Season 4: Chapter 179. Fertile Soil (2)

Meanwhile, a silent power struggle was starting between the Nonghyup Union and Sweet Radish in Cheese Village.

DUN-DUN~!

[Nonghyup Union]

The bold title filled the screen. The camera showed a long table lined with officials. At the head sat three figures.

[HornRamen]

[Donuts]

[MiddleAgedDetective]

The documentary-style subtitle followed.

[The Three Pillars of the Nonghyup Union]

— lmaoooo Three Pillars in a farm guild

— the weakest-sounding boss trio ever

— Peak NPC boardroom arc

Donuts, seated in the center, rose to speak. “I will now present our results.”

Shffft!

A scroll unfurled behind him.

“

Ooooh...

”

“No way...”

Donuts grinned confidently. At this point, he held far more influence than Horn Ramen and MiddleAgedDetective combined. “Your profits all increased by two to three times. Just by entrusting your crops to me.”

The scene paused as a strategy diagram appeared.

[Donuts monopolized price fluctuation charts before variables existed, creating a cheat code for agricultural profit.]

The Nonghyup Union’s true strength was Donuts’s uncanny market sense.

[And with everyone pooling funds to purchase expensive cold-storage warehouses, even Time now favored the Nonghyup Union.]

The video cut back to live footage.

Donuts spread out another set of documents. “Over ten new residents have asked to join us. You know what that means! Our strength grows with numbers.”

[It seemed inevitable that the Nonghyup Union would soon rule Cheese Village.]

— Golden age of agriculture!

— like when North Korea briefly had stronger GDP than South lmao

— Donuts was built different then

— early-game communist buff OP

His authority went unquestioned, yet one dared to challenge the agenda.

“What about Sweet Radish?” Pickle raised his hand.

[Pickle]

The scene froze as the video displayed his profile.

==== ====

Variety game streamer.

Average viewers: 18k

Good at talking back.

2035 LIL Tournament’s GreenTeaBagging top laner.

==== ====

— good at talking back?!

— loyal people always die first...

“Sweet Radish’s territory is already larger than half of ours combined. We need to recruit him.” Pickle pushed hard for an alliance.

— the Ten-Thousand Army theory

— Pickle Yi Sun-Shin arc

— the worldline could’ve changed right here

Donuts and the other two scoffed, especially Horn Ramen.

“

Ha!

We only accept volunteer members. I don’t care how big Sweet Radish’s land is! He still can’t beat us!”

Donuts nodded calmly. “Let’s not rush. We expand slowly. Land alone means nothing. Monsters roam large plots anyway. Influence matters more than acreage. Humanity has always been this way.”

The narration cut through. “Donuts was correct. Expanding power within the village seemed the right path, but history shows...”

BANG!

Someone burst into the meeting hall. “

Pant... pant...

Mr. Donuts!”

“What? We’re in a meeting—”

“It’s urgent! A new soil has...”

[The true turning points of civilization are rarely about power, but always about technological revolution.]

“Fertile Soil has appeared in the village!”

— HERE WE GO

— oil discovery moment

— Industrial Revolution arc unlocked

— he’s coming

“What?”

Static cut into a new scene. The video showed a house with a large yellow roof.

[Radish House]

The camera moved inside.

Someone begged, “R-Radish! Please, lend me funds one more time! I swear I’ll pay it back!”

[Sweet Potato]

— omg Potatoman...

— Donuts sent him to hell and back

— tragic

“No.”

“Wh-Why!? I’ll be your servant if I have to! I’ll be your dog! P-Please, master, just one coin!!”

“What are you doing? Stop.”

“I said I’ll be your servant! Yes, call me Potato Servant! Just let me borrow!!”

Sweet Radish looked genuinely distressed.

— wait HE VOLUNTEERED TO BE A SERVANT??

— Potato Servant canon origin??

— history being written live

More narration slid in. “Donuts’s stock-manipulation scheme had ruined Sweet Potato. A natural hierarchy formed from the ashes.”

