Chapter 138
“It’s turned into two racks!”
The players queued in front of the doll racks immediately noticed something unusual. First, they saw the surrounding walls push backward, creating a 6×6 meter space. Then, on one side, a 4-meter-long passage appeared, leading into a larger concrete room.
“Is this some kind of spatial expansion technology?”
The back of this store was clearly a residential area. The building’s width was only about ten meters—how could it suddenly expand another ten meters without affecting the surroundings? Yet, thinking this was the Dream-Fulfillment Food House, anything seemed possible.
“Could such a magical place really be controlled by a single person?”
“I think Mr. Jiang might just be the representative. The true power behind this place is whoever is supporting him.”
Players whispered among themselves. Lately, rumors were circulating among them.
Next, a square kitchen appeared in the corner. In the blink of an eye, it expanded again, and then once more. Finally, it became a six-meter-long kitchen, filled with industrial-style humanoid robots. An explanatory note accompanied it.
“Is this a small dining area for on-site meals?”
“Ingredients and seasonings are self-supplied. Final results depend on ingredient quality…”
“Huh? There’s no purchase restriction? We can order here too?” Seeing the note, the players could hardly contain their excitement. “And the price isn’t high, plus we can choose what we like.”
“Great! I like spicy, but none of the foods here are super spicy.”
“I love marinated dishes—can they make seafood marinated dishes?”
“Wow, I feel like I can have all my meals here from now on! Perfect for a bachelor like me.”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Eating once or twice is fine, but every meal? Even bringing two bags of pre-packaged special-effect food into a dungeon isn’t easy. Don’t treat this like a normal little restaurant.”
“Hehe, I’m just saying. This upgrade is great, let’s give it a round of applause.”
Everyone agreed.
Although they were part of player organizations with allocated spots, lower-tier players had few available slots. They wanted more special-effect food as a safeguard, but the takeaway cabinets and welfare windows weren’t for them.
Moreover, the food variety here was simple; eating too much could get boring.
Not that they were complaining—after all, casual social players didn’t even have basic daily guarantees—but people always wanted more and better.
Then, more changes came: rest benches appeared, welfare windows upgraded, vending machines relocated, and five empty candy vending machines were added. The crowded doll racks became two separate racks.
These cute little figures no longer had to be stacked on top of each other—they now had their own space.
The changes were so dramatic that players’ eyes could hardly take it all in. The more resourceful ones ran off to buy ingredients to test whether the processing kitchen was truly as magical as it seemed.
Even more thrilling for players in remote areas—what was it like to suddenly find a legendary “special-effect food sales point” by the roadside? It was like being hit by a pie!
Of course, it wasn’t literally a roadside. This was a well-known local mountain produce market, full of ingredients.
No one could believe this location was chosen randomly.
“We can process ingredients here?” One player descended the mountain, taking off his basket filled with freshly picked mushrooms, along with other mountain produce like yams suitable for steaming. Top-quality fresh ingredients that didn’t sell well locally.
“I’ll give it a try.”
“Only ten bucks? I’ll try too!” Another player approached, thrilled.
How could the authorities not promote such a boon? Soon after, the official C-Nation forum for the Eastern Region updated with a post:
The update was simple. In certain areas, “special-effect food sales points” were updated. In addition to traditional vending machines, raw material processing was now offered at lower cost with more variety. Four new sales points were added, with locations specified.
C-Nation players rejoiced. In such a short time, four more sales points were added and upgraded. Though not yet at their location, the pace suggested it might be their turn in a month or two.
Players in developed areas were thrilled, and those in underdeveloped areas felt reassured. This showed the state was taking action to help ordinary players. Only a few ill-intentioned individuals frowned.
Players from other countries nearly cried in envy—but before they could leave sour comments, a flood of posts from Ross IP users swept past.
“Ura, right across the bridge, the street I always buy breakfast on! Vending machines are managed by C-Nation authorities. No limits on processing, right? I can get special-effect food too!”
“Isn’t this the early market my grandma loves? Great, buy ingredients and cook on the spot.”
“Another reason to study abroad in C-Nation.”
“Do they accept rubles?”
Players from I-Nation weren’t as happy. Though neighbors of C-Nation, the Himalayas blocked access, so they couldn’t benefit.
They were angry, demanding C-Nation fulfill its leading role in the Five Powers and bring sales points to areas with more players, like I-Nation.
Also, they complained the fees were too high—it should be free.
Indeed, I-Nation had the largest population in both the real and game worlds, everywhere with a strong presence and distinct style.
