Chapter 47: A Taste of My Harpoon
The new set menu prices at the Demon Fish Shop were going viral on social media, with mixed reviews. Some thought it was too expensive, while those who had eaten there before thought the shop had actually lowered its prices. The haters were jumping at the chance to call Boss Lin a heartless profiteer.
They didn’t care if they ended up on the blacklist since they had no intention of eating there anyway. Whether they were blacklisted or not didn’t matter; they just wanted to vent their frustrations.
During dinner service, Lin Jiu found time to post on social media:
Lin Jiu (v): “First-floor menu: ¥6,998 per person (four dishes). Customers who want to eat, feel free to make arrangements.”
The comment section was filled with “…”
“What happened to Boss Lin? He suddenly seems desperate for money.”
“Yeah, yeah. He used to be super laid-back. If he could slack off, he definitely wouldn’t work hard.”
“I’d love to make a reservation, but I can’t even get one! @LinJiu”
“Don’t go, Boss Lin! Are you really dating Qiu Yuxi? @LinJiu”
“Is the diva really your mom? @LinJiu”
Lin Jiu didn’t have time to check the comments—he was thinking about what to prepare for Si Xu’s dinner.
The second-floor menu was different from the first, and so were the price levels.
After some thought, Lin Jiu decided to go upstairs and ask Si Xu what price level he wanted for his meal. He couldn’t choose the customer’s spending level for them.
When Lin Jiu reached the second floor, Si Xu was on the phone. Lin Jiu waited until he hung up before entering and asking what price range of a set meal he wanted.
Si Xu: “What do you think I need?”
Without hesitation, Lin Jiu said, “The one with the Little Blue Demon would be best.”
Si Xu: “Then I’ll go with that one.”
Lin Jiu: “Just a moment.”
Si Xu: “I can wait, so can I dine with you?”
Lin Jiu paused. “Sure, but I might be a little late.”
Si Xu: “That’s fine. I’ll wait.”
Instead of heading straight downstairs, Lin Jiu went to the third floor and into the smart kitchen to grab some ingredients he hadn’t prepared earlier. He was going to make a set meal featuring the Little Blue Demon for Si Xu.
While preparing the ingredients, Lin Jiu asked the system, “What’s Si Xu’s current body strength? When can I give him the basic gene enhancer?”
[Testing his special constitution will cost 10 magic points. Do you want to test?]
Lin Jiu: …
Lin Jiu: “Come on, don’t be so greedy. Didn’t you already deduct magic points for testing before?”
[You’re aware that was ‘before’, right? You ate yesterday—are you not going to eat today?]
Lin Jiu: …
Lin Jiu took a deep breath. “I’m out of magic points.”
[Then don’t test. Just give it to him. He won’t die from it.]
Lin Jiu: “Didn’t you say it would be painful?”
[Of course it’ll hurt. He’s in pain every day from his illness, so using the gene enhancer will also hurt. You think long-term pain is better than short-term pain for yourself, but when it comes to him, you’re just dragging it out. Are you planning to wait until he’s on his deathbed before giving him the treatment?]
Lin Jiu: …
Why did this make him so angry?
Lin Jiu gritted his teeth. “Didn’t you also say it would damage his body?”
[It will, but you can just use the magic meals afterward to repair it, right?]
Lin Jiu: “If it weren’t for wanting to reduce the damage and pain, I wouldn’t have waited this long.”
Lin Jiu suddenly stopped. Last time the system mentioned this, it hadn’t taken this attitude. Why was it suddenly okay to use the enhancer now?
Lin Jiu thought for a moment and probed, “So his body strength is already close to 10, right?”
[Do you think I’ll tell you that for free?]
Lin Jiu: “Your attitude already tells me everything.”
[Don’t get your hopes up. There’s no way you’re getting a freebie from me.]
Lin Jiu: “Alright, so even if his body strength isn’t at 10, it’s probably at 9.”
[…!]
Lin Jiu: “Looks like it’s time to consider giving him the treatment.”
[……]
Lin Jiu: Good thing I’m clever; otherwise, I would have been tricked out of 10 magic points again.
[What you call cleverness, I call being broke! If you don’t even have 10 magic points, what good are you?]
Lin Jiu: No matter how many magic points I have, if you can’t trick them out of me, that’s your problem, not mine.
[……]
The system fell silent for a moment, and Lin Jiu felt refreshed—he had finally won an argument.
[I’m raising the price!]
Lin Jiu: …
Alright, you win.
Lin Jiu was busy cutting small blue demon tentacles, carefully removing the suckers to keep for presentation.
A sharp-eyed customer at the bar recognized the tentacles and exclaimed, “Is that octopus tentacle? It’s so big?!”
