Darkstone Code

At this time, Horn, hiding in the countryside, resembled an old farmer; he wore leather pants and worked on the farm covered in cow dung.

This was a farm he had purchased long, long ago, which also had a pasture.

Usually, there were people to take care of it here; people only knew it belonged to a rich man, but most had never seen this rich man, except the farm’s steward.

After the incident, Horn immediately sensed something was wrong and released some smoke bombs; he also had a substitute.

He let the substitute go out to attract attention publicly while he secretly left Bupen and returned to the farm here.

The locals were not too surprised by the master’s sudden return. As the Federation’s economy once again rapidly developed, international trade flourished, and the real industry burst with prosperity.

However, this also led to the birth of some new problems—more factories needed workers, and urbanization began to show traces.

Some young people were unwilling to stay in the countryside any longer and began to converge toward the city, where their wages from joining a random factory were even more than what they could earn from farming in the countryside.

This caused more young people to move to cities, and the population density in rural areas began to decline, leaving mostly older individuals.

These older individuals all had their fixed social circles. They were not very welcoming to newcomers integrating into their groups, nor did they wish to integrate into other new social relationships.

Hence, Horn’s arrival did not stir anyone, and he began to live a very ordinary life.

Every day, he would look at the crops and the animals in the pasture.

Originally, some things were planted during winter, but as the weather got colder, the northern rural winter had already stopped planting crops.

No matter what you plant, in temperatures dozens of degrees below zero, it basically looks as if nothing was planted.

He focused most of his energy on these livestock.

After throwing the fodder into the trough, Horn braced his hands on his waist and straightened his back. This period is much better than the beginning.

Initially, he couldn’t do much farm work without feeling sore all over, but now that situation has improved somewhat; at the very least, he can complete regular tasks.

He is a person of perseverance; his perseverance lies in being able to withstand various conditions, maintaining high enthusiasm even in adverse environments.

This is his Secret of Success; he never voluntarily gives up.

While stretching his achy waist, a few large trucks passed by in the distance. Horn frowned and then called the steward, "Go and see what’s happening?"

The steward quickly went to check out the excitement, and about forty minutes later, he returned full of incredulous expressions.

"Sir, they are here to build greenhouses."

Greenhouses have been around for hundreds of years; Horn had heard of and seen them.

If this term appeared in some upscale community or estate, he would not be surprised at all.

There are many greenhouses on Paradise Island, where plants grow and never wither regardless of the season.

No matter how the external temperatures change, inside the greenhouse, it’s basically constant.

Especially after air conditioning was available, the summer temperature could be even better controlled.

But this is rural; this is the countryside. To build greenhouses here... how many people can afford it, and is there really any need?

Seeing the steward’s unclear expression, Horn decided to take a look himself.

When he got closer, he greeted some people he had seen a few times before and squeezed to the front.

A government official and several technicians were promoting the materials for greenhouse cultivation. They used a frame structure to build large-scale greenhouses.

The greenhouse walls are made of a waterproof and airtight material based on canvas, which can ensure cold air and rain do not penetrate the greenhouse.

The top of the greenhouse uses some new materials.

Horn watched for quite a while, and honestly, he felt these things were indeed valuable and useful, but the problem is the mindset in rural areas... is it a bit unsuitable?

If these materials for making greenhouses were borne by farmers at their own expense, then basically no farmer would do it because the cost is too high.

Even if these greenhouses can be used repeatedly, people still won’t buy them. Although the price of crops has indeed increased a lot over the last two years, it’s still somewhat inadequate compared to these materials.

If these things were promoted and distributed for free by local administrative institutions like City Hall, then undoubtedly, these things would eventually be "lost" by farmers, appearing in various domestic and overseas second-hand markets!

But indeed, the materials are good materials; global climate abnormalities and crop yield reduction make these things potentially less obvious in effect currently, but once fully spread, it will be beneficial for the whole world.

It’s just that, promoting it now is still too early.

On the way back, Horn unexpectedly saw two strangers coming out of the bar by the roadside.

This town is not big; all together, there are only a hundred or so households. Besides those who have already left the area, Horn has met most of the remaining people.

