CHAPTER 253: CHAPTER 253 GOD OF COOKERY

EDITOR: DRAGON BOAT TRANSLATION

Just when Ren Suo thought the game was about to switch to a romance simulation, the female shopkeeper’s automated reply was very decisive:

"What are you talking about?"

The female shopkeeper tilted her head, looking at him as she spoke in clear, standard Mandarin.

Unexpectedly, the man in red was no pushover either. He immediately responded in Mandarin that, while a bit peculiar, was understandable to an ordinary person, "Please, go out with me."

After a moment of silence, the game automatically displayed a dialogue box, along with a prompt:

"Player has triggered a special event: Sudden Love. Depending on the player’s response, different subsequent events will be triggered. Please speak cautiously (silence is also considered a form of speech)."

Does this mean I have to pretend to be a girl and date him?

"Sorry, you’re too ugly. I refuse."

Although Ren Suo faintly sensed that agreeing to the man in red’s request would likely earn him an additional Hitman to help clear the game, was Ren Suo the type of person who would toy with others’ feelings just to beat a game? Yes. But at least let it be a beautiful girl or a Little Nine-Tailed Fox! Ren Suo began to regret creating a female character. Even if she was slightly more pleasing to the eye, he hadn’t expected to trigger a romance plot in this kind of game! He should have created a handsome man to attract female Ghosts instead. Since this plot point was an unexpected event that even the game hadn’t anticipated, he decided to just outright reject the guy based on looks.

The man in red seemed to have anticipated this as well. He stood up but didn’t put away the Ring, still handing it to the female shopkeeper:

"This is for you."

As it was a gift, the female shopkeeper accepted it automatically, without Ren Suo needing to operate anything.

"Golden Ring of Revenge: Every Attack will inevitably cause the enemy to bleed for 5% of their current Life Value (does not affect bloodless creatures)."

The man in red said, "This Ring, I was told, was left to me by my parents, but I’ve never met them. When I was at the training base, everyone watched the movie ’Léon: The Professional,’ and they all said that once they got out, they definitely needed to find someone to love..."

"They never got the chance, and I no longer have the time. The Demons are almost upon me, and I am ready to welcome these Demons."

"It’s just that, before my blood runs cold, I Hope to love a woman wholeheartedly, just once."

The man in red clutched his left chest. "I no longer have a heart, but after eating the meal you prepared for me, I realized... I’m moved."

"If you’re unwilling, I don’t mind. I can finally understand why the Assassins in movies always have a lover."

"For people like us, Born from Death, having someone to care about is indeed a very happy thing."

Having said that, the man in red left quite suavely.

Just when Ren Suo thought this plotline was over, a group of people suddenly appeared.

"Stedley, you won’t escape this time."

A group of about ten people in black cloaks silently surrounded the Ghost Stall, simultaneously blocking the man in red’s path.

Stedley, the man in red, looked at one of the black-cloaked figures and said bitterly, "Cards actually sent you to kill me? You really think highly of me."

One of the black-cloaked figures said, "The first-ranked Apprentice of the 76th term, the fastest Awakener, helped other Apprentices disassemble the bombs in their bodies, inflicted 46 casualties while escaping, including 8 Card Assassins... The organization’s high regard for you is not excessive. The organization has spent a great deal of effort to find you."

Stedley chuckled coldly. "A runaway Assassin, can I still be a threat to the organization?"

"Yes, and a very big one. We regard you more highly than you can imagine," said the black-cloaked figure. "But from now on, you’re no longer a threat. Want to know why? Because we are here!"

Sounds of something tearing through the air shattered the night’s Serenity. Several bloody holes suddenly erupted on the man in red’s body, but he showed no fear. His body twisted and flowed like liquid blood, charging towards the black-cloaked figures instead!

The black-cloaked figures all revealed hidden submachine guns, aiming at the man in red and opening fire wildly. The man in red let out a Furious Roar, and sharp blood claws emerged from the flowing blood, sweeping toward his assailants. However, the attackers showed no fear; instead, they dodged the gunfire with utter Calmness, even kicking back viciously to Counterattack the stream of blood!

The black-cloaked figures injured by the blood claws only had their Clothing torn; they appeared unscathed, as if protected by a layer of steel Gauze Clothing.

As the man in red retreated, he blew up his briefcase and accurately snatched two pistols from the scattered contents, firing four rapid shots at the black-cloaked figures in front of him!

Given that he had escaped from a Killer Organization’s training base, the man in red’s shooting Skill was unquestionable. Yet, the black-cloaked figures merely shifted their bodies slightly with each shot, effortlessly Dodging all of them!

