Chapter 25

The Handsome One Has Arrived

Uncle Phin took her to see the site for the pig farm construction. The farm was located in Khun Khao Village, which was just the next village over from Khao Khiao Village. There was plenty of vacant land in Khun Khao Village, and many villagers were selling their plots. Uncle Phin decided to buy land in this village for Manfah, as it matched her wishes perfectly. The pig farm was far from residential areas and situated in a breezy location with good airflow, making it an ideal spot.

Now, Manfah was able to purchase six processing machines. Yesterday, Uncle Pai brought gold bars to her at the warehouse, which she stored in her dimension. All that was left was to make the purchase.

The construction was taking shape, and the building's framework was already visible.

"It's really big," Manfah said.

"Who was it that likes to go big?" Uncle Phin teased.

"Well... if we're going to do it, why do it small? I heard the pig farm got approved really quickly."

"That's right. As soon as the authorities knew you were planning such a grand and well-built project, they didn't hesitate. Plus, the Governor of the Province was thrilled that the granddaughter of Phraya Decha Damrongsak was investing in a pig farm."

"My grandfather is truly amazing. It's worth having him around."

"If he heard you say that, you'd definitely get a knock on the head."

"Hee hee," Manfah wasn't afraid in the slightest. Her grandfather was no match for a cute and clever girl like her.

"At first, I thought Grandpa would meddle in my business because I'm just a kid."

"He sees you're smart, so he watches from a distance. Besides, you have me and Uncle Pai to help you, so there's nothing to worry about."

"That's true."

Watchara walked over to the two of them. "It's been a while, Little Man."

"Yes, Uncle Watch. You came all the way out here."

"It's not far, just next to the village."

"Is there any problem with the construction?"

"It might be a bit slow because your farm is huge. Some materials need to be imported, which could take several months. It should be done by New Year's. But I've already ordered the processing plant. Once all the materials arrive, I'll hire more workers so we can start the business sooner. How does that sound?"

"Sounds great. Don't worry about the labor costs, I can handle it."

Watchara chuckled, pleased. "Ah… I really like customers like you."

Uncle Phin shook his head at Manfah. "You're really wealthy. No wonder Mafueang complains about you every day."

"Does Mafueang think I'm flaunting my wealth?"

"Exactly, haha."

The three of them laughed heartily.

Uncle Phin brought Manfah home around one in the afternoon. Phraya Decha Damrongsak and Somyot were strolling in the garden. Although they said they were just taking a walk, in reality, they were helping to inspect the garden for their granddaughter. Manfah returned quickly, accompanied by the scorching heat, and invited Uncle Phin to have a drink before she headed into the kitchen. There, she spotted a thief stealing food from the table. The thief was a creature with big, round black eyes, a thick red comb and wattle. It was small and round, with white feathers, and had a piece of sun-dried pork in its mouth right before her eyes!

Manfah shouted, "So it's you who's been stealing from the village!"

The bantam rooster, still chewing on the sun-dried pork, looked at Manfah in shock.

Despite being caught, it had no intention of giving up the food. Sudlor[1] would like to make that clear!

Uncle Phin, hearing Manfah shout about a thief, came to see the shameless bantam rooster acting as the culprit. Manfah ran to catch it, but it flapped its wings and dashed towards the garden at the back of the house, with Manfah hot on its heels.

"Trying to escape, huh? It's not going to be that easy."

Ding! System: Do you want to capture the pet?

"System! I want to catch this rooster."

System: Please aim at the target.

A capture window appeared before her eyes, and she focused intently on the bantam rooster as it fled.

System: Target locked. Bantam rooster, classified as an ornamental pet. Combat skill: Pecking. Intelligence level: 5. Expertise in survival. Special ability: Stealing. Personality: Narcissistic.

Manfah saw the system's description appear, and a vein on her forehead twitched immediately.

Narcissistic personality! Well... just like me.

No doubt about it, this creature is the thief!

Manfah exchanged a glance with Uncle Phin. He ran in another direction to intercept it, while she chased it towards Uncle Phin, who was waiting. The thieving bantam rooster ran for its life, cursing internally. Why don't humans ever get tired? How much longer does this handsome one have to run?

Uncle Phin saw the opportunity and quickly stood in its path. The bantam rooster halted in surprise.

Manfah saw that the timing was right, "System, capture!"

Manfah watched as lightning entered the bantam rooster's body. The white-feathered rooster now lay still and unconscious.

Manfah picked it up.

"Why did it suddenly go limp like that?" Uncle Phin hadn't seen the faint lightning from her dimension.

"Because of that," Manfah replied.

"Hmm... there's always something surprising."

"I just found out I could do this too."

After an hour passed, the bantam rooster woke up. It looked around the room and saw Manfah first. Manfah was sitting on the bed, reading a novel. Feeling like she was being watched, she noticed the little bantam rooster staring at her.

"Oh, you're awake," Manfah put down her book and got off the bed.

She sat down on the floor.

Manfah noticed that its body was covered in wounds. She offered it some spring water.

"Drink up, this water is delicious." Even though she wasn't sure if it understood what she said, judging by the rooster's cautious gaze, she could tell it was very smart. It must have had a tough life so far.

The bantam rooster looked at the water in her hand with joy. It felt like the water would be very tasty. It glanced at Manfah's face, and she continued to smile kindly.

