Xander could not go to the town’s market himself because of the obvious label on him as a Negative profession.
But Gato could.
It cost Gato a pretty sum to get the things Xander needed.
So much so that Gato admitted that they might have to reduce their bread rations or maybe only survive on goat milk for a while.
Xander did not mind.
Having lived a poor life, a meal everyday was luxury to him.
Gato searched the market place for the items that were needed, while Xander continued to work on the land.
He managed to finish removing all the terrible corn plants in time for Gato’s arrival.
Gato, carrying a small sack, met Xander, tilling the earth, and Levi, playing sword knights with a stick in the fields.
"Oh, I see you have been working hard." Gato complimented Xander sincerely, but to say he understood what was happening in his farm was a total lie.
Xander saw the confusion on his face and proceeded to explain.
"I broke up the top soil layer across the entire field, and then set up the drainage’s edge."
"I see." Gato nodded, even though that explanation was nowhere enough for him to grasp what was going on.
Xander turned to him, "Did you get them?"
Gato placed the sack on the ground, "not all of them. Word in town is, there is a war coming. Baron Bones is buying up anything of use in the market, and people have began hoarding anything remotely edible."
The War.
Of course, Xander remembered.
Alex might have been a useless crown prince, but a crown prince nevertheless.
It was normal for him to be invited to the War council table.
There, he had heard of the necessity for the Bedsheet country to engage in war campaigns with certain groups that they shared borders with.
An example would be the Babarian tribes.
Firstly, it was a mission given to the king by the system, and secondly, it ensured total control and domination of the land.
One might say that it was even necessary.
For the citizens, war time was excellent for getting missions and rewards from the system, but War needed funding and food.
Lots of food.
"Don’t worry, as long as you got most of them, we will be alright." Xander reassured Gato.
He peeped into the sack.
Impressively enough, Gato had managed to get most seeds on the list he had given him.
"Good, we shall start planting tomorrow. I have to go hide now. It will be bad if your neighbors see me when they come to check their farms."
Gato nodded at Xander.
"Me too. I’m tired. I have been working all day." Levi gave an obviously fake yawn as he followed behind Xander.
But Gato grabbed him from the collar of his oversized shirt. "You little brat. Where do you think you are going? Don’t think I don’t know that you have been messing around all day—playing Sword knight."
"But Grandpa, even messing around takes energy. And my strength Stat is low. I need to take the mission; Sleeping."
"Nice try. You are too young to even touch the orb, much less get a system." Gato pulled him along, "you are going to milk the goats."
Levi felt wronged, but against his grand father, he was powerless, pulled along like a grain sack.
Xander observed their interaction and smiled before entering the bath house.
[Ding]
[Emotional Connection Depth: ▓▓░░░░░░░░ 20/100]
There it was again.
Another alert.
Xander stared at the gauge.
Physical, and psychological — those he understood.
But emotional? He filed the question away carefully.
The system was telling him something about how Villainy worked that he hadn’t considered yet.
After the bath house, Xander went to rest his head.
When night time came, he woke up. He ate the milk and bread Gato had left for him on the table.
And then he was out in the fields again.
When Gato and Levi woke up in the morning, they went straight to the fields.
Xander welcomed them with a smile. And before they asked, he explained.
"I have planted the spinach and turnip seeds in the main field. These need the least soil preparation and will produce fastest for us.
And right now, I am preparing the drainage edge. We have to utilize every part of the farm to ensure the yield is huge."
Gato’s eyes widened. "But... is it advisable to plant different crops together? I mean won’t they compete and die off?"
Gato’s worry was obvious on his face. Xander could tell that the old man had tried this method before, but with no technical know how, it was going to end in disaster.
"Good question." Xander nodded, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "You see these crops all help each other grow. Also, it ensures we get enough food to last many months. This kind of farming is called, mixed cropping."
"Oh... I see." Gato nodded. He raised his head to Xander, "you know, you make it difficult to believe that you are a negative profession."
Levi suddenly leaped on Xander’s back. "Xander is good guy."
Xander chuckled at those words.
"Go horsey, go!" Levi yelled, pulling at Xander’s oversized shirt.
Xander, unable to resist playing with the boy spun him around.
Levi fell off. But immediately stood up from the mud and leaped on Xander’s back again.
Gato could not help but laugh as he watched the two of them.
However, a sudden regrettable look registered in his eyes when he stared at Xander.
As usual, Xander went to sleep.
He could not move about in the day time like he wanted. If anyone saw him, then his death would be secured.
This became a repeated schedule. Work at night, and rest during the day.
In this manner, many days came and went. Until one night.
As usual, Xander woke up to work.
Levi slept like a log of wood beside him.
But the old man was not there.
Xander did not think too much about it. However, just as he reached the milk and bread set out for him on the table, he noticed the front door was slightly open.
He assumed Gato might be doing some late work with the goats. But when he looked out, he immediately retreated in fear.
Outside, Gato was not alone. He seemed to be in a conversation with others.
Six people.
Baron Bones guards.