National Farm (2)
“I expected it, but not to this extent...”
The weather cleared up faster than anticipated, so we started planting potatoes in mid-February. And in just one week, sprouts emerged. The agriculture experts told us it normally takes two to three weeks for them to grow this much. They were beyond surprised—absolutely stunned by the potatoes' growth rate.
As expected, the fertilizer produced in Nakyuan (Paradise Territory) wasn't just "good fertilizer." It was something akin to magical, defying modern science. The experts analyzed that at this rate, we could harvest in six to seven weeks.
We decided to hire 200 more farmers. The cherry tomatoes and leafy greens grown in fertilizer-mixed soil from the housing complexes were already serving as snacks for the residents. The fruits were far thicker and firmer than those grown in regular soil, with better taste, more yield, and faster ripening.
I'd thought the potato fields—mixed with soil rather than pure fertilizer—would grow slower than pure-fertilizer crops. They did grow slower, but still much faster than expected.
“Considering the harvest, we'll need more hands.”
“Yeah. And the farmland keeps expanding... We'll have to gradually increase staff for planting, harvesting, and replanting seed potatoes.”
“I'll post the recruitment notice again.”
“Thanks, handle it for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
After Han Seol left, I let out a sigh.
“The work never ends.”
Reports related to the farm were piling up. But every one addressed problems caused by growth rates beyond imagination—happy dilemmas from things going too well. Unlike the nightmarish worries from endless disasters, these were the kind you could tackle with a smile, even if the reports stacked like mountains.
Other good news kept coming to Nakyuan (Paradise Territory). Residents were getting pregnant. We'd opened the spa's lodging floors for couples or lovers, and applications overflowed. In a housing-packed situation where private affection was impossible, we turned the restored LV.2 housing into a motel due to demand. Not even two months after opening, pregnancy announcements arrived. We threw a celebration that night.
Even in war, children are born; even now, they come into this world. But compared to pre-apocalypse rates, it was near-zero birthrate. Who could raise kids without food? And the collapsed medical system made childbirth deadly for the poor outside, without proper care.
I ordered all pregnant residents to avoid strenuous work and rest as much as possible. As announcements increased one by one, Han Seol, Han Byeol, and Im Jui seemed more proactive lately. To evade their advances, I'd been sleeping with the puppies and Seo I-rang in my room.
April arrived, and we began the first harvest of the fully grown potatoes.
“What is this...? Genetically modified or something?”
“They're so huge—won't the taste suffer?”
“A portion of the yield is coming here. We'll all try it later.”
The moment we saw the photos from the National Farm managers, the executives and I were floored. One showed a farmer grinning with a dug-up potato. But it was enormous—easily three times the size of normal ones. And from a single stalk, an insane number hung like clusters. Every farmer sweated as they pulled them up.
We'd anticipated thicker tubers and higher yields than average, but not like this. It had to be nearly double our projected harvest.
I'd already sunk 1,400 hard-earned points into five more fertilizer factories, upgrading all ten (including the originals) to LV.3. No points left. Broke.
LV.3 factories were five-story buildings, churning out the same fertilizer bags from the top. Output was over four times higher. Supervisors checked soil daily; as harvest neared, we applied more fertilizer, lightening the blackened soil slightly from its original state. This confirmed the effect wasn't permanent—repeated harvests gradually reverted soil to normal. A bit disappointing.
While potatoes grew, the farm expanded. It took about two months from planting to harvest—far faster and more abundant than normal. This time, with expanded land: 50% potatoes, 30% soybeans, and 10% each garlic and peppers. Time to try cash crops.
Soybeans for easy protein supply—meat distribution was unrealistic. Garlic and peppers might seem luxurious, but who lives on potatoes and sweet potatoes alone? Even in big pots of stew, the difference between minced garlic and sliced peppers is huge. Especially for Koreans.
“They're boiled!”
Han Byeol brought a basin of massive potatoes, steam rising. We gathered executives, Seo I-rang, Lee Ha-yeon, Na Hye-won, Na Jong-hoon, and chefs for a tasting. No seasonings—just salt-steamed.
“Let's try them.”
“Yes!”
Nakyuan (Paradise Territory)'s crops came from vending machines, so these were truly our first proper harvest.
“But they're huge...”
“Tell me about it.”
“I'd believe it if you said it was some other crop shaped like a potato.”
Splitting one revealed steamy white flesh. Biting in: perfect saltiness with potato flavor.
“Tasty...”
“Thought size would mean less flavor, but it's as good as regular.”
“The texture's chewier.”
“Yeah, delicious.”
“D-Delicious!”
Our worries were unfounded—the potatoes were great. For comparison, we got regular-farmed ones from the union.
“Now this one.”
“S-Small...”
Seo I-rang murmured, stroking it.
“Hmm... At first, similar to normal, but...”
“Different.”
“Yeah.”
“O-Ours is m-much tastier!”
Side-by-side, Nakyuan (Paradise Territory)'s won: chewier, sweeter texture. Size, yield, taste—total domination. Felt great.
That harvest evening, chefs reported Seo I-rang requested one plain-boiled potato—no salt. Behind the palace, she was training Hae-on and Ra-on. True to Sigorjav breed, after two months, they'd grown massively from pups—now imposing, cuteness faded.
“Hae-on! Ra-on! W-Wait!”
She pulled out the potato; they drooled, then tackled her, licking her face.
Seo I-rang held it high. “W-Wait! If you d-don't listen...! Ahaha! Tickles!”
She fed them herself, but obedience was lacking.
“N-Next time, when I say wait, y-you wait! Got it?!”
Training wasn't going smoothly.
Without lifting a finger, about a third of Gyeonggi's warlords formally submitted and joined the union government. Probably influenced by the Monolith subjugation and massive potato harvest.
I invited the sizable warlord leaders to Nakyuan (Paradise Territory), treating them to food. Their loyalty all over 75%—dead serious.
“Your Excellency.”
“Yes, speak.”
“We know it's presumptuous, joining just yesterday, but...”
They exchanged glances, then continued.
“Could you share even a little of the fertilizer you provide?”
“Hmm... Supply isn't that abundant...”
No issue sharing, but we poured everything into expanding National Farm—no stockpile. Trucks hauled insane daily output from ten LV.3 five-story factories. The farm dwarfed my initial plans.
“Then, let our people work your farms!”
They knelt.
“That request... I'll grant it.”
“Your Excellency! Thank you!”
“Truly grateful!”
“Loyalty for life!”
The farm was too vast; I'd planned 400 more hires. Harvest took forever with current staff. If not sharing fertilizer, employing their subordinates and splitting yield worked. And yeah, someone might criticize, but I wanted this fertilizer as a power tool—keep it internal to National Farm.
Late night, four men sat in a room. Ashtray and liquor bottles with winged logos on the table. One lit a cigarette. Their smokes and booze came from the domain of a man called "The Unyielding Leader."
A bearded man sipped and spoke. “The Gangnam government's president's term ends soon.”
“Elections approaching.”
“No issue with elections, but His Excellency shows aversion to 'President for Life.'”
They sighed, refilling glasses.
“Other executives might not grasp it, but we top cadres must understand his will.”
“Chairman, you think his intent is that?”
“Yes, nothing else fits.”
“Then tomorrow morning, we all go to Nakyuan (Paradise Territory) and formally propose it.”
The man ashed his cigarette. “Chairman, you don't mean...”
“Yes, General, exactly. He rejected 'President for Life,' but I know his true wish.”
The man nodded, murmuring agreement. “As expected—His Excellency's true intent is introducing monarchy.”