Chapter 270: All I Need is This Dish and You!
TL: Hanguk
US Naval Command Operations Room.
"So, this means these are the grapes brought from the tower by the hunters?"
Chief of Naval Operations, Samuel Harrison, examined the grapes brought in by the operations officer.
"Yes. They are precisely called Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes."
"Right. They do smell good, as the name suggests. But why did we bring them here?"
"Samuel nim, please look here. This is the detailed description of the Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes."
Since ordinary people cannot see item descriptions, the operations room displayed the detailed description confirmed by the hunter on the monitor.
[Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes]
···
..
.
The scent of fragrant grapes can attract monsters that like the smell of blood.
The scent spreads even further when made into wine.
Cultivator: Tower Farmer Park Sejun
Shelf Life: 90 days
Grade: C
Current Market Price: $50,000~$60,000
The current market price of the Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes was also listed, showing that the price had significantly dropped from the initial amount as hunters continued to sell the grapes they farmed.
"Oho! It can attract monsters that like the smell of blood?!"
Samuel exclaimed in a pleased voice upon reading the detailed description of the Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes on the monitor.
If the description was accurate, it might provide a clue to eradicate the leeches occupying Hawaii.
Currently, the navy was constantly pouring vast amounts of livestock blood in Hawaii to prevent the giant leeches from moving towards the mainland, but the situation was worsening.
The number of leeches was increasing as they fed on the blood, leading to an increase in the amount of blood being dropped over Hawaii.
Thus, the navy was desperately searching for a way to reduce the number of giant leeches.
"Chief of Naval Operations, I think it's worth a try."
The operations staff cautiously suggested to Chief of Naval Operations Samuel Harrison to consider using the Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes in their strategy.
Even other crops cultivated by Sejun, like the Sturdy Blade Green Onions, did not specifically mention that they could kill locusts anywhere in their description.
Yet, Sturdy Blade Green Onions have become an indispensable crop in saving the Earth from locusts.
"Alright. Let's secure about 1 ton of the Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes for a simple test. Ah! Can we contact Park Sejun, listed here as the cultivator, to purchase in bulk and negotiate the price?"
Given the high cost of the operation, Samuel wished to meet with Sejun to negotiate a lower price.
"Well...that's..."
The operations officer appeared troubled by Samuel's question. Currently, almost no information was available about Sejun.
Recently, reliable individuals Han Tae-jun and Kim Dong-sik had distributed information about Sejun to various countries, but
'Park Sejun is too strong to approach within 5km?'
The information seemed too absurd to take at face value.
Han Tae-jun and Kim Dong-sik had informed all countries of Sejun's strength as it is, before undergoing special training to prevent any disaster from happening when Sejun left the tower.
However, intelligence agencies worldwide deemed their information excessively exaggerated and did not trust it.
Thus, Han Tae-jun and Kim Dong-sik's efforts ended in vain.
"First, secure the Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes and see where the hunters got them from. Then we'll have something."
"Yes!"
Following Samuel's orders, the operations staff proceeded to secure the Vitality-Infused Fragrant Grapes and locate Sejun simultaneously.
***
Lunch without Theo or Cuengi.
Chew, chew.
Sejun was having a relaxed lunch, eating Blue Kudzu Root of Potential.
[You have consumed Blue Kudzu Root of Potential.]
[All stats potential increases by 5.]
···
..
.
After finishing all 20 pieces of the Blue Kudzu Root of Potential,
"I'm full. Vitality."
[You have used Vitality Lv. 4.]
[The food in your stomach is digested quickly.]
[All stats increase by 4% for 90 minutes.]
Sejun used his Vitality skill to digest the food. Thanks to using it whenever possible, the skill level had increased by two levels, reaching level 4.
With his stomach now empty,
"Finally, the last one."
Yum.
Sejun put a piece of Aileen’s Healthy Meatball in his mouth.
And then,
[You have consumed Aileen's Healthy Meatball Piece.]
[You have consumed all 100 pieces of Aileen's Healthy Meatball.]
[All stats increase by 100.]
The awaited message appeared.
"Hehehe. Done."
Sejun was overjoyed as a sudden surge of strength filled his body.
