Messy Farm

Chapter 45

In one corner of Mary's farm, three figures emerged cautiously from a hidden passage tucked away in the farm's corner.

Upon reaching Mary's farm, Roger and his companions carefully surveyed the surroundings, their expressions shifting to a state of awe.

"It seems this kid has high hopes for this previously unprofitable farm," Roger remarked, nodding in acknowledgment.

He then instructed his two associates to conduct thorough searches of the area. Roger himself wasn't idle; he actively observed the state of the farm.

Through his observations, Roger made a significant discovery – everything on the farm was meticulously tended to, and there was even surplus fertilizer stored in the warehouse.

After completing their rounds, the group reconvened for a discussion.

"Well, did you find anything suspicious?" Roger inquired.

"No, boss."

"Yes, not a thing, boss."

"Is the taste of the fruit as bad as people claim?"

"Yes, boss. The fruit is indeed very unpleasant."

Upon hearing his men's responses, Roger nodded. Despite their explanations, he decided to sample some fruit himself. Unfortunately, all three fruits he tried shared the same undesirable taste.

Following the fruit tasting, the group thoroughly inspected every corner of the farm. As they observed the consistently poor quality of the fruit, they refrained from further sampling.

Satisfied with their investigation, Roger nodded and issued orders to his associates.

"Alright, since we've conducted a thorough inspection and found nothing, we'll be leaving soon. But before that, you both can damage some of the fruit trees."

Both of his associates nodded in agreement and began to carry out the task. The orchard quickly descended into chaos as they carried out their orders.

Once the intended chaos was achieved, the group exited the farm using the same hidden passage as before.

The following day, Alex was utterly astonished by the scene that greeted him at the farm.

"Damn, did a wild boar rampage through the farm?" Alex questioned, his skepticism evident.

He surveyed his surroundings, examining the farm's perimeter for any signs of damage. To his surprise, the fences remained intact and the aftermath of the chaos didn't resemble the destruction caused by a wild boar.

Alex continued his inspection, gradually arriving at the realization that the havoc was the result of human activity. This discovery left him feeling disheartened, as it indicated that the trespasser had found alternative means of entering the farm.

His mood soured further when he noticed that the farm's gate remained undisturbed in its original position, affirming that the intruder had employed methods beyond that entrance.

Perplexed about how to proceed, Alex decided to enlist the help of his dog, Jamu, to uncover the origin of the intruders.

With Jamu at his side, Alex meticulously examined every trace left behind by these enigmatic individuals. Crushed trees and partially-eaten fruit offered hints of their presence.

Initially apprehensive, Alex's anxiety began to wane when he realized that the intruders hadn't targeted his precious peaches. It appeared that they had sensed something amiss.

Equipped with the partially-eaten fruit, Alex instructed Jamu to track the intruders' path. After a thorough search, the dog and man eventually arrived at a corner of the farm, where a stack of rocks caught their attention. Among them was a narrow, inconspicuous crevice, designed in such a way that it wouldn't draw much notice.

Alex validated the existence of the crevice using his heightened awareness, confirming the presence of a concealed passage. With this assurance, he and Jamu ventured into the hidden path to investigate further.

To his astonishment, Alex discovered that the passage, though narrow, was traversable. This realization led him to speculate that the intruders might be individuals from his past gang, as they would be privy to such hidden features on his farm.

Feeling somewhat helpless, Alex pondered over the puzzling question of why these individuals continued to target him, even after he had distanced himself from the gang.

Observing the concealed passage, Alex found himself uncertain about the appropriate course of action. He considered the idea of dismantling it, yet hesitated, fearing that such an action might alert the intruders.

After pondering for a while, Alex eventually devised a plan that seemed fitting for the situation. He returned to his farm, taking the opportunity to tidy up the area and infuse the trees with the revitalizing dew of life.

Following this, Alex set off with Jamu towards the mountain. As they walked side by side, Alex contemplated inviting Jamu to join him in a forest hunt. The once ordinary yellow dog had significantly evolved in intelligence after consuming potions meant to enhance both its spiritual and physical attributes.

As Alex threaded through the terrain, he took careful measures to mask both his and Jamu's scents. Meanwhile, Alex seized the opportunity to gather various items into the spatial ring. However, his primary focus lay on acquiring snakes, scorpions, and other small, venomous creatures.

Having amassed enough of these creatures, Alex's mind shifted to other activities while exploring the forest. He followed Jamu's lead until they stumbled upon a large wild boar engrossed in its meal on the forest floor.

Alex gestured to Jamu to remain calm while he extracted a shotgun from his storage ring. With the firearm in hand, Alex meticulously aimed at the wild boar, fully absorbed in the task. His concentration reached a point of singular focus.

