TAP! TAP!
Ethan tapped his fingers on the armrest, sinking deep into thought.Sophia's absence gave him a rare moment to contemplate.
That memory still haunted him.
Waking up naked in the middle of a field. Who wouldn't be shaken by that? He wasn't a billionaire, but he was wealthy enough to know kidnappings happened often.
At first, he thought the kidnapper had thrown him somewhere or maybe one his enemy had acted.
But when he realized he hadn't been kidnapped and that this was an entirely different world, all he felt was a sudden emptiness.
For days, he thought that it would have been better to get kidnapped instead of being thrown here. At least then it would make sense.
It would have been easier if this was just a normal medieval world. But it wasn't.
When he traveled, he always made sure to join a group of merchants, paying them a protection fee. Along the way, he saw terrifying beasts and people who could shatter rocks with their bare fists. The shock of it all forced him to stay low and adjust his attitude.
Then the system appeared, pushing him out of his comfort zone again. At first, he thought he could just laze around,marry, have children, and slowly get stronger.
But the world wasn't that kind. If you didn't go looking for trouble, some asshole with an itch in his ass would find you anyway. It was like an unbreakable law of nature.
"More than that," he thought, "if I have many children without enough resources, it will only end badly."
So once again, he was forced to act. He kept thinking over and over about what he could do.
He tried to think about novels for some inspiration but it was difficult.
What could he change? How could he use his modern knowledge?
He had seen dramas where people brought guns or advanced technology to change the world. But he didn't know how to make those things.
Moreover,would guns and firearms be really effective against these monsters?
He didn't think so.As for technology he knows shit.Except basic science,he knew nothing.So why not use what he did know?
He began to plan and contemplate.
And then the conclusion he arrived at was to bring…
A revolution in fashion.
A revolution in food.
Creating new forms of entertainment.
"All in all," he thought, "I can slowly shift the culture while keeping a firm grip on control."
The plan was just starting to take shape in his mind when a knock interrupted him.
Knock! Knock!
"Yes!"
"Lord, the people have gathered and everything has been settled. Sir Oliver is asking for your assistance."
"I'm coming."
Oliver greeted Ethan with a friendly nod and led him toward the backyard. A few farmers and workers were already gathered there, talking in low voices. The air carried the smell of damp soil and fresh grass.
"Lord, we have gathered soil samples from twelve regions as you ordered," Oliver said, gesturing toward several clay bowls placed neatly on a wooden table. "We mixed them with water and divided them into two portions."
Ethan scanned the setup and asked, "Have you arranged the lemon juice and baking soda?"
"Yes, everything has been done," Oliver replied.
Ethan picked up the first bowl. The cloudy, muddy water swirled slowly as he stirred it with a wooden stick. People nearby leaned forward, their curiosity plain on their faces. A few whispered among themselves, wondering what he was doing.
He carefully split the first sample into two smaller bowls. First, he poured a small amount of lemon juice. The mixture fizzed faintly, bubbles forming and rising to the surface. Gasps came from the crowd.
"It's moving!" a young boy whispered to his father.
In the second bowl, Ethan sprinkled baking soda. A faint bubbling appeared, slower but steady. A few farmers exchanged confused glances.
Like this, Ethan repeated the process for each region's soil, asking a young scribe to note the results. The people murmured after each test, amazed at the strange reactions. Some bent closer to see, while others kept their distance as if the fizzing might be dangerous.
"The one with alkaline soil reacts more with lemon juice," Ethan explained patiently, pointing to the bubbling. "The acidic soil reacts more when baking soda is added. This is how we can tell which crop is suitable for which crop after analysing the growing conditions."
A man in the back frowned slightly. "So you can test the land without planting anything?"
Ethan gave a small smile. "Something like that. Soil might be acidic or it might be basic. Crops grow better depending on these conditions."
Oliver looked at him in shock. "How do you know all this?"
"It's common knowledge from the Empire," Ethan lied smoothly.
"I see. No wonder the Empire is so far ahead. That's the difference between us and them," Oliver said with a small sigh.
Ethan, unaware that Oliver believed him so easily, smiled faintly. "I'll hand over the list of vegetables. Send a messenger to Sophia. If possible, ask them to buy the seeds."
He stayed a little longer, explaining more to Oliver and the farmers. They listened closely, nodding and occasionally glancing at the bowls as if they now held some secret power.
When the talks ended, Ethan took a deep breath.
'Once I have potatoes and other vegetables, I can start making fries, burgers, fried chicken… Damn, I'm missing them,' he thought. Then his expression stiffened slightly.
'But what about cola? Without cola, it won't feel the same.'