Once's I knew Keith had left I started taking notes. As far as I knew I couldn't see any animals.
There were no paw prints or scratches on the ground at all. This land wasn't used before either so it couldn't be caused by overgrazing.
I began waking around the perimeter hoping to find something I might have missed. One thing I noticed very well around the edges was that the ground was slightly soft.
The trees that were growing were small and skinny. This land is able to support vegetation which is a good sign already.
As I kept on walking I was nearly on the opposite side, and I saw a small pond. What caught my attention was that there was no form of life around it so water wasn't the problem.
I decided to look at the whole plain from this direction, and it was mostly flat. The land was just a plain field so there can't be some geological issue.
Well at face value at least, I then spotted men arriving. They are the workers I was told would be on my watch.
I then went full, circle and returned to my original spot. The men weren't too amuse at me who in their mind was just walking around.
"Do any of you know if there are animals around these part?" I asked wanting to know something else.
One of the men who wasn't to happy said, "No, with what we know the nearest forest is ten miles away from here." His voice was tired.
This is odd, "I appreciate your help but it's quite strange that the whole area is like this." I said to the man who just walked away without saying anything else.
The whole area is on the edge of the forest, and that must mean something. I have some suspicions that it has to do with the soil.
The other men are just waiting for a command to start working.
I looked at them and said, "I am guessing that the soil is the main problem. It must be in bad conditions, and it isnt fertile enough to support life"
The men were a bit surprised by my quick hypothesis. "What a smart man, I guess we won't be here for to long after all." Said one of them.
I myself wasn't to happy from what he just said, it was to easy. Why would the government be unable to figure this out if I did this quickly?
This isn't adding up in any logical way, were they purposely ignoring the problem? What will they gain by doing this, why now are they having someone fixing this simple problem?
Am I just overthinking it? Yeah that must be it. I must have been thinking too much as one of the men tapped my shoulder. I was too still, and unresponsive to them, I think they might believe I'm weird now.
"May I request for more specialist? I am thinking of a plan to make this land more fertile."
The men look at each other then back at me. "Sorry we can't do that, we aren't really important or have the authority to do so. Even if we wanted to, you're the only specialist in this field left." One of the men said with an apologetic face.
I sighted. "That's a shame, I guess I'll have to do this by myself." I said but I didn't let it drag me down.
I then clasped my hands to get their full attention. "I ask of one of you men to ask the government for some for of fertilizers, and also ask for decomposing crops as well."
"We can finish this small problem within a year or slightly more. When I say this I mean we will be finishing the first step, we won't automatically start growing plants." I said to them trying to make them understand.
"Follow my instructions, and after seven or so months we can begin adding cover crops. This will allow us make the soil much healthier if anyone of you didn't know."
After that small and clear goal I gave the men, we began working on it. We spend a few months trying to make the soil healthy.
I am full of determination to fix the land, and help out the people. I can't say much about the project as I'm writing down my progress, and sending documentations to the government.
As I was writing one more letter that was basically like the rest. It was to record my progress, and to ask them to have patience. One thing that the government hates is patience as I would always be asked if it was done or closed to finishing.
Thinking about it now, even with the progress we made I might have over estimated myself. Even after a few months of hard work, we won't be able to plant any crops in six months at the earliest.
"Hey boss, what are you writing right now? You been writing for quite some time, and you seem more focused on it than the whole project." One of the men asked me.
I started folding the paper into an envelope. "It's to the politician, he isn't too happy with the progress at all. He is trying to make me rush things, and hates how slow it's been going." I said.
"I'm frustrated with the constant nagging, but I'm my opinion it's great progress. I'm doing this practically alone, and in my opinion we aren't to far off from what I first said."
The man tilts his head. "Well you should of known that as that man is know for being impatient. He is famous for canceling projects because of that." He said as if it a normal thing to say, and he didn't seem bothered at all.
I then said with a frantic voice. "No one told me this, and you should of mentioned it earlier."
The man backed away slightly as he was offended. "I just expected a man like you to know that already, sorry."
I calmed myself. "No it's fine, I was…I got a bit carried way that's all." I said to him, I can't believe I almost yelled at a man doing his job.
What is wrong with myself, these are the words I should of never said.
——
"Ceborati, I am canceling the project right now." Keith said.
It's been five months since we started the project and it's now over. I was completely stunned by his words.
His expression was that of carefree as if this wasn't a big deal.
I was sitting down across from him in a room. My facial expression said it all. "You can't do that, I was making great progress." I said as I tried to stay calm.
"I know, I know. Listen, the president told me that we had to change plans. He told me that we are turning this land into a trading port instead…why are you standing up? Sit back down." Keith said as I sat back down.
