Chapter 235

The front of the Coconut Company was in chaos as the guards, spouting nonsense about “the first bite being for safety checks and the second as a citizen of Astram,” were eventually tied up by furious citizens. The employees of the Coconut Company were busy calming the angry crowd.

Despite the chaos, the hostility toward the Coconut Company was no longer felt among the gathered people. While the deep-rooted prejudice against goblins in Astram wouldn’t disappear overnight, the tasting event had certainly provided a significant opportunity to erase negative biases toward the Coconut Company.

Citizens who had tasted Kurt’s cooking were now eagerly purchasing coconuts, shrimp, and dark beer from the company’s employees. Some even brought the ingredients to Kurt, offering money to have him prepare Coconut Shrimp for them.

Meanwhile, Tirmel, having finished his meal early, watched the influx of customers and thought to himself, “Hehe… I’ve ended up owing a huge debt.”

Mina, who had joined as an apprentice under various excuses, had her true intentions exposed to Tirmel from the start. He knew she wasn’t just there to learn but to help them out.

As Tirmel observed Mina, Yuri, and Kurt handling the customers, he thought slyly, “To think I was underestimated enough to earn their pity… My pride is hurt. I must repay this debt somehow.”

He began brainstorming gift sets in his mind as a way to repay them.

—

Goblins are generally known for their cunning and cruel nature, but this is merely a prejudice solidified during the Great War. After infiltrating a hidden goblin village, I discovered that most of these stories were malicious exaggerations and distortions.

In reality, goblins and other races that served as the vanguard for demons during the Great War had their souls held hostage, forcing them into slaughter against their will. After the war, their souls were freed, and now they strive for peace, avoiding violence.

The small, hidden village I visited, Sprite Village, welcomed me warmly, contrary to the common perception of goblins. If a blind person had stayed there, they wouldn’t have believed these were the same goblins known for their cunning and cruelty.

The goblins, though physically weak and lacking in magical talent, excelled in intelligence and craftsmanship, developing a unique culture focused on industry and commerce.

The village chief spoke of a dream to build a nation where every citizen has equal rights, a dream that seemed too idealistic to be true. Yet, his eyes sparkled with sincerity as he spoke.

Goblins, contrary to popular belief, are a kind and humorous race. Readers of this book, if you ever meet a goblin, don’t let prejudice stop you from striking up a conversation. You might just gain a kind and cheerful friend.

—

As Tirmel tirelessly served the endless stream of customers, he thought to himself, “Thanks to Kurt’s help, the Coconut Company is settling into Astram faster than expected. Hehe… The second objective of the Coconut Company isn’t far off.”

This objective, known only to a few goblins within the company, was to infiltrate and dominate Astram from within. Beyond just being a company, the Coconut Company aimed to control the city’s facilities, making Astram dependent on them.

“First, the orphanage and schools. Hehe. By creating talent optimized for the Coconut Company, we won’t have to struggle to find skilled workers. Even if some fail, they’ll grow up accustomed to our products, becoming loyal customers. Hahaha!”

This was the Coconut Company’s sinister plan: to raise children in their orphanage and schools, turning them into loyal, company-friendly individuals who would spread throughout Astram, ensuring the city’s dependence on the company.

But as Tirmel dreamed of Coconut Orphanages, Coconut Schools, and Coconut Clinics, he was unaware that the Holy Kingdom in the eastern continent had already established such institutions. Realizing this, he swallowed the bitter taste of defeat and eventually compromised by donating Coconut Company products to these facilities.

—

“Speaking of which…” Tirmel suddenly thought, “That Lizardman, Kurt, is too skilled at cooking. It’s as if he’s not from this world…”

In the western continent, Lizardmen are known for their inability to cook, but Kurt’s skills were unparalleled. Tirmel wondered if Lizardmen from the eastern continent were different.

“Hehe… Maybe I should hire a Lizardman as a housekeeper for my secretary on maternity leave,” Tirmel mused.

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