Javier crouched in the soft soil, nting sugarcane with a mischievous grin on his face. "This one here... and this one here,"


    A short distance away, Buddy and Pikko—therge, oversized Pekko—were scratching at the ground. Theirrge feet sent clumps of soil flying everywhere, but they weren''t helping Javier at all. Instead, they seemed to treat the farm as their personal yground, squawking asionally in delight.


    Meanwhile, Liana satfortably at a portable table and chair set. She watched her young master with a mix of amusement and exasperation.


    "Young master," she called, her tone soft but tinged with mild reproach. "I believe it''s best if you hire workers for this." Find adventures at My Virtual Library Empire


    Javier nced up at her, brushing some dirt off his hands. "Huh? Not yet. After I finish this… hehehe," he replied, his sly grin widening as though he had some borate n brewing in his mind.


    Javier wasn''t alone in his endeavor. Around him, his puppet knight army was hard at work. Dozens of armored figures moved with mechanical precision, their glowing eyes focused on their tasks. Some were nting sugarcane alongside Javier, while others constructed a sturdy fence around the vast farnd.


    Liana sighed softly, shaking her head. "Young master, only you would use a small army of knights for farming."


    Javier shrugged, still grinning. "Why not? They don''t need food, water, or rest. Plus, they''re faster than humans. It''s perfect!"


    Buddy and Pikko squawked loudly, as if protesting theirck of involvement. Javier nced at them andughed. "Ehehe, maybe I''ll let you two nt somethingter. But for now, just have fun!"


    As the puppet knights tirelessly worked and therge Pekkos continued their chaotic scratching, the farnd slowly began to take shape. For Javier, this wasn''t just about nting sugarcane; it was the beginning of another grand scheme.


    "Eheheh... see? Finished in just half a day for this big farm!" Javier stood proudly, wiping dirt off his hands as he surveyed the newly nted sugarcane field. His puppet knights were now neatly arranged, awaiting their nextmand, while Buddy and Pikko lounged nearby, looking smug after their fun.


    Javier turned to a small bundle of cocoa saplings sitting in a corner. "Now, onto the cocoa trees! They''ll make this farm even better."


    Excitedly, he picked up one of the small saplings and examined it, but his grin quickly turned into a frown. "Lianaaaaa!" he wailed. "The tree... it''s dead! Ugh, why didn''t we nt this before going to town?!"


    Liana merely smiled as she set her teacup down. She walked over to Javier. "Let me see, young master," she said, taking the wilted sapling from his hands.


    "It''s no use... it''s dead already. Just look at it!"


    Still smiling, Liana crouched down and examined the sapling. "Where do you want to nt it?"


    "I told you, it''s hopeless,"


    Ignoring his doubts, Liana dug a small hole, gently ced the sapling inside, and covered the roots with soil. Then, she poured a bit of water from a sk she carried and ced her hands over the young tree. A soft green glow emanated from her palms as she channeled her magic into the nt. Slowly, the sapling began to straighten, its leaves regaining their vibrant green hue.


    Javier''s eyes widened in awe. "Ohhh!!! I didn''t know you had that kind of magic!"


    "Hmm? This is nothing special. As long as the tree isn''tpletely dried out, we elves know how to revive it."


    Javier leaned closer, curiosity piqued. "You mean all elves can do this? That''s amazing!"


    She smiled gently. "It''s just part of our affinity with nature, young master. Trees and nts are deeply connected to us."


    Javier stood up, rubbing his chin as if pondering something profound. Then he grinned. "Alright! With your magic, this farm is going to be the best in the region!"


    "Now, now, young master," Liana said gently, ncing at the waterway Javier had constructed on the farm. The smooth channels directed water efficiently across the field, a clear sign of his ingenuity. She smiled, clearly impressed.


    "Perhaps it''s better to hire workers to look after this farm. This system you''ve created will make their job much easier—especially for watering."


    "Hmm... but how much would we have to pay them?"


    "Two silver coins a month per worker," Liana replied calmly.


    Javier raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Oh? That low?"


    "Hmm? That''s actually quite high, young master. Do you know how much workers in other ces earn? Most farmborers barely make one silver coin a month. Here, under the Armand household, even the maids earn five to seven silver coins because they''re special recruits—trained in defense, offense, and many other skills."@@novelbin@@


    Javier blinked, absorbing the information. "Wait, so the average worker only earns... what? One silver to two silver coins a month?"


    "Exactly," Liana nodded. "That''s why working for the Armand household is considered prestigious. Even for ordinary tasks, workers under your family are well-paidpared to others."


    "Ohhhh!! No wonder when Father opened the hiring before, so many people tried to join!" Javier eximed, a spark of realization lighting his amber eyes.


    Liana nodded with a soft smile. "Exactly, young master. The Armand household is known for treating its employees well. Even the soldiers in the barracks earn four to six silver coins a month. And that''s not all—they''re provided with a ce to live, food during work hours, and regr training to improve their skills."


    Javier scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Wow... I guess I never really thought about how much Father invests in the people who work for us."


    "It''s one of the reasons the Armand household is so respected, not just in this region but beyond," Liana added. "Your father believes in fostering loyalty through fairness and opportunity, and it''s paid off. That''s why even during tough times, the people here stand by your family."


    Javier crossed his arms, nodding thoughtfully. "Hmm... That''s smart. Treat people right, and they''ll have your back. I should keep that in mind for when I grow up and manage things myself."


    Liana chuckled softly. "You already have the right mindset, young master. Though... perhaps a little less teasing and more focus would be wise."


    "Hey, teasing is part of my charm!" Javier shot back with a cheeky grin, earning an exasperated but fond shake of the head from Liana.


    As they continued discussing ns for the farm, Javier couldn''t help but feel a growing appreciation for how his family managed their responsibilities. It wasn''t just about power or wealth—it was about creating amunity that thrived together.


    "Hmmm... I wonder who we should hire?" Javier mused, tapping his chin while looking at the freshly nted farm.


    Liana, everposed, replied, "Young master, you cannot just randomly hire anyone. We need trustworthy and skilled workers."


    Javier groaned, slumping slightly. "Ugh... that''s too much effort."


    After a brief pause, Liana suggested with a small smile, "How about asking the butler, Mr. Alf, for assistance in this matter? He has a keen eye for evaluating people."


    Javier froze, a look of mock horror crossing his face. "Ugh... the serious old man? Guh... he''ll lecture me for hours about responsibility, diligence, and who knows what else!"


    Liana chuckled softly. "That may be true, young master, but you know he always has your best interests at heart. And no one is better at ensuring we hire the right people."


    Javier sighed dramatically, throwing his arms in the air. "Fine, fine! I''ll ask Mr. Alf. But if he starts lecturing me, I''m ming you!"


    Liana''s emerald eyes sparkled with amusement. "Of course, young master. I''ll be sure to take full responsibility."


    Javier grumbled under his breath but couldn''t help the small grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Deep down, he knew Liana was right—even if dealing with Alf wasn''t his favorite task.


    ( End of Chapter )