Dottore stormed toward Pierro's office and kicked the door open.
Peering out from behind a towering mountain of paperwork, Pierro looked over with a guilty conscience. "What is it, Dottore?"
"You're asking me what it is? What happened to supplying me with experimental materials as promised? Even if there are no materials, what about Mora? You only gave me equipment—what am I supposed to do with that?!"
"Dottore, I know you're anxious, but calm down. Snezhnaya is in ruins and has no surplus materials or funds to spare you right now. Besides, the materials and funding required for those taboo experiments of yours are astronomical; sustainable supply is simply impossible at the moment."
"You..."
"Alright, that's enough. I still have state affairs to attend to." With that, Pierro made a motion to dismiss him.
"Lord Jester, there are some doc...u...ments..."
Pierro sighed. "Just leave them there."
At that moment, Dottore noticed that the documents Pierro was currently reviewing were mostly requests from ordinary citizens.
Pierro looked up at Dottore. "Then, before you delve into your taboo experiments, would you mind researching something that consumes fewer funds?"
Having already glanced through the paperwork, Dottore replied, "Fine." He snatched up a few files. "I'll go work on plant growth experiments first. Get me some food seeds." With that, he left Pierro's office and returned to his own laboratory.
Staring at the delivered food seeds, he planted them in flowerpots.
"System, initiate imagination."
*Understood. What object or person would you like to imagine this time?*
*Target of imagination—plant rapid growth nutrient.*
Instantly, his consciousness plunged into another space. All around him in the space, a group of people in white lab coats were recording various research data on instruments. The surroundings were filled with plants and experimental equipment of all kinds, and in the center hung a large screen displaying the success of the latest experiment.
Dottore examined the materials and processes required, began analyzing them continuously, and then weighed their effects, pros, and cons.
His consciousness returned to his body. Based on his analysis, while this plant rapid growth nutrient would provide a massive amount of nourishment for plant growth, it would also rapidly exhaust the soil's nutrients. It had both advantages and disadvantages.
"If we do this, the soil in Snezhnaya will likely be barren after just a few applications. It looks like I'll have to figure out a way to restore the land afterward. I already know the materials; the next step is to send people out to find them." Dottore stood up, nearly stumbling, and felt a wave of dizziness.
"If I had the materials, I could have brewed a hundred or eighty bottles of restorative agent before imagining it." As he muttered this, he wrote down the required supplies.
"Someone come!"
A Fatui Skirmisher stepped into the laboratory. "Lord Dottore, what are your orders?"
"Find the materials on this list. The more, the better." With that, he tossed the list at the agent.
"Yes, Lord Dottore." Clutching the list, the Skirmisher bolted from the laboratory as if there were a terrifying boss-level monster lurking inside.
Am I really that frightening?
"Never mind. Next, I need to personally survey whether the soil fertility in eastern Snezhnaya is high or low. If I dump this potion onto already barren land, it won't be long before I ruin that entire region."
After days and nights of continuous surveying, he finally compiled the data for all the land in Snezhnaya suitable for growing crops.
"I'm exhausted. Even with the strength of a God, this is too much." Dottore was now lying on his bed. "Tomorrow, I'll set up a few greenhouses on the plots with higher fertility. Otherwise, if the crops are growing well and suddenly freeze to death, it'll all be for nothing."
The next morning, after exerting every ounce of effort, he finally built over thirty greenhouses across five locations. By this time, his subordinates had also prepared the requested materials. After mixing the solution, he had Pierro summoned to the site.
Arriving and gazing at the greenhouses, Pierro looked at Dottore and asked, "What are these things good for? Don't tell me you spent the last few days just making these?"
"Just follow me inside. I trust this will help resolve some of your difficulties, dear Director."
Pierro followed Dottore into the greenhouse. The moment he stepped inside, he felt the temperature rise to over ten degrees Celsius.
"The temperature is actually..." Pierro was slightly astonished.
"Catch." Dottore tossed a tomato toward Pierro, who caught it and took a bite. "You probably didn't just make this one thing."
"Of course not. This greenhouse is merely one of the experiments." With that, Dottore opened the plant rapid growth agent and poured it over the seeds. The plants began to grow rapidly; in the blink of an eye, tomatoes, potatoes, raspberries, and a whole array of foodstuffs sprouted from the ground.
"This..."
"Shouldn't this be enough to barely alleviate your state and financial difficulties?"
"Dottore, does this potion you researched have any side effects?"
"Of course it does. Every advantage has its drawback. Potion like this cannot be used too many times, or the land won't be able to grow crops in the future."
"I understand. People will be sent here to harvest these vegetables."
"Remember to have someone come by my laboratory; there are dozens more bottles there, along with instructions on how to build the greenhouses." Dottore turned to leave, then suddenly looked back and added, "Tell them not to destroy these structures during the harvest—these things are very fragile. And when pouring the plant rapid growth agent, don't use too much. Our current materials and funds are only enough to make this much."
"Wait, Dottore, you can't leave yet. Come with me to the office first." Dottore glanced back at Pierro, unsure what he wanted, but followed him anyway.
"Speak. What do you need me to do?"
"Captain Capitano's Abyss exploration team has suffered heavy casualties, so the Captain needs you to create something to enhance the soldiers' combat capabilities."
"As long as it boosts combat power, right?"
"Right."
"Alright, I understand. Give me five days." With that, he left the office.
"Aside from researching forbidden knowledge, Dottore is actually quite reliable."
"Oh, right, these are the materials I need. Don't forget to get them for me." Dottore suddenly doubled back and handed Pierro a new materials list.
Staring at the items on the list, Pierro fell into a brief silence.
Pierro: *I take back what I just said.*