Before they could anger C-Nation players, neighboring S-Nation joined in with indiscriminate attacks, followed by the recently weakened J-Nation, and the recently blocked “fraud zone”…
These regions’ players became increasingly aggressive, exposing each other’s exceptional dungeon operations. Even initially angry C-Nation players unconsciously grabbed a bag of sunflower seeds.
They wanted to upgrade Magical Beast Peach Blossom Land to check the situation, but Jiang Jitang, addicted to gossip, stayed put: “Having fun here, no thoughts of home.”
Amid this joyful atmosphere, a few sneaky people gathered for a meeting.
“We can’t let Jiang Jitang stay in Jin City. C-Nation authorities have special-effect food as a trump card—our plan can’t succeed.”
Even rebels need incentives; they weren’t ideological. Special-effect food was a very tempting bait.
“Not easy. Since the last move in J-Nation, his protection has tightened. Forget getting close—entering Jin City would get checked three times.”
“Send someone to try?”
“Tried,” said a weathered man, exhaling smoke. “He said he’s not coming back. He fits Jin City’s weather.”
Those few days had constant typhoons—a cursed weather. They didn’t even bother making excuses.
The group looked at each other: “Are the benefits really that good?”
“Guess why the top three C-Nation player organizations stay put? Every Eastern District organization got their allocated slots. Casual players can still order from takeout and welfare windows, access free clinics, and receive dungeon info. Now customized dishes are added too.”
Damn, they felt hopeless.
After five minutes of silence:
“Actually, we haven’t done anything yet, right? Why shouldn’t we get allocated slots? The authorities can’t be this stingy.”
“Right, we’re not those others. We don’t have foreign backing, we can love our country, obey orders, reform, turn over a new leaf. Authorities can’t ignore us.”
Two more minutes of silence.
“Then, submit a token of loyalty? I have video evidence.”
“Me too…”
“Me too…”
They exchanged glances, then silently looked away: in the underworld, you always keep a card up your sleeve.
Jin City.
“Done, wrapped up.”
After spending a fortune, Magical Beast Peach Blossom Land upgraded.
The outside 36 sq.m area now had tables, chairs, and two service robots for receiving and enjoying food.
The inside 100 sq.m area was divided into three zones: the left had a large hot spring for big or social beasts, the right had small private hot springs for quiet, solitary beasts.
Hot springs and other equipment upgraded through usage, not points. Most were level-1 cleansing pools, only one small hot spring was a level-2 beauty pool.
The beauty pool added effects to refresh and improve appearance, ideal for aesthetic beasts.
Between the two private hot springs was a “Beauty Room” with two massage robots.
Long-haired beasts could dry and groom fur; robots also offered nail, horn, and scale polishing.
“I could watch them bathe, dry, and groom all day.” He enjoyed watching neglected beasts being transformed.
Sadly, he couldn’t spy in the Beauty Room. Jiang Jitang messaged the only person with a real Magical Beast: “You must take good care of it.”
Parsons: ???
“Magical Beast baby.”
Parsons watched the Magical Beast egg in his hand gently move. The eggs had been increasingly active lately—he didn’t know when they’d hatch.
It had been a while since he visited the kindergarten to see Wuyun (the little black horse), unsure if the hay he sent suited it.
In his hand, he also had a yellow-green velvet box containing a ruby brooch. Its glowing “pigeon blood” red was stunning even in darkness. The designer made it look like a small candy.
It mimicked the common market hard candy wrapped in holographic paper. The large gem formed the center, with small diamonds and light blue sapphires simulating paper folds.
“Will he like it?” Parsons adjusted his phone, snapped the photo using a cheap phone to make the expensive item look right, and sent it to Jiang Jitang.
This time, Jiang Jitang could only give a slow question mark.
“Gift, brooch.”
He silently viewed the overexposed photo. Despite the poor photography, the brooch’s beauty shone through—it was genuinely beautiful.
“Looks beautiful with my outfit; with others, I reserve judgment.” Jiang Jitang smiled and confirmed sending. He mounted his electric scooter, ready to provide half an hour of escort service to a pure-gold wealthy client at the kindergarten.
On the way, he called Sister Xia, hoping to buy candy-making raw materials using his official identity. Sugar was a controlled item with purchase limits.
The Middle Eastern gold-rich client underwent pre-dungeon health checks to ensure peak condition—he had a full medical team.
Jiang Jitang hadn’t been used much before. The client’s health and wealth allowed others to escort him safely. But when he saw Jiang Jitang, he still showed enthusiasm—full marks for emotional value.
The client entered the dungeon, and the system issued:
[Strong wish detected. Special order updated.
Special Order: Assist a small team with the ‘Heated House’ game challenge. Do you wish to participate? You have five minutes to decide.]
Work time!
But also, a collision awaited.