Shff.

Sweet Radish reluctantly handed over a contract, and Sweet Potato signed.

[Thus, the first “Servant,” Servant Potato, was born.]

— what kind of history documentary is this

— Servant #1, The First Fold

— who becomes Servant #2 then...

Most viewers watching the uploaded video still didn’t know that Servant #2 would be the one who recruited Servant #1.

The narration continued. “Sweet Radish worked Sweet Potato like a true servant and expanded his land relentlessly.”

“Servant! Hurry up!”

“S-Sorry, master!”

“Servant!! Fetch water!”

“H-Here, master!”

“You insolent servant! Why haven’t you planted the peppers yet!?”

“I’ll do it right away, Master!”

[Days later]

Knock, knock.

Someone pounded on the grand gate of Sweet Radish’s house.

“Who dares knock on the Master’s home!?” Sweet Potato hurried to answer.

[Almond]

“

Ahem.

”

“O-Oh!? W-what brings you here!?”

The rumors of Almond and Fertile Soil had already spread. Sweet Potato sprinted inside to alert Radish.

Crash! Slam!

Sweet Radish burst out. “Almoooooond!”

— even big landlord kneels before Fertile Soil lol

— economic power rearranged instantly

“H-How honored we are! Why visit such a humble place at this hour!”

The scene cut to the interior. Sweet Radish and Almond sat drinking tea.

“What brings you here...?”

“I came to sell soil.”

Sweet Radish swallowed, and a heavy silence followed.

“Ah, yes. Of course. Name your price.”

“You know about premium-grade soil, yes? This should go for several times that. Take a look.”

A brief text descriptor popped up comparing regular soil grades.

“How many times... do you mean?

Haha.

”

“Well. About this much...” Almond raised both hands and spread out ten fingers.

The narration whispered, “Sweet Radish was prepared for a twentyfold price. Tenfold was almost a charity.”

“Ten times!? Of course, I’ll gladly pay ten...” Sweet Radish’s face lit up.

Then, the screen froze.

[However...]

DUN!

The camera zoomed in on Almond’s expression. “One hundred times.”

— ?

— ???

— THE legendary shorts moment lmfao

— 100x WHAT OMG

— Broker Almond has entered the economy

Sweet Radish begged, “O-One hundred times!? Mr. Almond, I... I can barely afford thirty!”

[Sweet Radish had his own troubles. Life wasn’t as good as it looked. Huge territories attracted huge monsters.]

A quick documentary graphic explained the situation.

— ahh so that’s why

— makes sense

— monster aggro mechanic

— then what now?

[Almond was stuck, so he improvised.]

His eyes shifted toward Potato Servant.

“How did he become Potato Servant?”

“Ah...”

“So, should I call you... Radish Servant?”

DUUUUN!

The music swelled.

[Almond introduced the tenant-farmer system: borrow Fertile Soil first, repay through yields later.]

“Sweet Radish, if you’re not interested, I’ll just go to Black Tea instead.”

[Sweet Radish couldn’t let the opportunity slip by.]

He sprang up instantly, declaring himself subordinate. “Radish? No, call me Radish Servant.”

“I-I’m Potato Servant, sir!!”

[Thus, the first feudal system was born.]

— HISTORY MADE LIVE

— Feudal Radish arc begins

— SERVANTS AS CURRENCY LMAO

— from landlord to vassal lol

[Meanwhile, news reached the Nonghyup Union.]

“What?”

THUD.

Donuts stood up, his face hardening. “Almond sided with Sweet Radish?”

It was a bullet to the Union’s skull.

“This won’t do, kid...” He immediately made a decision. “We’ll crush them in our territory. Boys, tools!”

“Yes, sir!”

CLATTER! RATTLE!

The Union members armed themselves, not with weapons, but with produce. They loaded everything in their cold-storage warehouses as artillery.