Lin Jiu vaguely replied, whether it was the blue demon or octopus, it was all just soft-bodied, multi-legged seafood.
The customer looked at his own meal set and asked, “Why doesn’t my meal set have octopus tentacle?”
He glanced at the other customers, “Do you have octopus tentacles in your meal sets?”
The other customers all said they didn’t have any octopus tentacles either.
“What’s going on?” the customer pressed.
Lin Jiu didn’t look up, skillfully slicing the tentacles. “The first-floor meal sets don’t include this ingredient.”
“Is there such a rule? Does the second floor include it? Isn’t the second floor closed?”
Lin Jiu: “Some customers have already gone up to the second floor.”
The customers: “……”
They were eager to see which boss it was and learn how they managed to break through and successfully ascend to the second floor amidst the rush for seats and order restrictions. Didn’t they all order the same seafood? Why was there such a huge gap between people?!
“Then doesn’t that mean second-floor customers can eat octopus tentacles?”
Lin Jiu glanced at the person. “They can eat it. Do you want some?”
The customer immediately said, “I prefer squid and octopus. Give me a plate.”
Lin Jiu carefully placed the sliced tentacle pieces into a plate. “This ingredient costs 500,000 per pound. Are you sure you want a plate?”
The customer: “……”
The customer: “??????”
The customer: “??????????”
The customer: “Are you serious? Is it really 500,000 per pound?”
Lin Jiu raised his eyelids. “Absolutely.”
The customer: “……”
The customer: “……Forget it, I can’t afford it.”
Someone curiously asked, “What kind of octopus is this, so expensive?”
Lin Jiu explained, “It has high nutritional value, can boost immunity and slow aging, and the ingredient is scarce, so it’s quite pricey.”
The customers understood; the reason the food at Demon Fish Shop was so delicious, apart from Boss Lin’s skill, was primarily due to the ingredients.
Good ingredients naturally enhance the taste.
Lin Jiu carried two trays up to the second floor. Si Xu was looking at his phone, his expression somewhat serious.
Lin Jiu placed one tray in front of Si Xu.
Si Xu put away his phone and looked at his tray, which had a total of six dishes, very lavish. Then he looked at Lin Jiu’s tray, which only had two dishes: one was silver-threaded fish sashimi, and the other was boiled small blue demon.
“Is that enough to fill you up?” Si Xu pushed his tray to the center of the wooden table.
Lin Jiu pushed the tray back to him. “I’m fine; you should eat more for your health.”
Si Xu paused, “Alright.”
Lin Jiu couldn’t stay on the second floor for long; if someone was checking out or looking for the boss, he had to go down. In the short span of dinner, he had already gone up and down twice.
By the time Lin Jiu returned for the third time, Si Xu wasn’t eating; he was waiting for him.
“Have you heard of the Liao family in B City?”
Lin Jiu shook his head. “I haven’t heard of them.”
Wen Qin had just called Si Xu, who found out that the one suppressing the news was the Liao family, which had been in business for generations and was very influential in B City. Si Xu couldn’t understand why the Liao family suddenly intervened in this matter.
Si Xu was very concerned about this matter… or rather, he was concerned about everything related to Lin Jiu.
Some old stories are hard for ordinary people to dig up, but if the “Special Power Department” investigates, answers should come quickly.
As Si Xu was pondering, his phone rang again. He glanced at it and frowned.
This was the first time Lu Yu personally called him, and Si Xu instinctively felt it wasn’t good news.
Sure enough, as soon as he answered, Lu Yu asked where he was.
Si Xu: “I’m at the Demon Fish Shop.”
Lu Yu’s side was noisy, with the sound of police sirens piercing through, “That’s great; something has gone to the West City Old Street, and our people are pursuing it. That thing bites; people have already been injured. If you find any, try to capture it alive…”
“What is it?” Si Xu interrupted him.
“Right now, we don’t know what it is. Some say it’s a fish; others say it’s a monster. It has gone down a sewer…”
Si Xu hung up the phone and stood up to leave.
“What’s wrong?” Lin Jiu stood up as well.
“Something has escaped, and the ‘Special Security Department’ is in pursuit.” After Si Xu finished speaking, he quickly headed downstairs.
Lin Jiu was momentarily stunned but followed after him. The situation that would mobilize the “Special Security Department” was definitely not ordinary.
On the first floor, the customers were still discussing which boss had ascended to the second floor when they saw a tall man in a black mask swiftly heading for the door, with Boss Lin following closely behind, his steps hurried.
Customers: “……”
Did Boss Lin go after someone who dined and dashed?
At the cash register, a male customer finished scanning and was about to leave when Lin Jiu stopped him, “Wait a moment before you go.”
