“Who did this!? Which bastard has stolen my statue!?”


  Under the moonlight, Alfred howled into the sky with reddened eyes on a messy island. The statue was already missing in the giant crater.

  Alfred walked one loop around the island, and his gaze landed on the body of the charred three-headed demon hound. He walked up to investigate closely before saying through clenched teeth, “Flaming Demon Tribe, I’m not going to let you off. I’m the only one worthy to receive the power of the God of the Dead

  “The stone statue is going to restore itself three days later, and I have to snatch it back before that so I can complete the rest of the ritual,” Alfred said in a deep voice, and summoned his flying steed. “I guess I have to bring my people for a trip to Flaming Island. It has to be Terry who instigated them to come into my Abyss Island areas to steal my things……”


  Alfred bent down and smashed his fist into the ground. The whole island trembled before it collapsed and sunk into the sea.

  ***

  “Emergency mission: Could the Host please kill the destroyer of the base, Alfred, within three days. Mission reward: The title of ‘Guardian of the Base’ and a chance to ask a question about ‘Classified Matters’! Punishment for failing the mission: the Host would lose the supply from all the ingredients’ bases.” The system’s voice suddenly appeared in the test field for the God of Cookery just as Mag completed his opening-the-crayfish-backs in 10-second challenge.

  “???” Mag was befuddled. This mission really came out of the blue. Did he have to undertake a mission while he was in the test field for the God of Cookery?

  Mag put down his cleaver with a frown, and asked, “System, what the heck is the destroyer of the base? And what the heck is the chance to ask a ‘classified question’?”


  “Alfred destroyed the structure of the island with brute strength, and caused the island to collapse. This affected the water quality and environment around the crayfish rearing base greatly. It destroyed the ecosystem that this system built up painstakingly,” the system replied.

  “Looks like he had already discovered that the stone statue was missing.” Mag pondered.

  “Given the Host’s current permissions, you’re not entitled to know about some classified information regarding this continent. However, after completing this mission, this system will offer you one chance to ask a question. Knowledge is priceless.”


  “Then, I will convert this chance to 100 copper coins.”


  “No!”


  “You see, this chance is not even worth 100 copper coins.” Mag pursed his lips.

  “.……” System.

  “You want me to go and kill a 10th-tier powerhouse, but you’re not willing to show me some goodwill. System, have you inflated? Do you still remember who’s the daddy?”


  “Host, please respect this system!” the system said sternly.

  “I don’t care. Anyway, I’m not his match, unless you give me one chance of returning to the peak of my powers. Otherwise, you would be sending your daddy to his grave. You decide for yourself. Furthermore, if you don’t want to sell me the ingredients, I’ll go buy from someone else. There’re plenty of farmers in this world, you’re not the only one,” Mag said nonchalantly.

  “Host, y-y-you are a cad! How could you behave like this for a host? How could you threaten the system like this? Do you have any idea how they laugh at me in my circles?”


  “Woah, you have circles too? How do they laugh at you? Tell me so I can have a laugh too,” Mag said excitedly.

  The system was silent for a long time before it said in a deep voice, “Addition to the mission reward: the mobile restaurant would receive a defense shield that is immune to all attacks that are 9th-tier and below, and could withstand three 10th-tier attacks. Mission failure punishment: the Host will be erased.”


  “Did you just go to seek help from your friends’ circle?” Mag raised his eyebrows. This punishment style didn’t seem to resemble the system’s usual style.

  “How did you know……?” the system exclaimed. But it quickly stopped itself from saying the rest and coughed lightly. “The three-day countdown has already commenced. Please expedite and complete the mission as soon as possible, Host.” And it went completely silent after that.

  Mag pondered for a while. Alfred was on his must-kill list and a target of Irina at the same time. Although the system’s mission was a little sudden, it wasn’t impossible to complete it within three day.

  Moreover, the elevation to the mobile restaurant’s defense capabilities was indeed very attractive to him. This was akin to having a fortress that couldn’t be conquered. It would also give them enough time to react even if a 10th-tier powerhouse launched a sneak attack on them. It was really very practical.

  “Looks like I will have to push forward the assassination plan,” Mag murmured to himself as he walked to a big pot at the side. He tossed the mission aside, and began to practice how to make a delicious dish of braised crayfish.

  Braised crayfish, spicy crayfish, steamed crayfish, garlic crayfish, thirteen-spices crayfish, chilled crayfish. Each of their cooking methods was a whole new challenge to Mag.

  However, Mag, who had been through many challenges, was no longer the newbie who knew nothing about cooking. He had his own understanding regarding the control of the heat and the use of spices and condiments. It was just like playing a game and trying to go through all the levels and master all the methods. It was equally satisfying.

  “Congratulations, Host. The best chilled crayfish has been achieved!”


  Mag opened his eyes, and the alarm clock at the bedside table was ringing.

  Mag reached out to turn off the alarm clock only after he was awoken for a while. He shook his head and chased the crayfish out of his mind. He only managed to regain his strength after a brief moment of rest.

  Although it was only one night, to Mag, who was in the test field for the God of Cookery, 100-odd days had passed. He had to learn six different cooking methods of the crayfish in one go, and he had to do it extremely well. This was an extremely big challenge to Mag too.

  Fortunately, the more he practiced, the better he got, and he got to know the crayfish better. Hence, he still managed to walk out of the test field for the God of Cookery at dawn.

  “It would be a waste of time and energy to do all six methods, and it’s not optimal for expansion.” Mag thought for a moment before mumbling to himself, “Then, I will just do spicy crayfish, garlic crayfish, and thirteen-spices crayfish.”


  Mag was not going to stay on Carapace Island for the rest of his life, and to avoid trouble, he couldn’t make the crayfish with the same flavors for some time after he returned to Chaos City. Reserving three flavors for Mamy Restaurant was obviously a good choice.

  “It’s time to go to the docks to collect the crayfish after breakfast. I wonder, did those fishermen go catch the crayfish?” Mag got out of bed and went downstairs to make breakfast after a simple wash-up.

  ***

  To the fishermen of Carapace Island, this morning was a little more special than others.

  Because many of them had a few big red prawns in the buckets in them. They extended their necks out and gazed toward the interior of the island with a nervous yet expectant expression.

  The young fisherman with dark eye circles was grasping a giant netting that had at least 50 crayfish as he asked the old fisherman Tuck, “Old man, you weren’t playing us with that guy from yesterday, right?”


  “That was also my first encounter with that lord. Why should I play you? I’m still hoping that he will come today so I can pass him these crayfish,” Tuck answered exasperatedly. He, too, had over a dozen crayfish in the wooden bucket in front of him.