Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 229

Mason’s office at the Wandering Merchant Association Headquarters was usually tidy. But now, papers were scattered across his large wooden desk, showing his growing worry. He leaned forward, his voice sharp as he spoke to Vega, the Director of the Secret Inspection Bureau.

“Tell me about the missing people in Merchant’s Passage. Any progress? Do we have suspects?”

Vega shifted uncomfortably, avoiding Mason’s gaze. “Well… we haven’t found any clues yet, President.”

“What?!” Mason slammed his hand on the desk, making Vega jump. “A month! It’s been a month since people started vanishing in Merchant’s Passage. Over a thousand are gone now, and you have *nothing*?” His voice rose with each word. “This is not a small problem, Vega! If word gets out that the Passage isn’t safe, the merchants will stop using it. They trust us to protect them!”

Until now, wandering merchants could travel safely. This was because the Wandering Merchant Association promised to protect them.

But if people found out the Merchant’s Passage wasn’t safe, the wandering merchants would stop moving.

And if the wandering merchants stopped, goods would not be properly delivered to each floor of the Tower. There would be great unrest on several floors because of shortages.

Also, the Merchant’s Passage wasn’t just used by wandering merchants. The Wandering Merchant Association’s reputation would greatly decline among everyone who used the Passage.

So, this missing persons case was a big worry for the Wandering Merchant Association from the start, and they had put all their effort into it. But they didn’t even have a clue, let alone a suspect?

“I am sorry!”

Vega, the Director of the Secret Inspection Bureau, had nothing to say, especially because his bureau had received so much help.

Just then,

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Burst.

The person who knocked entered the Association President’s office quickly, without even waiting for permission.

“Who is it? I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”

“It’s me, James. I apologize for not showing my true appearance to the Association President and the Director. I came urgently because I have something to report.”

James, the legendary agent of the Secret Inspection Bureau who never revealed his true identity, showed his badge and bowed his head in apology to the two men.

“Ah, James, it’s you. But what’s this urgent matter you need to report?”

Mason, who had been tense, asked with relief.

“I think we’ve found a lead in the Merchant’s Passage missing persons case.”

“Really?!”

“Yes. And just now, the Master Merchant Yuren went missing in the Merchant’s Passage.”

“What?! Master Merchant Yuren?! Is that true?!”

“Yes, it’s true. I was with Yuren until just a moment ago.”

James had been investigating the Merchant’s Passage missing persons case by hiding his identity. He’d been hired as a guard for a large merchant group, hoping to find clues as he moved with them.

Then,

“Master Yuren, a fork in the road has appeared ahead!”

While moving with Yuren’s group, a fork in the road appeared where there hadn’t been one before.

“We’ll go first, so investigate this place and come.”

Master Merchant Yuren, thinking of the safety of the other wandering merchants, asked the mercenaries to investigate the other road while he continued his journey.

But, the mercenaries arrived at the exit of the Merchant’s Passage without any trouble. Yuren’s merchant group had vanished without a trace.

“This is a serious matter…”

“Even Yuren…”

The two men looked serious at James’s words. Yuren, one of the three Master Merchants, had gone missing… Soon, the news of Yuren’s disappearance would spread among the wandering merchants under his command, and rumors would spread throughout the Tower.

“Director Vega, block the Merchant’s Passage for a few days, saying it needs repairs!”

“Yes!”

To stop the matter from getting worse, Mason decided to block the Merchant’s Passage.

“Puhu-hut. Teo Vice President is not fooled, nyaang! Nyaang nyaang.”

Teo, sure that he wasn’t being tricked and was going the right way, hummed a tune and walked fearlessly.

However,

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Not long after entering the road, hundreds of white snakes surrounded Teo. They were slimy and fast, hissing as they moved.

“What nyaang? There are strange numbers on their heads, nyaang!”

The numbers ‘0.01’ and ‘0.02’ were written on the snakes’ heads.

However,

“Don’t block Teo Vice President’s way home, nyaang!”