— economic stirrup intensifies

— what happened to the healing sim??

— war with vegetables incoming

— tools = potatoes please I’m crying

***

After farming with his new vassals, Almond headed out to finally sell produce.

“Let’s check it out~.”

He strolled innocently into the market.

[Farmers’ Market]

And immediately checked the prices.

[Potato ▲12%]

“Oh. Potatoes went up!” He pointed excitedly.

That was when Donuts approached. They had a quiet conversation, and a slow smile curled on his lips.

[Donuts learned that Almond planted potatoes.]

“Shopkeeper? We’ll sell all the potatoes.”

Clap clap.

The Union members, disguised as regular customers, poured out from every direction.

“We’re selling potatoes too!”

“Me as well!”

— The Potato Genjutsu begins

— Uchiha Farm Release: Tuber Collapse

— market manipulation at light speed

Melancholic strings began to play. Soft and tragic, yet sharp enough to cut. Time-lapse footage rolled by, and the price plummeted.

[Potato ▼100%]

BOOM!

Potatoes instantly became trash. Almond returned, holding a box.

Donuts turned away, unable to watch.

The narration gave voice to Donuts. “Sorry, Almond. Capitalism is cold.”

— DARK LINE OF THE YEAR

— capitalism isn’t cold, YOU ARE

— the betrayal OST hits hard

Doom. Doom. Doom.

Cheering, shock, and electric excitement occurred. The camera cut to Donuts again. He turned back, eyes widening.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

Every crate Almond placed down hit with a rising crescendo.

BOOM. BOOM. BOOM!

His entire load was...

[Corn]

[Corn]

[Corn]

...

Every box only contained corn.

The scene cut to Donuts’s interview. “Corn? I thought my eyes were wrong. Then I checked the market price...”

THUD!

[Corn ▲280%]

— HOLY MULTIPLIER

— WHY CORN?

— HOW DID HE NOT KNOW WHAT HE PLANTED?

— MASTER OF ACCIDENTAL INVESTMENT

Donuts said with weak laughter, “That’s when I knew... I was doomed.”

Music swelled triumphantly.

The narration cut in like morals carved in stone, “Almond was so inexperienced, he misidentified his own crop. And those who crush someone beneath them risk stumbling over the stone they never saw.”

“

WAAAAAAH!

”

“Our lord, NICE SHOT!”

The servants cheered. The sun over Cheese Village dimmed like an era ending.

[Just as Donuts said, capitalism is cold.]

THUNK.

The scene faded to black. Then, the title appeared.

[Welcome to Cheese Village.]

— ICONIC

— The Potato Collapse of Episode 3

— Cold Capitalism Arc

— Economy PvP is real

The scene turned static. The preview rolled, accompanied by rain and dark music.

“So, we’re going to recruit Servant Black Tea, right?!” Sweet Potato felt thrilled at gaining a junior servant.

“No... call her Maid Black Tea.”

Thus, Maid Black Tea was born.

“THE CULPRIT IS YOU! ALMONDOYLE!!” MiddleAgedDetective pointed dramatically.

Rain poured in sheets. A red-haired woman stood before the Nonghyup Union. It was Black Tea.

“You were deceived, Black Tea,” Horn Ramen said.

“The Knights put you in danger, then saved you, so you’d trust them. They want control over you.”

The close-up showed Horn Ramen’s trembling eyes.

“You were gaslit, Black Tea!! Gaslit by feudal contracts!!”

Black Tea trembled, torn and shaken. “I...”

Close-up, her red eyes glinted in the rain.

[Next Episode]

Shhhhhhhh.

The rainstorm intensified as her lips parted. “I will join the Knights.”

BOOM!

Text flashed like a verdict.

[THE KNIGHTS]

The episode ended.

— absolute cinema

— rain that never actually happened haha

— Black Tea emotional heroine mode activated

— two-head-tall dark epic continues

— Cheese Village is NOT a healing sim