Arknightcraft Modpack

“That’s right, just a potato. Although, let’s call it a slightly special variety.” Steven spoke without a trace of jest.

He had already tested it before—these potatoes followed the same growth mechanics as in Minecraft, even in this world. Moreover, perhaps due to this world’s peculiarities, even when out of his 128-block load radius, they continued to grow. The only difference was the growth rate—slowing to match that of normal potatoes.

Even so, this was more than enough.

In Minecraft, crops are remarkably resilient. As long as you meet the basic conditions—tilled soil, water, and light—they grow unaffected by weather, disasters, droughts, or floods. Even snowstorms wouldn’t halt their progress as long as water didn’t freeze.

This near-magical plant, so hardy it would drive most agricultural scientists to despair, had immense potential in Terra’s resource-scarce environment. Steven understood this very well.

“Don’t underestimate it. No matter how harsh the conditions, as long as you provide soil, water, and light, this crop can ensure consistent yields.”

“If you manage to promote this widely, I won’t guarantee everything, but at the very least, this can solve the foundational issue of hunger for your country’s people.”

Steven shrugged, confident that the aged man before him fully grasped the weight of his words.

“But most of Iberia’s land is near the sea. The soil and water sources are unsuitable for growing crops,” Carmen replied, his brows furrowed. Was this boy underestimating the challenges? Did he not understand that less than 1% of Iberia’s land could even be considered arable?

“Who said anything about needing all that? I said water, tilled soil, and light.”

“Freshwater is water. Seawater is water. Heck, even the blood of those Seaborn counts as water. As long as it can moisten the ground, it qualifies.”

“As for soil, anything with even a hint of organic matter can be tilled into farmland.”

Steven knew firsthand how forgiving Minecraft crops were. Unless you intentionally installed hardcore difficulty mods, these plants behaved like something out of a fantasy novel.

“If you don’t believe me, you’re welcome to test it. I don’t expect an immediate agreement from the Inquisition, so feel free to experiment with this product in the meantime.”

Tossing a few more potatoes toward Carmen, Steven paused as he considered throwing in some carrots or beets. Then he stopped himself.

Why put all his eggs in one basket? Wouldn’t it be better to have multiple nations investing?

Carmen, his expression now somber, accepted the potatoes as if they were no longer mere food. If what Steven said was true, the implications of this crop were staggering.

A crop capable of thriving in nearly any condition? For Iberia’s increasingly desperate populace, it could be a lifeline—potentially reshaping not just agriculture but the entire economy.

“And what’s the price, Mr. Steven?”

The aged Saint’s tone had shifted. Where Steven had once been a mysterious figure of fear, he was now a treasure trove of possibilities. If not for the clear imbalance of power, Carmen might have considered taking him hostage outright.

“Money, resources, anything of value. I don’t care if you use these crops to feed your people or sell them. Whatever profits you make, I require a 30% cut.”

“In simpler terms, I want to hire your entire nation to farm potatoes for me.”

Steven raised three fingers, looking every bit the greedy capitalist. If only he had a monocle and top hat, the image would be complete.

He didn’t think this demand was excessive. In fact, he considered it generous. These potatoes were infinitely cultivable. One potato could yield three in a single harvest. Taking just one-third as his share still left plenty of room for growth—and profits—for Iberia.

The benefit was large enough to potentially save a dying nation.

“…We’ll need time to verify the truth of your claims and determine whether this proposal is reasonable.”

After a long silence, the aged Saint finally responded. He understood the stakes all too well, and for something so critical, he couldn’t make the decision alone.

“Of course, no problem. I’ll be traveling with Rhodes Island for a while, so you’ll have plenty of time to test things out. Even if you start promoting it now, it won’t cost me anything.”

“When I return, we can discuss it in detail.”

Steven waved his hand nonchalantly, as if unconcerned about the possibility of betrayal. He doubted the Inquisition could reverse-engineer the technology anyway.

As for reneging on payments? He was even less worried. The crop’s growth obeyed his rules. If they refused to pay, he could simply disable its natural growth. Among his many mods, he had plenty designed to make life difficult.

“If this plant is truly as miraculous as you claim…”

“Then your kindness will not only be remembered by the Inquisition but by all of Iberia.”

Carmen’s hands trembled as he gripped the potatoes tightly, looking at Steven with the reverence one might show a living saint.

“Don’t make me sound so noble. I told you, I’m just a traveler—and a merchant.”

Steven smiled, turning to leave. Behind him, the aged man stood trembling, overwhelmed by emotions.

Meanwhile, a familiar notification appeared in Steven’s chat log:

[Under Tides (Prologue) Plot divergence detected.]

[Plot divergence: 1% (Point multiplier: 10,000%), Evaluation updated.]

[Evaluation: Your actions have altered this world’s agricultural framework. Beginning with Iberia, a revolution will sweep across Terra.]

[Total: 10.05 Million World Acknowledgement Points. Settle Now?]

This payout was more than worth the effort.