Isekai: Princess Marquess Becomes Entrepreneur of Tempe

Chapter 9. Armelin Town

"Actually, sir, the tax revenue from the City of Armelin has dropped dramatically since the sand dune land was closed a year ago." Ryndall.

Elona was passing by Stefan's study after training stamina with the soldiers, and unintentionally listened to the conversation through the door that opened a little.

Hearing the City of Armelin, Elona immediately remembered the events that would occur in the Heart Story webtoon, which would destroy the financial condition of the Locke family.

"That sand-mine north of the city? It's not the residents themselves who asked for the quarry to be closed!" Stefan scrunched his forehead in wonder. He quickly opened up the financial statements that were scattered on his writing desk.

Ryndall nodded quickly, "Right, sir. But now they're losing their jobs."

"you mean? If they ask for the mine to be closed, it means they have to be prepared for the consequences of losing their jobs as miners" Stefan said. "Didn't they themselves say, if you want to switch professions to be a farmer?"

"Yes, Sir. But they failed to become farmers."

"Fuck...?"

"Yes, Mr. Stefan. The residents who were miners had tried to switch professions as farmers. They try to grow vegetables. But when harvested, it turns out the results are not satisfactory. That's the report I received."

Ryndall explained as he opened the stack of report papers in his hand. Hearing what Ryndall said, Stefan grew confused.

"Why?"

"That's what I don't know, sir. Nor do the citizens know the reason why their plants are not growing as they should."

"Huh really!" Stefan's breaking the table. Inexhaustible he thought that it was very difficult to meet the demands of the citizens of sorts.

"But they themselves asked that the sand mine be closed because it disturbed the local settlement. He said, they want to grow crops in the former excavation land. Now it has failed all!" I cried out Stefan furiously.

"That's how Mr. In the end, the citizens are looking for work in the next town with great difficulty, and our tax revenues are decreasing."

Tok to tok.

Stefan's office door was knocked. From behind it, the head of Elona peeked inside.

"Sister Stefan."

"Ah, Miss Elona. salute!" Ryndall who recognized Elona immediately gave him a greeting. He was quite surprised to see the change in Elona who looks just finished the sport. Because from what he knew while working under Stefan, the employer's sister always locked herself in her room.

"Greetings, Brother Ryndall." replied Elona. Then the girl ventured to enter the room. Stefan looked at her in wonder.

"Elona? What was? I'm on some important business with Ryndall, about work."

"I know, brother. I'm sorry the door opened a little, and I accidentally listened to your conversation just now."

"You heard about Armelin City?" ask Stefan.

Elona nodded. "I have an opinion."

"Say."

"If a plant cannot grow properly, it means that there is something in its soil that does not support the growth of the plant."

"Hmm, you mean, the ground's broken?" Stefan concluded.

"Ah, is it because that area is a former minefield, huh?" ask Ryndall.

"It could be, brother."

"OK, it makes sense..."

Elona's words make Stefan think. If the land is damaged, then it is only natural that there will be no plants that will grow there.

"So the solution, we have to check the condition of the soil there to ascertain the cause!" exciting Elona.

"Wouldn't the soil be damaged, enough fertilizer?" ask Stefan again curiously. Elona nodded a little.

"Depends on the condition of the land itself. Have the residents tried to feed?"

"Already, Miss. But the crops still fail the harvest." Ryndall answered with confidence. Elona felt strange.

If the fertilizer does not work, it means the masla is worse than I thought...

Is it possible..The pH of the soil is less?

Elona immediately thought quickly.The pH of the soil is a measurement of the level of acidity and alkalinity in the soil. The measurement is from the numbers 0 to 14, of which 0 is an acid and a base is 14. If exemplified, acid is like gastric fluid, and alkaline it is like bleaching clothes or laundry soap.

Most plants can grow in neutral pH which is number 7, although not a few plants can grow in pH number 5. If the fertilizer is still problematic, it could be the pH number of the soil in the land of the former quarry sand is less than 5.

All this Elona knew because she was very fond of reading any book while still living on earth as Tara. Once, Tara read a book about agriculture and land, and from there her knowledge was obtained.

But of course all this is just Elona's own theory of thought. The girl had to gather the existing field data and facts before she knew how to handle it.

"It is possible that the soil condition is so severe that it is unable to absorb the fertilizer given, so the plants remain undeveloped..." Elona muttered softly. However, Stefan caught hearing the muttering of his sister.

