Farming in the Tower Alone [EN]: Chapter 80

Gagel’s conference room.

“Due to the drought in Asia and the locust plague in Africa, crop production is expected to decrease by about 15% compared to last year…” As the report on this year’s food production forecast concluded,

“Raise food prices by 20% this year. Vice President, how is the Top Farm project progressing?” William McLaren, the chairman of the giant food company Gagel, who had so easily raised global food prices by 20%, asked his son and vice president, Michael.

“Unfortunately, we haven’t had any success in food production yet.”

A sudden chill seemed to drop the temperature in the conference room when Michael spoke. Every executive held their breath.

“Hmm…” The executives in the room murmured, watching William’s expression. Gagel’s chairman, William, was not one to show favoritism to his son. Rather, he demanded even greater achievements to prove his worth as his successor.

“So, are you saying there has been progress in areas other than food production?”

“Yes. Fortunately, we found a way to increase sales earlier than expected. Please look at the screen.”

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

“We had an unexpected breakthrough while researching the magic cherry tomatoes sold at the Top.”

“An unexpected breakthrough?”

“Yes.”

Michael explained that he was testing a farm for gaining levels by planting special cherry tomatoes that changed on the 2nd floor and was expanding the farm tenfold.

“So, you’re saying they grow well just by planting them, and they give experience points when destroyed? What’s the cultivation period?”

“One month. And I’m requesting a budget to increase the experience point farm tenfold.”

Michael planned to push out dozens of skeleton graveyards on the 2nd floor of the Top to expand the farm for gaining levels.

“Good! I’ll increase the budget for the Top Farm project tenfold, so get to work on it in earnest.”

“Yes! Thank you!” Michael bowed deeply, grateful for William’s full support.

With a tenfold increase in the budget, the current farm for gaining levels could be expanded a thousandfold. In a few months, once the farm was complete, it would rake in billions of *Top coins*, the currency used in the Tower, a day.

“That cat… Kkuieek!” Utata, feeling insulted by Theo, roared in anger. He couldn’t simply overlook such an insult from a mid-level wandering merchant.

Kkuik! Kkuik! At Utata’s roar, four of his boar wandering merchant subordinates pulled out massive axes from their packs. The boar tribe were known as wandering merchants with exceptional martial prowess, and they were famous for not hiring free mercenaries.

However,

“Pfu-huhut! You’ve drawn your axes? Does that mean you admit defeat as wandering merchants, nyaang?” Theo, completely oblivious to the boar tribe’s reputation, just laughed louder.

Above all, Theo had something he absolutely believed in.

‘Park Sejun’s knee protects me, nyaang!’

It was a strange belief, but

‘What is it? Why is he so confident?’ Utata felt a sense of unease at Theo’s demeanor, wondering if there was more to him than met the eye.

“What’s your real identity?” So, Utata asked Theo’s identity, feeling like he was testing the waters. He suspected Theo was hiding something.

“Pfu-huhut. If you ask for this body’s identity, it’s only right to answer! Listen well, nyaang! This body is the great black…” Just as Theo was about to introduce himself with a sinister smile like a mastermind,

“Representative Theo!” Elka and the wolves appeared, interrupting Theo’s words. Intern Bill had called the wolves in preparation for any eventuality.

Grrrr. The wolves blocked Theo, baring their sharp teeth and threatening Utata and the other boars.

“Silver Wolf tribe?” Utata was taken aback by the silver wolves blocking his path. As far as they knew, the Silver Wolf tribe free mercenaries were supposed to be chasing the Straw Hats under the commission of Landlord Grid.

“Silver Wolves, aren’t you carrying out the commission of Landlord Grid, the elder of our boar tribe? Do not antagonize us.”

“The commission has been terminated.”

“What?! You’re terminating the contract?”

“It wasn’t a formal contract anyway. More importantly, step aside. If you continue to antagonize Representative Theo, we will attack.”

“Kkuik! Silver Wolves, you will regret this day! And you! Just you wait!” Utata and the boars glared at Theo and the wolves before packing their bags and leaving.

“My introduction was cut short, nyaang…”

“Representative Theo, I called the wolves!” Beaming, Intern Bill puffed out his chest.

Intern Bill believed that his contract period would be reduced again as a result, but

“I will restore all the contract time I reduced for Intern Bill, nyaang!”

“Yes?!” He had to pay the price for stealing Theo’s opportunity to introduce himself. It backfired.

Theo passed by Intern Bill, who looked utterly confused, and climbed onto Elka’s back.

“Today, I will auction off 5,000 C-grade magic cherry tomatoes, 5,000 C-grade strength sweet potatoes, and finally, 10,000 D-grade detox green onions in sets of 500, nyaang!” Theo shouted, looking at the hunters. Thanks to Theo’s pack upgrade and the interns’ packs, the amount of produce he could sell had increased dramatically.

“Strength sweet potatoes?!” While the hunters were buzzing about the appearance of the new produce,

“Now, let’s start the auction with 500 magic cherry tomatoes, nyaang!” Theo declared the start of the auction.

“750 Top coins for 500!” The price of magic cherry tomatoes had stabilized to some extent as sales continued to increase, but this time, the sales volume decreased by 2,000, causing the price to rise slightly and sell for about 1.7 Top coins per piece.

The strength sweet potatoes were treated ambiguously.

“500 Top coins for 500!” The effect of increasing strength by 0.5 was popular among warriors for whom strength stats were important, but it was due to the effect when consumed by non-awakened individuals.

“It promotes bowel movements?” Even if bowel movements were promoted, it would only cure constipation. It was too wasteful to spend millions of Top coins on constipation. Thus, the strength sweet potatoes were all sold to warriors for about 1 Top coin each.

“Now, I will sell the detox green onions, nyaang!”

