Ch 114: The World’s Number One Resort

The system offered a wide variety of products. Tang Huai browsed for a while and eventually purchased the [Scenic Area Accelerator].

• [Scenic Area Accelerator]: Increases the construction progress of scenic areas by 150%, costing 2 million island points.

The [Sky Forest] had already been under construction for over fifty days. With a 150% speed increase, it was expected to be completed within a week. The original plan was to complete it in three months, so reducing it to two months wasn’t too excessive. However…

The [Sky Forest] could have been used immediately back then, but Tang Huai had chosen to employ disguised laborers. Now, he was spending another 2 million points to speed up the progress. It seemed somewhat redundant.

Tang Huai sighed.

Regardless, Great Tang Resort now had a daily visitor flow of about 1,000, and with the upcoming influx from the European tour groups, the number of visitors would increase dramatically. To enrich the variety of scenic areas, speeding up the completion of the [Sky Forest] was an urgent necessity.

Tang Huai strolled around the entrance of the [Sky Forest] before returning to his residence.

Over the next three days, he structured the development plans for Sora Island and handled international fruit orders. His days were both busy and uneventful.

On the third day, he received an email from the Phoenix Photography Exhibition. A dedicated column for “Great Tang Resort” had been set up, and it had garnered over 20 million views. More than 3,000 tourists had signed up for group tours. This was just the first wave, consisting mostly of seniors in their sixties and seventies. Students and young couples preferred the self-guided tour option.

Great Tang Resort’s prices were not low, but with the relatively affluent economy of the European Union, the Phoenix Photography Exhibition estimated that the total number of group and self-guided tourists in the first batch would be around 5,000 people.

With convenient transportation from the EU to Hawaii, many tourists who were interested were still in the observation phase.

“Still within expectations…” Tang Huai reviewed the Phoenix Photography Exhibition’s estimate and analyzed the situation. There were still twenty days left for the mission. If he could establish a solid reputation for Great Tang Resort in the EU, completing the mission would likely be a breeze.

After analyzing the situation, he opened the system interface.

It was early April, and the lucky eggs had refreshed.

There were basic, intermediate, and advanced eggs… By now, Tang Huai had grown accustomed to purchasing them.

Basic Egg: [Windmill]
Intermediate Egg: [Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon]

Upon seeing the windmill and hot air balloon, Tang Huai had an “I expected this” expression. The hot air balloon was acceptable, but the windmill had become a standard item in the basic egg.

Tang Huai counted and realized that, including this one, he now had five windmills in his inventory.

After calming himself, he turned his attention to the final egg, the highlight of the monthly lottery.

He took a deep breath and gently tapped the egg with a small 3D hammer.

Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained a mid-level AI, [Captain Desai].

• [Captain Desai]: A refined captain with peculiar hobbies.

A pleasant system notification sounded. In a flash, Tang Huai found a palm-sized card in his hand.

On the card was a vast, boundless sea. A man in his fifties sat by the sea, fishing. Accompanied by the setting sun, the card’s overall composition was fresh and serene.

Seeing the words “Captain Desai,” Tang Huai almost felt tears well up in his eyes.

Due to system limitations, only intelligent AIs could operate long-distance ships. Tang Huai had thought that the Great Tang No. 2 would have to remain in storage for some time. Now… it could finally set sail!

He opened the window. It was 10 p.m., and apart from a few scattered tourists, the whole Sora Town was silent.

Tang Huai put on a coat and went out.

Half an hour later, he arrived in front of the Great Tang No. 2. The Pacific Ocean lay still under the moonlight, like a calm mirror. The entire Sora port was silent; apart from a few on-duty AIs, there was no one else on board the Great Tang No. 2.

Tang Huai chose an open spot and took out [Captain Desai]. Having learned from Boatman Alang’s situation, Tang Huai decided to put the captain on the ship immediately.

Ding! Successfully used.

Lost in thought, Tang Huai clicked the “use” option. In the blink of an eye, the card in his hand vanished into thin air.