The male customer looked puzzled, “Wait for what?”
Lin Jiu: “Wait until it’s safe to leave.”
The male customer: “……”
He leaned his head out to look; the once dimly lit Old Street was now brighter, with new roads, streetlights, and parking lots. Everyone realized that the planning for West City Old Street had changed and that it probably wouldn’t be demolished again.
When the old street first started repairing the roads, some residents protested against the construction, even drawing the police. These were people waiting for demolition compensation, and when they saw the situation changing, they couldn’t accept it.
Some people heard the rumors a couple of years ago and bought houses here at high prices, hoping for demolition. Now, it turns out that the demolition won’t happen; instead, they are going to renovate and rectify. Who would want to pay for renovations? Naturally, they protested, and the result was that they were all invited for tea (a euphemism for being taken in for questioning).
Others couldn’t wait any longer and stopped clinging to their houses in anticipation of demolition. They started selling them, and within just a week, multiple properties in the old street changed hands.
The male customer was silent for a moment. “Is there danger from the cold wind outside?”
Originally focused on Si Xu, Lin Jiu glanced at the male customer upon hearing his question.
The male customer laughed, “Just joking! I really have to go back to the company.”
As he spoke, he had already gone out, walking toward the parking lot against the cold wind.
Lin Jiu didn’t stop him again, thinking this person’s luck shouldn’t be that bad—he should be just fine…
“Ahhhh—????”
The male customer indeed didn’t encounter any trouble, but someone else did first. The male customer was startled to a standstill by the piercing scream.
The scream came from the parking lot. Si Xu had already rushed out, shouting, “Stay in the shop, don’t come out!”
Lin Jiu heard police sirens getting closer; it seemed the enhanced agents had caught up.
The customers in the shop were drawn to the commotion outside, gathering at the door to look out.
Lin Jiu stood at the door, warning them, “Don’t go out yet.”
“What’s happening? Are they catching a criminal?”
“I don’t know; there’s nothing outside.”
“Come on, let’s go see! I’ve never seen a capture scene in my life!”
Some people were pushing to go outside. The ones in front nearly bumped into Lin Jiu, who coldly said, “You better curb your curiosity and hide inside.”
“Why hide? With so many of us, the criminals will definitely back down…”
Before he could finish, the male customer who had been standing on the road suddenly yelled and turned to run back into the small shop.
“Watch out for the car!”
“Skreeeeech—????”
“Bang!”
The screeching of brakes was followed by a taxi crashing into a streetlight to avoid the suddenly darting male customer.
The male customer was brushed aside, fell to the ground, and scrambled up while continuing to scream “Ahhhh!” as he ran toward the shop.
As everyone was stunned, a shadow suddenly dashed out of the darkness, suddenly exposed under the streetlight. Everyone was horrified by the grotesque sight. The creature was pitch black, dripping thick liquid that emitted a foul stench. It had a row of sharp, bony spikes on its back and crawled quickly along the ground, swaying in a manner reminiscent of a crocodile, but its shape was nothing like a crocodile! Ahhhh!!!!
“Ahhhh—??????”
The customers crowded at the small shop’s entrance, clamoring to see the commotion, nearly forcing the door off its hinges.
Others from nearby shops were also drawn out by the screams, but upon seeing such a creature emerge, they felt their scalps tingle. They turned and rushed back inside to lock their doors, too scared to come out again.
The dark creature moved with a distinct sway, rushing to the side of the taxi. It opened its large mouth filled with sharp teeth and “chomp!” it bit down on the taxi’s left rear taillight.
All the customers: “……”
“Ahhhh—??????”
Lin Jiu felt a jolt in his eyelids. “Don’t scream!”
It was too late. The group at Demon Fish Restaurant was particularly loud, successfully attracting the attention of the creature that was battling the taxi’s taillight.
The creature tossed aside the taxi it couldn’t bite and turned toward Demon Fish shop…
Lin Jiu watched in disbelief as the taxi door opened behind the creature, and the driver stumbled out, “Bang!” he slammed the door shut.
Customers: “……”
Lin Jiu: “……”
The creature heard the noise, turned its head, and lunged at the driver, who was facing away from it!
Lin Jiu’s heart nearly stopped. Just as the creature’s fangs were about to sink into the driver’s waist, it halted…
No, it wasn’t a halt; it was still desperately pushing forward, its claws digging deep grooves into the ground as if something invisible was pulling it back with all its might.
Lin Jiu looked back and, sure enough, it was Si Xu!
The creature was over a meter tall and more than two meters long, and it was incredibly strong. Si Xu was struggling against it; it was too much for him. If he relaxed his grip even slightly, the creature would definitely snap the driver in half!