At that moment,
[The Tower's Administrator is happy that you have finally finished eating their cooking.]
Aileen spoke up.
"Yeah, I've finished it all. Thanks to you, I think I've become stronger."
Sejun spoke with a swell of pride, feeling the increase in his strength.
However,
[The Tower's Administrator says that in her opinion, you still have a long way to go.]
"I know that. But still, did you have to say it so directly...?"
Sejun was disheartened by Aileen's blunt truth bomb.
[The Tower's Administrator says you don't need to worry.]
[The Tower's Administrator says she have already prepared food that will make you stronger.]
"Ah?! You made more food? Why...why go through all that trouble?"
Sejun tried to act as though he wasn’t panicked. I wasn’t worried...I was just going to live protected by Theo and Cuengi...
[The Tower's Administrator says she find cooking fun, so you don't have to worry about her going through trouble.]
"Uh......"
Sorry, Aileen. Actually...I’m worried about eating your cooking...
As Sejun trembled with anxiety about what kind of tremendous (?) dish Aileen had made this time,
Jingle.
A leather pouch fell into Sejun's palm.
[The Tower's Administrator says she overlooked the fact that you couldn’t eat much at once last time, so this time she divided it into 500 pieces for your convenience.]
"Five...five hundred pieces?!"
I don't ask for much. Just let it be like last time. Sejun fervently prayed as he opened the leather pouch.
Jingle.
Inside the leather pouch were uniformly sized black round meat pieces. Good. It’s the same black color as last time.
Sejun felt relieved seeing the color and shape were no different from before.
Pick.
He picked up one piece of meat to examine.
"Phew."
Fortunately, there were no dangerous or strange descriptions. Like before, eating just one filled him up, and the effect only manifested after eating all the pieces.
The only difference was that this time, he had to eat all 500 pieces for his stats to increase by 300.
"Aileen, thank you!"
Sejun expressed his gratitude to Aileen, who had made a normal (?) dish, with a touched voice.
[The Tower's Administrator says she feel rewarded for cooking since you're so moved.]
[The Tower's Administrator says she will make a completely new dish for you next time.]
"No, it's okay! All I need is this dish and you!"
Sejun desperately emphasized that a new dish was not needed, but
[......]
Aileen had already left to cook, giving no response.
***
Theo and Piyot Descended the Tower.
"Meow, meow, meow."
Piyo. Piyo.
Piyot added harmonies to Theo's humming, flapping its wings ten times with each of Theo's steps, matching the pace of Theo's footsteps.
Then,
Piyo?
As Piyot passed the 79th floor of the tower, it felt something strange, as if it had forgotten something.
Piyo?
"Piyo, what's wrong, meow?"
Theo asked when Piyot suddenly stopped singing.
Piyo!
[Ah! I just remembered, the 79th floor is my homeland!]
Piyot, still forgetting its mission as a messenger bird.
"Puhuhut. Is that so, meow? My homeland is on the 75th floor, Granier village..."
As the conversation turned to homelands, Theo started moving again after sharing about his own, and they simply passed the 79th floor.
Upon arriving at the 75th floor,
"Piyot, follow me, meow!"
Piyot!
[Yes!]
Theo led Piyot to Taru, who was guarding the lost and found warehouse.
"Theo, long time no see."
"Taru, nice to see you, meow!"
"But who's that friend behind you?"
Taru asked, noticing Piyot who was peeking out from behind Theo.
Piyo!
[I am Piyot of the White-Headed Long-Tailed Tit Tribe, destined to become Theo nim's right front paw¹!]
Piyot answered proudly.
"That's a good ambition. Theo, you came to do a draw, right?"
"That's right, meow! Here, take these 2000 Tower Coins, meow!"
Theo handed Taru the drawing fee for himself and Piyot.
Then,
"I'll wait here. Bring them out one by one."
"Got it, meow!"
Theo, accompanied by Piyot, entered the ghost warehouse.
As Theo entered the ghost warehouse,
-Theo~nim, have you arrived?!
The ghosts in the warehouse welcomed Theo.
-We have perfectly cleaned up the place using the one you sent us!
