Chapter 267: So, It's Time to Clock Out, Meow!
TL: Hanguk
Tower Floor 79.
The kingdom of the birds, Kov, flourished for hundreds of years, creating a brilliant civilization.
However, a problem arose in the kingdom several decades ago when all the lakes within its territory dried up.
The cause was an inexplicable drought. All the lands of the Kov Kingdom were severely cracked due to a lack of water.
Queen Prana of the Kov Kingdom managed to somewhat solve the problem by urgently bringing water from other floors, but there was one issue that couldnt be resolved.
That was the drying Mother Tree. Despite many birds continuously pouring water, the condition of the Mother Tree only worsened.
To the birds of the Kov Kingdom, the Mother Tree held significant meaning. All the birds of the Kov Kingdom were born from the flowers of the Mother Tree.
To them, the Mother Tree was literally their mother.
With the Mother Tree drying up, the birds worries were far from minor.
The biggest problem was that as the Mother Tree dried, the number of birds being born was gradually decreasing.
Since last year, the chirping of baby birds had almost disappeared in the Kov Kingdom.
As a result, the once lively capital of the kingdom now lay in a deep state of despair.
In the center of such a capital stood a lone mountain.
Atop the mountain was a beautiful rainbow-colored castle, the Rainbow Castle of Kov that had stood its ground for hundreds of years.
Prana, will the messenger birds find someone to save the Mother Tree this time?
Loui, we must believe. They are the children chosen by the Priestess of the Tree. They will surely find someone to save the Mother Tree.
Queen Prana of the Kov Kingdom answered with a voice full of unwavering conviction, addressing her husbands concerns.
The Priestess of the Tree who could hear the Mother Trees voice.
Every year, the Priestess of the Tree appointed birds chosen by the Mother Tree as messengers to go outside the kingdom and find a hero who could cure the Mother Tree.
For 10 years, they sent messenger birds out and brought many people, but no one could even figure out why the Mother Tree was drying.
Prana, then Ill go get water again.
Yes, please do.
As her husband Loui prepared to leave for another floor, leaping from the castles terrace to fly in the sky,
Sigh.
Prana let out a deep sigh she had been holding back.
In truth, she too was anxious. She just didnt show it, fearing that the kingdom would waver if she, too, appeared shaken.
I hope this year, someone will surely
Prana gazed at the distant Mother Tree, fervently praying that one of the messenger birds would bring someone who could save it.
***
Puhuhut. Getting a subordinate is also work, so I am diligently working, meow! It seems todays work is done, meow!
As Theo proudly looked at his subordinate, Piyot,
Piyo! Piyo?
[Chief! But what should I call you?]
Piyot, who had decided to become Theos subordinate, though the contract did not bear his name, and had just been rescued by Theo, asked while looking at him.
Puhuhut. Now that you mention it, I havent introduced myself, meow! I am Theo Park, the Deadly Dragon Claw Golden Cat, subordinate of the Great Black Dragon, meow! By the way, I am also the right-hand man of Chairman Park, meow!
Piyot, who had just been born and didnt know what a Black Dragon was.
Piyo!
[Its an honor to be Theo-nims subordinate!]
Piyot was simply overjoyed to become Theos subordinate. Another naive one had appeared in this world.
Puhuhut. Thats right, meow! Becoming the subordinate of Vice Chairman Theo is a tremendous honor, meow!
Theo said, feeling smug as Piyot looked at him with admiring eyes.
Just then,
Gurgle.
A sound came from Piyots stomach. He had not eaten anything for several days while fighting the white snakes in this area.
Puhuhut. Just wait a moment, meow!
Thinking he could show off to his subordinate, Theo opened his bundle.
However,
Rustle. Rustle.
Even when he put his paw into the bundle, nothing was caught.
Theres nothing, meow!
Theo realized then that the bundle was empty.
Piyot, eat this instead, meow!
Theo took out some peanuts from his pocket, which he had set aside for Iona.
Thank you!
Peck. Peck. Peck.Neew updates at novel/bin(.)com
Piyot began to energetically crack open the peanuts.
And then,
Piyo!
[Delicious!]
Crunch.
