can cultivate a strong group of cultivators that'll be responsible for security of not only the city but the whole territory he acquire.
Cole plan to create two kind of martial force. It was like the core, internal and outer disciples of the sect, Cole intend to create a internal and external martial force.
Internal martial force were like the police, responsible for internal security of the city. Basically, it was the city guards changing its name.
External martial force, on the other hand, is like the military, responsible for security of the whole territory, protecting it from any external force.
External martial force is what Cole intend to focus on. All the people who will enter this group will have to make a pact on Ancient Contract of Damnation that they'll be loyal on the city lord, will carry out his order without hesitation, will not share any private and extremely vital information and many more. In exchange, they'll recieve extensive nurturing from the city lord. Cultivation method, pills, weapons or even companion beast will be given to them and most important of all, they'll always challenge the dungeon monolith so that they could grow in many area without relying much on pills or gambling their life on the line.
The sooner he cultivate his martial force, the better.
"Since your about to look for another city personnel, take that chance to announce that the city lord is looking for different talents. Cultivators for the future martial force of the whole city. Secondary profession cultivators were also greatly welcome."
Dian nodded his head as he made a extremely important mental note inside his mind.
It could be said that if one faction want to protect and grow itself, not only it needs to cultivate most importantly its martial force.
It also needs to nurture several secondary profession cultivators to promote the overall power of the sect through formations, array, forged magic weapon and equipments, and to further facilitate and fasten its growth through alchemy.
It was a normal procedure and Dian already anticipate about it. In fact, it'll puzzle Dian more if Cole won't try to recruit talents.
Unfortunately, Dian himself is just a commoner who don't have any cultivation. Matters about the cultivators is not something he don't have any privilege to touch.
No matter how unwilling the former city lords are, martial force is something that they took control of seriously.
In this matter, the city guard head, Roger, could provide more insights and assistance than him.
"Rest assure city lord; I'll make sure that everyone in the city will hear and know you're announcement."
Cole nodded his head, assured. After all, he could tell that Dian can be trusted and he's meticulous with the work he entrusted to.