Episode 40: The First Protest - Hand Over the Pizza!
*Gurgle-gurgle* Another quiet day inside the bunker. Thanks to Hero and Hogul making outings their new routine, Sora and I were able to enjoy the peace.
But my mind wasn't at ease.
"Are these really the same people who were starving to death just last week...?"
The gallery users had started lying down in protest. The spark? The pizza post from the World Tree Guardian.
Just like the title says! This food called pepperoni pizza! (Image of a pepperoni pizza missing one slice)
Mod sent it over before the hero reward drop—said to try it first and decide! It's soooo delicious!
I like it more than chicken! Saved one slice despite how hard it was to hold back... Gonna share with the dispatched elves when they return!
Come back safe after the mission!
Recommends: +9999 | Disrecommends: +9999
From that post, the flames spread gradually until they were raging out of control.
I wanted to stuff them full of delicious food too. But there was a problem.
"You guys have no money... If I add pizza, you'll uproot the family pillars..."
Even with just chicken, posts flooded in about selling daily necessities for weeks to afford it. I'd seen them and held off on new food items for a while.
How about leaving it to individual choice?
"I want to, but..."
They'd already lost all self-control. Put pizza up and tell them to behave? They'd sell their futures for a slice.
There was a way, as always. But as a pizza lover, I couldn't stomach it.
"Really the only option? Feed them that?"
Frozen pizza. The one where you think 'what the hell is this' after the first bite and never touch again. A measly 10P.
I'd thought since they sold drumsticks for chicken, sell pizza slices. But quantity-wise, it's overpriced. 5P a slice? Eight slices make a full pie at 40P.
If it was 4P, I'd have sold it instantly.
"Just 1P difference? No, a whole 1P!"
With the trash pricing leaving frozen pizza as the only choice, and the gallery paralyzed by sprawled users, I steeled myself to sell it.
No choice but to bend my pizza principles for now.
Swallowing my bitterness, I wrote the notice.
Hey, weren't you guys starving to death last week? Where's the money coming from for all these new demands?
Saw you scraping family savings for chicken. I wanna feed you tasty stuff, not steal your futures.
You're begging so hard, so I'll stock it—but if you sell your futures like last time, it's coming down. Chicken too. Behave.
Items up at 7 PM like before. Recommending the cheaper one like drumsticks.
Frozen Pepperoni Pizza - 10P
Pepperoni Pizza L Size - 25P
Buy what fits your situation. Defrost frozen ones properly.
Got it? Also, taverns can sell pricey pizza slices. Fixed at 4P each.
Charge more? Or slice frozen ones? Verified, and that tavern owner gets shop-banned. Follow rules.
Make bank, and don't forget to develop food with that capital yeah?
Now get up.
Recommends: +9999 | Disrecommends: 944
Comments racing in real-time. Maybe because my notice was the only worthwhile post amid the sprawl?
"Sora, seriously curious. These are the same folks starving last week, right?"
The baguette ration—basically cost-price sales—started last week. Memory faded already?
I wondered if some curse of forgetfulness hit the gallery.
In my view, that's exactly why—they're reacting stronger. From struggling not to starve, to effort yielding tasty food. That's happiness itself.
"Huh."
[Yes. Precisely.]
Guess my thinking was naive. Never known famine as a normie.
Hard to grasp their food struggles.
"Whew... Got 'em up for now. Future's iffy though."
How about non-meal items? Desserts or sides seem fine.
"Jam definitely."
Famine solved, easy-to-make stuff. Won't hinder progress, gives instant joy. Find that balance.
Mid-thought, fresh level-1 slave pinged from yesterday.
Discussing ban criteria in HeroModRoom, first high-nick dwarf drops new topic. Dwarves suffering silicosis as expected.
"They don't even wear cloth masks? Not 'unmanly' and dying, right?"
Loyal dwarves will use what I sent. Not full fix, but solid stopgap.
Pondered other solutions while eyeing healthy dwarves chugging beer—and my swelling points.