The items that were once piled up like a mountain on the floor were now neatly organized on shelves and in cabinets. Thanks to that, Paeten was currently enjoying a well-deserved vacation.
"Good work, meow! Piyot, get to work, meow!"
Piyo! Piyo?
[Yes! But... what should I do?]
Piyot asked, tilting its head after answering energetically.
"Bring the thing that attracts you the most, meow!"
Piyo!
[Yes!]
Flap, flap.
While Piyot busily flew around the warehouse searching for the item that attracted it, following Theo's instruction,
"Puhuhut. This attracts me the most, meow!"
Theo picked up a book right in front of him and put it into his bundle.
And,
Gororong.
Theo took a quick nap while Piyot was still diligently choosing items.
After a while,
"Meow?!"
Theo woke up to find a massive pile of garbage blocking his view.
Then,
Piyo? Piyo!
[Theo~nim, you're awake? I brought everything that attracted me!]
Piyot proudly showed Theo the items it had gathered. The massive pile of trash was Piyot's doing.
Of course, none of the items were any good. Piyot was incredibly unlucky with its choices.
'Piyot has no talent for drawing, meow!'
Theo decided not to let Piyot do any more draws in the future.
"Bring that one with you, meow!"
Theo reluctantly had Piyot carry one of the items he was attracted to.
And,
-We need to clean up again.
-Let's call the youngest.
Paeten, who had been enjoying a rare vacation, was called back by the ghosts to reorganize the warehouse.
***
"Meow, meow, meow."
Piyo. Piyo.
Theo and Piyot, oblivious to having interrupted Paeten's vacation, happily hummed tunes as they ascended the tower again.
"Puhuhut. Since Piyot's home is on the 79th floor of the tower, let's stop by on the way and pick up some fried eggs that Chairman Park likes, meow!"
Since the items they got from the ghost warehouse drawing were the ones with weaker attraction, Theo decided to also pick up some Egg Fruit to earn more praise from Sejun.
"Puhuhut. Look, Chairman Park, meow! I, Vice Chairman Theo, am working overtime today too, meow!"
Piyo! Piyo!
[Yes! Just follow me!]
Piyot led the way, guiding Theo to the Kingdom of Kov on the 79th floor of the tower.
Upon arriving in Aiv, the capital of Kov, to collect Egg Fruit,
"The messenger bird Pirururur Yot has brought someone to heal the Mother Tree!"
A parrot guarding the entrance shouted loudly enough for all the birds to hear.
"Meow?! A messenger bird?"
Piyo! Piyo!
[Right! I was a messenger bird!]
Piyot finally remembered its mission.
"What's a messenger bird, meow?"
Piyo...
[A messenger bird is meant to heal the Mother Tree...]
While Piyot explained the mission of a messenger bird it had learned,
Caw!
Chirp.
Coo!
Birds began to gather around them one by one.
Then,
Thud.
A giant eagle, whose wingspan was about 10 meters wide, descended from the sky. It was Loui, the king of the birds.
"Welcome. Since you've heard the explanation from the messenger bird Pirururur Yot, I will guide you to the Mother Tree."
"Puhuhut. Let's go, meow!"
Having somewhat grasped the situation after listening to Piyot's explanation, Theo quickly climbed onto Loui's back. Puhuhut. I'll heal the Mother Tree with my healing magic, meow!
And in return...
"Puhuhut. I feel a strong attraction over there, meow!"
While Theo laughed, looking at the rainbow-colored castle atop the mountain in the center of the capital,
Piyo! Piyo!
[I need to grow quickly to carry Theo~nim! I'll have to double my food intake from now on!]
Piyot, regretting not being able to carry Theo on its back, was unaware that it had already grown up.
"Then let's depart."
Flap. Flap.
Loui took off with Theo on his back, heading towards the Mother Tree.
****
TL Notes:
1) I have used 'right-hand man' in the previous chapter because it fits better, but in the original, it's used as 'right front paw' as Theo has paws, according to Piyot. However, it's normally used when Theo mentions being the right-hand man of Sejun. Please let me know which one you guys want to be used here.
2) Another Image of Piyot
*****
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