Chapter 80. Boarding the Gweung-i.

Chapter 80. Boarding the Gweung-i.

In the conference room of Gage.

"This year, due to the drought in Asia and the locust plague in Africa, the agricultural production is expected to decrease by about 15% compared to last year..."

After the report on this year's food production forecast was finished,

"Raise the food prices by 20% this year. Vice President, how is the Top Farm project progressing?"

William McLaren, the chairman of the massive food corporation Gage, asked his son and vice president, Michael, as he easily decided to raise global food prices by 20%.

"Unfortunately, there has been no progress in food production yet."

The atmosphere in the conference room turned cold instantly at Michael's confident statement about the lack of progress.

"Hmm..."

The executives in the room exchanged glances, watching William's reaction. William, the chairman of Gage, was not the type to show favoritism to his son. In fact, he demanded even more results to prove his son's worth as a successor.

"So, you're saying there has been progress in other areas besides food production?"

"Yes. Fortunately, we found a way to increase revenue earlier than expected. Please look at the screen."

Michael signaled his secretary, who connected a USB to the laptop and displayed the data.

"We made an unexpected discovery while researching the magic cherry tomatoes sold at the Top."

"An unexpected discovery?"

"Yes."

Michael explained that he was experimenting with a contaminated mutant cherry tomato on the second floor of the Top, which was being used as an experience farm, and that he was in the process of expanding the farm tenfold.

"So, you're saying that as long as you plant it, it grows well, and when you remove it, it gives experience points? What's the cultivation period?"

"One month. And I request a budget to expand the experience farm tenfold."

Michael planned to clear dozens of skeleton graveyards on the second floor of the Top to expand the experience farm.

"Good! I'll increase the budget for the Top Farm project tenfold, so go ahead with it."

"Yes! Thank you!"

Michael bowed deeply, grateful for William's full support.

If the budget is increased tenfold, the current size of the experience farm can be expanded a thousandfold. In a few months, when the experience farm is completed, it will generate billions of dollars a day.

***

"This cat... Gweeek!"

Uttata roared in anger, feeling insulted by Theo. He couldn't let this insult from a mere mid-level wandering merchant pass.

Gweeek! Gweeek!

In response to Uttata's roar, four boar wandering merchants pulled out massive axes from their backpacks. The boar race was known for their excellent combat skills and for not hiring free mercenaries.

However,

"Hehehe! Pulling out axes is like admitting defeat as a wandering merchant, isn't it?"

Unaware of this, Theo fearlessly mocked the boars. More importantly, Theo had an absolute belief.

'Park Sejun's knee will protect me!'

It was a strange belief, but

'What is it? Why is he so confident?'

Theo's confident demeanor made Uttata feel uneasy, sensing that there might be more to him.

"Who are you?"

So, Uttata asked Theo's identity, feeling like he was probing a stone bridge, suspecting that Theo might have a hidden identity.

"Hehehe. If you ask about my identity, I must answer! Listen well! I am the great black..."

Just as Theo was about to introduce himself with a sinister laugh,

"Mr. Theo!"

Elka and the wolves appeared, interrupting Theo. Bill the intern had called the wolves as a precaution.

Grrr.

The wolves blocked Theo's front, baring their sharp teeth and threatening Uttata and the other boars.

"Silver Wolves?"

Uttata was surprised to see the silver wolves blocking his path. As far as he knew, the Silver Wolves, free mercenaries, should have been pursuing the Straw Hat on Grid's commission.

"Silver Wolves, aren't you on a mission for Lord Grid, the patriarch of the boar race? Don't be hostile to us."

"The commission has been canceled."

"What?! You're canceling the contract?"

"It wasn't a formal contract anyway. Step back. If you continue to be hostile to Mr. Theo, we will attack."

"Gweeek! Silver Wolves, you'll regret this day! And you! We'll see about this!"

Uttata and the boars glared at Theo and the wolves before gathering their backpacks and leaving.

"My introduction was cut short..."

"Mr. Theo, I called the wolves!"

Bill the intern, oblivious to the mood, boasted about his contribution to Theo.

Bill believed that his contract period would be shortened again, but

"I'll restore all the time I reduced from Bill's contract!"

"Huh?!"

Theo had to pay the price for interrupting his introduction. It had the opposite effect.

Thump.

Theo, with a disappointed look, passed by Bill and climbed onto Elka's back.

And then,

"Today, I will auction 5000 C-grade magic cherry tomatoes, 5000 C-grade strength pumpkin sweet potatoes, and 10,000 D-grade detox leeks, 500 each!"

Theo announced to the hunters. Thanks to the upgrade of Theo's backpack and the interns' backpacks, the amount of crops he could sell had increased dramatically.

"Strength pumpkin sweet potatoes?!"

As the hunters buzzed about the new crops,

"Now, let's start the auction with 500 magic cherry tomatoes!"

Theo declared the start of the auction.

"500 for 750 Top Coins!"

The price of magic cherry tomatoes had stabilized as sales increased, but with a 2000-unit reduction this time, the price rose slightly, selling for about 1.7 Top Coins each.

The strength pumpkin sweet potatoes were treated ambiguously.

"500 for 500 Top Coins!"

The effect of increasing strength by 0.5 was popular among warriors, but the effect when consumed by non-awakened individuals was a concern.

"It promotes bowel movements?"