“Hey!” Lin Jiu shouted to attract the creature’s attention.
The creature indeed turned to look at Lin Jiu across the road. The driver, drawn by the noise, also looked in that direction.
Lin Jiu sensed disaster approaching. As the driver turned to look, he caught sight of the massive head of the creature looming closer…
The driver: “……”
The driver: “Ahhhh—????”
The creature’s attention was once again drawn to the driver. It struggled to lunge forward, dragging Si Xu along, while the driver, terrified, fell to the ground, his legs weak and unable to stand. He could only crawl backward while screaming.
Lin Jiu felt a throbbing at his temples. “Scream loudly to attract its attention!”
Customers: “……”
Attracting it over here is the last thing we want?!
Lin Jiu: “Scream!”
Customers: “Ahhhh—??????”
The creature was indeed attracted, turning toward Demon Fish shop, and the customers immediately fell silent, afraid to scream. The creature was about to bite the driver again, prompting the customers to scream once more, and the creature looked back at them, only to have the customers fall silent again…
Lin Jiu wanted to sneak over and drag the driver away. There was still a female passenger in the taxi, who had likely seen the creature outside. She was cowering in the car, tears streaming down her face, pressing her forehead against the glass, trying to signal for help from Lin Jiu.
Lin Jiu had already quietly made his way to the middle of the road, frantically gesturing to the female passenger, signaling her not to scream. ‘Don’t scream, whatever you do, don’t scream! If you scream, we’re all done for!’
However, the female passenger didn’t scream—she simply opened the car door and ran straight toward Lin Jiu.
Lin Jiu: “…”
The creature lashed its thick tail at the taxi, sending it spinning ninety degrees. The female passenger was knocked down, and the creature suddenly changed direction, abandoning the driver and ignoring the female passenger, charging straight at Lin Jiu!
Lin Jiu clenched his fist tightly, trying hard to resist the urge to grab his harpoon. He couldn’t reveal too much. He sidestepped, trying to hide under the car, but the creature was once again restrained by Si Xu’s ability. However, the creature was too heavy, and Si Xu had attempted several times to throw it away without success.
This time, the creature didn’t struggle against Si Xu’s power. As soon as it was controlled, it turned and pounced toward Si Xu!
Lin Jiu: “!!!!!!”
Si Xu reacted quickly, switching from pulling to repelling, using a repelling force to push the creature away, preventing it from getting close to him. The creature was already furious, its claws furiously scraping the ground, pushing Si Xu backward.
“You son of a—!” Lin Jiu gripped his right hand, and the harpoon appeared in his grasp. ‘If I don’t harpoon you, do you think my father died for nothing?!’
Lin Jiu rushed over, plunging the harpoon viciously into the creature’s neck. The creature’s thick tail whipped toward Lin Jiu’s back…
“Watch out!”
Lin Jiu pressed down hard on the harpoon, swinging himself up to avoid the tail, landing on the creature’s back. As soon as his foot touched the creature, he froze—it was foul-smelling and slimy, even more disgusting than rolling in a sewage pit.
Lin Jiu: “…”
Bending down, Lin Jiu grabbed the harpoon, which disappeared from the creature’s neck and reappeared in his hand. He then plunged it again, this time aiming for the back of the creature’s head. The bone was hard, and the harpoon only sank halfway, failing to kill the creature as he had hoped.
The creature had no interest in fighting Si Xu anymore. It turned its attention to Lin Jiu, and after a few sways, it threw Lin Jiu off its back. As he fell, Lin Jiu retracted the harpoon just as the creature opened its mouth to bite…
“Lin Jiu!” Si Xu, having exhausted his energy, used what little he had left to hold open the creature’s jaws.
The harpoon reappeared in Lin Jiu’s hand, and he thrust it upward into the soft flesh under the creature’s jaw—
The harpoon sank halfway in!
Lin Jiu quickly retracted the harpoon and rolled agilely to the side.
The creature, gravely wounded, crashed to the ground with a *boom*—right where Lin Jiu had been lying moments before.
Had he rolled any slower, he would have been crushed on the spot!
Lin Jiu got up from the ground, still shaken, his clothes now too filthy to look at and reeking beyond belief.
“You okay?” Si Xu walked over.
“I’m fine, just… it smells too bad…” Lin Jiu felt like he was going to vomit but forgot about it when he saw Si Xu’s pale face.
He helped Si Xu to the side of the road to sit down, then ran back toward the small shop. The customers who had crowded the doorway either frightened or repulsed by the smell, quickly dispersed.
Lin Jiu rushed upstairs, grabbed a flask of green plum wine, and hurried back. “Have a drink.”
Si Xu took the flask, pulled down his mask, and took two large gulps, finally feeling alive again.
—
