Kai stood at the edge of his newly merged parcel, staring down at the patch of dry dirt where the system said he could now plant crops.
Crop Slot Activated: Starter Lettuce Bed
Recommended Plant: Butterhead Lettuce
Growth Rate: +40% (Merged Land Bonus Applied)
Nutrient Density: High
Taste Rating: 9.2/10
Value Potential: Gourmet Tier
He crouched down and touched the soil.
It still looked like junk.
Dry, dusty, light brown.
But the system swore it had better drainage and richer minerals now. And more importantly, he didn't need to trust hope — he could measure results.
Kai opened his notebook and jotted the setup plan:
⸻
Lettuce Bed – Trial Run
• 1 x Raised bed, 8 ft x 4 ft
• 12 plants (initial batch)
• Seeds: $3.75 (heirloom pack)
• Compost: Free (chicken poop + mulch)
• Projected Harvest: 3–4 weeks
• Estimated Value per Head: $2.50 (gourmet)
• Revenue Goal: $30–$40
• Scaling Target: 10 beds = $300–$400/week
⸻
He didn't wait.
He worked until sunset laying down mulch, old compost, and a few boards around the bed.
By the next morning, seeds were in.
The Merge System pinged:
Crop Registered: Butterhead Lettuce x12
Growth Projection: 23 Days
Merge Available Upon Harvest
⸻
While he waited, he focused on his chickens.
With the industrial coop now running clean, his eight Lv.3 hens were laying steady — nearly 16 eggs per day. Some were even laying triple-yolk eggs, a rare anomaly the system called "Fusion-Lay Events."
He boxed them carefully in reusable containers and prepped his route.
But right as he stepped out the door, a white van pulled up. No logos. No music. Just a clipboard and a man in slacks.
Kai's gut turned.
Government.
⸻
The man stepped out and introduced himself.
"Gregory Voss. County Agricultural Compliance."
He didn't smile.
"We've had some calls from town about a new high-volume egg operation. You registered a poultry business?"
Kai kept his face blank.
"No."
Greg raised a brow. "Selling food products off-property without a license is illegal. Especially animal products."
Kai kept his voice steady. "I'm not running a business. Just selling surplus from my personal hens."
The man stared at him for a long moment.
Then pulled out a folder.
"Doesn't matter. If you're selling more than a dozen eggs a week, the state wants eyes on it. Coop sanitation, grading, temperature control. Also tax documentation. Do you have a federal EIN?"
Kai didn't even know what that meant.
Gregory didn't wait.
He walked past Kai toward the coop.
Kai followed, heart pounding.
⸻
To his surprise, the man actually paused in front of the coop.
Industrial-grade mesh. Clean airflow. No odor. Clean egg trays. No signs of parasites or feather loss.
Greg scribbled a few notes.
"Okay. That's… better than expected," he muttered.
Then he turned. "But you're still operating without a permit. If you want to keep selling, you'll need a small poultry handler license and a local business license."
"And taxes?" Kai asked.
"Oh, absolutely," Gregory said. "You're gonna need a schedule F — farm income form. Track every expense, every dollar earned. Otherwise, the IRS will flag you as a 'cash operator.'"
Kai felt the fire in his gut.
He hated paperwork. Government forms. Systems built to trap people in debt and delay.
But he kept his cool.
"What if I want to do it clean?" he asked. "Real business. Not just hustle."
Greg looked at him again — longer this time.
"Then get it registered. Before we come back."
⸻
After the van left, Kai pulled out his laptop and opened the IRS website. He applied for an EIN — Employer Identification Number — and registered "Rowen Family Farms" as a sole proprietorship.
Then he made a to-do list:
⸻
Legalization Checklist
• EIN — $0
• County Business License — $60
• Poultry Handler License — $85
• Schedule F Setup — (Track revenue, keep receipts)
• Coop Inspection – Scheduled in 2 weeks
• Crop Inspection – Post-harvest
Total startup cost for legality: $145
Kai looked at the list.
He wasn't scared. He was excited.
Because now, it wasn't just a grind — it was legit. Every box he checked was another brick in the foundation.
"You can't scale what ain't legal."
He updated his spreadsheet.
⸻
Week 2 – Performance Snapshot
Metric
Value
Total Chickens (Lv.3)
8
Daily Eggs Produced
16
Weekly Revenue (eggs)
$135
Lettuce Beds Started
1
Merge Cost (Coops)
Complete
Labor Hours Saved
21/week
Business Legal Steps
2/6
Projected growth by Week 4: Breakeven
Projected growth by Week 6: Profit
Projected by Week 12: Scale Expansion (Meat, Crops)
⸻
That weekend, a new buyer reached out.
"Joe's Eatery" — a small downtown brunch spot. Their chef had heard about Kai's eggs from a waitress who bought a dozen at the diner.
Joe met Kai on the porch and cracked an egg into his palm.
"Thick," he muttered. "Deep yellow. These ain't grocery eggs."
"No steroids. No GMOs. Just merged biology and real feed," Kai said.
Joe raised an eyebrow. "Merged?"
Kai just smiled. "Let's call it… selective excellence."
Joe laughed.
"I'll pay $1.50 an egg. I want 100 a week. Can you deliver?"
"Give me two weeks," Kai said.
⸻
That night, he merged six new hens he bought with his remaining profit.
Merge complete:
3 x Lv.2 → 1 x Lv.3
6 x Lv.2 → 2 x Lv.3
New total: 11 x Lv.3 Layer Hens
Projected weekly output: 154 eggs
He checked his system goal.
Objective: Reach 200 eggs/week
Progress: 77%
Merge Goal: 5 more Lv.3 or 1 x Lv.4 Layer
Merge Suggestion:
2 x Lv.3 = 1 x Lv.4
Bonus: Lv.4 Layers produce Omega-Rich Eggs
• +Taste
• +Shelf Life
• +Health Benefits
Kai's eyes narrowed.
Better taste? Longer life? More nutrients?
That's brand leverage.
That's price control.
That's a monopoly waiting to happen.
⸻
He scribbled a new quote in his notebook:
"They print money. I print nutrition."
Then he underlined one word:
OWNERSHIP.