A Journey That Changed The World.

He looked at the talking, wiggling worm trying to bargain with him. He sighed before speaking, ''What did you want?''

''Food and safety from the hunters,'' the Desert worm asked. ''We are hunted for what we can produce, and my kin suffer as they kill us for our bodies.''

Archer nodded before revealing, ''I can offer you this desert and everything within it, any food you want, and never-ending safety to the point you will get bored.''

When the worm heard this, it lunged toward Archer and wrapped around his body, causing Mary to giggle at the scene. He turned to the older woman while the creature gently squeezed him, ''Mary! What is this thing doing?''

''That is the Desert Worms handshake, Arch,'' she revealed. ''It seems like there was no bargain after to speak when they accepted you instantly.''

After getting his answer, Archer pulled the giant worm off him and asked for some red silk because he had never seen it. The creature nodded its large head before convulsing until a red ball flew out of its mouth.

When that happened, Archer's eyebrow raised as he looked at the slim, covered ball of material that caught his attention. He squatted down to examine the stuff but couldn't see anything due to the gunk on it.

What he could see, though, was a faint red glow. Archer was curious, so he cast Cleanse on it, causing all the stuff to vanish, leaving behind some of the most beautiful silk he'd ever seen. It was glowing with an otherworldly radiance.

He touched it carefully, and as his fingers made contact with it, Archer was greeted with a sensation unlike any he had ever experienced. The fabric was impossibly soft and smooth, gliding effortlessly beneath his touch.

Archer picked the silk ball up, looked at it closely, and studied the beautiful red color that seemed to shift whenever he moved it, which amazed him. While examining it, the Desert Worm spoke, ''Is this what you want, Master?''

''It's perfect, but I will need much more so my kingdom can become wealthy,'' Archer questioned. ''Can we get more Desert Worms to move into my desert? What would we need to bring them here?''

The worm stopped wiggling around for a few minutes before saying one thing, ''Crimson Shadowroot and Sunfire Blossom Master.''

Archer had never heard of such a thing, so he turned to Mary, who was watching the scene with amusement, ''Desert Worms eat the two plants that grow under the sand, and they eat it, which then sits in their guts until it turns into Red Silk and they usually spit it out on the surface while hunting for monsters.''

He nodded, ''So they eat monsters and these plants to produce the silk? Am I right?''

''Yes my love,'' Mary replied. ''We can get some from the desert if you wish.''

''Okay,'' Archer replied before turning to the Desert Worm, ''I will call you Jim from now on, and you shall be the leader in my desert. Do you agree?''

''Yes, Master, can I get my family and friends? They will love it here,'' Jim asked.

Archer couldn't help but chuckle and agree. As the three entered, he opened a portal to the desert. Jim dove straight into the sand and swam off, leaving them alone, causing Mary to turn to him.

The older woman's face lit up with a glowing smile as she leaned in to kiss him. Mary then stepped back, gently taking his hand before guiding him into the vast expanse of the desert. While walking, Archer questions, ''How will we find the plants?''

''They grow near the same rock outcroppings and small bodies of water,'' Mary replied. ''You just need to know where to look.''

''How do you know all this?'' Archer asked next.

Mary was still scanning the desert as she replied, ''When you've lived for uncountable years and have explored the whole world on foot, you get to know all the little secrets and treasures in exotic places.''

When Archer heard this, he grew interested, and Mary saw it. She smiled before giving him an example, ''There is a jungle on the other side of the world where Elderwood Emeralds grow below ancient trees, or there's an ice desert where the powerful Tundra Titans roam, and giant Arctic Diamonds can be found that can power a city shield for decades.''

''You'll have to take me to all these places one day, my beautiful Primordial wife,'' Archer said in a loving tone, causing Mary to beam just as she spotted what she was looking forward to and rushed forward.

Archer watched in fascination and plunged her arm into the sand before sending out mana waves, pushing dozens of strange-looking plants to the surface. He walked over to one and picked it up.