Teo didn’t care about the numbers. He just punished the snakes that blocked his path.

Ppat-ching.

“Nyaa nyaang!”

Clink.

White coins, large and small, fell from the snakes’ bodies.

“Nyaang?! What nyaang?! Were they apostles of destruction?!”

Teo was happy as he watched the snakes drop coins.

Just then,

Whoosh. Whoosh.

Hundreds of snakes reappeared and approached Teo.

“Puhu-hut. Become my spoils to take to Chairman Park, nyaang! My Theory of Slavery, come forth, nyaang!”

Teo summoned the Theory while fighting the snakes.

“Theory, shrink down and come up on Teo Vice President’s head and pick up the coins, nyaang!!”

-Yes!

Leap.

At Teo’s command, the Theory turned into a small form and climbed onto Teo’s head.

Lick. Lick.

Using its tongue, it picked up the white coins and put them into Teo’s bundle.

“Nyaa nyaang! Theory, don’t miss a single one, pick them all up, nyaang!”

-Yes!

As Teo fought the snakes and happily earned white coins,

“Stop them!”

“Protect Master Yuren!”

The sounds of battle could be heard from ahead.

And

Oong. Oong.

Teo’s front paws glowed with a warm, golden light, a sign of good fortune ahead. Firestone’s golden flame buff signaled that there was wealth ahead.

“Puhu-hut. As expected, I am lucky, nyaang! There is gold ahead, nyaang! Let’s go! Theory!”

-Yes!

Teo quickly ran towards the sound.

“Huh?! What?! Where did it all go?!”

Sejun went to the kitchen to make breakfast. He was surprised to see that none of the rice noodles he had laid out to dry were there.

And

Koohehe… Kooeng…? [Hehe… I shouldn’t have eaten that…?]

Kkoeng, who had excitedly followed Sejun into the kitchen, was surprised by Sejun’s reaction.

And

Kkoeng… Kkoeng… [Daddy, I’m sorry… Kkoeng ate it all…]

Kkoeng quickly went into a crouched mode.

“Kkoeng ate it all?!”

Kkoeng…

[Yes…]

Kkoeng answered, watching Sejun’s expression.

“······.”

Sejun was speechless at Kkoeng’s answer. He never thought Kkoeng could eat 1,000 servings of rice noodles.

Kkoeeng…

[I’m sorry…]

Kkoeng thought his dad was angry because Sejun was silent. He became frightened and began to sob.

“No, it’s my fault for not telling you in advance. It’s okay. I can just make the rice noodles again.”

Sejun stroked Kkoeng’s head, calming him down.

“Instead, Kkoeng will help Dad from today.”

Kkoeng! Kkoeng!

[Okay! Kkoeng will help diligently!]

Kkoeng quickly regained his energy at Sejun’s words. He raised his adorable front paws and spoke spiritedly.

An hour later,

[The Tower’s administrator asks if this is how it should be made.]

A black, glossy cylinder appeared in front of Sejun. One side had fine holes drilled into it, and the other side was completely open.

Next to the cylinder was a lid with a handle that fit perfectly, allowing the contents inside to be pressed.

It was a noodle-making device that Sejun had asked Eileen to make. She used black dragon scales so it could withstand Kkoeng’s strength.

[Black Noodle Maker]

A noodle maker made using the scales of the great black dragons to put in dough and extrude noodles.

It will not break no matter how strong the force.

Cleaning magic is automatically applied every 24 hours.

The size can be adjusted as desired.

Usage Restriction: Strength 1000 or higher

Creator: Eileen Fritani

Grade: Cannot be measured

“Good.”

Sejun looked at the noodle maker, a satisfied expression on his face. The structure was simple, and the materials were special, so it was made exactly as Sejun wanted.

“Eileen, thank you. I’ll treat you to some delicious noodles later.”

[The Tower’s administrator says they are looking forward to it.]

Sejun thanked Eileen and went to the kitchen to start making rice noodle dough. Hairy animals couldn’t knead dough, so kneading was Sejun’s job.

