Gardener of Eden

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Eden x Crestview

Rowan cleared the remaining roots from the pristine earth of The Virgin Soil, setting them aside in neat rows. With the initial harvest safely gathered, it was time to prepare the domain for its next growth cycle and get the fresh yield ready for market.

Rowan reached into his spatial pouch and pulled out three rare seed pouches gathered during their expedition in the lower floors of the Tower:

Solar-Flax Seeds (Tier 2): High-energy fiber crops that absorb and store light mana.

Magma-Lily Spores (Tier 3): Sourced from the volcanic ash of Floor 3, capable of growing in superheated soil to yield heat-resistant blossoms.

Vitality Grain (Tier 2): An upgraded strain of spirit wheat with double the mana density.

Rowan raised the Hoe of the World-Tiller, channeling a soft pulse of earth mana into the ground.

[Skill Activated: Earthbreaker Plough - Celestial Furrow]

The fertile ground split into perfectly even, nutrient-dense furrows. Rowan walked down the rows, carefully sowing the rare seeds into the soil before covering them with a light layer of rich black earth. Using his Breath of Eden skill, he released a gentle wave of vitality mana across the plot, instantly triggering the seeds’ initial germination process.

Leaving the freshly planted field to settle under the domain’s golden light, Rowan turned his attention to processing the harvested crops.

Using the domain’s small processing station, he ground the Spirit Wheat into fine, shimmering golden flour, packed the Azure Dew Berries into moisture-sealed preserves, and carefully cleaned the Earth-Core Roots.

Once processed, Rowan began packing the inventory into brand-new wooden crates stacked along the edge of the sanctuary. These boxes had been custom-ordered by his mother, Martha, crafted from polished pine with dark, elegant lettering burned into the front panels:

EDEN INTERNATIONAL

Pristine Produce & Spirit Botanicals

Rowan carefully packed each box: 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

10 Crates of Golden Spirit Flour

5 Crates of Preserved Azure Dew Berries

3 Crates of Cleaned Earth-Core Roots

He smoothed down the wooden lids and latched them shut. With Eden International’s grand reopening right around the corner, these high-purity, mana-infused products were going to take the local market by storm.

Rowan took a step back, wiping a light bead of sweat from his forehead as he admired the neatly stacked crates bearing the family brand. With his domain reset and the first batch of inventory fully prepped, he exited The Virgin Soil, ready for the next phase of his break.

The sharp, cool air of early morning greeted Rowan as he stepped down into the storefront at 4:30 AM. Outside, the streets of Greenvale were still draped in shadow, but inside, the newly renovated shop was already buzzing with quiet preparation.

At 5:00 AM sharp, Arthur flipped the main breaker switches behind the counter.

The hum of the central air conditioning kicked in, lowering the shop’s temperature to a crisp, controlled chill. Moments later, the overhead misting spray system hissed to life, releasing a fine, cool canopy of water vapor over the polished wooden display cases.

”Everything’s set up front, son,” Arthur said, adjusting the main sign above the entrance before checking the humidity gauges.

Rowan nodded, carrying out the wooden crates packed from The Virgin Soil. Working with practiced efficiency, he unlatched the lids stamped with Eden International and began arranging the fresh produce along the cooled display shelves:

Fresh Spirit-Greens & Herbs: Arranged directly under the mist sprays, where the fine water droplets caught the soft ambient glow of the leaves.

Azure Dew Berries: Set in sloped wooden trays, glistening as the cool mist sealed in their mana nectar.

Earth-Core Roots: Neatly stacked on the lower ventilated shelves.

Once the display floor was fully stocked, Rowan hauled the final 5 special crates—a custom, high-purity harvest reserved specifically for Crestview Culinary Holdings—into the walk-in industrial refrigerator in the back room, securing the temperature control latch.

At 5:30 AM, Arthur unlocked the front glass doors, flipping the sign on the door from Closed to Open.

Not thirty minutes later, as the early morning fog was just beginning to lift off the pavement, a head chef from a fine-dining establishment one street over was out on his usual early morning produce scout. Walking past the storefront, the chef froze in his tracks.

He stared through the glass at the mist-covered display shelves. The crisp aroma of high-purity spirit greens and dew-kissed produce wafted through the morning air, practically radiating quality.

