Lucas had no doubts about the success of the seeder's development. He had provided detailed blueprints and explained the underlying principles, drawing on knowledge from Earth, where such a device had been successfully created centuries ago. If the Agricultural Research Institute couldn't produce a working model with such clear guidance, then it would be time to replace the manager with someone more competent. Lucas's confidence in his team was high, but his expectations were equally stringent—he demanded results, and he expected nothing less than excellence.
"Oh, and one more thing," Annie said, reaching into her leather satchel and pulling out a neatly folded document, its edges crisp and its surface marked with Lucas's distinctive seal. She handed it to the manager, her tone brisk and businesslike. "This is the Young Master's directive for the development of a large-scale seeder. You are to begin research and production immediately."
"Yes, Miss Annie," The manager replied, bowing slightly as he accepted the document. He unfolded it carefully, his eyes scanning the detailed diagrams and notes, but as he read, a troubled expression crept across his weathered face, his brow furrowing in concern.
Annie noticed his hesitation and raised an eyebrow, her fox ears twitching with curiosity. "What's the problem? Speak up," She prompted, her voice firm but not unkind.
The manager hesitated for a moment, choosing his words carefully before responding. "Miss Annie, a seeder of this size would require at least four draft horses to pull it, and even then, its speed would be limited. Compared to the current seeder, I'm afraid it wouldn't offer a significant improvement in efficiency," He explained, pointing to a section of the blueprint that highlighted the machine's dimensions and weight. He had quickly identified the design's primary challenge—its sheer scale, which seemed impractical given the limitations of animal power.
Annie nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she waved off his concerns with a light chuckle. "Ah, that. Don't worry about it," She said, her tone reassuring. "The Young Master has already addressed the issue of power. This large seeder isn't designed to be pulled by horses. Just follow the plans as they are, and leave the rest to him."
The manager's expression brightened, a wave of relief washing over him as he bowed again, his confidence restored. "Understood, Miss Annie," He said, his voice firm. If Lucas had devised an alternative power source, then there was no need for further concern—his ingenuity was legendary, and the manager trusted that the Young Master's vision would prove sound.
"Good. Now, let's go inspect the production of the farm tools," Annie said, her tone shifting to one of determination. She wanted to see the workshop's operations with her own eyes, ensuring that everything was proceeding according to plan. Lucas had instilled in her the importance of thorough oversight, and she took her responsibilities seriously, knowing that even the smallest oversight could have significant consequences.
"Of course, Miss Annie. Please follow me," The manager said, bowing once more before leading the way, his steps quick and purposeful as he guided Annie and Freya through the bustling workshop.
As they toured the facility, Annie's sharp eyes scanned every detail, her mind alert for any potential issues. She corrected several unsafe practices that could lead to fires, her voice firm but calm as she pointed out the dangers to the workers. Lucas had always emphasized the importance of fire safety, warning that a single spark could undo months of hard work, reducing valuable equipment and resources to ash. Annie took his lessons to heart, ensuring that the workshop operated with the utmost care and precision.
Once satisfied with the inspection, Annie and Freya bid farewell to the manager and left the Agricultural Workshop, their next destination the Food Workshop, where they hoped to reunite with Nicole. Both were curious about the progress of the instant noodle research, a project that promised to revolutionize food production in Sedona City. The thought of sampling the latest creations filled Annie with anticipation, her fox tail swishing eagerly behind her as they walked.
It didn't take long for the two to reach the Food Workshop, a sturdy building surrounded by a high fence, its entrance guarded by four soldiers, just like the Agricultural Workshop. Annie approached the gate with confidence, her presence alone enough to grant her entry. In the Research and Development Department, Annie, Nicole, and Mina were well-known as Lucas's trusted representatives, and their authority was recognized by all but the most secretive of facilities. For Annie, who frequently conducted inspections across the department, nearly half of the workshops and institutes were open to her without question, her face serving as her pass.
"Nicole, is it ready to eat yet?" A loud, enthusiastic voice echoed from within the workshop, reaching Annie's ears just as she stepped through the gate. She rolled her eyes, a wry smile tugging at her lips as she recognized Ayesha's unmistakable tone. "That glutton," She muttered, shaking her head in mock exasperation. "Only the Young Master could afford to keep someone like her fed."
Freya, walking beside her, remained silent, though she couldn't help but agree with Annie's assessment. 'The Princess is right,' She thought, her mind drifting to Ayesha's prodigious appetite. 'I wouldn't be surprised if Lady Bella sent Ayesha here because she couldn't afford to feed her anymore. That cow-horned girl is a bottomless pit.'
"Almost. Just add some dehydrated vegetables, and it'll be ready," Nicole's calm, measured voice replied, her tone as steady and composed as ever.
The tantalizing aroma of cooking noodles wafted through the air, tickling Annie's sensitive nose and drawing her forward like a magnet. "Mmm, that smells amazing," She said, her fox ears perking up as she quickened her pace, her curiosity piqued. Freya followed close behind, her own interest stirred by the promise of a new culinary delight.
After passing through the main entrance and navigating a series of corridors, the two arrived at a spacious workshop, its interior bustling with activity. A group of seven or eight people were gathered around a large table, their attention focused on the steaming bowls of noodles before them. Among them, Helen stood out, her tall frame and long rabbit ears making her impossible to miss, even in the crowded room.