“Ujaja! It’s done!”

Sejun kneaded the dough for several hours and finished the rice noodle dough.

Kkoeng!

[Daddy, Kkoeng brought something good for Daddy and Little Hyung!]

Kkoeng had gone to the western forest late in the afternoon. Sejun had asked Kkoeng to dig up kudzu roots to give to the black rabbit, who would soon be getting married. Sejun needed time to make the noodle maker and knead the dough.

Kkoeng!

[Here it is!]

Kkoeng handed Sejun nine blue kudzu roots and two white kudzu roots.

“Kkoeng, you worked hard. Eat this.”

Sejun gave Kkoeng a bottle of honey.

Crunch. Crunch.

Sejun started eating kudzu roots. The two white kudzu roots for the black rabbit were safely stored in the subspace warehouse.

[You have consumed a blue potential kudzu root.]

[All stat potentials increase by 5.]

···

..

.

Sejun ate all nine kudzu roots.

Lick. Lick.

Kkoeng was still busy eating honey.

“You eat well.”

Sejun watched Kkoeng eat honey. After Kkoeng licked the honey off the bottom of the jar, Sejun took out the black noodle maker.

And

“Kkoeng, grow bigger and put the dough Dad gives you into this and press it.”

Sejun handed the noodle maker to Kkoeng.

Kkoeng!

[Okay!]

Kkoeng received the black noodle maker and grew to about 10m in size. The black noodle maker, which could adjust its size, also grew to match Kkoeng’s size.

“Here.”

Sejun handed Kkoeng the pot with the prepared dough. Kkoeng shook the pot to put the dough into the noodle maker.

Sejun had prepared 1000kg of dough. As it went into the black noodle maker,

Kkoeeng!

Kkoeng lifted the lid of the noodle maker and began to press down hard on the dough.

Press.

Tremendous pressure was applied to the noodle maker, but the noodle maker made of black dragon scales withstood Kkoeng’s strength and began to extrude rice noodles.

Thanks to this, Sejun was able to make 10,000 servings of rice noodles without any hand tremors.

Kkoeng!

[Daddy, Kkoeng is hungry!]

Of course, 1,000 servings of them were scheduled to go into Kkoeng’s belly.

“Who are you?!”

Teo approached the place where the battle was taking place. A merchant soldier guarding the group pointed a spear at Teo and shouted.

“Puhu-hut. If you ask who this body is, it is courteous to answer···”

Teo had finally gotten a chance to introduce himself after a long time. He was excited.

-You guys! How rude! This person is the great, great, great Teo, the master of the bug hunter Theory!

Theory, who was on Teo’s head, scolded the merchant soldier for being rude to Teo.

However,

“What?! Pfft! Bug hunter? If you’re a bug hunter, then I’m a snake hunter?!”

The merchant soldier laughed. It was natural for a frog to eat bugs.

-What?!

Theory was angry that the merchant soldier ignored him. He tried to eat the soldier.

“Theory, go back, nyaang! I’m being ignored because of Theory, nyaang!”

-Yes!

Teo was angry and sent Theory back.

And

“Listen well, nyaang! This body is the great black···”

Teo was about to introduce himself again.

“Did you just say Teo?”

A chubby pink pig approached Teo.

“That’s right, nyaang! Who are you, nyaang?”

“Oh! I am Master Merchant Yuren! Are you Teo, the subordinate of the great black dragon himself?”

“That’s right, nyaang! This body is the great black dragon’s subordinate, the fatal dragon claw yellow cat, Teo Park, nyaang!”

Teo introduced himself properly, puffed out his chest, and made his body as big as possible.

“Oh! Thank God! Please save me, Teo!”

Yuren was relieved to see Teo. Yuren had heard rumors about Teo through Mason. If Teo was there, the great black dragon might come to rescue him.

“Puhu-hut. But do you have much money, nyaang?”

Teo asked Yuren with a laugh like a complete thug.