I opened a clinic in the Abyss World

You fiend, I need your help in my cultivation!

Looking at Diana reclining on the sofa, Charlotte couldn't help but sigh inwardly, calling her a fairy.

When it comes to allure, Diana, born a fox spirit, possesses an innate charm that rivals Rose's.

Moreover, Diana came from a prominent family, and the noble temperament she possessed as a daughter of a wealthy family, along with her decisive and assertive personality, created a contrast with her gentle and charming nature, which made men even more attracted to her.

Agatha closed the door and left, leaving only him and Diana in the villa. The pink lights were particularly ambiguous, as if foreshadowing something different that was going to happen tonight.

"A prop?" Charlotte realized that Diana was referring to the box in his hand, and smiled with a slightly strange expression. "This is something most people couldn't handle."

"Oh? Or some kind of perverted thing?" Diana sat up, looking at Charlotte with interest. "I'm not an ordinary person. How will you know if I can handle it or not if you don't try it out?"

Her voice was captivatingly charming, and her expression seemed to hold a hint of anticipation.

Charlotte's lips curled into a slight smile as she placed the box in front of the sofa and slowly opened the lid.

An ambiguous pink light shone into the box, revealing four rows of small saplings.

  

"What is this?" Diana was taken aback. It didn't seem to be what she had imagined. She reached out to grab one to take a look.

"No." Charlotte grabbed her hand, stopping her impulsive act.

Her hands were soft and boneless, with exceptionally smooth and delicate skin, making them excellent to hold.

"Does it feel good?" Diana looked at him with a smile, her fingers still hooking in his palm.

"Hmm, not bad." Charlotte loosened her grip and moved the box a little to the side.

"What is this? Wasn't it a gift for me?" Diana asked, looking at the box.

Charlotte explained, "It's a variant of nettle, cultivated by the Elven High Priest Benjamin at the behest of the Elven race's top plant magicians."

"Oh?" Diana sat up straight immediately. Benjamin, the high priest of the elves, was a very famous figure on the continent of Aesop and the actual leader of the elves.

Charlotte went to the Elf City and brought back four Elf students, but unexpectedly, she also brought back a box of strange plants.

What is it that Benjamin values?

"On this night of the red moon, I discovered a thorny grass, which I named nettle grass. It can have a certain deterrent effect on berserk monsters, and its extract can help demonized monsters exit their demonized state."

However, nettles are relatively short, and their deterrent effect on high-level magical beasts might not be very good. Therefore, I contacted High Priest Benjamin, and with the help of elven plant mages, we were able to improve them, resulting in the following four varieties.

Charlotte explained to Diana while taking out four varieties of nettles from a small flowerpot and placing them on the coffee table.

The fine thorns of nettles can cause intense pain; Diana's previous method of grabbing them was a classic example of suicidal grasping.

If you grab a handful of leaves, you'll lose this hand.

After removing the nettles, Charlotte turned on the main light in the living room.

The soft, pink lighting is conducive to flirting, but not to serious conversation.

Charlotte is here tonight to discuss serious matters, and more than one, so we need to use proper lighting.

As the main light came on, Diana noticed that the four saplings, each with a different shape, were covered with tiny thorns. If she had grabbed one earlier, her delicate little hands would have been covered in thorns.

"Resist demonic beasts from becoming possessed? Are you sure they really have that effect?" Diana looked at Charlotte with a serious expression. She knew very well what such a thing would mean for the city, which was currently suffering from the threat and trouble of demonic beasts.

"To be honest, I've only tested it on the level one magical beast, the Gold-Eating Rat, and the unmodified nettle grass has shown a very good repelling effect," Charlotte said honestly.

"Was it only tested on the Gold-Eating Rat?" Diana frowned. A level one magical beast couldn't even pose a threat to the Abyss's magical shield. If the nettle's effect was only that, then it wasn't very valuable.

Charlotte continued, "Benjamin has decided to build another wall made of ironwood nettle outside the Elf City, and to cultivate a large amount of schefflera nettle, extract its juice, and release it into the shallow waters of the major lakes in the Elf Forest before the night of the red moon, thereby reducing the rate of monsters becoming possessed by demons."

Diana's mouth gaped slightly, her face showing undisguised surprise.

She had been to the Elf City, and the ironwood walls that were over 500 meters high had left a deep impression on her. It was a giant city twice the size of Kalva.

The Elven High Priest wants to forge another wall made of a variant of nettle grass outside the existing city walls? How much manpower and resources would that daunting project require?

As for releasing extracts into lakes in an attempt to reduce the number of monsters possessed by demons, that's an idea that's as far-fetched as a fantasy.

However, Benjamin made a decision and issued the order.

This is absolute trust in Charlotte!

And they staked the vast majority of the Elven people's manpower that should have been used to strengthen defenses elsewhere.

But why would he trust Charlotte so much? Before this, there was no indication that Charlotte had any connection with the elves.

"What exactly is your relationship with Benjamin?" Diana asked softly, staring into Charlotte's eyes.

