"Great! We have a name for it then!" Vastocean nodded in approval, genuinely liking the ring of it, as Ford laid out how the space would actually work.
"Once you start on the structural fixes, Vastocean, we need to treat the whole yard as an experience," Ford said, leaning back with an easy, confident tone. "For starters, we shouldn't just toss tables onto bare dirt. If we transplant some wild ivy or flowering vines from the forest and wrap them around simple wooden trellises, we get instant, private dining nooks. It keeps the street dust off our guests, gives them a cozy spot to eat, and doesn't cost us a single copper."
"Next up is the smell," Ford continued, pacing with a sharp grin. "We line the walkways and window boxes with rosemary, thyme, mint, and lavender. When patrons walk in, their clothes brush the leaves and kick up this incredible fresh scent."
He, then puts his hand in the air and creates a swiping motion as though he was opening a screen, "Now, picture this: a customer watches us walk over to a planter, snip a handful of fresh herbs, and drop them right onto their sizzling steak. Similarly, a family with children would also be enamored by the ambience of the entire restaurant making them relaxed and encouraging to talk more! That kind of theater builds an unbeatable reputation for quality before they even take a bite."
Then, he also started gesturing as though there was a table set in front of him, "As for the layout, we place low wooden trestle tables under the shade of the big trees and set up simple arbors in the open spots."
"For spots within the tavern that are more exposed, we can create a pergola or trellis roof! A wooden garden ceiling that allows sunlight to pass through!" Ford was shadowing what seemed to be like a ceiling as he described, "It is also decorated with climbing vines, trailing flowers and if we are lucky enough, we could also incorporate it with orchids! Soft, filtered sunlight makes people feel relaxed, which means they stay longer and order another round. Even the dishes work in our favor here."
He snapped his fingers as he thought of another good idea. "To keep things uniform and conforming to a single identity, carving rustic wooden trenchers, bowls, and utensils keeps our upfront costs practically non-existent while making the whole garden aesthetic feel intentional."
"Hahaha, wow. Amazing! It feels like everything is coming together." Vastocean could not help but praise the creativity that Ford had just told him
Ford paused, giving Vastocean an approving nod. "You handle the timber, stone, wild vines, and forage the herbs. I'll craft a menu around high-margin staples herbed root pan-sears, tender roasted game, and steeped forest teas. Items that cost us almost nothing to make, but that people will happily pay extra for because of the atmosphere."
Vastocean couldn't help but smile, feeling a genuine surge of excitement. "You really have this all mapped out, don't you, Sir Ford?"
"A grand vision is useless without smart execution, Mister Vastocean," Ford replied with a suave smirk. "Now, let's test our wake-up hypothesis before dawn breaks."
"So, who should take over the body first...?" Vastocean hesitated to ask but he was genuinely hoping that it would be him.
"Of course, it would be you. I have already enjoyed my period yesterday. Thus, it is only fair that you enjoy your allotted time as well." Ford sensed the source of Vastocean's hesitation.
"Thank you very much!" Vastocean rejoiced.
"There is no need to thank me. This is your body in the first place. I should be the one thanking you for being generous enough to allow me to use it with you. Thank you very much." Ford bowed sincerely as he thanked Vastocean.
"No, no, no. Don't be like this, Sir Ford. Meeting you and listening to your words of wisdom are really fortuitous event for me. That's why I am really grateful to you as well." Vastocean also returned with a similar bow of thanks.
"Hahaha, I think we are just both thankful for each other, then. Okay, go on. Now. Test the hypothesis. Remember: focus on the action of waking up while invoking your will!" Ford encouraged the younger one to start.
He followed up with another reminder as he offered a handshake, "After you wake up, prioritize gathering ingredients and materials for renovation!"
Vastocean nodded as he took the handshake firmly, "Understood!"
"I will definitely do things according to plan! Okay *inhale* *exhale* I, Dylan Vastocean, want to wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake-" Vastocean shouted with vigor as he focused on being able to wake up. Then, he disappeared without even being able to wake up.
"It's a success!" Ford rejoiced as he pumped his fist in the air. "Now, it's also time to test a few of my ideas here."
...
"Wake up!" Dylan Vastocean had opened his eyes and immediately sat upright as he looked in his arms in disbelief, "Haha! It really worked, Sir Ford!"
He looked outside the window and saw that it was not even dawn yet, "It's time to get to work for now!"
Dylan got up and went to the bathroom to take a bath to prepare for the tasks that he needs to do for the day. He got his iron sword and iron axe for killing the wild beasts around the area. He also prepared rope to tie and to drag the lumber and dead bodies.
"Alright, let's first get some wood!" Dylan stretched his arms and legs for a few reps to warm up his body.
"Off to Beast Forest like usual!" After going out the premises of the house, he immediately set off to the borders of "Beast Forest" like a raging wind! His speed was faster than a horse as he blazed through the ground!
Beast Forest was a section of the forest where most of the wild beasts and weak Mystical Beasts are found. This is where Dylan usually goes to hunt for food or for trade.