“3,500 Top coins for 500!”

“3,600 Top coins for 500!” As expected, the detox green onions were the most popular. As cases of terminal liver cancer patients being 100% cured after eating the detox green onions became known, more and more liver cancer patients were spending money to buy them.

“Sold out, nyaang!” Total sales amount: 824,630 Top coins. This auction was also a great success. The detox green onions sold for an average of about 80 Top coins each, driving the overall sales.

Then came the photo time.

“Humans, line up, nyaang!” Theo, who had to return to Sejun’s knee quickly but couldn’t give up Churu, hurriedly took pictures.

“Take pictures of you guys too, nyaang!” Theo deployed the interns to shorten the photo time.

Theo finished the photo time like that.

“Then, see you next time, nyaang!” Theo hurriedly took his group and went up to the 99th floor of the Tower.

Han Taejun and the Black Wolf Clan had long been completely forgotten in Theo’s mind.

Stranded, Day 253.

“It’s done!” Sejun said, looking up at the brick tower he had built up to the 10th floor. The construction was finished two days earlier than planned.

It was thanks to Kaiser.

-Park Sejun! Is there anything you want me to do?!

Kaiser, who was blocked from talking to Eileen, couldn’t stand it and forced Sejun to ask him for a favor. He hoped that if he granted Sejun’s request, Sejun would step in and appease Eileen’s anger.

At Kaiser’s insistence, Sejun asked him to complete the brick tower, and Kaiser completed the brick tower in one go.

Sejun removed Kaiser from Eileen’s block list.

‘Well, it probably won’t last long…’ It wasn’t bad for Sejun, as he could get help from Kaiser again.

As the fountain tower was completed,

Beep! The gray rabbits, with the help of the black minotaurs, began to build a waterway. This time, they reinforced the pillars to create a sturdy waterway that could withstand Kkuengee’s weight.

While the waterway was being built,

Scritch.

[You have harvested 9 ripe magic cherry tomatoes simultaneously.]

[Your job experience has greatly increased.]

[Harvesting Lv. 4 proficiency has greatly increased.]

[Due to the Proficiency Increase Lv. 1 effect, Harvesting Lv. 4 proficiency is additionally increased by 5%.]

[You have gained 270 experience points.]

At that moment,

Kkueng! Kkuengee approached Sejun, carrying a tree trunk.

Kkueng! Crack! He lightly split the tree into two pieces with his front paws and began to dig holes inside.

Tap. Tap. Kkuengee scratched the tree a few times with his front paws, and two holes were created in an instant.

Kkueng! Kkuengee entered the front hole and sat down, calling Sejun to ride in the back. It seemed to be a two-seater boat.

‘Cute guy.’

When Sejun was smiling happily at Kkuengee,

Kkueng! Kkuengee urged Sejun. Hurry up and get on!

“Alright.” Sejun reluctantly got on the Kkuengee-ho at Kkuengee’s urging.

“Oh!” He didn’t know when he looked at it from the outside, but there was even space inside to stretch his legs. It was a reasonably ergonomic Kkuengee-ho.

At that moment,

Whoom! Mom Crimson Giant Bear picked up the Kkuengee-ho and put it on the fountain. It seemed to mean to play in the water.

However,

Kkueng! Kkueng! Kkuengee was excited that his boat was floating and moving on the water, and when he shook his body,

“Huh?” Rattle! The Kkuengee-ho moved towards the waterway connected to the fountain, and the boat straddled the waterway.

“Kkuengee! Stop.” Sejun’s face turned blue. The waterway construction started today. Of course, the waterway was unfinished. He could see that the waterway was cut off in front of him. This wasn’t the thrill he wanted.

Kkueng? Kkuengee stopped his body at Sejun’s words, but

Clunk! It was too late. The Kkuengee-ho began to accelerate along the waterway.

Whoosh.

“No!” Leaving Sejun’s scream behind, the Kkuengee-ho sped quickly along the waterway.

Vroooom. The Kkuengee-ho, which had sped through the short waterway, flew for 3 seconds and began to free fall from a height of 9m.

“Aaargh!”

Kkuengeeeng! Just before the Kkuengee-ho crashed into the ground,

Whoom. Fortunately, Mom Crimson Giant Bear caught the Kkuengee-ho.

“Phew.” Sejun let out a shaky breath, his heart still pounding. “Definitely putting a lock on that thing,” he muttered, deciding the Kkuengee-ho was grounded for now.

The Magic Association President’s office on the 66th floor of the Tower.

“Kkyut kkyut kkyut.” Iona was humming and packing her bags.

Float. Float. She used telekinesis magic to put her bed, desk, and books in the president’s office into her subspace pocket.

At that moment,

Knock. Knock. Knock. Someone knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Click.

Ppyu ppyu. At Iona’s words, the door opened, and a white rabbit wearing large glasses that took up half of its face and a red ribbon on its ear came into the room and greeted her.

It was Ppyu Ppyu, Iona’s disciple and the princess of the now-defunct Red Ribbon Kingdom.

“Ppyu Ppyu, did you handle the ones I brought well?”

Ppyu ppyu. At Iona’s question, Ppyu Ppyu nodded and answered. Sejun judged that Israel and Oren were dangerous to Theo and had them taken to Iona, and Iona sent them to the mana stone mine operated by the Magic Association to be dealt with.

“Ppyu Ppyu, pack your bags too. You’re going to the 99th floor of the Tower with me. Your people live there, so you’ll like it.”

Ppyu Ppyu! At Iona’s words, Ppyu Ppyu hurriedly ran to her room to pack her bags.

“Kkyut kkyut kkyut. Let’s go now!” Iona took her disciple and left for the 99th floor of the Tower.

“Run faster, nyaang!” Theo, who instinctively sensed the departure of his competitor, urged the wolves.