"Annie, Freya! You're just in time—there's noodles to eat!" Helen called out, waving enthusiastically as she caught sight of the newcomers, her rabbit ears twitching with excitement.
"Great!" Annie replied, her voice bright as she hurried over to join Nicole, her eyes immediately locking onto the table, where a dozen packets of instant noodles were laid out, several of them already being prepared in steaming bowls.
"You're here. How did the work go?" Nicole asked, her voice soft and warm as she glanced up from her task, her hands busy adjusting the seasoning packets.
"Everything went smoothly. We're just waiting for spring to arrive," Annie said, her tone casual as she leaned in closer, her gaze fixed on the bubbling bowls of noodles, her fox tail swishing eagerly behind her.
"That's good to hear," Nicole said, a note of relief in her voice. "The Young Master has been placing a lot of importance on spring preparations. He's been incredibly busy lately, running himself ragged." She sighed, her eyes reflecting a mix of admiration and concern. In recent days, Lucas had been leaving the castle daily, inspecting every corner of his territory, even taking a boat across the Whispering River to survey the opposite bank. Rumor had it he was planning to design some sort of bridge foundation, a project that promised to further transform the region.
Annie's attention, however, was quickly diverted by Ayesha, who leaned in front of her, her large hand blocking Annie's view of the noodles. "Hey, Annie, these are mine, so don't even think about it," Ayesha said, her voice smug as she grinned at the fox-eared girl. "I'm Nicole's official taste-tester today, which means all these noodles belong to me."
Annie licked her lips, her eyes narrowing as she pouted, her fox ears flattening slightly in mock indignation. "Oh, fine, fine. They're all yours, you big gluttonous cow," She said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. Inwardly, she couldn't help but marvel at Ayesha's appetite, suspecting that all the food the cow-horned girl consumed somehow went straight to her chest, fueling her impressive physique. 'How else could one person eat enough for two beastkins?' She wondered, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Everyone will get some. Just wait a little longer," Nicole interjected, her voice calm and diplomatic as she continued to monitor the noodles, her eyes focused intently on the bowls. She was testing the time it took for the hot water to cook the noodles, a critical step in perfecting the recipe.
Ever since Lucas had introduced her to the concept of instant noodles, Nicole had thrown herself into the project, experimenting with countless variations in an effort to create the perfect product. Many of her attempts had ended in failure, but she had narrowed it down to a few promising candidates, and today's test was the final step in determining the best method. The production of instant noodles was entirely manual, and Nicole was determined to streamline the process, eliminating unnecessary steps to reduce production time. For example, she had devised a method of using bamboo poles to press dough, allowing large batches to be kneaded at once, significantly speeding up the process.
The traditional method of pulling noodles by hand had also been replaced, thanks to an idea from Lucas. He had suggested using a cylindrical device with small holes, through which dough could be extruded by applying pressure with a wooden plunger, producing long, uniform noodles with minimal effort. After the noodles were formed, they were either fried or baked to dry them, preserving them for long-term storage. The production line was already being set up, with workers selected and trained, awaiting only the final confirmation of the best recipe.
"Alright, Ayesha, it's time to taste. Try these three types of instant noodles and tell me which one is the best," Nicole said, her voice tinged with anticipation as she pushed three steaming bowls toward the cow-horned girl, her eyes watching closely for her reaction.
Ayesha's eyes lit up, her cow horns practically vibrating with excitement as she grabbed the first bowl, digging in with gusto, her cheeks bulging as she shoveled noodles into her mouth.
"Hey, Ayesha, don't just eat one! Try the other two as well," Nicole chided, her tone gentle but firm as she handed Ayesha a cup of warm water to cleanse her palate.
"Oh, right, right," Ayesha mumbled, pausing to gulp down the water before moving on to the second bowl, then the third, her enthusiasm undiminished as she sampled each one with equal fervor.
"So, what do you think? Which one is the best?" Nicole asked, leaning forward slightly, her eyes filled with eager anticipation.
Ayesha paused, her brow furrowing in thought as she savored the lingering flavors on her tongue. "The first one is the best," She declared confidently, pointing to the bowl on the left. "It's really fragrant, and there's a little bit of meat in it, which makes it extra tasty."
"Meat scraps, huh?" Nicole said, nodding thoughtfully as she made a mental note. She had decided to go with the first option, which included meat scraps—leftover bits of fat and meat that had been fried to extract oil, then ground up and mixed into the seasoning. The scraps were then combined with other spices and compressed into small, solid blocks using stones, creating a convenient and flavorful seasoning packet.
"Alright, everyone, start preparing your own bowls. We've finalized the instant noodle production method," Nicole announced, raising her voice to address the gathered crowd, her tone triumphant.
"Yay! I'm going to eat ten bowls!" Ayesha exclaimed, her purple eyes gleaming with delight as she reached for another packet, her cow horns bobbing with excitement.
"Hey, save one for me, you glutton!" Annie shouted, her fox tail swishing as she playfully elbowed Ayesha, her brown eyes sparkling with amusement.
.
.
.
.
You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
300 Power Stones for 1 extra chapter.
5 New reviews for 1 extra chapter.