"We're so busy," said Marnie.
"But soon, Marnie," Derek replied, "we'll have enough slimes to take over the whole world. All that money coming in."
"Be quiet, Derek, and keep culling them," Marnie said.
"Yes, Marnie," Derek muttered.
‘We need to get some minions,‘ Marnie thought. He turned to Derek, "Derek, are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"That slime milkshakes would be delicious?"
"No, Derek," Marnie snapped. "Not Milkshakes! We're too busy. We need to get some minions. Ooh, like those three adventurers. Aren't they supposed to be back in a couple of hours? We left them a note."
"Hopefully they've already come back," said Derek.
"Yes," Marnie nodded. "Let's load these guys up and take them to Isabella for her restaurant. Then we can see about making more money. I love money."
‘The little fat mice in his head were rubbing at their paws again.‘
"Me too," Derek grinned. "What are we going to do with all this money, Marnie?"
"I have plans," Marnie said, eyes gleaming, "many, many plans. But first, let's sell these slimes, and then we can get started. Operation: Minions!”
Marnie was very excited about this because he'd never had minions before. Normally, he was the minion. This wasteland stuff was pretty fun.
‘‘‘
Marnie and Derek were escorted in to meet Isabella when they reached Fort Bone. Isabella was wrapping up a meeting with Olivia, and they overheard the tail end of their conversation.
“So, how did the recruiting go?” Isabella asked, her tone casual but eyes sharp.
“It was great,” Olivia said with a grin. “We had no problems with Tractor and Freedom. Picked up a couple hundred men there, no sweat. Same with the Canucks. Ran into a bit of a hiccup when we hit Frontier United, that American town, and the Celestial Empire. They weren’t exactly rolling out the welcome mat, but hey, they didn’t try to stop us either. All in all, we scooped up another 200.”
“So, what, we have around 800 new men?” Isabella asked, her eyebrow quirking as if it was too easy.
“Sounds about right.”
Isabella leaned back, tapping her fingers thoughtfully. “Not bad, not bad at all. Let’s keep that pace up. We’re not gearing up for any attacks just yet, so keep recruiting from those outlying towns with the teleportation points. How many do we have in the area?”
“There are five territories we can teleport to. Six, if you count Celestial Empire,” Olivia said, a hint of excitement in her voice. “America United is surprisingly close, despite that big blue wall separating the continents. But, yeah, we’ve got six.”
Isabella’s eyes lit up. “Oh? Any good recruits from them?”
Olivia nodded, but hesitated. “Yeah, but two of them are... odd. One’s full of the nicest people I’ve ever met in the wasteland. Like, weirdly nice. They even let us set up booths! We got another 150 men from that one.”
Isabella blinked, surprised. “Well, that’s... interesting. What’s wrong with being nice? Earth’s Children were friendly.”
“It’s not just nice,” Olivia said, shaking her head. “It’s Stepford Wives nice. You know, that creepy old movie where everyone’s too perfect?”
“Ooh, yeah, that one with the robots?” Isabella chuckled.
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“Exactly. Then there’s another group, and get this—they haven’t attacked anyone.”
Isabella's jaw dropped. “Wait, what? How’d they survive the fairy wipes?”
“They’ve been conquering dungeons,” Olivia explained, her voice picking up speed. “They’re like a dungeon-hunting team. They teleport to other territories, help out, take the dungeons, then split the guarding and spawns.”
Isabella let out a low whistle. “Now that’s different. I kind of like it.”
Just then, the guard who had escorted Marnie and Derek coughed, breaking the moment. Isabella turned, suddenly aware of them.
“Oh! I didn’t realize you guys were here!” she said with a grin. “Do you have more slimes for me?”
“Yes, yes, ma’am, we do!” Marnie beamed, standing a little taller.
Isabella sighed in relief. “You two are lifesavers. Literally! I don’t know how you’re finding so many slimes, but... can you get me even more? We’ve got the grand opening coming up, and I’m thinking, with the whole King Pod craze, we’ll do a giant slime-themed menu.”
Marnie perked up. “That sounds possible!” He subconsciously rubbed his greedy hands together in joy.
Derek, bouncing with excitement, chimed in, “Yes, yes, we can definitely do it! Yes, definitely, yes!”
Isabella raised an eyebrow, amused by their enthusiasm. “You sound confident.”
