Lord: Starting with Biological Modification

The early morning mist had yet to disperse, and the air was damp and cold with the scent of freshly turned soil.

Old Walker leaned on his wooden staff, standing at the highest point of the field’s ridges.

Before him stood all the farmers of Newly Town who had claimed a plot of land.

His cloudy eyes swept over the crowd, his voice hoarse yet powerful.

"Next season, we’re planting black rye. But black rye is a delicate crop; it requires rich soil. Our land has just been depleted by a harvest of sea salt potatoes, so its fertility has hit rock bottom."

A low murmur rippled through the crowd.

Lord Velin had issued a new decree. For this season’s winter crop, each family and group would be responsible for their own plot, and the final harvest would be directly tied to their merit points.

The fertility of the land would directly determine their livelihood and fortune for the coming months!

Old Walker thumped his wooden staff on the ground, drawing everyone’s attention back to him.

He turned to the side and pointed to a dark-skinned man next to him whose hands were thick with calluses.

"This is Jade, widely considered the best farmer in the pioneer corps. Today, he will teach us how to tend to the land and make it yield more grain for us."

Jade rubbed his hands together, a little flustered. Not daring to meet anyone’s eyes, he squatted down and grabbed a handful of soil.

"The old way is called the ’two-field system.’ You plant legumes one season and grain the next, letting the legumes nourish the soil."

He slowly crumbled the soil in his hand, letting the fine dirt trickle from his fingertips.

"We haven’t planted any legumes, but the dung from those black beetles Lord Velin gave us is even better! With that, we can plant the winter rye on this land directly."

Jade stood up and began to explain, in the simplest of terms, the proper spacing for seeds and how to judge the soil’s moisture. Every word was steeped in the priceless experience of a lifetime.

When the lesson concluded, old Walker walked up to Jade and pulled a small wooden plaque from his coat.

"In accordance with Lord Velin’s law, those who impart knowledge shall be handsomely rewarded."

"This is for you. One hundred merit points."

The old farmer stared intently at the number written in Magic Ink, his wrinkled face breaking into a smile that looked more painful than a sob.

The surrounding farmers looked on with envy.

As the farmers dispersed to begin their work, two clerks in gray, stern-faced uniforms walked into the fields.

One followed the other, patrolling the area in a staggered pattern.

After the first clerk finished inspecting a small plot and confirmed it met the standards for sowing, he would press a brass insignia lightly against a wooden stake at the edge of the field.

VMM.

A faint magical glow flashed, leaving behind a mark that could neither be counterfeited nor altered.

The second clerk followed a few paces behind, double-checking the first’s work. Only after confirming its accuracy did he make a record on the parchment in his hand.

"Be careful. The magical fluctuation from this insignia is unique. If you make a mistake, Lord Barrett can directly trace which one of us made the mark," the younger clerk reminded his companion.

"I know. And our records have to match. With this damned system, you can’t even slack off for a second."

The older one grumbled, but his hands didn’t dare to grow the least bit sloppy.

In the afternoon, perched on the field ridges, the farmers gnawed on cold sea-salt potato cakes. The topic of conversation soon drifted to the Lord’s Mansion, a subject of both reverence and fear.

"So, what do you all think? Why’d Miss Channing leave just like that?" an old townsman asked, lowering his voice.

"What else could it be? Didn’t you see all those big birds delivering letters a few days ago? They were coming one after another, like a summons from the underworld."

"Heard the Golden Sail Commerce Association headquarters was pressing her, and insisted she return."

"It’s a shame. Such a fine, beautiful woman. That dress, that hair..."

"What good is being beautiful? Our Lord Velin is completely clueless about that sort of thing."

"Exactly! Miss Caroline was in town for ages, and Lord Velin was always either in his research institute or the reception hall. How many times did you see him give her a proper look?"

"Now that she’s gone, he’s just holed himself up in that mountain cave again. Hasn’t been seen for days."

Old Walker listened in silence, saying nothing.

He thought of that sharp-eyed young woman, and he thought of Velin.

’Lord Velin’s actions really weren’t befitting a lord at all.’

’He had no interest in pleasure or women, and he even seemed to lack interest in managing the territory itself.’

’But his subordinates—Barrett, Ryo, and Kael, as well as those mysterious gentlemen from the research institute—all carried out their duties with the utmost seriousness.’

’Funds became resources, resources became tools, and tools, in turn, generated more merit points.’

’All Lord Velin had to do was wind the spring of Newly Town every so often, and the whole place would chug along on its own for a good long while.’

’And that left Lord Velin free to tinker with his incomprehensible projects in the research institute, free from all distractions.’

...

At the Origin Association’s Research Institute No. 2 in Mist Spring Valley, a Wind-Whisper Albatross could be seen every day.

It would circle down from high above, deliver a letter, and then fly off into the distance bearing Velin’s instructions.

One day, Kael was ordered to bring Xiaolan to see Velin.

He pushed open the laboratory’s heavy door, and an overpowering scent of heather washed over them, making both of them wrinkle their noses.

Inside the laboratory, cages were stacked in neat rows.

They held rabbits, field mice, and squirrels—all small mammals commonly found in the marsh.

Kael’s gaze swept over the cages, and his brow furrowed.

Without exception, every animal in the cages lay limp, breathing rapidly. Their fur was soaked with sweat and plastered to their heaving bodies.

They looked as though they had just run for hundreds of miles, drained of their very last ounce of strength.

Velin stood with his back to them before a massive laboratory bench.

He held a glass dropper in one hand and was rapidly scribbling on a sheet of parchment with the other, so engrossed that he hadn’t noticed their arrival.

"L-Lord..."

Xiaolan’s timid voice broke the silence.

Velin stopped what he was doing and turned around.

"Xiaolan." His gaze fell upon the girl. "Go and pack your things."

Xiaolan nervously clutched the hem of her clothes, unsure of what to do.

"We’re taking a trip back to Green Vein City."

Velin’s voice was calm, devoid of any emotion.

Green Vein City.

As those three words reached Xiaolan’s ears, she froze completely.

Her eyes flew wide, and a wave of intense joy washed away the timidity on her face.

"G-Going back to Green Vein City?"

Her voice trembled with excitement, on the verge of tears.

"Can I... Can I see my sister?"

"Yes."

Velin nodded.

"Thank you, my lord! Thank you!"

Xiaolan bowed again and again, rambling her thanks as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.

She turned and ran, her steps unsteady in her unprecedented haste.

’She had to go back. She had to see her sister!’

Kael watched Xiaolan disappear through the doorway before retracting his gaze.

Quiet returned to the laboratory. He took a step forward, his voice low.

"My lord."

"There is a strange matter I must report."

Velin picked up a clean rag and began meticulously wiping the dropper, waiting for Kael to continue.

"Several days ago, I took Xiaolan deep into the Gray Sea Marsh for stealth training."

Kael’s tone was grave as he chose his words with care.

"We made three separate trips deep into the Gray Sea Marsh, but we found no sign of any High-Tier Magical Beast. What’s more, there are plenty of low-level Magical Beasts active throughout the marsh—which completely contradicts the territorial behavior of a high-tier creature."

Velin’s wiping motion paused for a moment. He looked directly at Kael. "And your conclusion?"

"Either the intelligence was wrong, or... that Level 5 Magical Beast has already left its lair."

Kael said gravely, "Either way, it means we have a massive blind spot in our understanding of this marsh."

Velin was silent for a moment. "I’ll be leaving the territory for a while. You and Barrett are to remain vigilant. Report any abnormalities immediately."