Chapter 46 - Poultry Farm
The reconstruction of the poultry farm in the east sector of Building 4 was complete. My current points balance was just over 1000P. I was stockpiling points in case of any disasters. If war broke out and Namsan got surrounded, I planned to use them there to build more farms and housing for a long siege. That meant keeping at least 600-700P on hand at all times. It was tempting to spend 50P for instant reconstruction, but I resisted.
Every morning, seeing those empty plots made me itch to fill them with buildings.
"Poultry farm."
I decided on a poultry farm for the next one.
"Reconstruction."
No hesitation—I rebuilt it and immediately spent 180P to upgrade to LV.3.
"Let's go inside."
The door creaked open.
"It's out..."
"Finally."
"No more buying from traders now."
"Yeah, it's here."
The executives and I marveled the moment we stepped in. At last, the poultry farm had appeared. It was the one resource impossible to get in Paradise until now. We'd only had chicken or eggs through trades, treated as luxuries priced accordingly. Aside from me and the executives, residents rarely tasted them—except occasionally in soups.
Funny thing: here, poultry and its byproducts were rarer than top-grade beef, pork, or fish.
I'd even considered leaving it as empty land and airlifting chickens if no poultry came out. Thank goodness.
The first floor had ten vending machines total: two each for chicken, duck, quail, turkey, and goose.
Thud.
I pressed the chicken one, and two large vacuum-packed chickens dropped out.
"Two at a time, and good size too."
"They're huge."
Ducks came two per go, quail ten, and goose and turkey one each.
"No clue on the standard..."
We stocked them all in storage and headed to the second floor. Four machines marked 15/15. The first spat out the eggs we'd craved—a full tray of thirty. At fifteen per machine, fully stocked, that was 450 eggs. Superfoods, basically: easy to cook, portable, packed with nutrition.
"Way better value than fish."
Duck and goose eggs came in trays of ten; quail in fifties.
"Nice..."
Overwhelming cost-performance. I almost resented why it took so long. Boiled eggs could enrich residents' diets, and sending some to troops would boost morale big time.
"Third floor?"
Up there, four machines marked 10/10. The first dispensed mystery ingredients: five yellowish, slightly bloody lumps in vacuum packs.
"What the hell? Anyone know?"
Shrugs all around.
"Gotta call the chefs again."
"I'll fetch them."
I figured poultry meant no unknowns, but nope. When the chefs arrived and I held up the pack, Western chef Ju Yong-cheol lit up.
"Your Excellency! That's... wow!"
"What is it?"
"Foie gras!"
"Foie gras? Goose liver?"
"Yes! Fatty, huge—prime condition!"
"Really? First time seeing one, only heard of it."
Second machine: chicken gizzards. Third: chicken feet. Fourth: a massive sack thudded out.
"Huh?"
Heavy and big. Inside: goose down feathers galore.
"..."
Han Seol piped up. "Perfect for goose down jackets."
A bit disappointing. First and second floors were hits—especially eggs, the ultimate value king. Third felt like a dud by comparison.
Floors four and five were mass producers like other LV.3 buildings. No brainer: all twenty set to eggs. That netted 9000 eggs upfront.
"Distribute eggs to residents today. Four each, at least."
"Yes, sir!"
With 630 eggs every twelve hours anyway, we could splurge for a day.
After sorting the farm, I called the executives, Seo I-rang, Na Hye-won, housing reps, and chefs to the spa. Poultry feast time.
First up: poached chicken. Like the one I'd bought from Seonghun Merchant Association way back.
"Whoa, su-super tasty!"
"Mmm!"
"Wow!"
"Delicious!"
"Unbelievably good."
Not even comparable to that old bird. This was prime, gourmet-bred chicken. Merchant association stuff was a joke.
"Meat just melts... why's the breast so tender?"
Great chicken plus chefs' magic touch—not the tough breast I knew.
