The Value of a Crop

Choi Geonwoo stood by the window, looking out at the city.

Even after Lee Jaehun entered the tower, the city continued on without any change.

As always, people believed he would return victorious.

Geonwoo thought the same.

‘They should have seen him fail at least once.’

Lee Jaehun always endured annoyingly well.

It was true that the city needed a high-ranker, but it was disappointing that he wasn’t easily swayed.

At that moment, a knock sounded.

“Mayor, you have a visitor.”

“I’ll be out shortly.”

A mayor’s duties were endless to the point of exhaustion.

He knew they were all necessary, but sometimes he found them tedious.

Especially when he had to meet someone from a greedy, low-class family like today.

“Oh my, Mayor! You’re here!”

But Geonwoo did not show his displeasure.

Even people like these were necessary for the city.

“What brings you here?
You said it was important?”

“Important indeed! Recently, the city has been preparing to build a large farming zone, correct?
I’m very interested in that.”

So he wants in on the construction?

If so, Geonwoo planned to decline.

But the next words were unexpected.

“Joining the construction would be great.
But I am not shameless.
Work requires compensation.
If one wants to gain something, one must offer something of equal value.”

Despite looking like a greedy pig, the man was surprisingly reasonable.

Geonwoo straightened his posture.

The man seemed to notice.

“I recently acquired a crop from the Haechi Guild.”

“Haechi Guild crops are already widespread.”

It was just that he couldn’t afford to eat them.

“No, please hear me out.
I ate them— I still remember clearly.
Tomato egg stir-fry and fried corn.”

Geonwoo was not interested in someone else’s meal.

“They were incredible.
So good I thought of complimenting my chef.”

“I would prefer to hear the point.”

“Yes, then I’ll say it.
The moment we ate it, a status window appeared.”

“Is your job Appraiser?”

Appraisers among awakened could evaluate even normal items.

“Of course not.
I’m not awakened.
It was my child who saw the status window.
My child awakened as a mage when young.
And they said the moment they ate the food, the window popped up.”

“What exactly did it say?”

The man took out a piece of paper.

Several short lines were written on it.

[You have eaten a crop grown by a Beginner Farmer.
A small amount of health will recover for a short time.

-Eating it whole increases the effect.]

Geonwoo’s expression changed with interest.

“I know similar messages appear on weapons crafted by masters.”

“That’s right.”

The man showed an example.

[This sword was crafted by Master Blacksmith Choi Deokbae.
It has superior sharpness and high durability.

Attack +35]

“That’s exactly what came to mind.
I even called an Appraiser to check.
They said this meant the ‘Farmer’ class exists.
So, Mayor, do you find this story interesting?”

It was interesting.

Geonwoo smiled softly.

“You haven’t told this to anyone else?”

“This is the first place.
I’ve made sure my household keeps quiet.”

“Good. Very good.
Then continue keeping your mouth shut.”

“And in return?”

“Of course you will be compensated.
Conveniently, there seems to be an empty spot among the farm construction contractors.”

“Oh my, thank you!”

The man squinted his eyes and grinned.

It was a mutually beneficial deal.

After he left, Geonwoo reread the note.

“So a production-type class, Farmer, now exists.”

And crops could carry stats.

“I want it.
Seonyeong, what do you think?”

“We must find the farmer and place them under city authority.”

“Why?”

“Because that is what benefits the city.”

“Correct.
I agree.
Then we must search for this farmer.
Since the crops say ‘Beginner,’ their level won’t be high.
And since they have crops, they must be working with agriculture.”

“Since they’re Haechi-grown crops, the farmer is likely inside the guild.
My only concern is whether the Haechi Guild will hand them over.”

“Hmm.”

Geonwoo tapped his chin.

“The crops were smuggled out illegally.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s start by tracing that.”

“I’ll move immediately.”

“I trust you.”

“Please do.”

Kim Seonyeong answered firmly and left the office.

Right as she exited, Yoon Jiho entered.

“Geonwoo-ssi!
My level went up!”

Of course it would.

The city hall was supporting him fully.

“So, did you gain a new skill?”

“Not yet.
Skills come every five levels.”

“Right, right.
Still, that’s good progress.
I’ve always admired how sincere you are, Jiho-ssi.”

“R-Really?”

Jiho blushed shyly.

He was a talented healer and utterly infatuated with Geonwoo.

Which made him easy to use.

“Yes.”

So Geonwoo treated him kindly.

Like a butterfly caught in a web— making sure it never escaped.

That was how Geonwoo used people.

Kim Seonyeong met the broker first.

“You want to know exactly how I got the crops?”

The broker looked troubled and shook his head.

“That is the client’s secret.
I can’t just talk about it.”

But he glanced around— greedy eyes.

Not protecting the client.

Just wanting payment.

Seonyeong handed him an envelope.

“I’ll ask again.
How did you obtain the crops?”

The envelope loosened his lips easily.

“It’s common.
One of the laborers at the artificial farm smuggled them out.
They’d be fired immediately if caught, so it’s not frequent, but not unheard of.
Those people aren’t even treated as citizens, so trust runs thin.”

On the other hand, some desperate to become citizens worked diligently.

“Can I meet this person?”

“Ahem.”

The broker coughed— asking for more money.

She gave him another envelope.

“Of course.
If you pay, he can be called out easily.
I’ll arrange it.”

Thus Seonyeong met the laborer who stole the crops.

He looked uneasy seeing someone unexpected.

“Who is this?”

“A very important person.
Just answer what she asks.”

“You called me out suddenly— what is this?”

The laborer tried to leave, but Seonyeong moved faster.

She stepped in front of the door, blocking him.

With that alone, both men realized she was awakened.

‘Did I get involved in something dangerous?’

Even the broker grew nervous.

“It’s fine.
Answer what I ask and you won’t be harmed.”

“W-What do you want?”

“The source of the crops.”

“Oh no, I don’t know.
I just bartered for them with something I had.
I never stole from the farm.”

“Who did you trade with?”

“Mr. Kang.
A laborer who came from outside.”

“Full name?”

“Kang Jungbae.
He serves the Haechi guild leader’s lover.
I heard he came in with them.
For an outsider, he’s easygoing and well-liked.”

The man rambled on unnecessarily.

“If he’s the guild leader’s lover…”

“He was in the papers several times.
You must have seen him.”

Seonyeong recalled the gentle-looking young man she’d seen in the newspaper.

“Then the crops were given to Kang Jungbae by someone named Park Garam?”

“I don’t know for sure.
But it’s very likely.
Where else would he get such crops?
And since he showed them openly, it probably wasn’t through illegal means.”

Their chatter was unexpectedly useful.