Chapter 853: Dark Powder ( 853 )
Javier raised one hand, fingers glowing faintly with mana.
With a quiet hum, a massive object blinked into existence before them, summoned directly from his magic storage.
A large, arcane-etched machine stood in the center, covered in pipes, magic vents, and crystal inlays. Several intake valves lined one side, shaped to receive whole cocoa fruits directly. At the back, three distinct output chutes waited in silence, each marked with different elemental runes.
Everyone stared.
Then Javier reached into his storage again and pulled out a glowing, emerald-blue mana crystal, double size of an adult head. It pulsed faintly with raw energy.
"Ohoho... this baby right here..." he muttered, hugging it close for a second before moving toward the power core slot.
With great care, he slid the crystal into place. The moment it connected, the runes across the machine lit up.
"All right," Javier said to himself, rubbing his hands together like a mad alchemist. "This goes here... that connects there..."
He circled the machine once, adjusting two side knobs and patting one of the crystal vents.
Liana and Gloria simply stood nearby, arms crossed, amused by his antics.
"He’s in his own world again," Gloria said with a smile.
"A very loud one," Liana added.
Javier stepped toward the center console, a large panel with a singular raised platform and one glowing button at its core.
He raised his hand dramatically.
"All right... time to power this up."
The moment Javier pressed the button.
The machine responded with a deep, steady hum, low and smooth. Arcane runes across its frame flickered to life, glowing softly as the internal systems began to circulate mana. The crystal screen on the control panel lit up with detailed displays, mana flow, internal temperature, process indicators, all perfectly stable.
Javier’s eyes sparkled with delight.
"Heh... this is good," he muttered, standing tall with both hands on his hips, chin raised proudly. "Since I hate loud noise... this is perfect."
The staff nearby just watched in silence, used to their young master’s eccentric flair.
Then Javier spun on his heel, his smile wide and full of anticipation.
"Mister Fringal!! Bring the first crate!" he called, voice loud and clear across the warehouse.
At the same time, he reached into his storage again and pulled out three large steel tray. He gestured toward the output section of the machine, tapping the ground beside each chute.
"These go here, here, and here. Make sure they’re aligned. That’s where the real magic’s coming out."
Fringal shout a few quick orders. The farmers hurried over with the first crate, its wooden frame packed tight with whole cocoa fruits, still in their rugged shells, some slightly cracked to show the soft, white pulp inside.
With a light grunt, Javier grabbed the edge of the crate himself, lifting it up as if it weighed nothing. His arms flexed slightly as he tipped the entire contents into the machine’s main intake chute.
The fruits tumbled in one by one, disappearing down the glowing channel lined with heat-resistant, mana-infused plates.
He stepped back, eyes gleaming.
"All right!!" he shouted, one hand raised like a conductor at an orchestra. "Let’s start the process!"
Javier pressed the button again.
The machine responded immediately. A deeper hum rolled through the air, and the internal chambers began to shift with soft mechanical clinks and pulsing mana flickers. Transparent panels on the sides allowed a glimpse inside, blades rotating, heat plates warming, magic runes glowing in sequence as the entire process kicked off like a perfectly tuned orchestra.
As the rhythm of the machine settled into motion, Liana stepped closer to Javier, her expression calm but curious. Gloria followed, adjusting her glasses slightly as she studied the massive contraption.
"Young master?" Liana asked gently.
"Hm?" Javier tilted his head, eyes still fixed on the glowing panel.
"You said you were going to try it out..." she glanced at the control interface, then at the now-empty crate nearby, "...but why pour everything inside?"
"Ah?" Javier blinked and looked at her like it was obvious. "Because we need to see the result."
Liana raised an eyebrow.
Javier grinned.
"This machine isn’t just for cocoa," he said, hands moving animatedly as he spoke. "It’s the prototype for the full-scale model that’ll be installed in the White Gold factory near the estate."
Gloria’s eyes widened slightly. "You mean the sugar factory?"
"Yup," Javier nodded. "That one. Since it’s close to the barracks, it’s easier to protect from outsiders trying to sniff around.."
He turned back to the machine proudly, watching as the cocoa fruits were steadily processed within the glowing chambers.
"And besides..." Javier smirked. "I need a big batch for the first test. Everyone’s going to taste it. I mean, everyone."
Javier hurried over to the output section of the machine, boots skidding slightly on the polished warehouse floor. His eyes gleamed with anticipation.
And then it happened.
A soft hiss escaped from the first compartment. A moment later, a rich, dark-brown powder began to pour steadily into the waiting steel container.
The nearby workers blinked in confusion.
"...Flour?" one whispered.
Javier crouched down slowly, dramatically, his face drawn close to the stream like a mad scientist beholding his creation. His grin widened, too wide.
Liana and Gloria exchanged tired glances. The warehouse had fallen dead silent. Everyone watched as their young master crouched like a gremlin beside the container, his fingers twitching with excitement.
"It’s starting again," Liana murmured.
"Mm," Gloria replied softly. "That face again..."
Then, the second compartment opened with another hiss.
A pale, creamy stream oozed from within. Thick, fragrant, and slightly glossy. It flowed into the second container with a gentle plop, settling into a soft mound.
Gloria tilted her head, blinking. "Is that edible?"
Javier grinned without turning. "Cocoa nectar. We can make juice, wine, ice cream... all kinds of things, really. The possibilities are endless with proper research!"
And then the third.
From the final chamber, shredded husks, broken fibers, and dried skins spilled out in a soft clump, light brown, slightly crumbly, and neatly compressed.
Liana pointed. "That’s... waste?"
Javier slowly turned his head toward her, his eyes wide with mock shock. Then, without warning, he leaned in close.
"This... is... money~" he whispered.
Liana sighed, but smiled faintly. She gave him a quick kiss on the lips, then stepped back with a teasing smile.
"And how exactly?"
Javier straightened, his grin turning smug. "That pulp will be mixed with Pekko manure and enchanted minerals. It’ll become Armand’s Premium Cocoa Fertilizer."
( End Of Chapter )