After focusing on the entrance, Jin started to look at the other parts of the cities as he reviewed the defences of the floating platforms. An overhaul of the Agriculture Sector 1 and 2 was proposed by Weslie, the Scholar of the West.
Based on the System’s predictive analysis, Weslie’s plans increase the overall output by at least 200%. Still, Jin had decided that to place that priority in the further phases since the opening of the Dungeon City Fortress was more critical. At the very most, he would play the ‘demand and supply’ card if the store owners at his Tree Mall would to request for more of his food stock.
The overhaul would be a significant renovation of both sectors. Weslie had proposed that sub dungeon instances be used for the animals to better handle their rearing needs. This would undoubtedly increase the Jin’s overheads significantly since he had to build a server as well as placing a portion of the System’s processing capability to handle the rearing of animals in the Dungeon World. However, she continuously emphasised that the animals needed the utmost care to provide the best quality of meat.
At the same time, Weslie was very curious about the cultivation ability of animals in Jin’s Earth. She noted that the meat’s quality was indeed more satisfying with the spiritual chi flowing throughout the animal. (Of course, the way to cook it matters too but the ingredient always play a part.)
However, it was deemed inefficient to rear cultivated animals as they could not meet the demands unlike the use of giant monsters from the Giant World.
That was where Half Ghoul Lord Derek’s research of combining animals or plants into monsters might have an impact of Weslie’s plan. Therefore, Jin called upon Derek and Weslie into the dungeon maker room to have a proper discussion while Lord Wolte quietly (or as quiet he could be) look through the defence layout of Jin’s city.
Weslie was a bit annoyed that she was summoned out of nowhere when the scholar felt that she had some ideas with regards to the vital ‘instrument’ for Operation Pied Piper. But when she saw Derek and Jin in the room, she controlled her temper a little.
“Sorry to disturb both of you and without any advance notice.” Jin apologised when he noticed the expressions on their faces. They quickly shook their head and asked what the matter was. “While I had set the priority to the Agriculture Sectors overhaul in the future phases after City’s opening, I need some input and clarification on the overhaul. Particularly on the research, you were working on Derek.”
“Ah, the fusion research? Yes. With regards to that, I had a few things to announce. Firstly, I can say that the research had a partial success.” Derek said, with a big smile on his face. “One of your giant porkcupines had been infused with vegetables, mainly broccoli and its individual spikes had grown to a broccoli plant. This increased the feasibility of it being a source of vegetable and meat at the same time.”
“That’s great to hear but since you said its a partial success, what is the bad news?” Weslie asked in a curious manner.
“I read on your request about the animals with natural cultivation in Master’s world. So I had tried to …ehhh inject the cells of Porkcupines and Grade 1 pigs together, and see if they could be cloned and grow. To my surprise, it worked, but it seemed that the pig’s cells …in a simpler term, overpower the cells of the broccoli modified porkcupine.” Derek started to explain.
“So the in vitro fertilisation worked? Wait, before that, I am prying a little into your past. You a scientist or something? I never really thought about it despite your fascination in broken body parts and fusion of these food stock Jin asked, and Derek’s lips curled.
“Was a life science student in university before I got a job in as a bank analyst. The pay was sadly more lucrative .” Derek added, and Jin vaguely remembered his world was similar to his.
“Anyways, The porkcupine’s broccoli grew more vibrantly since it had some form of cultivation. I still do not know how it worked, but hey, it works! Guess sometimes all you need is a bit of magic dust to play the part.” The Half Ghoul Lord was delighted to possess some magical powers to perform this miraculous act along with the scientific knowledge he had.
“Don’t tell me you scrapped your skin or something to make those magic dust.” Qiu Yue shuddered at the thought which made Derek laughed heartily.
“That’s a good one Ms Qiu Yue. Perhaps it might have happened when I was not attentive. I shall keep a lookout in the future.” Derek replied when he continued on with his story.
“But because of the activation of its cells to allow cultivation, I hypothesised that the porkcupine became more violent. I mean it can even shoot out Broccoli projectiles that appeared like mini missiles.”
“You must be kidding me,” Jin said, and Derek knew that only seeing is believing. So, he asked the System to create a temporary area to hold the cultivated broccoli porkcupine to demonstrate its powers.
Suddenly the place which Que Er used to demonstrated her new raven powers was transformed into a gigantic platform which the Mini (still giant) Porkcupine was rampaging around the moment it got teleported. Derek then asked the System to produce multiple dummies where the Porkcupine could perform its attacks. True enough, broccolis were shot out of its back, and it even had the power to manoeuvre around like a heat seeking missile to damage the dummies around it.
Not only that, when more dummies appeared to see what else the extent of the porkcupine’s ability, it even had a move which Derek was never seen before.
A stem of broccoli stood among the rest of the broccoli on its back as it started to grow longer larger and larger to the point, the tall stem was not able to hold its own weight of the ‘umbrella’ of the broccoli. As it falls, the porkcupine grabbed it and used it as a blunt pole.
Every time the umbrella portion of the broccoli hits the dummy target, it seemed to explode a burst of chi energy towards it. While Derek could vaguely recognise the significance of the attack by having the dummy blowing up in front of them, Jin and Qiu Yue could see how dense the chi energy was. Thus, Jin quickly took his phone up and requested the System for its attribute. The phone promptly activated the monster app and revealed to Jin that the porkcupine was at least a Grade 2 Peak.
“…Had it been rather violent recently? How about its diet?” Jin asked, and Derek said that it always wanted to smash the cages apart and the System had to use a stronger grade cage to contain it.
“A Grade 4 Stage had been used, but the System did not expect the exponential rise of its grade. Food given were of the standard high quality meals System give to the porkcupines in Sector 2 for rearing.”
“Oh my god, then this is indeed a miracle find. Derek, is this the only genetically modified porkcupine?” Jin asked which Derek mentioned that he had a few more ready samples in the ice in case this did not work.
“What do you mean it did not work? It worked perfectly well! I am already thinking about how succulent the meat will be.” Qiu Yue said out loud to everyone as she leaned forward. “Won’t it be funny to use these pigs as the perfect practice training for the people low in cultivation grade? Or at the very least, train our monsters up with this especially for those that do not have a dungeon role yet?”
“That could potentially be a good idea after all.” Jin nodded his head with delight.
