Half an hour later, two job applicants arrived at 3101.

Zhou Yi looked at the Sea Horse Shooter holding an odd flowerpot: "Are you the gardener?"

"Yes, Mr. Zhou."

The Sea Horse Shooter, wearing a translation device, emitted a synthesised voice that sounded slightly nervous.

In the past, all Sea Horse Shooters Zhou Yi had met were battlefield sharpshooters; he knew they preferred solitary lives, moved slowly, but their high-speed light guns were fierce and accurate.

Sea Horse Shooters don't speak; they communicate through visual and tactile cues. Their body colors continuously change to convey messages, and their sense of touch is exceptionally acute.

The gardener said, "Sir, my name is Da Li, from Shell City. I was originally a city defense soldier. I served in Shell City for 7 years, participating in the siege you led and the recent Honor War."

"However, I dislike warfare and fighting; I prefer to be purely a gardener. All my time is spent on planting and nurturing various plants and flowers, but this hobby had no place to thrive, so I remained in Shell City."

"In the Honor War, I sustained injuries to my bones, my shooting accuracy worsened significantly, and I grew utterly tired of combat, so I applied for retirement."

"Not long ago, I heard that gardening is becoming popular here and your company is actively planting and nurturing plants, so I wanted to come and try."

Gong Zheng whispered aside, "Chairman, we have confirmed with Duke Beidu that Da Li indeed is a veteran from there and a brave warrior wounded on the battlefield."

Zhou Yi looked at the Sea Horse Shooter: "What are you skilled at planting?"

The Sea Horse Shooter carefully placed the flowerpot on the ground.

"Mr. Zhou, this is what I have been planting and cultivating. It's called Bitter Root, because it's extremely bitter to taste and can't satiate hunger, so it can't serve as food. However, it grows quite large and fast and can adapt to various harsh environments."

Zhou Yi looked at the flowerpot.

Inside was a twisted, bulging tuber.

It was dark brown all over, with a thick layer of dirt on its surface, and at a casual glance, one might even mistake it for a rock.

Red Kestrel scanned it and then stated through consciousness frequency,

"This is a tree root mutated by Dead Sea radiation, just like those trees near the Dead Sea in the Northern Forest. If the trees soak in the Dead Sea, they and their roots rapidly disintegrate, but if they maintain some distance from the Dead Sea, despite enduring continuous radiation, they survive but grow into bizarre shapes and struggle to sprout new leaves."

Zhou Yi asked, "Can I touch it?"

"Of course."

He tried touching the Bitter Root. The texture was very tough, like old tree bark, but the inside was hollow, akin to a hardened version of an old loofah.

From the [Alert] perspective, there didn't seem to be anything unusual about this Bitter Root.

"Does it have any special uses?"

The Sea Horse Shooter paused briefly: "It actually doesn't have any special uses, just that it can grow in areas close to the Dead Sea and grows quickly. It can be cultivated extensively along the coast. I have mastered how to plant them."

"Oh right, Bitter Root also has a special effect when ignited."

He tore a small piece of bark from the Bitter Root.

"May I have some fire?"

Zhou Yi took out a box of matches and lit it.

Da Li brought the Bitter Root bark close, and the flame suddenly surged on the bark. Yet, the flame itself did not produce heat; instead, it quickly lowered the surrounding temperature.

It burned out quickly, leaving only a bit of residue on Da Li's claw.

Zhou Yi frowned: "It absorbs heat when ignited?"

"Amazing, isn't it!"

Da Li finally showed a pleased expression, "Not just that, if Bitter Root is thoroughly and completely ignited, it ultimately transforms into this."

The Sea Horse Shooter dug a small stone from the flowerpot holding Bitter Root.

It was black, like charcoal.

But it was smoother and more refined than the charcoal Zhou Yi remembered, not as porous, more solid and heavy.

He weighed it in his hand – quite heavy.

Red Kestrel immediately said, "This is 'Carbon Light Ash,' a special processed form of Light Soot Sand containing specific elements. It has high toughness, high wear resistance, and corrosion resistance, which makes it relatively expensive."

"What's the market price?"

"The average price of Carbon Light Ash in the main Mechanical Cities is 52 copper per 5 grams, about ten times that of ordinary Light Soot Sand."

That's good.

Processed goods have a much higher trade value than raw materials.

Zhou Yi looked at Da Li: "Are you sure Bitter Root can yield Carbon Light Ash?"

"Sir, after the disaster rebuild, many trees near the Dead Sea were destroyed by Thunder Beast air raids and fires. I found a lot of this Carbon Light Ash because I have always been nurturing and observing Bitter Root."

The Sea Horse Shooter explained, "Earlier, I planted Bitter Root to use it for cooling; sometimes it's unbearably hot in summer, and igniting Bitter Root can cool things down. Later on, I discovered it has many miraculous properties."

"Like the coastline where Bitter Root is abundant, visibility is high, as they absorb the Death Light smog into themselves."

Da Li gently pinched the plant in the pot, "I've cut open many Bitter Roots, only to find the impurities inside get shaken off, leaving some Light Soot Sand which then adheres to the Bitter Root's bark and inside. So after a big fire, Carbon Light Ash can be produced. However, growing this isn't as easy as it seems…"

"Although it grows fast, it's still a plant, so it needs at least 1 year to grow large, and if slower, 2-3 years to be crafted into shape. Then it also requires fertilization and continuous large-scale cultivation."

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