A sharp report echoed through the woods as the gunshot reverberated.

Bang!

The peaceful silence of the forest was shattered by the explosive sound, triggering a sudden uproar that engulfed the surroundings. Unperturbed by the ensuing chaos, Alex swiftly made his way to where the wild boar was located.

Upon reaching the scene, Alex observed the massive wild boar thrashing violently, its body ensnared in a chaotic swirl of blood and destruction. Despite its formidable vitality, the boar's struggles gradually subsided over a few minutes until it finally came to a halt.

Taking his time to assess the situation from a safe distance, Alex eventually moved away with Jamu by his side. The duo proceeded to inspect their successful hunt, revealing a colossal boar adorned with bristly hair and menacing yellow tusks—a truly fearsome sight.

Realizing the potential danger posed by engaging in a confrontation with the massive boar, Alex quickly dismissed the thought. Instead, he opted to dissect the boar, reserving a portion of its entrails to feed Jamu. Prepared to transport the carcass into his storage ring, Alex was momentarily sidetracked by an unexpected scent that wafted through the air—a medicinal fragrance that piqued his curiosity.

Determined to investigate, Alex followed the aroma's trail, eventually tracing it to the remains of the recently defeated boar. To his astonishment, nestled amidst the carcass was an unfinished ginseng root, its age denoting it to be over half a century old. Frustration gripped Alex, contemplating how such a precious herb had been devoured indiscriminately by the voracious boar.

"Blast it! Pigs may eat anything, but why must you consume this invaluable treasure?" Alex exclaimed, a hint of regret tingeing his words.

Alex placed the wild boar inside the storage space, and then delicately held the ginseng fragment between his fingers. Just as he was contemplating heading home, a sudden realization struck him. He turned his attention to his faithful yellow sheepdog companion, Jamu, who was by his side.

Jamu, sensing his master's focus, turned his head with a curious look, as if inquiring, "What's the matter, master? Are you planning to treat me to another scrumptious pork treat?"

Amidst the dog's hopeful gaze, Alex disregarded any hesitation and carefully sliced open the ginseng, revealing its precious interior. He then aimed the exposed ginseng flesh toward Jamu's mouth. However, the dog instinctively recoiled, clearly hesitant to consume the unfamiliar herb.

"Smell this out," Alex instructed, noticing Jamu's reluctance.

Receiving the command, the Yellow Shepherd Dog initially appeared puzzled, its demeanor seemingly asking for clarification from its master. Alex, observing the dog's confusion, let out a slightly exasperated sigh. However, just as he was about to give up and head home, the yellow sheepdog abruptly dashed off in a specific direction.

Witnessing this sudden behavior change, a glimmer of hope surged within Alex. The yellow sheepdog continued its brisk run for a while before finally coming to a stop. Letting out a series of barks, it directed Alex's attention towards a certain spot, its gaze alternating between Alex and the indicated area.

Wang!

Wang!

Initially skeptical, Alex couldn't help but wonder if it was a mere coincidence that the dog had led him to an area where ginseng was growing nearby.

Upon reaching the indicated spot, Alex realized that the dog had indeed discovered ginseng. However, the ginseng they stumbled upon was relatively young, perhaps less than a decade old, resulting in its medicinal potency being somewhat limited.

Nonetheless, Alex tended to it carefully, not driven by avarice for trivial gains, but rather to transplant this ginseng into his ring space. His motivation was rooted in the desire to nurture and cultivate the plant for its potential benefits.

With the ginseng transplantation plan in mind, Alex efficiently organized his actions. He instructed the yellow sheepdog to scour the area once more, this time following the lingering scent of the 50-year-old ginseng.

This collaborative effort between Alex and his faithful companion yielded a satisfying yield. They encountered several ginseng plants, although these were of relatively younger vintage, around two decades at most. Despite this, Alex remained content and appreciative, as the opportunity to cultivate these wild ginseng plants in his private garden was a valuable achievement.

Believing he had amassed a sufficient harvest for the time being, Alex made ready to depart the forest with Jamu by his side. As they journeyed homeward, their path remained unobstructed. However, after some time had passed, Jamu suddenly darted off in a decisive direction, as if enticed by an intriguing discovery.

Observing this, Alex's apprehension grew, prompting him to hasten his pace toward the yellow sheepdog.

"Wang! Wang!"

The canine companion barked insistently, directing attention to a specific direction.

Guided by the dog's cues, Alex shifted his gaze in that indicated direction, only to find himself taken aback.

"Ah, this..."

...

thanks to: John_Carlo_Jalasco, yasir321 for power stone.