After tasting the peanuts, Piyot started to earnestly eat the crushed peanuts.
Puhuhut. Eat a lot, meow!
Theo said, crushing the peanuts into powder to make it easier for Piyot to eat.
Piyo!
[Thank you, Theo-nim!]
Puhuhut. No need to thank me, meow!
Theo grinned mischievously as he watched Piyot eating the peanuts.
Fifty Tower Coins per peanut, and since I, myself, crushed the peanuts, thats a service fee of 100 Tower Coins, totaling 750 Tower Coins for five peanuts, meow!
True to his role as Sejuns money-conscious right-hand, Theo never gave anything away for free.
Piyo!
Inside the snack pouch were 20 sweet blue kudzu roots and 3 extremely bitter white kudzu roots.
And then,
Huh?
There was one green kudzu root that Sejun hadnt seen before.
Krueng! Krueng!
[This one smells really sour! But smelling it makes my mouth water!]
Cuengi said, looking at the green kudzu root.
Really?
Hearing Cuengis words, Sejun sniffed the green kudzu root.
Oh! it does smell like lime here? Hmm.
He naturally salivated at the fresh scent.
Thankfully, its not bitter.
Sejun examined the green kudzu root more closely, feeling relieved.
[Overabundant Magic Power Kudzu Root]
Unlike other kudzu roots that absorb vitality from living hosts, this kudzu root absorbs magic power from surrounding kudzu.
Absorbing the magic power of dozens of kudzu roots with strong vitality, its medicinal properties are enhanced.
When consumed, it either increases magic power by 50 or potential magic power by 25.
Low chance of awakening a talent related to absorption upon consumption.
Has a strong sour taste.
Cultivator: Tower Farmer Park Sejun
Shelf Life: 210 days
Grade: A+
Tonights dinner will be grilled fish.
Smelling the lime scent, Sejun wanted to sprinkle the juice of the Overabundant Magic Power Kudzu Root, which has a lime scent, on grilled fish.
Krueng!
[That sounds great!]
Cuengi cheered at Sejuns words. Daddys cooking is always good!
Then, Daddy will make grilled fish, and Cuengi, eat this and help with the rice noodles.
Sejun said, giving Cuengi five honey jellies to eat.
Kuehehehe. Krueng!
[Hehehe. Okay!]
Cuengi put the honey jellies in his mouth, took down the black noodle maker hanging on the kitchen wall, and put Sejuns rice noodle dough into it,
Cuengi!
and began pressing the dough to make noodles.
Meanwhile,
Clank.
Sejun took fish out of the void storage, skewered them, and started grilling.
As Sejun had grilled about 300 pieces of fish,
[You have completed Grilled Piranhas.]
[Your proficiency in Cooking Lv. 7 slightly increases.]
[Your proficiency of Cooking Lv. 7 has filled, and the level increases.]
Messages appeared announcing the increase in cooking level, and Sejuns cooking skill level rose to 8.
Just then,
Chairman Park, Im back, meow!
Theo flew towards Sejun, shouting.
Swoosh.
As usual, avoiding Sejuns hand,
Wham.
Theo hugged Sejuns face with his body.
Ptooey! Ptooey! Youre back?
Thanks to that, Sejun had to spit out Theos fur again. Looks like hell have to make another Theo ball.
Puhuhut. Thats right, meow!
You look too happy for someone who went out with nothing in his bundle. Did you work hard?
Puhuhut. Of course, meow! I, Vice Chairman Theo, worked incredibly hard and even brought back a subordinate, meow!
Theo proudly spoke and turned to introduce Piyot,
Krueng?
[Whos that?]
Piyo. Piyo.
[Hello, Great Black Dragon Chairman Park. I am Piyot, Theo-nims subordinate.]
Piyot, who was politely greeting Cuengi while making rice noodles, had mistaken the strongest Cuengi for Theos boss.
Krueng!
[Cuengi is not Chairman Park. Daddy is Chairman Park!]
Piyo?!
[What?!]
Following Cuengis front paw, Piyot turned his gaze to Sejun and their eyes met.
Im doomed
Piyot felt dejected, having botched his first encounter with Sejun.
*****
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