But these two people, he had never seen them before.

Horn saw them, but they didn’t see him. After leaving the bar, they got into their car and drove away.

Looking at their demeanor, the expressions on their faces, Horn had an intuition; these people might be here for him.

Sometimes, people have a certain natural intuition, and this intuition is very accurate!

Once, a high school student about to graduate participated in his final school trip, just before boarding a train, he had a premonition that the train would derail, and finally, he and some other students did not board the train.

Subsequently, the train derailed, causing numerous deaths.

The FBI thought it was this high school student who caused it all, but later found through investigation that it was all entirely a coincidence, so they released him.

Many people believe in intuition, and Horn believes in it too.

He is also acutely aware that the world is much more mysterious than people understand, he immediately stopped in his tracks and quickly walked in the opposite direction.

He could be neurotic countless times, but the result would just be some townspeople, people on the farm, thinking he is not right in the head.

But he absolutely cannot be careless, not even once.

The result of one carelessness could cost him his life!

At night, he hid on a water tower a few hundred meters away from the farm, an abandoned water tower that no one knows had long been converted into a temporary shelter.

People don’t pay attention to it, nor do they think to demolish it, apart from Horn, no one knows the situation inside this water tower.

He looked at the distant farm through binoculars, always feeling uneasy.

After eleven o’clock at night, the distant farm, which was completely dark, suddenly lit up, and Horn’s drowsiness was instantly driven away.

He quickly climbed up and, through the binoculars, looked at what was happening at the farm, realizing immediately that he had been exposed.

Meanwhile, on the farm, several people instructed by the Duncan Clan had driven everyone outside the building.

All the lights were turned on, people were going in and out of the house, the cellar, various warehouses and buildings.

They searched every possible place but still didn’t find any trace of Horn, infuriating the person in charge.

It was clearly such a simple task, yet it got messed up, not only meaning a large bonus was gone, but also possibly facing punishment!

Thinking of this, the leader’s face turned particularly ugly.

"He was here this afternoon, and we didn’t see any vehicle leave, on foot he can’t get far, he must still be in the town."

"Go and find him, no matter the cost!"

...

Meanwhile, in a prison in York State, someone was packing their things.

"Going out tomorrow?" a convict leaned against the wall, looking at his cellmate, eyes full of envy.

Only those who have lost their freedom understand its value, his own exit was still a long way away, but that didn’t stop him from fantasizing about the moment when he would leave.

Gap nodded while putting some books on the table, "These are all books related to accounting work and the law, if you can calm down and finish these books, your treatment inside here will improve a notch."

His cellmate nodded, "I will read them seriously, don’t worry."

Some say Gap wasn’t here to serve a sentence, but to work, apart from not being able to leave the prison, virtually nothing restricted him.

He could go anywhere he wanted, talk to anyone, including the Prison Director.

When necessary, he could even sleep outside the cell block, like in the duty room or even the Prison Director’s office.

This was all because he could help everyone file taxes in the most optimal way, resulting in everyone saving some money.

Add in his self-taught legal knowledge, he could also assist some inmates with legal issues.

Both the prison authorities and the inmates respect him greatly.

Even the most unsociable inmates in prison won’t target him.

Now, his "good days" were finally coming to an end, and he decided to leave these books to his cellmate.

Since reporting Michael last time, he earned a chance for a reduced sentence.

The Prison Director explained to the Ministry of Justice three times about his positive leading and reformation efforts in prison, the Ministry of Justice considered his case and his role in society before the crime, allowing him a reduced sentence three times.

Originally a sentence of more than ten years, he completed in six years.

These six years... felt like a dream to him!

His cellmate nodded, "I will read them seriously, when I get out..." he paused briefly.

Gap immediately chimed in, "Give me a call then, I’ll pick you up."

Michael had been imprisoned elsewhere, this was his "new cellmate," who treated him well too.

The cellmate smiled, saying nothing more.

After packing up everything, Gap sat on the edge of the bed, suddenly finding his breathing a bit irregular, his heart rate accelerated.

Facing the freedom coming tomorrow, he inexplicably felt a tinge of fear.