The life energy emitted by just one stalk of Nitro Rice could intoxicate a person, and here in the room were piled one hundred and seventy-four stalks.
Everyone was immersed in the ubiquitous life energy… every pore in their bodies slightly dilated, greedily absorbing the Aura from the Nitro Rice.
They thought Nique's heartfelt words weren't without reason.
Surrounded by such concentrated life energy, it felt like their entire beings had been thoroughly cleansed.
After over ten minutes, everyone snapped out of this comfortable feeling.
"C-Can I plant grass here?" Nique looked hopefully at Law.
He wasn't stupid, and he knew Knov probably wouldn't agree, but if he asked Law, he might agree. And if Law agreed, Knov definitely wouldn't object.
Law was surprised by Nique's request, thought for a moment, and said, "If space allows, why not?"
This was the largest room in the Hide-and-Seek dimension, also the usual main activity area. As for rooms for rest... Nique's eyes lit up, he quickly said, "I only need twenty square meters… no, around ten square meters will do! I'll put the grass plot in a corner, it won't take up too much space!"
Law nodded, feeling this wasn't a big deal.
Obtaining so much Nitro Rice owed much to Nique's ability.
Seeing Law agree, Nique felt happy. He thought planting grass in a room with such intense life energy, even without sunlight, would surely yield delicious grass.
As for Nitro Rice, such a precious thing… he was self-aware, he definitely wasn't entitled to any.
"Everyone take one stalk of Nitro Rice first."
Law glanced at the small mountain of Nitro Rice and spoke to everyone.
As soon as he finished, Kuro pounced like lightning, grabbing two stalks, one in each hand.
Law moved swiftly, stepping quickly over, pressing Kuro down with one hand, saying calmly, "I said take one stalk first. There'll be plenty for you later."
Kuro strained to look up at Law, saying righteously, "I'm keeping this for Hakuro."
"Get lost."
Law took the Nitro Rice, then kicked Kuro away.
Kicked by Law, besides some regret, Kuro's dark face almost broke into a wide smile.
He had boldly eaten one stalk earlier, and now he got another. Fortunately, Law didn't fuss over it… otherwise, even if he didn't get this stalk, he'd have no grounds to argue.
'Can't eat this one too fast!'
Kuro thought, slipping to a corner, then taking out a knife, fork, and plate, solemnly tying a white napkin around his neck.
Then, everyone in the room took one stalk of Nitro Rice, equivalent to a hundred years of lifespan each.
"Do I have a share too?"
Nique stared blankly at the Nitro Rice Law handed over.
"Of course."
Law looked strangely at Nique.
Nique opened his mouth, slowly taking the Nitro Rice, holding it in his palms, his mood momentarily complex.
He always felt his role in the team was that of labor… like a slave, labor that could be ordered around arbitrarily. So even though the team obtained so much Nitro Rice, he didn't dare hope for a share.
"You can only eat one of these in a short period. Wait for the 'benefit period' to pass before eating a second one, otherwise, the effects overlap. After everyone's 'benefit period' ends, I'll distribute another one."
Perhaps noticing Nique's odd reaction, Law proactively explained why only one was distributed.
"O-Okay," Nique replied dazedly, his mindset undergoing a fresh baptism.
Law slightly shook his head, then turned and picked up a stalk of Nitro Rice. Never would he have thought that just one stalk could make Nique truly feel a sense of belonging.
There were many Nitro Rice trees in the swamp, but due to the three-hundred-year maturity cycle, after scouring the place, they only found one hundred and seventy-five stalks.
If not for the fact that eating multiple Nitro Rice in a short time only granted a hundred years of lifespan, he would have distributed at least three stalks each.
As for Kuro, being a Nen Beast, eating more was useless. If Kuro hadn't contributed, why would he waste Nitro Rice on Kuro?
"Law, can this be cooked as an ingredient?" Buhara curiously asked.
His question immediately stopped those about to directly eat the Nitro Rice.
"Although Ai-chan didn't analyze related information, I believe direct raw consumption yields the best effect," Law broke off a golden rice grain, about the size of a corn kernel, its hardness quite similar.
"Oh."
Buhara was somewhat disappointed.
Thus, aside from Stargie, everyone including Bruna directly ate the Nitro Rice raw.
The texture was rather hard, like eating raw corn kernels, but the taste was as refreshing as spring water. Overall, aside from the lifespan-increasing effect, neither texture nor taste offered any surprise.
Law quickly ate the entire stalk. He didn't know how to perceive the lifespan increase, but his previously consumed Nen directly recovered by more than half.
'With Nitro Rice, I can use the Harp Solo without reservation.'
Law looked at the remaining hundred-plus stalks of Nitro Rice beside him, thinking silently.
Distributing sixteen stalks at once left one hundred and fifty-eight.
This was immense wealth money couldn't measure. If exposed back on the Six Continents, the whole world would surely go crazy.
However, Law would rather test Nitro Rice as an ingredient in dishes than sell it on the Six Continents.
"A hundred years of lifespan."
Shiro also ate Nitro Rice, but only half a stalk. The remaining half he kept close, planning to give it to his wife when they returned to the Six Continents someday.
Even though much Nitro Rice remained, he wasn't arrogant enough to ask for more. After all, during the process of obtaining it, he hadn't contributed any effort.
Getting one stalk was already a blessing.
Biscuit ate the entire stalk, thinking increasing a hundred years of lifespan meant she became even more youthful. Thinking this, her mood became delightful.
Then, she noticed Stargie hadn't eaten the Nitro Rice and asked curiously, "Stargie, why aren't you eating?"
Stargie explained, "Saving it for Ellie."
"..."
Biscuit facepalmed, 'With so much Nitro Rice, why worry about Ellie's share?'
Just as she was about to say something, Law's words came over.
"I'll give Ellie her share."
Law walked over, looking at Stargie, his tone carrying a hint of command: "So, eat it."
Facing Law's assertiveness, Stargie was momentarily stunned, then obediently ate the Nitro Rice in a few bites.
Her eating manner... how to put it, was somewhat bold.
Just distributing a bit of Nen to her teeth, Stargie easily chewed and swallowed the rather hard Nitro Rice.
"Finished."
Stargie looked at Law.
Reporting after finishing gave a feeling of a robot girl.
Law smiled wryly, about to say something when he saw the change that occurred in Stargie after eating the Nitro Rice.
Everyone else also couldn't help but focus their gaze on Stargie's face.
Before, although vitality had revived in Stargie's body, her skin tone remained pale… not deathly white, but pale from long-term lack of sun exposure.
But now, her delicate, flawless face and exposed arms showed obvious rosy color, instantly becoming indescribably beautiful.
This change directly stunned everyone for a moment.
…
Meanwhile, at the dandelion corpse's location, the stem reached a hundred meters underground, clustered like peanuts around slightly pulsating fist-sized fleshy spheres.
Those fleshy spheres all seemed to be eggs, not hearts controlled by the earthworm.
If Law could see these egg-like spheres, he'd have a deeper understanding of the earthworm's fleeing behavior.
It could have played dead but chose to die, fleeing openly in front of him.
And these egg-like spheres were the motive.