A man in gray beach shorts, around fifty years old with a beer belly, appeared in front of Tang Huai.

This man was named Desai, and his system-designated nationality was French.

“Hic, Master Host,” Desai greeted respectfully, looking somewhat dazed as he let out a burp.

Tang Huai opened Desai’s personal profile.

Captain Desai: A talented captain, intelligent AI, intermediate level.

Loyalty: 95

Tang Huai was taken aback by the “95.” This was the highest initial loyalty he had ever seen. After a year of interaction, Alang’s loyalty stood at 49, Aunt Miley’s was at 96, and Xie Yunshu’s at 89.

Aunt Miley’s loyalty was the highest, and it had taken a year to reach that level. But this time… the prize he had drawn was simply amazing!

The two stood on the soft, sandy beach as a breeze blew by. The Great Tang No. 2 was like an outstanding soldier, standing proudly.

“Welcome to Sora Island. This is the Great Tang No. 2,” Tang Huai said, feeling joyful as he warmly welcomed Captain Desai.

“Thank you, Master Host. This is a fine ship. It would be even better if the captain’s cabin had a Persian high-pile carpet, French wine, and an English bookshelf,” Captain Desai suggested as he walked around the ship. When he saw the captain’s cabin, his eyes lit up.

Tang Huai: ???

“The carpet should go near the helm, the bookshelf on the right-hand side. Imagine, as the Great Tang No. 2 sails on the Pacific, enjoying a glass of wine while admiring the sea… My God, I’d be in heaven. And the captain’s chair could be replaced with an Australian leather sofa,” Captain Desai continued, lost in his daydreams, ignoring Tang Huai’s confusion.

Captain Desai spoke excitedly while pacing around the captain’s cabin. His words carried endless enthusiasm.

[Captain Desai]: An elegant captain with peculiar tastes.

Tang Huai finally understood what “peculiar tastes” meant — Desai was a hedonistic captain.

“Master Host, could you fulfill my requests?” Desai asked with his usual elegance after circling the cabin.

Although he was asking, there was no urgency in his tone. Yet, if one ignored the tiny spark in his eyes, he would seem like a captain with no desires.

“Of course, my captain,” Tang Huai replied, amused by Desai’s request.

Great Tang Resort had no shortage of money. As for the Persian carpet, French wine, and English bookshelf — he could buy them all!

Tang Huai and Desai chatted happily.

At midnight, Tang Huai returned to his residence while Desai stayed on the Great Tang No. 2 to familiarize himself with the ship’s operations.

Desai’s lifestyle was refined, but he was undoubtedly professional in his work.

A capable and sophisticated AI uncle.

Over the next two days, Sora Island returned to its usual peacefulness and tranquility.

The Phoenix Photography Exhibition had already informed them that the first group of tourists had booked their tickets and were scheduled to depart the next evening, arriving on the island by the afternoon of the fourth day. Tang Huai eagerly awaited their arrival.

…

“Frank, has it arrived yet?” In the dormitory building of Yonsei University in South Korea, Kim Jung-bin asked over the phone.

Five days had passed, and South Korea was still not within the delivery range for Great Tang fruits. Great Tang Resort’s monthly global shipping limit was 2,000 tons, with 30% allocated to Asia, totaling 600 tons.

Kim Jung-bin had been keeping an eye on the sales of Great Tang fruits.

Despite the endorsement of “Biological Research,” Great Tang fruits were priced relatively high on the international market. He had assumed that 2,000 tons per month would be the maximum they could sell, given that this was still a niche market. However, he was shocked to find that, in the first two days after Great Tang International opened, sales initially grew at a normal pace. But on the afternoon of the third day, they suddenly skyrocketed in a strange manner.

It’s already sold out?

Jin Zhengbin studied the sales distribution chart for Great Tang fruits.

The sales chart on the Great Tang International website was divided by region. For example, Asia’s supply was 600 tons, displayed as a whole. Japan accounted for 7%, Vietnam 2%, and so on. Remarkably, China accounted for 52%!