“It’ll be no problem, ma’am!” Marnie said, puffing his chest. “We’re hunting slimes left and right. No King Pods will ever pop up on our watch!”
Isabella smiled, impressed. “That’s great to hear. Alright, go on, get to it!”
With a nod, they were escorted out, both practically vibrating with excitement as they left. Marnie glanced at Derek as they headed for the Wasted Tavern.
“This slime thing is going to be big,” Marnie whispered, grinning like a maniac.
Derek nodded eagerly. “Big money. Slime milkshakes for everyone!”
—
Isabella watched everyone file out of the council room, the heavy door shutting with a soft ‘thud‘. She exhaled, sinking back into her chair, thoughts swirling. ‘It’s been so long since I’ve had time to think for myself,‘ she mused. ‘My poor restaurant plans...‘
Designing a cozy little boutique restaurant had seemed like a simple dream, but now she was building the Wasteland’s tallest and grandest restaurant. ‘This is hard. Way harder than I thought.‘ But Isabella shoved those thoughts aside for now. There’d be time to discuss all that with the team later. Even though the restaurant was hers—‘emphatically hers‘—this project felt different from anything she’d done before, even as an executive chef back on Earth.
‘Earth...‘ She blinked, as if trying to picture it again. It seemed so distant, though it had only been two months. ‘But then again, when you’re on a bike, kicking it at 200 kilometers an hour, it doesn’t matter if it’s 10 seconds or two minutes. Time just flies.‘
She shook her head, focusing. ‘All right. If these guys can really come through with a massive haul of slimes, the slime menu is a go.‘
She couldn’t help but feel a little impressed. Marnie and Derek had been shockingly diligent. Her cooler was already full of slimes, and while she could run a modest slime-based menu with what she had, it definitely wouldn’t be enough for the grand opening she envisioned. If things were as busy as she hoped, she'd need much more.
‘Okay,‘ she thought, standing up, her mind shifting gears. ‘Time for some recipes.‘
‘‘Set Menu 1: "Slime Delicacies"‘‘
‘‘Appetizer: Slime-Stuffed Mushrooms‘‘
Tender mushrooms filled with a rich slime-based stuffing, flavored with garlic, parsley, and a hint of parmesan. The slimes, prepared like escargot, provide a savoury, umami punch to this simple yet elegant starter.
‘‘Main Course: Slime-Sauerkraut Stuffed Sausages‘‘
Handmade sausages packed with a filling of salted slimes, fermented to perfection like sauerkraut. The tanginess of the slime adds an unexpected burst of flavor, complementing the rich and juicy sausages. Served with a side of pickled wasteland vegetables.
‘‘Dessert: Slime Jello Trio‘‘
A colorful trio of slime jello cubes, each infused with a different wasteland fruit essence. One cube is sweet and citrusy, another tart and berry-flavored, and the third has a smooth vanilla-honey taste. Garnished with edible wasteland flowers for a whimsical touch.
---
‘‘Set Menu 2: "Gourmet Slime Experience"‘‘
‘‘Appetizer: Slime Ceviche‘‘
Fresh slimes are marinated in lime juice, garlic, and chopped wasteland herbs, transforming them into a refreshing ceviche. The acid tenderises the slime while imparting a vibrant, zesty flavor. Served with crispy slime chips made from dried, salted slime.
‘‘Main Course: Slime Risotto‘‘
A creamy risotto dish with a slime base that melts into the rice, providing a smooth and silky texture. The slimes are cooked down with onions, garlic, and wasteland mushrooms, finished with a touch of cream and parmesan. The dish is light yet packed with flavor.
‘‘Dessert: Slime Sorbet‘‘
A refreshing and tart sorbet made from slime gelatin mixed with wild wasteland berries and a hint of mint. Its smooth texture and tangy flavor make it the perfect palate cleanser.
---
### ‘‘Grand Finale: Giant Imitation King Pod Slime Cake‘‘
This towering dessert mimics the look of the legendary King Pod Slime! Layers of slime jelly are suspended between layers of candied giant ants, creating a chewy, sweet, and tangy experience. The cake is frosted with a thick, gooey slime glaze and decorated with sugar ants. When sliced, the inside reveals bright green and purple jelly oozing out, making for a spectacular finish to any feast.