"This project would take at the latest six months which is much faster than yours ever could. This would also bring a much greater impact as well." His expression was smug.
"But sir, we were almost done with my first step. We were this close to planting cover plants." I noticed how he seemed disinterested with what I was saying.
"What the hell is a cover plant? Were you just messing around the entire time? Is this why to took to long?" This man was completely clueless.
"What? No, you don't understand, just give me four months tops. I promise I'll give you results, if nothing happens I'll take full responsibility." I said.
This caught his attention and he smiled. "Well then that changes everything, you have four more months…Don't make me look like a fool or else you will face the consequences."
—-
I am once again writing on my notebook, did I say I wasn't going to write again or have I forgotten?
I am feeling stressed, I'm trying my best but I feel doubtful. My hands keeps on writing down my thoughts.
Am I wasting my own time? What! Of course I'm not, I then rip the piece of paper form my notebook.
This is my first ever assignment, it's fine to fail in your first time. This is going to be my proof of my capabilities. Sure I might not finish the project, but I'll definitely get more assignments and help people in a different way instead.
One thing that I noticed since that day was how the men were also doubtful. They don't think this will work with such limited time anymore.
"Listen up everyone, I have the highest hope form all do you. This time limit should be a test in disguise." I said loudly so that they can all hear me.
"With a reduced time period, I am forced to be as efficient as possible. I'll try to trust my intuition, and I'll speak with a few of you about the progress alright?"
I then heard some clapping from behind me. I then turned around and it was him, he was smiling at me.
"Ceborati, why are you trying so hard when the results is this obvious?" Said the G.O.
"I'm sorry but I can't stop right now, the progress we made can't go to waste. We can add the cover plants by fall, and with this time limit I'll do it sooner."
"If the plants grow properly I'll be sure to ask for more time." I said to him, I wasn't to happy to see him either.
He just smiled at me. "That won't work Ceborati, it won't prove anything. When exactly do you expect food to begin growing?" His face was more of one trying to make me react.
"Well since you aren't informed, the earliest time would be by next year fall. This means a full year would have passed, but I was hoping for the second year at spring." I said trying to not get aggregated.
"I knew it, it's too much time wasted Ceborati. Why wait two years when you can wait half a year for results." He truly is making me dislike him as much as possible.
I turned around and left the conversation, he is trying to get me to act. I need to find my friend again. He is the only one who can understand me right now,
I walked up to a horse and got on it. "Listen to me men, I'll be gone for a few days". I said which many of them were to happy to hear
"I have written some instructions for you all to follow until I return." They all gave me a look that screamed we aren't prepared for this.
"I'm going to visit an important person, and I made sure my instructions are as clear and easy to understand."
"Don't worry at all, I'll take full responsibility for any damages that happen. If there is someone to blame for the trouble it should be me and only myself." This of course eased the men a bit.
As I then left the area I couldn't help but think of Keith and the G.O. They are awful people, and I'm going to prove them wrong. This will allow me to have more leverage in future projects as I'll show my capabilities.
To think it would be months since I last saw him, I don't know why I didn't write letters to him.
What will [] say when I tell him everything? What will he think about me? I know he can help me out more than I ever could imagine.
After what seemed like hours I finally arrived to the port in the night. I yelled out his name hoping he was there. Thankfully he was outside and he saw me, we both smiled at each other.
"Why are you here this late in the day, Adam you sure are a weird one." He said to me as I got off my horse to hug him.
"It's been a long time since you last visited, I assume your work is very time consuming."
"Yeah sorry…" I said but after seeing his face once's again, he seemed very mesmerizing. "My work has gotten a bit complicated recently."
[] looked at me with a bit of worry. "What do you mean a bit complicated?"
"Well…everything has been going smoothly until it was being cancelled. They told me I was taking too long, and now they want to make it into a port."
"You do seem a bit bitter, this project meant something to you hasn't it?" He said to me with complete honesty.
"I would be lying if I didn't say I do feel anger, I would hate myself if I lied to you." I said.
His expression changed. "I like how you're an honest person Adam, you really did change me a bit."
I smiled at him, "I'm glad our feeling are mutual, I wanted to visit you because I was feeling stressed." I said feeling a bit embarrassed.
[] is such a great man, a much better man that I could ever be. I already feel much better from greeting him.
I then stopped hugging him. "I want you to visit me one day as I'll be filing some reports in the district.
"Sure Adam, I'll try to visit you then." He said as he patted my back.
"I'm glad you're living a good life [], I hope that one day you can see what I'm working on. Even with this pressure, my life is very important and I'll never trade it for anything."