With packaging and shipping costs, the average price of Great Tang fruit was around 300 USD per kilogram. Each order was typically for five or ten kilograms. If not for the ten-kilogram order limit per purchase, Jin Zhengbin believed the sales could have been even higher.

Such a high price… for just a fruit.

Jin Zhengbin’s curiosity grew as he checked the orders from other regions.

Sales in Australia, South America, and North America seemed normal. However, within just a week, most stocks were nearly sold out. Jin Zhengbin visited international forums for more information.

“The purchasing power of Chinese customers is astonishing! 10 kg of Great Tang grapes for 2,500 USD, and they still bought them all! Unbelievable, Family Mart grapes are only 5 USD/kg!”

“This is just based on a report in ‘Biological Research’… I think Chinese customers are being foolish.”

“Not just in North America; even in Europe, Great Tang fruits have been bought up by Chinese customers. Amazing people!”

“It’s just a report that appeared out of nowhere. I suppose most people are buying for research purposes…”

“With such a massive quantity, do Chinese customers really intend to consume it all themselves?”

…

On the global forums’ university boards, people discussed Great Tang International with much fervor. Jin Zhengbin was stunned. He thought the 52% in Asia was already staggering. Little did he know that Chinese people dominated purchases in other regions as well.

Jin Zhengbin didn’t have a strong desire to buy Great Tang fruits initially. However, with the regional restrictions and the rapid sales, his curiosity was piqued.

Having no other choice, he asked his friend in Australia to help him purchase some.

“Sorry, Jin, the Australian region is already sold out,” Frank replied, sounding helpless on the other end.

Jin Zhengbin was momentarily stunned. He had checked the Great Tang International site yesterday, and there had been about a hundred tons left in Australia at that time.

“Chinese customers?” he asked suspiciously after recovering from the shock.

“No address shown. But judging by the comments on university forums, it seems over fifty percent were purchased by students…” Frank shrugged.

During the seven days Great Tang fruits were available, Chinese students had indisputably been the main buyers.

“Thank you.” Jin Zhengbin forced a smile. The two chatted for a while longer before he hung up.

It was already 1 a.m. Jin Zhengbin poured himself another cup of coffee and logged onto a local Korean forum. Half a month had passed since the episode of “Sookhyun Midnight.” The hype around the “China Blood Petition” had died down, but one could still find information on it through specific keywords.

“Ordinary fruit, average taste.”

In the 205th episode of “Sookhyun Midnight,” at ten minutes and thirty-six seconds, Kim Sookhyun gave her serious review of Great Tang fruits. Her assessment was “average.” Although Park Yuchang later added comments like “outstanding” and “quite good,” the impression left with the public was that Great Tang fruits were simply “average.”

Most people might not even remember the name “Great Tang fruits.”

Jin Zhengbin poured another cup of coffee. Clearly, Great Tang was dissatisfied with the depiction on “Sookhyun Midnight,” which led to the decision to halt shipments to Korea. As for how to resolve the situation… it would likely involve Kim Sookhyun issuing an apology on the show.

Jin Zhengbin didn’t know much about Kim Sookhyun, but he knew she was a sexy, arrogant, and stubborn host. She was a star host at ACC, leading not just “Sookhyun Midnight,” but also popular programs like “Our Struggle” and “Speed Challenge.”

Make Kim Sookhyun apologize? And to an obscure fruit brand? That was impossible.

Jin Zhengbin shook his head. Great Tang fruits might have gained some fame through “Biological Research,” but that field was too niche. In the eyes of ACC, it was just a small fruit brand. Could a fruit brand shake ACC? Absolutely not.

He was about to close the international forum when he hesitated on the Great Tang International website. His rationality told him there would be no significant impact, yet he couldn’t shake off an uneasy feeling.

Since Great Tang fruits would soon be shipped, he decided to wait a few more days to see if there would be any follow-up research.

…

While Jin Zhengbin was caught up in his thoughts, Sky Forest was finally completed with the help of the Scenic Area Accelerator.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️