Would you believe me if I said I was a member of the group? Charlotte said in a serious tone, "Last month I performed surgery on the elven saintess Lois, which saved her life, and that's how I met Benjamin."

From the perspective of insiders like Lois and Adolf, this is a fairly reasonable explanation, avoiding the need to tell other lies later to cover it up.

"You even performed surgery on Lois? When did that happen? You saved her life, and she offered herself to you, how could you possibly repay that debt?" Diana was even more astonished.

She had never received any reports of Lois coming to the Abyss, and she had no idea when Charlotte had latched onto such a powerful figure.

In that instant, she felt a sense of crisis.

She used to think she was protecting Charlotte in the abyss, using her dual identity as landlord and shareholder to give him land when he wanted it, money when he wanted it, and even to get him a bigger clinic, keeping him completely under her thumb.

There was no woman in the abyss more beautiful or more powerful than her.

But she miscalculated; there was no abyss, but there was one outside.

Lois, the elven saintess, and the future high priestess of the elves, holds a status and position far exceeding hers.

Charlotte saved her life. If she hadn't held Charlotte in high regard, how could Benjamin, a powerful figure, have cared for and trusted Charlotte so much?

Could it be that they have already secretly pledged their lives to each other?

Thinking about this, Diana felt even more empty inside.

She was the one who first noticed this man's excellent qualities, but...

They're a perfect match, how dare a woman from a small town object?

Charlotte looked at Diana, who suddenly seemed heartbroken, and felt a little strange. She laughed and said, "Even a daydream wouldn't dare to do something like this, with the elven saintess offering herself to him. Even if she dared to bring it up, I wouldn't dare to agree, otherwise I would be killed by her master in the name of racial justice."

"Really not?" Diana felt a little relieved seeing Charlotte's calm expression, which didn't seem like she was lying.

"What, are you worried that Lois and I have secretly pledged our lives to each other?" Charlotte looked at her with a smile. Her questioning and seeking confirmation made it seem as if her sudden look of disappointment earlier was because she thought he and Lois had secretly pledged their lives to each other.

"Who said that! That's not true." Diana blushed, picked up the red wine in front of her and took a sip. She didn't know why she had been so disappointed earlier. Could it be... that she really didn't want him to get engaged to Lois?

This shy and coy demeanor from the usually domineering and assertive Diana was quite unusual, and Charlotte found it amusing.

Diana put down her wine glass, her expression now calm. Looking at the four pots of mutated nettles on the coffee table, she pondered, "You brought them back so that the Abyss could cultivate these plants in preparation for the next Red Moon Night?"

Charlotte looked at her calmly: "You should know better than I the predicament we face in holding onto the abyss this Red Moon night."

Diana's expression turned serious, and she nodded, saying, "That's right. I'm not even sure the Abyss Guardians can stop those berserk monsters on the next Red Moon night. There are too many, and there might be even more next time."

On the night of the red moon, she witnessed firsthand the breaching of Kalva's powerful magical shield, the damage to the city walls, and the terrifyingly powerful mother beast leading a surging tide of beasts into Kalva. If it weren't for the countless powerful warriors desperately defending it, Kalva might have already fallen that night.

If even someone as powerful as Kalvar is like this, what can the Abyss, with only a level four magic shield, possibly do?

Charlotte looked at her earnestly and said, "My suggestion is to plant three rows of ironwood nettles in front of the abyss, so that they can intertwine to form a wall. The height should reach 500 meters to ensure that the ironwood reaches its maximum hardness."

Even though the nettle's properties have no effect on high-level magical beasts, this ironwood wall covered with spikes can still block some of the beast tide to a certain extent, reduce the defensive pressure, and guide the magical beasts scattered on this side of the abyss back towards Kalva.

The abyss is bordered by the sea on both sides, and its width towards the wilderness isn't very large, so there won't be too many ironwood trees that need to be planted. However, it's unknown whether the abyss has a sufficient number of plant-based mages.

Diana pondered for a moment and said, "I don't know exactly how many plant-type mages there are in the Abyss. We can have Joseph issue a city lord's decree to gather and count them. If the number is insufficient, we can also recruit them in Kalva. The commission for these kinds of life support mages won't be too high."

I agree with your suggestion. Benjamin's vision is certainly broader than ours; he trusts you, and so can I. But I need to bring this up with the Elders tomorrow to see if it can be approved. The Elders still have the final say on matters of the Abyss.

"The sooner the better." Charlotte frowned. If the elders' discussion process was too long and tedious, it would waste the most precious time at hand.

Diana said confidently, "If they can't reach a conclusion by tomorrow, I will push this matter forward in the name of the Harriman family. Once the Ironwood Nettle Wall has taken effect on the next Red Moon night, I will take the money back from those two families with interest."

Charlotte looked at her with some surprise. If she did this, she would probably face some pressure within the Harriman family.

However, this feeling of being trusted is quite nice.

"Looking at me like that, do you think I won't completely trust you?" Diana looked at him with a smile.

"This is a certain risk for you, and most people wouldn't be willing to take that kind of risk," Charlotte said frankly.