"That's worse, until fertilizer alone isn't enough?"

"Yes, brother, so look at it..." Elona also explained what pH is and its effect on plants. Elona tried to explain it slowly, because a new breakthrough would be difficult to understand if described too quickly.

Stefan and Ryndall are shocked to hear Elona's explanation. Then, the two of them exchanged looks. Then, looking at Elona fixedly in wonder.

"Elona, you..." Stefan said he couldn't believe it. "When did you find out about something so complicated?"

"I just heard about what Miss Elona said. All I know, in the whole world today no one has applied the method of measuring the condition of the soil before the harvest as Miss described earlier." explained Ryndall chiming.

"Err, that, I..." Elona answered that question. "I happened to read a lot of books in the school library. That's all!"

I could die if they knew I wasn't the real Elona...

Stefan opened his eyes to his sister. School library? In the past, as Stefan attended school there, he never found a book on agricultural science that discusses the condition of the soil to such a depth.

However, if what Elona said was true, then the financial condition of the Locke family is threatened. Stefan worked as the royal constitutional secretary. But with his status as a marquess, having a large and powerful army was a must.

Marquess is the leader of a territory located in the border area of a kingdom, and it could be bordering the enemy kingdom. At any time in the event of war, a marquess must be ready with her army, for they will be at the forefront, before the enemy attacks the interior of the country.

In this case, the Locke family hereditary funds the cost of its troops from the tax revenues of the City of Armelin. So, what would Stefan do, if the tax revenue itself began to decline?

"Agh! It's so hard!! Do we need to reopen the sand dune, so that the people get their jobs back?" stefan asked riled while scratching the back of his head that was not itchy.

Ryndall instantly prevented his master. "If it is opened again, you know that the residents protest because the land will be getting closer to the residential area. If continued, the region could experience flooding when heavy rains arrive!"

"Then what should I do?!!" stefan was impatient. "On one side they protest. On the other hand, they cannot afford to pay taxes! Guh!!"

"Err, brother..." Elona interrupted the conversation in the midst of her brother's anger. Stefan immediately turned his head quickly, hoping his sister had a solution.

"Yes? You know the way out?"

"Hmm, no, but.." replied Elona, "There may be..."

"What do you mean by a half-and-half answer like that?!" Stefan's getting pissed.

"Hear first! I can only find a way out if I have checked the actual field conditions!" obviously Elona, made her brother think.

"field conditions...? You mean, you want to go to Armelin City?"

Elona nodded. "Yes. There's no harm, right? Who knows if I can find a solution. What's more, I have no obligation to go to school now."

"In that case, it would be very helpful, Miss!" Ryndall.

Stefan thought for a moment. Although there is a truth to what his sister said, but Stefan also knows the condition of Elona who is easily stressed. He was only afraid that later Elona would have a lot of thoughts there and return to his old habit, which is overeating.

"May, but on condition. Take Mai, your servant. Don't stop exercising there. Next one..." Stefan sighed.

"... Go home if you don't find any solution. Don't be discouraged, and don't stress. Because it should be my duty to address my people's problems, not yours."

Hearing this, Elona smiled and hugged her sister. The girl was moved, with the worry of a family member that she would never have gotten while she was still Tara.

"Sure! I love big brother!"

Stefan stroked his sister's head. "Yes, pack the things you need. I'll ask Sir Willian to escort you there."

Elona returned to her room happily. Finally, he was able to get out of the capital! For a long time Elona wanted to see what the sights of other cities were like out there.

Before going to her room, Elona turned towards the first floor where the kitchen was. The cooks and kitchen waiters were busy preparing lunch. The delicious aroma of cooking gushed into Eloan's nose. The girl swallowed her saliva. He could be furious if only he did not hold himself back for the sake of a thin body.

"Oh, Miss Elona! Greetings!"

A cook named Jane greeted Elona. The girl nodded too. Jane hasn't seen Elona in the kitchen. He used to find that his mistress used up all the groceries at night. However, with the change of Elona now, Jane also became happy.

"What's the day you come to the kitchen, Miss?"

"Hmm, I just need something." - Elona.

"Lunch? We'll be ready at the dinner table soon!"

"Oh no!" Elona nodded quickly. "I just want to know, do you guys have turmeric? I'd like to ask for some threads. Maybe um... five?"

"Kunyit...?"

*****