"Go ahead, drink."

The bantam rooster stood up and tried to drink, but couldn't because of the bottle's narrow neck. Manfah slapped her forehead, realizing she had forgotten the bottle was too narrow for it to drink from. She took her glass, placed it down, and poured the spring water from the bottle into it.

The bantam rooster looked at the water in the glass with sparkling eyes and immediately bent down to drink.

System: Intelligence level increased to level six. Your pet's body is recovering.

Manfah noticed that the wounds on the bantam rooster's leg were gradually fading. That's amazing!

The bantam rooster finished drinking and looked up with a grateful expression, blinking its eyes.

"You're getting smarter, haha. How about staying here with us? You won't have to steal anymore. There's always food for you here."

Cluck, cluck. Really? Can Sudlor really stay?

"If you want to stay, nod your head like this. I can't understand you otherwise."

The bantam rooster nodded. Sure, a home and food—who wouldn't want that?

"From today on, you're my pet. You don't have to worry about anyone trying to kill you for food."

Cluck, cluck. Promise! Don't kill! Don't eat Sudlor!

"Alright, I promise I won't, as long as you behave."

Cluck, cluck. Sudlor will be a good boy.

Manfah nodded, pleased with its intelligence. This way, the villagers could live peacefully without fearing a thief.

Who would've thought the thief was this little guy?

"Alright, let's give you a name. What should we call you?"

Cluck, cluck. My name is Sudlor!

"Whitey?"

Cluck, cluck. I said my name is Sudlor!

"Luck?"

Cluck, cluck. I don’t want that name, it's too common.

Manfah looked at the white bantam rooster in her bedroom, stomping both feet in frustration.

"You're such a picky rooster."

"How about Betholeny? It's an international name."

Cluck, cluck. What kind of weird, long name is that? I don’t want it!

Manfah shook her head as the rooster flapped its wings in displeasure again. Hmm... according to the system, it has a narcissistic personality. Manfah looked at its posture; it was puffing out its chest proudly, and its wings were grooming its comb like someone fixing their hair. Most importantly, this little guy is male.

"Sudlor, huh? You want the name Sudlor, don't you?"

Cluck, cluck. Yes, boss. My name is Sudlor. Look at my beautiful feathers and strong chest!

Manfah watched Sudlor strut around, showing off its feathers.

She was starting to feel like she might’ve made a mistake. Did I just adopt a crazy rooster?

"Don't steal anymore, got it? Otherwise, you'll end up as roast chicken."

Cluck, cluck. Okay, Sudlor will be a good rooster.

Seeing it nod, Manfah sighed and carried it out of the room.

Phraya Decha Damrongsak, Somyot, and Grandpa Puang saw her carrying the rooster out.

Phraya Decha Damrongsak asked,

"Are we having chicken today? But it's a bit small."

Sudlor heard Phraya Decha Damrongsak's words and immediately protested.

Cluck, cluck. Don't eat Sudlor!

It even pointed its wing at Phraya Decha Damrongsak.

Manfah patted its head to calm it down. "I'm going to keep this one. It's really smart and can understand human language. I've named it Sudlor."

Grandpa Puang was curious. "Is it really that smart, Little Man?"

Manfah set it down on the ground and spoke to Sudlor. "Let's see you walk from there to here, Sudlor."

Sudlor obeyed the command and walked as instructed. It even added a few extra laps, strutting around with a proud demeanor, clearly full of itself. Oh... it even spun around and struck a pose, flicking its comb at the end.

Somyot burst out laughing. "I never thought I'd see such a funny rooster. I bet Sudlor caught the humor bug from you, Miss Man."

Phraya Decha Damrongsak said, "As the owner is, so is the pet."

Grandpa Puang remarked, "It really is smart. It understands human language too well."

Manfah explained, "It's the thief everyone's been talking about lately. This afternoon, Uncle Phin and I caught Sudlor stealing sun-dried pork. I decided to keep it because it's so clever."

Grandpa Puang asked, "Won't it steal food from the house?"

"Just give it food, and it'll be fine. I've trained it."

"Will it poop in the house?" Grandpa Puang worried.

Manfah turned to Sudlor. "You better not poop or pee in the house, got it? Or you'll end up roasted."

Sudlor nodded eagerly. Cluck, cluck. Got it. Sudlor will only go to the bathroom in the toilet. Sudlor can even flush!

Phraya Decha Damrongsak was amazed at Sudlor's intelligence.

Somyot walked over, picked it up, and patted its head. "It's really smart, sir."

Seeing that Sudlor truly understood, Grandpa Puang felt relieved. If it could be this well-behaved, keeping it in the house wouldn't be a problem.

"Hey, Sudlor, don't sneak off to eat the fruits and vegetables in the garden. Stick to worms and insects."

Somyot spoke to Sudlor, feeling confident that he could get along with it because it was such a funny rooster.

Sudlor allowed Somyot to hold it without any fuss.

"Looks like Uncle Somyot really likes it. I guess I'll be the odd one out now."

"Don't say that, miss. You'll always be number one in my heart."

"I'm glad Uncle Somyot still loves me. Hehe."

Phraya Decha Damrongsak shook his head at his granddaughter’s jealousy. In this house, the person who loved Manfah the most was her grandfather. Somyot's affection couldn't compare to his own. Hmph!

[1] “Sudlor” means very handsome.