"Thank you for your help. If you have the opportunity, please visit the Mermaid Kingdom. Just call my name loudly by the seaside, and I will come out to meet you."
"Goodbye."
The mermaid's body turned transparent for an instant before returning to normal, though her color had faded slightly.
Liu Zheng discreetly observed this scene, guessing it was probably a fake body left behind by the mermaid while her true form had likely already escaped.
Not bad for a Mermaid Princess—she definitely had some tricks up her sleeve.
As for her invitation to visit the Mermaid Kingdom and such, he simply pretended not to hear.
Everyone in this world was thoroughly wicked—did she really think she could play the innocent white lotus?
Business transactions were acceptable, but friendship? Absolutely not.
Liu Zheng didn't bother with any thief-crying-thief games either, simply continuing his casual chat with Bullhorse as they entered the passageway.
"Napoleon, we're back."The moment they entered the kitchen, Bullhorse shouted loudly.
"I know, why are you shouting so loudly?"
White Feather Chicken put down the onion in its hand, speaking with disdain.
"You have no idea how much I sacrificed to get revenge for you. Look, my subordinate's heart was almost torn out."
Bullhorse pointed at Liu Zheng's chest that hadn't completely healed yet.
"Your subordinate's heart got torn out—what does that have to do with you?"
White Feather Chicken gave it a sidelong glance.
"I treat him like my own son. He's the one injured, but I'm the one heartbroken."
Bullhorse said with a pained expression.
"If we stewed your face for soup, it would need at least ten hours in the pressure cooker."
White Feather Chicken said speechlessly.
"That's impossible—just the fur on my face would take five hours to soften."
Bullhorse said confidently.
"Idiot. Salmon, you explain."
"That's how it was, meow."
Calico Cat recounted the entire process.
The description was systematic and well-organized, with proper emphasis and even included dramatic reenactments for key parts.
Indeed, this cat wasn't just a cute mascot for show.
"Tindalos... its owner hasn't come to the restaurant to eat in a long time."
White Feather Chicken recalled.
"Every time he came before, the service department people had huge headaches—they could only decide who would serve him by playing rock-paper-scissors."
It said with some schadenfreude.
"Keeping such a vicious hound, no matter how rich you are, it'll eat you into poverty."
Bullhorse complained.
Liu Zheng asked curiously.
"Silence!"
White Feather Chicken let out a loud crow.
The entire kitchen immediately fell silent.
"Don't mention that guy's name in the restaurant."
White Feather Chicken shook its head.
"That's forbidden too?"
Liu Zheng said speechlessly.
The Fire Mage was that person, Oink was that person too.
Is this place Hogwarts houses or something?
"Nonsense, he slaughtered half the restaurant back in the day."
Bullhorse said.
"Luckily you didn't join the service department, kid, or you'd already be skinned by Britannia and made into a carpet."
"Britannia?"
"The service department boss, a minotaur. Back when that guy killed both the kitchen and delivery department bosses, Britannia got lucky and survived, but got castrated. So his hatred for that guy runs deepest."
Bullhorse explained.
"I see."
Liu Zheng understood.
"So if you mention it elsewhere, worst case you'll get scolded. But never mention it in front of service department people—that guy will genuinely go insane."
Bullhorse warned.
"I probably won't run into service department people anyway, right?"
"Hard to say. Our delivery department—we're just born cheap. Whichever department is short-handed, they call and we come running obediently."
"Today they have you helping in the kitchen, tomorrow they'll make you be a waiter."
Bullhorse sighed dejectedly.
"Got a problem? Then I won't call you anymore, and you can stop mooching food and drinks later."
White Feather Chicken said coldly.
"Getting angry, getting angry—you're getting angry."
Bullhorse said with a delighted expression.
"Sigh."
White Feather Chicken sighed deeply.
"Having to deal with such a big shot, it can't be easy for you either. Why not come to the kitchen? You can specialize in receiving shipments from now on."
It said to Liu Zheng.
"Hey, poaching right in front of me? Not showing me any respect at all."
Bullhorse jumped up angrily.
"Forget it, I think food delivery is just fine."
Liu Zheng smiled.
It said to Calico Cat.
"Okay, meow."
Calico Cat skipped off.
Soon, it returned dragging a frozen mermaid.
There were several small tooth marks on the surface of the ice covering it.
This mermaid was also female, not as beautiful as the Mermaid Princess but with more prominent physical features.
"You planning to substitute one for the other?"
Bullhorse asked.
"No, it's skinning and stuffing."
White Feather Chicken shook its head, then brought a spray gun and began spraying the frozen mermaid.
Soon, the ice layer completely melted away.
The thawed mermaid's skin quickly regained its color, her eyes first showing confusion, then determination.
She opened her mouth, about to release formless musical notes.
"Shut up."
White Feather Chicken fluttered up and pecked lightning-fast at the crown of her head.
A drop of blood seeped from the mermaid's scalp, her eyes instantly turning completely vacant.
"Knife, please."
White Feather Chicken extended its claw.
Liu Zheng quickly returned Gluttony to it.
"Three-tenths full—passable. I'll reward you with some drinking snacks later."
White Feather Chicken nodded, then casually waved.
"The rest is up to you to handle."
It commanded.
"Okay, meow."
Calico Cat quickly agreed.
As if knowing her final moment had come, two lines of bloody tears flowed from the mermaid's eyes.
For some reason.
Even though her eyeballs were facing the ceiling and she couldn't move at all.
Liu Zheng felt like she was looking at him.
"I'm sorry, there's nothing I can do."
Though he didn't know if the mermaid could hear him, he still spoke the words in his mind.
Somewhat ironically, he had saved the Mermaid Princess, but one of her own kind would now die in her place.
However, since the mermaid had already entered the kitchen, being made into ingredients was inevitable.
It was only a matter of time.
"At least, please save my child."
A hoarse voice sounded in Liu Zheng's mind.