It was blood red in color and resembled a jumble of roots with small bulbs all over the vines. He scanned it to find out which one it was.

[Crimson Shadowroot - Grows underground in many deserts and is used in some potions]

The other plant looks like a pumpkin, which is a yellow/red color. Archer stored both in his Item Box before turning to Mary, who had already found more by the time he had stored all the first ones.

They spent a little while collecting hundreds of the two plants before returning to the domain and using the Tressyms to spread them all over the landscape. Once that task was done, Archer used his mana to invigorate the new life he added to the desert.

Following that, he summoned an army of Stone Men and ordered them to capture as many desert monsters as possible and throw them through the portal he opened. After that, Archer turned to Mary and asked, ''Do you Want to get something to eat?''

The older woman nodded before he secured the Gate. It would only let the monsters through, and once the Stone Men completed their jobs, they would be dismissed. Once Archer finished that, he teleported them to Drakonia City, which was still humming with activity even though it was late.

Archer led Mary through the busy streets, and as they walked, he turned to her and said, ''What do you want to eat? I see a few restaurants opening up in Draconia's first city.''

"I'm fine with anything, Arch," she remarked, scanning the surroundings. "Let's see if they serve any fried meat here."

He nodded, and they proceeded. Despite their search yielding no fried options, they stumbled upon a bustling noodle shop. Archer guided Mary inside, where they were met with a delightful aroma.

Archer's stomach growled aloud before Mary chimed in, "The aroma here is wonderful. I'm eager to try the food."

''I agree,'' Archer responded before dragging her to the nearest table.

When the couple sat down, a young Asian-looking woman appeared to take their order: ''What can we get you, customers?''

Archer picked up the menu and saw many dishes that caught his eye. He ordered two of everything and Mary with a Griffen Brothe. The server smiled before making her way to the kitchen.

As the two sat there, Mary asked, ''So what do you plan to do with the Red Silk and other plans you're enacting?''

''I will use the wealth raised by selling Red Silk and the rare ingredients to fund the army, navy, and construction projects all over the kingdom,'' Archer replied before continuing. ''The government will use the taxes to pay everyone's wages, and the rest will go back into the realm to maintain the roads, cities, and trade ports.''

Mary nodded, her green eyes glowing as she spoke, ''I have some ideas to help the kingdom.''

Archer motioned her to continue. She explained her idea about healing mages opening a medical center to treat people if anything happened. When he heard this, he thought of a hospital, which was a good idea.

Then, she suggested a program to make education accessible to all the kingdom's children and teach subjects that would benefit them later in life. For example, boys were taught that contributing to the kingdom brought honor to a family.

While girls were taught to be homemakers and mothers, they were welcome to become warriors. Her last idea was a rare monster sanctuary that could earn coins through tourism, which interested Archer.

Soon, the food was being pushed on a trolley while the woman smiled at them. The meals were now on the table as Archer complimented Mary, ''You came up with some good ideas. How about you open an Inn in Dragonheart City when it opens?''

Mary's eyes widened, but she happily nodded, ''That would be nice to have two inns to work with, especially if you can sort out a transportation network to bring in more ideas.''

''I've designed some trains but need to get the dwarf sisters to look at them when I get some time,'' Archer spoke while trying a mouthful of a sweet broth that sent a wave of mana through his body.

''Trains?'' The older woman questioned.

''Machines from my old world that transport large numbers of people and goods kingdoms,'' Archer explained. ''It's more efficient than merchant caravans, especially on Draconia, as it's a massive island so that it will be helpful in the long term.''

Mary nodded with fascination as she listened to his plans, which continued until the two finished eating and paid for their meals. When they stepped outside, Archer spoke, ''Is there anything you want to see?''

''The farms and Dragonheart City,'' the older woman answered, taking his arm.

After that, the couple left the city and started exploring the countryside, where hundreds of farms dotted the land. As they travel north, Mary comments while staring at one fortress in the distance, ''Why are there so many forts? I've seen over one hundred since leaving Drakonia City.''