Promoting bowel movements only cured constipation, and spending millions on constipation was too much. As a result, the strength pumpkin sweet potatoes sold for about 1 Top Coin each, mostly to warriors.

"Now, let's sell the detox leeks!"

"500 for 3500 Top Coins!"

"500 for 3600 Top Coins!"

As expected, the detox leeks were the most popular. After reports of terminal liver cancer patients being 100% cured by eating detox leeks, more liver cancer patients were willing to spend money on them.

"Sold out!"

The total sales amounted to 824,630 Top Coins. The auction was a huge success, with the detox leeks selling for an average of about 80 Top Coins each, driving overall sales.

And the photo session followed.

"Humans, line up!"

Although he needed to return to Sejun's knee quickly, Theo couldn't resist taking photos and hurriedly took some.

"Take some for yourselves too!"

To shorten the photo session, Theo involved the interns.

After the photo session,

"See you next time!"

Theo quickly led the group to the 99th floor of the Tower.

Han Tae-joon and the Black Wolf Gang had long been forgotten in Theo's mind.

***

Day 253 of the ordeal.

"Completed!"

Sejun looked up at the brick tower he had built up to the 10th floor, which was finished two days ahead of schedule.

Thanks to Kaiser.

- Park Sejun! Do you have any requests?!

Kaiser, who had been blocked by Eileen, couldn't hold back and demanded a favor from Sejun, hoping that if he helped Sejun, Sejun would help him make amends with Eileen.

Under Kaiser's insistence, Sejun asked him to complete the brick tower, and Kaiser finished it in one go.

Sejun then removed Kaiser from Eileen's block list.

'It probably won't last long, but...'

It wasn't bad for Sejun to have Kaiser's help again.

With the fountain tower completed,

Beep!

The gray rabbits, with the help of the Black Minotaurs, began constructing the water channels. This time, they reinforced the pillars to make the channels strong enough to support Gweung-i's weight.

While the channels were being built,

Snap.

[9 ripe magic cherry tomatoes harvested simultaneously.]

[Job experience increased significantly.]

[Harvesting skill level 4 proficiency increased significantly.]

[Proficiency increase level 1 effect: Harvesting skill level 4 proficiency increased by 5%.]

[270 experience points gained.]

Sejun was harvesting cherry tomatoes.

Then,

Gweung!

Gweung-i approached Sejun, carrying a tree trunk.

And then,

Gweung!

Crack.

Gweung-i used his front paws to split the tree into two and started carving a hole inside.

Tap. Tap.

Gweung-i scratched the tree a few times with his front paws, and two holes were quickly made.

Gweung!

Gweung-i got into the front hole and called Sejun to sit behind him. It looked like a two-person boat.

'Cute little guy.'

Sejun smiled warmly at Gweung-i.

Gweung!

Gweung-i urged Sejun to get in. Hurry up!

"Alright."

Sejun pretended to give in to Gweung-i's urging and climbed into the Gweung-i boat.

"Wow!"

From the outside, it didn't look like much, but inside, there was even space to stretch his legs. The Gweung-i boat was quite ergonomic.

Then,

Boom!

Mom Crimson Giant Bear lifted the Gweung-i boat and placed it on the fountain, as if inviting them to play in the water.

But,

Gweung! Gweung!

Gweung-i, excited by the boat floating and moving, started shaking his body.

"Huh?"

Crack.

The Gweung-i boat started moving towards the channel connected to the fountain and got stuck on the channel.

"Gweung-i, stop."

Sejun's face turned pale. The channel construction started today, and it was obviously incomplete. He could see the channel was broken ahead. This wasn't the thrill he wanted.

Gweung?

Gweung-i stopped at Sejun's command, but

Clunk!

It was too late. The Gweung-i boat started accelerating along the channel.

Whoosh.

"No!"

Ignoring Sejun's scream, the Gweung-i boat raced down the channel.

And then,

Zoom.

The Gweung-i boat, after a short sprint, flew for 3 seconds and began a free fall from a height of 9 meters.

"Aaaah!"

Gweung!

Just before the Gweung-i boat hit the ground,

Boom.

Fortunately, Mom Crimson Giant Bear caught the Gweung-i boat.

"Phew."

Sejun sighed in relief and decided to seal the Gweung-i boat for a while.

***

In the 66th floor Mage Guild's guild master's office.

"Hum hum hum."

Iona was humming a tune while packing her things.

Float. Float.

Using telekinesis, she put her bed, desk, and books into a subspace bag.

Then,

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

"Come in."

Click.

Cwirl.

At Iona's invitation, a white rabbit with a large monocle covering half its face and a red ribbon in its ear entered the room and greeted her.

Cwirl was Iona's disciple and the former princess of the now-defunct Red Ribbon Kingdom.

"Cwirl, did you handle the people I brought well?"

Cwirl.

Cwirl nodded in response to Iona's question.

Sejun had judged that Israel and Oren were in danger with Theo and had Iona take them to the mana stone mine operated by the Mage Guild for safety.

"Cwirl, pack your things. You're coming with me to the 99th floor of the Tower. Your people are living there, so you'll like it."

Cwirl!

Cwirl rushed to her room to pack her things at Iona's words.

A moment later,

"Hum hum hum. Let's go!"

Cwirl!

Iona and her disciple set off for the 99th floor of the Tower.

And then,

"Run faster, kitty!"

Feeling the departure of her competitor, Theo urged the wolves to run faster.