A Beekeeper in a Magical World

In the early hours, a sudden gale swept outside, the wind howling like a werewolf on a full moon night.

Hua Mi set down the "Western Continent Geographic Records," tilting his head to listen. The howling wind carried faint sounds of tree branches bending and breaking intermittently.

The wind's force might have reached level eight. Beekeepers needed to stay vigilant about the weather, so he had some understanding through observation.

In theory, level eight winds weren't extremely destructive. However, these weren't natural winds of Earth.

The outside winds were a result of wild wind elements, which meant they lacked a fixed direction. The wind could shift within seconds, attacking from all sides without any courtesy, making it hard to defend against.

Additionally, during chaotic times, there could be magical effects comparable to spells, like sudden wind blades or fireballs, indiscriminately attacking the surroundings.

These natural magical effects had a specific term: "Heaven's Punishment Technique." Though encountering it was as rare as being struck by lightning, it objectively existed, claiming unfortunate victims every year.

The cottage's doors and windows rattled, the hanging lamps on the walls swaying slightly, but the structure remained sturdy.

Hua Mi speculated that the alchemical techniques used for this wooden cabin ensured its stability.

Solar equipment and some tools had been stored away in advance. The greenhouse and stables outside stood as firm as a rock.

The gale didn't last long, subsiding within ten minutes, followed by a period of silence. Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed across the sky, rolling continuously.

"Perhaps we'll have thunder and snow together, while the ground temperature feels like a furnace," he thought, knowing this phenomenon could occur in most regions, even in the perennial spring-like city of Mordu. There was a saying that the only chance for snow in Mordu was during chaotic periods.

Fortunately, these chaotic periods weren't prolonged; otherwise, many creatures might not endure. However, in terms of survival of the fittest, the survivors were usually robust species.

Continuing under the dim light, Hua Mi delved back into his reading. Immersed in the book, he gradually shut out external disturbances. When he looked up, dawn had broken.

Unexpectedly quiet, he peeked out the window to find the sky gloomy yet the air crisp. The snow had almost melted entirely, leaving muddy ground and visible twigs.

With his psychic ability, he sensed the restless magical elements in the air, scattered and moving irregularly. When these elements gathered, they could cause environmental changes or even invoke Heaven's Punishment Technique.

"All this makes one quite on edge," he remarked to himself, consciously ignoring the restlessness in the magical elements and focusing on his immediate tasks.

After a brief wash and breakfast, the weather had drastically changed. A scorching heat wave surged, resembling an instant leap into midsummer.

Surface moisture evaporated visibly, forming a high-hanging dense fog in the cooler air aloft, seemingly above the treetops, creating a peculiar sight of towering trees.

Protected by the Robe of Composure, adverse external conditions didn't greatly affect him. After breakfast, he replenished feed and water for the deer in the adjacent shed before heading to the greenhouse.

Despite the harsh external conditions, the greenhouse sections were running as initially set up.

The seven small creatures seemed a bit lethargic, but the changes weren't as dramatic as anticipated, affecting productivity at most.

After some work in the greenhouse, a sudden downpour prompted Hua Mi to return to the cabin, noticing a blue pattern glowing on the surface of the small window between the front door and the windows—a connection request from the alchemy workshop.

Injecting his psychic power, the window resembled a portal veiled by a thin curtain.

It was Carter's voice on the other side, mentioning a traveling merchant seeking a conversation and asking for some time.

"A traveling merchant?" Hua Mi immediately thought of a potential opportunity for profit. He knew these merchants typically bought low and sold high, capitalizing on price differences between regions.

If the merchant spotted the displayed bottles of honey, they might seek to purchase some, hence wanting to talk to the producer directly.

Thinking this way, Hua Mi agreed. Carter didn't call the merchant immediately but instead provided detailed information about them, their name, race, origin, and their previous conversation scene from yesterday—all reported to Hua Mi.

Moreover, regarding the honey prices, they had already tentatively agreed upon a reduction of two gold coins from the original price for each type of honey, except for the Blood Honey. The merchant intended to buy one to two bottles of each.

Merchants without a storefront had limited cash on hand, so even if they intended to buy more, they couldn't readily pay for it all at once. Even credit purchases had their risks—unpredictable markets could lead to substantial losses.

Satisfied with Carter's negotiation with the dwarves, Hua Mi's main reason for collaborating with the alchemy workshop was clear: peace of mind.

He only needed to focus on farming while leaving the negotiation to Carter.

With the business discussed, the older dwarf's tone became more casual. "I've heard you have a keen interest in flowers?" he asked.