Chapter 82 - Ark Gallery Liquor Business Operators * Rolling Around Gororong Gororong

Another peaceful day inside the bunker. I was finally hearing the news that the liquor business operator investigation was complete.

With liquor involved, it was inevitable that people would try to snag unfair profits. Honestly, they'd wrapped it up way faster than I'd expected. I assured them it was fine and got right down to business.

The only race on the continent not making booze: the elves. With barely 1,000 left, they seemed to have kept only the bare minimum staff. But we couldn't withhold supplies just because there was no dedicated seller. So, we decided on temporarily granting sales rights to trusted individuals.

The captain's unexpected plea of inconvenience. Since she always said yes to everything, we switched to a backup plan.

Showing samples before sales was standard. I promptly sent each a 24-pack of beer tall cans.

Smaller than the beer we sell now, but still shop beer. If the gallery folks complained it was small, I'd just dump the whole stock. No point in extra hassle to grant wishes if they're full of complaints—it'd make me not want to bother.

Operators invest 30P, profit 12P. I considered a slightly higher price but proposed the minimum ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I'd thought of.

Thrilled elves and humans, anxious dwarf brother. As the one overseeing all liquor matters, he seemed worried about the future. But I had no plans to sell anything but beer. If I flooded the market, no one would bother brewing. We'd meet minimum needs, then let each race handle the rest.

Yeah, plenty exist. A ton, even. After a moment's thought, I sent a gift along with it.

I considered green bottle soju but went with clear liquor after counting on my fingers. Honestly, green bottle soju was such low-quality stuff I hated gifting it. Fine for me, but not for others.

That good? I'd never noticed a superb aroma while drinking clear liquor.

All three seemed pleased. I smiled contentedly and wrapped things up.

The long meeting finally ended. I stretched lightly and checked the insanely long handle list they'd sent. As I'd thought when I first saw it, this was ridiculous. They'd investigated all these in under a week?

Elves had few numbers, dwarves handled via guilds—so quick for them. But the Empire must've burned through bureaucrats. I was awestruck by their administrative power to finish this volume so fast. Gotta be like this to survive 50 years of famine, right? I sent silent condolences to the Empire's endlessly grinding officials.

After a moment of silence, I created a new list in my gallery favorites. "Name it... Liquor Business Operators?" They brew and sell, but since only I'd see it, whatever.

I clicked the race-sorted tabs and asked Sora.

"Sora? Looks ready to add now."

Liquor business operator registration done in a flash. Sora had saved me. When I first got the list and paled, she'd said it'd be quick, no worries, and given my legs a good knead. Daily help plus first-time massage—two points had my eyes tearing up.

Honestly, without Sora, I couldn't have overseen this. Better to delegate authority for sustainable corruption with minimal intervention. Thanks to her, we nipped future issues in the bud.

Huge help deserved repayment. "Thanks, Sora. Would've been brutal without you. Dinner tonight—your pick?"

Sora, who always deferred menu choices. Since she'd done so much, let her choose today.

"Ah... Sure. Pig's feet for dinner later."

Was she considering that day I freaked out? She'd never requested it before, but now pig's feet. She must really like it—gotta eat it often to get used to it.

"Woof!"

"Yeah, you two join us later."

"Hek hek hek hek"

Hero and Champion, the Four-eyed Wolves, came bounding at "pig's feet," drooling. Dinner would fill the bunker with crunchy sounds tonight.