One-Eyed Monster

While the representatives at the Twin Star Grand Hall in Luona were discussing the City Administrative Office’s Gold Room expenditure, Elder Rostellum was loading boxes onto a carriage beneath Guru Mountain in Gaga County.

The boxes were filled with Rum Fruits, a new product he had developed, a specialty of Guru Mountain. Ever since the secret of Guru Mountain was unveiled, the notion of monsters on the mountain was dispelled. Although the mountain is inhabited by some fearsome-looking people, everyone knows they are not monsters. As to who these people are, no one knows or asks, as the treasure hunters previously on the mountain were taken away by the Alchemy Workshop, and the villagers had fled Guru Mountain during the disaster. Though they have since returned, the events remain shrouded in hearsay.

The taverns and inns beneath Guru Mountain are now nearly deserted, with no more visitors arriving.

Some say Guru Mountain no longer holds any secrets because the organization known as Black Crow has taken them away; others claim that Guru Mountain is no longer magical, asserting that the White Cloud Fruit was merely fabricated to deceive; still others believe that Guru Mountain lacks freshness, as everything was leaked by the Black Crow organization...

In summary, the once monster-filled and White Cloud Fruit-rich Guru Mountain ceased to exist...

No one knew that the White Cloud Fruit is actually the Rum Fruit, a naturally alcoholic fruit, now covering Guru Mountain.

To Elder Rostellum, Guru Mountain remains a remarkable place, providing him with a constant stream of gold coins, those golden treasures.

Although few treasure hunters arrive anymore, and the taverns, inns, and Gold Room are mere fixtures here, Elder Rostellum has been far from idle, developing new alternatives.

As a benefactor to the residents beneath Guru Mountain, Elder Rostellum uses his unique charm to rally the people to ascend the mountain. His slogan is to use the mountain to support the mountain and the sea to support the sea. The monster rumors had persisted so long that they were finally verified, and though the village chief and elders bemoan the disappearance of the legends, the absence of danger brings more joy than sorrow. Supported by Elder Rostellum, the mountain folk finally began to march on Guru Mountain.

In just a month or two, the mountain became covered in the footprints of the mountain people.

The mountain’s special products were naturally brought down the mountain.

Although Dawn Peak was once lifeless, now it has suddenly changed. The old trees began to sprout new buds with the arrival of early summer, as if everything was being reborn.

Beyond Dawn Peak, the mountain people finally saw rewards. Various nuts littered the ground, and after a harsh winter, treasures were everywhere in the mountains. Naturally, these mountain products were ordinary things like walnuts and pinecones.

But even these were enough to make the mountain people smile.

Elder Rostellum was not satisfied with these ordinary items. While they could be traded for gold coins, they were not magical enough or plentiful. Rostellum needed a specialty that only he could provide, allowing him to demand the gold coins in exchange, hey.

Thus, Rum Fruits were doggedly discovered by Elder Rostellum.

At the time, he felt his good fortune had arrived. This natural liquor was definitely a good source of gold coins.

Moreover, what delighted him even more was that these Rum Fruits were everywhere on the mountain, especially in early summer when they almost covered the entire landscape. To obtain them, one only needed to cross Dawn Peak and go over a valley...

The discovery made Elder Rostellum delirious with joy, feeling he had finally found new opportunities. So many Rum Fruits could undoubtedly transform the entire Gaga County.

Thus, Elder Rostellum formulated a detailed plan, and the mountain people had specific tasks; the Rum Fruit areas received protection and required periodic maintenance by the mountain people. The Rum Fruit gradually formed a small-scale industry here.

The first barrel of Rum Fruit was sold by Elder Rostellum to a liquor merchant in Liuli City through a blend of persuasion and coaxing. The merchant reluctantly tossed a few gold coins to Rostellum, not holding much hope, as it was just wine, no big deal. But they never expected that upon returning to the city, demand for Rum Fruit suddenly soared. The merchants found that the higher the nobility, the greater the demand for this item. Many nobles claimed it was natural and untainted, a healthy wine, leading to a scramble for purchases. However, the merchant only had one barrel, and the price suddenly skyrocketed. Despite this, demand remained insatiable, with more people offering higher prices. The merchants regretted deeply, driving their carriages overnight to Elder Rostellum’s County Government Mansion, demanding increased supply.

”Rarity raises the price; many of these things cannot be bought with money.” This time, Elder Rostellum no longer begged or coaxed, instead becoming openly proud.

The liquor merchants did not haggle, agreeing to purchase the Rum Fruits at high prices.

Undoubtedly, Elder Rostellum displayed notable intelligence in this regard. Within half a month, Rum Fruits had become all the rage in Liuli City, then gradually spread, until the entire Luona knew about Elder Rostellum’s natural fruit wine from Gaga County, although its price was somewhat high. Originally, the priciest liquor was only around two to three hundred gold coins per bottle, equivalent to two or three gold ingots; yet, this Rum Fruit averaged at this level... However, the liquor merchants hesitated not a bit, instantly paying Elder Rostellum more than twenty gold ingots, clearly wanting another barrel.

Elder Rostellum profited greatly, even unwillingly sharing a portion with the mountain people, still earning considerable gold coins. This made Rostellum feel his good fortune had indeed come, leaving him sleepless for a night or two.

However, good times did not last long.

The City Administrative Office’s Ultrafast Mail Bird brought a stamped directive, clearly instructing Elder Rostellum to report to the City Administrative Office.

Logically, this was a fantastic event. Elder Rostellum directly bypassed Liuli City and was promoted to the City Administrative Office, advancing several levels! Someone else would jump for joy, but Elder Rostellum fretted for a day or two, sleepless once more.

He didn’t wish to become an Administrative Assistant at the City Administrative Office, where freedom was limited, restricting his abilities. The gold treasures would never be before his eyes. Thinking of this, he was even less inclined to go; those golden treasures were his lifeblood!