Gardener of Eden

Chapter 152: Chapter 152: Expansion

With the morning sun casting a warm hue over the city, the family packed up the day’s fresh produce and made their way to Eden’s Flagship Store. The moment they arrived, Rowan unlocked the main doors and carefully set to work preparing the centerpiece of today’s display. Right at the front counter, inside a pristine glass case lit by a soft mana-lamp, he arranged three of the Sun-Gilded Jade Avocados. Resting on a bed of dark velvet, their rich emerald rinds and faint golden under-glow looked less like simple farm produce and more like rare, magical gemstones.

Leaving his parents to finish arranging the standard crates, Rowan stepped out into the bustling street and headed down to the district’s favorite artisan bakery. The rich scent of toasted grains and melting butter greeted him as he pushed through the shop door. He purchased a few freshly baked, thick-crust loaves—still radiating oven warmth—before making his way back to the store.

Back inside, Rowan set up a neat, sparkling tasting station right beside the main register. He retrieved a wooden cutting board, a small fire-elemental heating plate for quick crisping, and a shaker of flaky sea salt. Beside the glass display case, he placed a small, handwritten card.

To celebrate the official debut of the restored crop, Eden’s Flagship Store would be giving away ten complimentary slices of warm Sun-Gilded Jade Avocado on toast to ten lucky winners chosen at random from the day’s patrons.

When the front doors officially opened, the waiting crowd stepped inside with their usual quiet reverence. It didn’t take long for the first customer—a local herb merchant named Tobias—to complete his purchase. As Martha handed him his receipt, a subtle charm built into the counter chimed with a soft, melodic ring, signaling the very first lucky winner.

Rowan immediately stepped up to the station. He sliced a thick piece of fresh artisan bread, toasted it to a golden crisp, and spread a generous layer of the creamy, golden-jade pulp across the top before finishing it with a pinch of sea salt. As he handed the plate to Tobias, the rich, nutty fragrance drifted through the showroom, instantly drawing every eye in the store.

Tobias took his first bite, his eyes widening as the velvety, mana-dense pulp melted across his palate, sending a wave of warm, invigorating energy through his entire body. A hushed murmur of sheer awe swept through the crowd, turning an ordinary morning into an unforgettable celebration.

***

The soft chime of the store bell rang out again as Master Corin, a renowned head chef who ran a high-end restaurant in the neighboring town of Riverbend, approached the front counter. His woven basket was already carefully packed with a vibrant spread of Aether-Thread Wheat, Verdant Crown Tomatoes, and two of the prized Sun-Gilded Jade Avocados.

Corin wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, offering Martha and Rowan a look of profound, culinary reverence. ”Martha, Rowan... I have to ask,” Corin began, leaning slightly over the polished counter. ”Do you have any plans to expand Eden’s Flagship Store to the neighboring towns? I make the two-hour ride from Riverbend every single morning before dawn just to line up here. If I don’t, my rival kitchens buy up the regional markets, but honestly... ever since I started infusing your mana-dense produce into my signature dishes, my patrons refuse to eat anywhere else.”

Martha smiled warmly, resting a gentle hand over her heart, touched by the veteran chef’s dedication. ”We’re so honored, Corin. But with our lower fields and Rowan’s specialized harvests, keeping up with demand right here in the Citadel is already keeping Arthur and me on our toes.” She gently glanced at Rowan, knowing her current pregnancy meant expanding physical storefronts was far too much strain for their family to manage alone.

Rowan leaned against the counter, considering the chef’s request carefully. Expanding physical stores would dilute the exclusivity of their produce and place unnecessary burden on his parents, but the demand beyond the Citadel’s walls was undeniable.

”Opening full branch stores in neighboring towns would stretch my family too thin, Master Corin,” Rowan explained calmly, his voice grounded and confident. ”However, we’ve been considering setting up a restricted Wholesale Reservation System for premier establishments like yours. Instead of making you race the morning crowd every day, we could allocate a dedicated weekly quota of our high-tier crops—transported safely via private merchant escorts directly to your kitchen in Riverbend.”

Chef Corin’s eyes lit up with absolute relief. ”A dedicated supply route? Gods above, Rowan, that would save my restaurant! I’d gladly pay double the standard transport fee just to guarantee a direct line to your domain’s yield.”

”Then we have a deal,” Rowan said with a warm smile, shaking the grateful chef’s hand. ”We’ll keep the heart of Eden right here, but we’ll make sure the surrounding towns get a taste of what we cultivate.”

***

Stepping away from the bustling counter, Rowan pulled out his phone and brought up Squad 07’s group chat. His conversation with Chef Corin had sparked an ideal solution—one that would expand the reach of the domain’s legendary harvest across neighboring towns without placing an ounce of extra stress on his mother and father. Instead of handing over supply lines to outside merchants, he could put the opportunity directly into the hands of the people he trusted with his life.

Rowan typed out a detailed proposal to Mirei, Caelen, and Seraphina:

”Hey guys. Demand for the store’s produce is blowing up outside the Citadel, but my parents and I aren’t expanding physical corporate branches ourselves. How would you three feel about opening and running Eden’s Flagship Store franchises in your hometowns? I’ll handle the high-tier supply directly from my domain, and you keep the lion’s share of the profits for managing local store operations and security.”

It took less than ten seconds for the screen to light up with rapid notifications.

Mirei: ”WAIT, ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Rowan, do you have any idea how fast Sun-Gilded Jade Avocados and Eden Apples would sell in our district?! I’m in! Caelen is literally doing a double-take over my shoulder right now!”

Caelen: ”She isn’t exaggerating. Rowan, that’s a massive offer. Having an exclusive supply of your domain’s yields would completely secure our family’s finances and fund our squad’s equipment for future tower climbs. Count us both in 100%.”

Seraphina: ”A masterstroke, Rowan. Distributing domain-tier produce strictly through Squad 07 keeps our supply chain completely secure and locked within our inner circle. The elite families in my territory will be lining up around the block. Send over the terms—my family’s estate will fund the store construction personally.”

Rowan smiled, pocketing his phone as his squad members immediately began tossing around store designs, location scouting, and grand opening dates in the group text. By partnering with Squad 07, he was turning their tower-honed bond into a powerful, unbreakable trade network—ensuring every regional branch was guarded by elite climbers while bringing lasting prosperity to the team that had stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him in the Crucible.