His eyes widened. Without a second thought, the chef pushed open the door, grabbed a basket, and quietly rushed straight to the shelves. Muttering to himself in disbelief at the sheer quality of the greens, he piled his basket as high as it could go, paid Rowan at the register with zero hesitation, and practically sprinted back down the street toward his restaurant kitchen before any rival chefs could spot his secret source.

Arthur watched the chef disappear down the alley with a soft chuckle. ”Well... looks like word’s going to spread fast today.”

Rowan smiled quietly, resting his hand on the counter as the first rays of morning sunlight hit the Eden International sign outside.

***

By 9:00 AM, the early morning rush had quieted into a steady hum. Outside, a sleek, black luxury transport pulled up to the curb of Eden International. The driver quickly stepped out to open the passenger door, revealing a sharp-dressed woman in an immaculate charcoal suit with silver lapel pins.

She stepped onto the pavement, adjusting her silver-rimmed glasses as she looked up at the freshly painted store sign.

This was Eleanor Montgomery, Vice President of Sourcing for Crestview Culinary Holdings—a premier high-end restaurant group renowned for serving top-tier Awakener clientele, elite guild executives, and high-ranking government officials.

The glass door chimed as Eleanor entered the shop. Her sharp, analytical eyes immediately swept over the mist-covered display shelves, lingering on the vibrant sheen of the remaining spirit greens. A subtle look of surprise flashed across her face, though her executive composure remained intact.

”Good morning,” Arthur greeted from behind the counter, wiping down the polished wood. ”Welcome to our flagship store.”

”Mr. Vance,” Eleanor said, stepping forward with an authoritative yet polite demeanor. ”I am Eleanor Montgomery from Crestview. We received word that our private allotment of high-purity spirit crops was prepped for pick-up this morning.”

”Ah, yes. Miss Montgomery, we have your order secured in the back,” Rowan said, stepping out from behind the counter. He gestured toward the rear storage bay. ”If you’ll follow me.”

Eleanor followed Rowan into the temperature-controlled back room. Rowan pulled open the heavy steel latch of the industrial refrigerator, wheeling out the five custom-built pine crates stamped with the Eden International seal.

Unlatching the first box, Rowan lifted the lid, allowing the chilled, dense aroma of pure vitality mana to fill the room. Inside lay pristine, hand-selected Earth-Core Roots and Azure Dew Berries, practically glowing beneath the LED lighting.

Eleanor stepped closer, pulling a small, handheld mana-density scanner from her blazer pocket. She aimed the sensor at the open crate.

BEEP-BEEP.

The device pinged rapidly, its digital readout spiking into a deep crimson range.

MANA PURITY ANALYSIS REPORT

Grade: D+ Class (Pristine Organics)

Mana Density: 98.4%

Slag/Impurities: 0.0%

Thermal Stability: Optimal

Eleanor froze, staring at the readout in disbelief. ”D+ Class purity on unevolved crops... without a trace of ambient monster slag or elemental corruption?” She looked up at Rowan, her composed exterior cracking for a brief second. ”Our standard high-grade suppliers across the capital barely reach E-rank purity for lower-tier harvests.”

”Our cultivation methods ensure absolute purity,” Rowan replied calmly, his voice steady. ”No artificial mana fertilizers, no elemental contamination. Pure vitality directly from the soil.”

Eleanor carefully closed the lid, running her gloved fingers over the smooth pine box. A rare, genuine smile touched her lips. ”Executive Chef Laurent is going to be ecstatic. These ingredients will elevate Crestview’s private banquets to an entirely different league.”

She signaled her transport crew, who promptly loaded the five heavy crates onto anti-gravity pallets and wheeled them out to the luxury transport.

Before leaving, Eleanor handed Rowan an embossed gold card bearing Crestview’s crest and her personal executive line. ”Consider Crestview Culinary Holdings a permanent client, Rowan. As Vice President of Sourcing, I am authorizing an immediate double order for next month’s yield—and we will pay a fifty percent premium for priority fulfillment.”

”We’ll have the harvest ready, Miss Montgomery,” Rowan smiled, accepting the card.

As the luxury transport drove away into the morning sun, Arthur leaned against the doorframe next to his son, watching the street. ”Doubling the order already, and from the VP herself?”

Rowan adjusted his Enchanted Straw Hat, looking out over the quiet town. ”This is just the beginning, Dad. Eden International is going global.”