Diana smiled slightly and said, "I suddenly understand Benjamin's thinking. When everyone else is at a loss, you at least came up with a solution that seems more reliable."

He had to protect the millions of elves in the Elf City, while I wanted to protect the residents of the newly established Abyss City. We had no choice, so we should make a more decisive decision.

With only twenty-six days left until the next Red Moon night, time is now the most important and crucial factor.

Charlotte looked at her with admiration. Such a rational and decisive woman was a natural-born strong woman.

In comparison, she might be more suitable than Roland to become the future Lord of the Abyss.

Roland is too gentle and kind; he's better suited to be a school principal than a city lord who decides the fate of a city in such a chaotic world.

"Then I'll leave these saplings to you, but when it comes to actually cultivating them, I hope you can let me talk to those plant-based mages first about the characteristics of these saplings. They might need to understand them first," Charlotte said.

Diana nodded: "No problem. Whoever is in charge of this, I will make sure your voice is heard by everyone."

Look at those words, they're so comforting.

"We've finished talking about saving the world. Why don't we sit down, have a drink, and chat about something more pleasant?" Diana moved aside a little, making room for Charlotte, and handed him another glass of red wine, looking at him with a smile in her eyes.

Those big, watery eyes held a myriad of charms.

Charlotte sat down beside her, a faint, sweet fragrance wafting over. She took a sip of the red wine, looked at her, and said, "Don't blame me for being clueless, but I am indeed curious whether your elders have discussed how to ensure the Abyss's residents' minimum food needs this winter?"

Charlotte saw in Benjamin Benjamin's emphasis on food supply through the elven tribe's vast black soil farm. This emphasis ensured that even the lowest-ranking elves would not face a survival crisis.

But the Abyss is different; every winter, a number of its inhabitants die of hunger.

This winter is the first since the Abyss was built. What will the Abyss Council do this time? Will they continue to sit idly by and watch the Abyss residents starve and freeze to death?

Diana said, "The council has also discussed this matter, and the current consensus is to stockpile a batch of food in advance, enough to make porridge to supply the poorest residents for three months. The wilderness will only be truly snowbound for two months, so three months should be enough for most of the poorest residents to survive."

Charlotte pondered this; it was indeed a very pragmatic solution.

Abyss City had just been established, and various policies had not yet been officially implemented. There were no taxes, so the three major families had to pay for the food they purchased to support the residents out of their own pockets. The fact that they could do this much was already considered very responsible.

Everyone knows that plain congee doesn't taste good, but in the cold winter, when you're hungry and cold, a bowl of plain congee can be a lifesaver.

"Is the food purchased from outside?" Charlotte asked curiously.

"That's right." Diana nodded, with a hint of helplessness, "Actually, there has never been a problem with the food supply. The Abyss is backed by Kalva and can always buy enough food."

The problem is that the inhabitants of the lower abyss lack purchasing power; many of them, even the young and strong, have no way to earn money. Women, in particular, are unable to venture into the wilderness for payment, so the young ones often become dancers in the streets of Amman, earning money from adventurers.

This was also the reason why the Abyss had such poor security for a long time. The lower-class residents, lacking any means of making money, had no choice but to prey on those who appeared wealthy. With the recent crackdown, they've only hidden themselves out of fear of the guards, but the fundamental problem remains unresolved. As the weather gradually gets colder, it's likely that relying solely on the guards' suppression won't completely solve the problem.

Charlotte pondered this, noting that it was a typical problem caused by an distorted industry.

In the abyss, all economic activity is built upon the lives of tens of thousands of adventurers.

They ventured into the wilderness, hunting or completing tasks to earn money, thus stimulating all economic activity in the Abyss.

Restaurants, clinics, tailor shops... all industries depend on these adventurers.

Even the three major families who own large properties and collect rent do not create value themselves; they merely extract most of the money and profits circulating in the market.

At an even lower level, there exists a group forced into the abyss, yet lacking the ability to join the supply chain formed by adventurers.

Unable to leave the abyss for various reasons, they make extreme choices when faced with survival issues.

When winter comes, adventurers are unable to enter the wilderness due to heavy snow blocking the mountains, production activities cease, and adventurers begin to tighten their belts, causing economic activity throughout the Abyss to fall into difficulties.

The three major families have the ability to purchase sufficient supplies from outside, but the residents do not have the purchasing power.

Moreover, the unique geographical environment of the abyss avoided the covetousness of monsters, while also preventing the possibility of the lower-level residents to farm and become self-reliant.

Without sunlight, most crops cannot grow.

More importantly, every inch of land in the abyss belongs to the three major families, and you have no right to cultivate it.

Charlotte looked at Diana with a serious expression and said, "To get out of this predicament, we must upgrade our industries, get rid of the current abnormal situation of relying entirely on adventurers, and enable more ordinary residents to create value and earn income through their labor."

"What is industrial upgrading?" Diana frowned, looking at Charlotte with confusion. "Also, you said you want more ordinary residents to create value and earn income. How exactly should that be done?"