novelraw Chapter 98: Two Letters
Chapter 98: Two Letters
When Leon returned to the cabin this time, he was relieved to find no unexpected visitors dropping by on the third night in a row.
Still, lying in bed, he wasn’t in a hurry to sleep. Instead, he mulled over the words of Wizard Rasmodius.
For instance, the matter of the barrier being activated after the meteorite’s fall, and those friendly visits stemming from his grandfather’s connections and reputation.
When Leon thought of visitors, the only ones that came to mind were the tiny fairies who could make a small patch of crops ripen instantly.
Of course, he wasn’t talking about those self-important “fairies” from certain books, but the real kind—palm-sized, winged little beings.
Oh, and there was also the witch—apparently Rasmodius’s ex-wife—whose visits required him to own a coop. She would turn an egg into a void egg, though Leon wasn’t sure if that counted as a gift or a curse.
Beyond that, he had no idea. In the game, only those two types counted as “visits.” Everything else was more like natural events. As for what might happen here in reality, he’d just have to wait and see.
It should be a good thing, though—after all, Rasmodius had specifically said they would come with goodwill.
Surely their idea of goodwill wouldn’t be completely different from his own understanding… right?
Thinking along those lines, Leon’s eyelids grew heavier and heavier. Before long, he gave in and drifted off into a deep sleep.…
The next morning, sunlight woke him naturally. He went through his usual routine—washing up, making breakfast, eating, and watering the crops. Once those daily tasks were done, he headed straight to the mailbox, pulling out two letters.
One was from Lewis. The envelope was stuffed full. Opening it, Leon saw not just a letter, but a thick stack of banknotes.
“To Mr. Leon of Red Star Farm:
The purpose of this letter is to deliver payment for the goods you sold last time. After transportation and sales, the total value of goods shipped from Red Star Farm is 1,120G. Additionally, we are providing agricultural support funds from the local assistance program, totaling 10,000G. Please check the amount carefully and contact me immediately if there is any discrepancy.
—Lewis,
Mayor of Pelican Town”
Leon quickly counted the money. There was indeed a full stack of hundred-G notes—one hundred in total—matching the 10,000G support fund he had discussed with Lewis yesterday.
He brought the money back inside and stored it in a chest. He had no intention of using it for personal spending. Since it was labeled as agricultural support funds, it would go toward farm planning and upgrades.
Besides, 10,000G wasn’t enough to buy a Starfruit. If he had been given 20,000G, he would’ve rushed to the Sewer Drain to buy one from Krobus without hesitation.
After all, boosting his own capabilities would also benefit the farm’s growth in the long run. That had to count as agricultural development, right?
The smaller, odd-numbered sum he kept in his pocket—payment for the green onions and spring foraged goods he had shipped. That was his personal labor income, free to spend however he liked.
With money in hand, Leon felt at ease. He decided he’d have a nice lunch at the Starfruit Saloon later.
The second letter was from Joja Mart’s Customer Satisfaction Department.
Opening it, Leon saw the signature blue stationery of Joja Corporation, the contents neatly printed.
“Dear Joja Mart Customer,
We have cleared the landslide in the northern foothills. This landslide was caused by our company’s drilling equipment, but we assure you the mining activity was entirely legal and compliant.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by this incident and thank you for your continued support of Joja Mart.
—Morris,
Joja Customer Satisfaction Department Representative”
“Oh, so the back mountain’s been cleared already? That was fast.”
Leon shook his head. Just as Lewis had said, Joja claimed their operations were legal. But since they had paid the fine and shown sincerity, he couldn’t be bothered to dwell on the politics.
What really mattered was that the path to the Abandoned Mines in the northern foothills was now open. That meant he could finally go mining.
Mining resources would be at the top of his list for future farm development. Beehives, tree sap collectors, brewing kegs—all required mining materials. Copper ingots, iron ingots, coal—these were essential, and he would need them in huge quantities.
Tool upgrades also required copper, iron, and gold ingots, though compared to industrial equipment, that was a small expense.
He could buy the ores from Clint, but the prices were outrageous. Mining them himself was far more economical.
Leon had been preparing for this for a long time. It was why he had upgraded his backpack, and why, upon getting a Prismatic Shard, his first instinct was to rush to the Calico Desert to exchange it for a Galaxy Weapon—so he could perform well in the Abandoned Mines.
Now that the mines were open, Leon went back inside. He stored away his watering can, axe, and scythe, keeping only his pickaxe, hoe, and Galaxy Watermelon Knife.
Since he didn’t know exactly what to expect, he also crafted two torches for emergencies—better to be prepared if the mines were too dark.
Just as he was about to leave, his gaze fell on the suitcase and backpack he’d brought when he first moved to Stardew Valley. An idea struck.
He emptied the clothes from the backpack and slung it over his shoulders.
The System Backpack could store items and stack similar goods, but each item type—no matter how many he had—took up one slot. With only 24 slots, that could easily fill up in the mines, especially since they held more than just ores—there were monster drops, artifacts, and other oddities. The extra backpack could hold small, light items, giving him much more room.
Everything ready, Leon hopped on his bicycle and set off toward Pelican Town.
Though the back mountain’s forest path was the fastest way to the northern foothills, he wasn’t going straight to the mines yet. Besides tools, supplies were also important.
He was still a living, breathing person—he needed food, water, and bathroom breaks. If he planned to spend the entire day underground, he’d need plenty of both. He also intended to stop by Pelican Town’s clinic to stock up on medicine.
After all, every farmer knew that if you wanted your tools to work well, you had to keep them well-fed. And since Leon was both the farmer and the tool, he certainly wasn’t going to treat himself poorly.