My Farming Domain Is Broken

Carlos wanted to leave for Glasswood immediately. Kaia made him wait until the cultivation district had guards, food and clear authority instructions.

Cedric volunteered his group before Carlos asked.

Rhea and Tomas looked surprised, but neither objected.

"Why?" Carlos asked.

"Because leaving the moment better resources appear would make our agreement worthless," Cedric answered. "You need someone here and we need to prove we can finish something and be of help to you. That’s it."

Carlos looked at the damaged shields and Common troops. Cedric’s group could not defeat a powerful expedition, but they could watch the channels and send warnings.

One would give them enough strength to delay ordinary attackers.

"We can watch the channels. You gave us access and food. We should finish the work we agreed to do." He spoke again.

Carlos studied him. "If another Lord arrives, you do not promise them anything. Message me."

"And if they attack?"

"Protect yourselves and the regulator. Do not die for crops you don’t own."

Cedric nodded in understanding.

Rowan remained with the preserved fields. Lydia chose to accompany Carlos because Glasswood materials could repair the district permanently.

Carlos brought Kaia, Brann and Nessa. Cosmic brought his two Lizardmen while One remained at the district with Cedric.

Lydia left both Clayborn Masons behind to continue reinforcing the channels under Rowan. She carried a stone hammer herself.

"You are coming without troops?" Carlos asked.

"My troops are more useful protecting six hours of repair. I can protect myself."

Kaia examined Lydia’s hammer and stance.

"Can you fight?"

"No. But I can make walls."

"... Stay between Brann and me if something attacks."

Lydia accepted the order without arguing. Carlos noticed that didn’t say anything.

The northern road showed signs of thousands of passing feet. Broken branches and abandoned camps made it clear that many Lords had chosen Glasswood before them.

Nessa moved ahead whenever the road narrowed. She returned twice to warn them about territorial creatures feeding beside the path.

Carlos avoided both groups. Killing creatures could provide materials, but reaching Glasswood before night mattered more.

Lydia questioned that choice.

"I thought someone entering Hell every time would attack anything valuable."

"I take risks for a reason. Fighting random creatures six hours away from Ironroot is not one."

"So you can make sensible decisions."

"Sometimes," Cosmic answered.

Mira’s meals let their group travel without stopping to cook.

They passed three smaller groups heading back from Glasswood. Every returning Lord carried timber, crystal bark or transparent leaves, but two groups also carried wounded troops.

If they weren’t keeping it all in inventory, that meant their inventory is already full and thi is extra material.

One Lord warned them that the best areas had already been claimed.

"Then why are you leaving?" Cosmic asked.

"The Cooperative charges for every tree and the things deeper inside attack when someone cuts without permission."

That explained both the resources and the injuries.

"Can you draw a map for me of the area? I will give you food in return" Carlos spoke and showed him a piece of cloth and a charcoal piece he got some time ago. Then a wheat cake whose smell made the lord gulp in gluttony.

The man drew the map as best as he could and when he was done, Carlos gave him what was promised and he went away.

"Worth it," Carlos said.

"Still could have been cheaper."

Lydia accepted one after checking the price twice.

"You mean giving less food? Don’t you guys think you are charging too much?"

"Try it once and you will know the difference"

She tasted the Razorback Meat and became silent.

Cosmic leaned closer to Carlos. "That is the usual reaction."

Lydia blushed when she heard that, the food was so good that she lost her cool for a moment there.

The road entered a basin filled with transparent trees. Their trunks looked like cloudy glass while pale leaves rang whenever the wind moved through them.

Thousands of leaves created different notes until the forest seemed to speak without words. Brann’s ears moved at every sudden ring while both Lizardmen kept their weapons raised.

Lydia touched the soil instead of the trees.

"There is clay beneath us with thin glass throughout it. My Masons could use this."

"After we know who claimed it," Carlos said.

Carlos did not touch anything before using Inspect.

--

[Dormant Glasswood Tree]

[Condition: Dehydrated]

[Harvest rights: Claimed]

--

Red marks appeared on every nearby trunk.

"Someone claimed the road?" Cosmic asked.

"Not the road," Lydia answered. "The trees."

They continued until wooden walls blocked the basin entrance.

Nearly forty Lords and more than sixty troops occupied the camp behind them. Most troops were miners, Woodcutters, Stone Dwarves and other production summons.

Unlike Cedric’s group, the Cooperative had organized watch rotations, storage piles and a guarded cooking area. Production troops repaired walls beside combat troops instead of standing around waiting for orders.

Carlos did not like that someone else controlled the sector, but he respected the work required to build the camp.

A banner hung above the gate.

--

[Glasswood Cooperative]

[Entry requires contribution or payment]

--

A tall man in a green coat stepped onto the wall.

Archers appeared behind him, but most carried hunting bows. The greater danger came from three Stone Dwarves beside piles of prepared Glasswood spears.

Kaia quietly told Carlos they could retreat if the gate remained closed.

He nodded. Fighting dozens of production Lords would destroy the resources he came to negotiate for.

"State your Domains and what you brought to trade."

Carlos looked at the claimed trees and then at the armed production troops.

"Agriculture," he answered. "And I came to see who activated the network."

The man’s expression changed.

"Carlos Goldwin?"

Carlos tightened the Warden Chain around his arm.

This stranger knew his name, but this time there was a very simple reason.

His territory was first in the rankings.

"Yes."

The gate opened.

"Then our Director has been waiting for you. We got word you are in control of the Aqueduct"

The Lords inside the camp began looking toward Carlos. A few stared at the strange black chain wrapped around his arm, but most focused on Brann or the polished equipment Carlos carried.

Lydia moved closer without being told. Cosmic’s Lizardmen positioned themselves behind their Lord, and Kaia remained half a step in front of Carlos.

The open gate could be an invitation or a way to surround them.

Carlos entered anyway, but he kept the chain floating beside his arm where everyone could see it react to his will.

He had come to negotiate. That did not mean he needed to look harmless.

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