Post-sauna, foie gras arrived. One piece per person, simple: foie gras, grilled veggies garnish, sauce.
Squish.
"Knife slides like through butter."
I cut a piece and popped it in. First time trying this delicacy.
"Mmm..."
Buttery texture, salty savoriness. Rich, smooth, nutty. Tasty.
"Good, but..."
That's it for me. Poached chicken suited my palate better.
"Melts in your mouth."
"Too good!"
Everyone but Jeong Su-hwan and Lee Kyung-min devoured it. Eye contact with them—we were on the same page. Uncle tastes for uncles.
Duck followed foie gras. Arcade games and ping-pong later, night fell. Final course: drinks.
"Now this is proper."
Quail eggs, soy-braised beef, grilled quail. Quail whole on charcoal, salted. Makgeolli pitcher on table.
"I'll pour one."
"Thanks."
Im Jun-gu, handling quail and braise, filled my bowl.
"First quail meat—crispy bones, tender. Safe to eat?"
"Yes, charred crisp—chew bones and all."
Suits me: hearty, rustic. Braise was stellar too—side dish from tomorrow.
"Gonna burst..."
Post-meal, I sprawled on the floor; Seo I-rang pillowed on my thigh.
"Your Excellency, last dish pending. Full? Tomorrow then."
"Stuffed, but... gotta for nights like this. Bring it."
"Yes!"
Finale: spicy chicken feet soup.
"Whoa, smell alone burns."
Pub-style visuals.
"Ah! Sorry! Forgot you hate spice!"
"Nah? Love it. No chilies or powder—how?"
"Capsaicin powder."
"Huh? That exists?"
Im Jun-gu fetched a tub from spice storage: white powder-packed plastic.
"Thought it was white pepper or something."
Turns out, capsaicin powder. Even in recent dishes—explained the spice kick lately.
"Tasty!"
"Thank you."
I slurped feet, praising him.
"C-can I try?"
"Spicy, though?"
"F-fine! I lo-love spice!"
"Alright."
Seo I-rang nibbled one, face flushing, eyes watering.
"Told ya..."
"Hah...! N-not spicy at all!"
Kid already boasting spice tolerance—pure Korean.
Chefs blanched at her reaction, dashed off. Returned with honey-drizzled kaymak and milk.
"Th-thanks!"
She chugged milk. Chefs sighed relief.
"Total princess..."
"May I enter?"
"Yeah, come in."
Too deep into makgeolli last night; slept in VIP room with Seo I-rang to dodge hangover. Just for that, but docs kept checking blood pressure and temp. Overkill. Fell asleep to anime with her.
Door opened: Han Seol.
"S-sis, sleep well?"
Seo I-rang sat up, greeting.
"Yeah, you too, I-rang?"
After hellos, Han Seol to me: "No reply from Gangnam government in two days."
"From today, all booze cut."
Not my place—using VIP for hangover—but their elites used recovery Special Awakeners to skip it. Could save lives building hospitals instead. Insane luxury. They saw citizens as livestock.
"Suits me. Wonder how long the alkies last."
Sixteen days later, Gangnam diplomat arrived.
"Your Excellency! I did it!"
He teared up, shouting.
Han Seol: "Anyone'd think he's a Paradise resident."
"Haha."
He'd forgotten he was aiding a potential foe.
"Booze run out?"
"No... but..."
Government initially skeptical of my corpse display idea. Natural—I wasn't catching them. They inferred I had ways to use monster bodies. Didn't change much.
Two weeks in, Gangnam merchants jacked booze prices fivefold as stocks dwindled. Elites screamed, "Who cares about monster corpses?"—sell anything, human or monster, to me.
"So, all sold?"
"Well..."
He eyed me nervously. "Dome Head's still off-limits... but Sun Dancer and Obelisk corpses? Yes."
I clapped silently.
"Good job."
"No, just did my duty."
Praise made him scratch his head, grinning sheepishly.