In no time, he reached the Beast Forest and chopped of some wood. The pre-dawn chill whipped past his face, carrying the dense, damp scent of ancient sap and wild loam. To any ordinary traveler, the dark tree line was a wall of looming shadows, but to Dylan, it was simply an untapped hunting ground.
"Alright, let's do this! Hup!" He stood in front of a large hardwood. Then, he started chopping trees with his iron axe into lumbers.
As he wielded his iron axe, he swung with full force to the tree! That one strike had taken already a tenth of the circumference of the tree! Without stopping, he continued chopping down the tree one swing after the other!
*Thwack* *Whack* *Crack*
Dylan's extraordinary strength could chop down these large hardwood that would typically take hundreds of swings for normal humans within ten strikes. Each impact sent shockwaves rippling through the thick trunk, showering the forest floor in fresh woodchips and leaves. He didn't need refined axe techniques; his muscle fibers simply overpowered the dense hardwood like iron shearing through soft pine.
The strength contained within his muscles is absolutely terrifying!
*Thwack* *Whack* *Crack*
"I think fifty trees is enough. Whooo!" Dylan said as he wiped his sweat.
It took him one hour to chop the sufficient timber he required. It would normally be impossible for a person to chop at such a speed but since Dylan possesses a body that was forged from Innate Energy of pseudo-mystical wild beasts. He was able to do so with ease.
The main reason it took him an hour was more so due to removing the bark and the tree branches from the timber. He then, lined up all of the timber in batches of ten so he could tie them up and stacked them into five rows.
*Growl* *Growl*
"Huh?" Dylan heard the growl from behind.
Once he turned over to look he discovered a wind wolf. Judging from its reaction, it seemed that he accidentally lured a local wild beast called "Wind Wolf". This two-meter tall beast is known for its speed and agility.
"Grrr!" The wolf was infuriated that this person had trespassed his territory and woke him up from his good sleep by chopping of these trees.
The Wind Wolf pounced towards Dylan as it exuded the aura of a Mystical Beast!
"Oh, it's just a wolf." Dylan said nonchalantly as he unsheathed his iron sword.
Dylan could not sense Innate Energy so he could not sense that this wolf had already stepped into the realm of cultivation. He did not know that it was already a full-fledged Mystical Beast that had just stepped into the Spirit Realm. Therefore, he only viewed this as an overgrown wolf.
"It seems I can also start hunting now then." Dylan rushed towards the world and seemingly vanished.
"?!" The Wind Wolf stopped on this tracks as his target disappeared from his line of sight.
The Wolf's nose twitched and it sense that Dylan was above him. The youth brandished his sword with overwhelming force that a small gust of wind followed the sword's path but it was not able to hit anything. It started using wind energy to move around swiftly in order to evade Dylan.
"Tch! Shifty motherfucker." Dylan had landed but behind him the Wind Wolf had already pounced on him with trails of wind energy enforcing its fangs and claws.
Yet, Dylan was unbothered. He noticed the Wind Wolf behind him. So, the young man flipped backwards and kicked his foot to the head of the wolf.
*Bang*
The attack had blown away the Wind Wolf and his kick had smashed the skull of the Wind Wolf just like that! An instant-kill for Dylan had been accomplished under the veil of the moon light.
The Spirit Realm beast didn't even have the chance to process the humiliation of being outmaneuvered by a human with no visible energy cultivated; its skull cracked before its wind-infused claws could even graze his coat.
"Whoo, that was easy!" Dylan exclaimed.
But he heard a few more growls and saw five more beasts who hurried over after they heard the commotion. It was two Burning Crown Chickens, a Four-tusked Boar, Heavyweight Bison, and another Wind Wolf. All of which were a two meter tall and were in the initial stages of the Spirit Realm!
They madly pounced at him with eyes filled with bloodlust. But Dylan also did not delay as he used his swords, fists or feet to wipe out all these beasts in succession. They maybe greater in numbers but in the face of Dylan's absurd strength, their deaths were inevitable.
"Great, now I have just enough meat to last 3 days!" Dylan rejoiced in his luck. The poor beasts became a supplement to Dylan's need for cooking ingredients.
"If you guys were Mystical Beasts, then I would be in big trouble." Dylan said without breaking a sweat.
What he did not know that all of the beasts he's slain were weak Mystical Beasts already! If anyone else was here, they would be in shock seeing a cultivation-less cripple had actually killed a Mystical Beast.
"Time to go back!" He put the carcasses of his preys atop the large bundles of lumber he cut and tied. He used the bundles of lumber he had as a platform for the ingredients. Then, he returned back to his home.
On the way back, Dylan would pick up some herbs. Every time, a wild beast would attack him. He would easily kill it and add it atop the stack behind him.
"Nice haul today! Good job, self!"
To any passing cultivator, the sight of a young man casually hauling a mountain of dangerous Spirit Realm corpses and heavy timber like a sack of groceries would have been a terrifying mystery. To Dylan, it was just a successful morning trip for free ingredients and construction supplies.