This group, they were a Superhuman Warrior Squad!

Having witnessed the Supernatural Squad’s battle modes several times, Ren Suo naturally recognized the characteristics of this combat system: using Hot Weapons as the primary Attack method, supplemented by the reaction speed and Transcendent physique afforded by Spiritual Energy Cultivation, allowing them to achieve many unimaginable effects. For instance, Dodging bullets. Transcendent Warriors had enough time to think. They were naturally not faster than bullets, but they could predict the shooting direction as soon as the gunman raised their shoulder and evade beforehand. For ordinary people, this would require an almost instinctual reflex. For Transcendent Warriors, however, this was a brief but adequate window of time to think!

Ren Suo never expected that, apart from the nation, other organizations could cultivate a Superhuman Warrior Squad. But considering they were a Killer Organization, Ren Suo felt it made sense. While such organizations were unheard of in the Mysterious Country, on the world stage, it wasn’t unusual for conglomerates to invest in Mercenaries. It wasn’t surprising that this Killer Organization, backed by who knows how many conglomerates, had access to regular military training techniques and Cultivation Methods.

The era of Spiritual Energy resurgence, following the last world war, was a time most likely to see changes in the world map. It was also a turning point where individuals had the chance to surpass collectives. Knowing that Angel Zack of the Federation possessed Combat Power that could rival a nation alone, if a conglomerate managed to grasp similar strength, they could forcefully seize a larger share from other conglomerates. Yet, with many vying for control over official Supernatural Organizations, it seemed only natural for conglomerates to secretly invest in unconventional ones.

While Ren Suo watched the chaos unfold, two of the black-cloaked figures suddenly aimed their submachine guns at the food stall, bullets pouring out like a Rain Curtain!

"NO—" shouted the man in red, who was caught up in the intense fight. He hurriedly turned and Charged toward the food stall, but this movement caused him to be riddled with countless more bullet holes.

Then, to his surprise, the chaotic gunfire quickly subsided.

All the bullets fired into the food stall froze in mid-air, as if they’d hit an invisible barrier, before clattering harmlessly to the ground.

Meanwhile, the female shopkeeper brought out a folding table, placed it outside, and then produced a pile of small red stools—heaven knows where she’d hidden these items in the Ghost Stall.

After setting up eight more places, the female shopkeeper clapped her hands and said, "If you want to fight me, you’ll have to finish eating what I’ve cooked first."

Then, the black-cloaked figures who had just been holding submachine guns put them away and obediently sat down in front of the Ghost Stall. Those without a place at the table sat on the small red stools.

A few minutes later, three more black-cloaked figures carrying large cello cases appeared and seated themselves neatly to one side.

"They... how are they..."

Stedley slowly walked to the back of the Ghost Stall and asked, "Why are they acting so... docile?"

"All who come are guests," the female shopkeeper said. "You should leave soon. And don’t even think about attacking them, or they’ll stop being guests."

Stedley’s mind was a complete muddle. Witnessing such bizarre events, he was unwilling to leave. "Who exactly are you? Why would they listen to you... Wait, why did I even come here to eat?" Only now did Stedley realize something was amiss. "I usually don’t come to the park. Why did I suddenly get the urge to come here tonight, and how did I happen to run into you?"

So, that’s the game mechanic... Ren Suo finally understood why the Ghost Stall had so many customers. It was subtly influencing the minds of nearby Demons and Ghosts, compelling them to come for late-night snacks. But how should I answer?

Ren Suo resorted to his old trick. "Have you heard of the Fairy Palace?"

Stedley was startled. He had watched many ’Stealing the Heavens’ videos at the training base. After getting out, he had watched all of Ren Naiser’s videos and naturally knew about the Fairy Palace. The Assassins of the Fairy Palace, the Truth Seekers of the Fairy Palace, the Nine-Tailed Fox of the Fairy Palace, the Handsome Monkey King of the Fairy Palace...

Just then, Stedley noticed the white animal curled up asleep in the Ghost Stall. Wasn’t it a super cute Little Nine-Tailed Fox? Such an animal wouldn’t exist on Earth and could only originate from the Fairy Palace! It might even be related to that beautiful Nine-Tailed Fox from before! Then Stedley recalled how, after eating that bowl of pig’s blood, his mind and body had felt soothed and he had benefited greatly. The stress had been swept away, and many things that had puzzled him became clear...

That was definitely not an ordinary bowl of pig’s blood! Moreover, for the notoriously unyielding Card Assassins to be sitting there quietly waiting—could there be any explanation other than an unbelievably Supernatural Ability? So, was this average-looking girl in front of him actually...

"Could you be... the God of Cookery!?"