novelraw Chapter 62: First Business Deal
Chapter 62: First Business Deal
Chen Qi looked at the eager crowd before him.
Why had things turned out this way? Why were they so free with their time?
He needed to remember that being a chef was just a cover for his hunter identity!
If this continued, he might genuinely become Moonstone City's renowned five-star chef.
Judging by their excited expressions, they had waited here for at least an hour.
And that didn't even account for the time they'd spent contacting others to locate him.
Hard to refuse now.
Whatever, might as well complete some profession quests.
With ten people arriving specifically for his cooking, his small houseboat couldn't accommodate them all.
After some thought, Chen Qi docked the boat in a quieter corner, gathered some wooden chairs and tables, and set up a street-side stall."Everyone, today we only have fish - no other dishes available," Chen Qi announced.
This would be a good opportunity to process all the Moonlight Fish caught last night while earning decent money.
"A restaurant that only serves one dish? How does that work?" protested a clothing store owner in plaid.
"My apologies, but ingredients are limited. However, today's Moonlight Fish are freshly caught," Chen Qi shook his head.
If he offered a full menu and operated daily, he'd truly become a professional chef.
Occasional cooking sessions were enough.
The customers looked puzzled momentarily before reconsidering.
Perhaps this chef was the legendary type who pursued quality over quantity.
Moreover, Moonlight Fish weren't ordinary ingredients but genuine premium fare requiring supernatural culinary skills to bring out their natural flavors!
Only such a chef would deserve Pelu's recommendation!
Chen Qi entered the boat cabin and placed the Moonlight Fish on the cutting board.
The fish's delicate flesh was best preserved through steaming.
He removed the inedible bioluminescent cells from the skin, cleaned out blood clots and organs, then prepared scallions and ginger slices with seasoning for marination.
After steaming, seasoning, and finishing with oil, he sprinkled Soul Seasoning and scallions before serving.
Soon, a perfectly steamed Moonlight Fish with vibrant colors and aromas was ready!
[You have prepared Steamed Moonlight Fish. Obtained 100 Spirit Points.]
100 Spirit Points...
Surpassing his previous record of 80!
Supernatural ingredients yielded higher Spirit Points than ordinary food.
Chen Qi clapped his hands and served the dish to the waiting customers.
As premium rare ingredients, raw Moonlight Fish could fetch 1,500 Shell Coins.
So Chen Qi quadrupled the price:
"6,000 Shell Coins per serving."
6,000 Shell Coins!
The crowd gasped.
So cheap!
"Boss, how do you run a business like this..."
They'd never seen Moonlight Fish sold this affordably.
Just as Reporter Pelu said - while the stall was modest, the value was incredible!
Chen Qi raised an eyebrow.
Even at quadruple price, they still considered it cheap.
The markup on cooked supernatural ingredients exceeded his expectations.
Ten fish meant 60,000 Shell Coins!
Though he never intended to earn through cooking -
hunting remained his main profession -
this income wasn't bad.
After serving customers outside, Chen Qi returned to prepare two portions for the boat cabin.
The Newsstand Elder, rather than joining the outdoor stall, sat inside.
A devoted Moonlight Fish enthusiast, he made sure to enjoy them every season.
Beyond the culinary delight, he had information to share.
"Magnificent aroma..."
The elder sliced a portion with his fork, savoring it slowly.
"Ah~ You've preserved the fish's natural essence!
Truly exceptional, young man!"
The Soul Seasoning and supernatural cooking had perfectly enhanced the fish's flavors.
Outside, delighted exclamations echoed:
"So delicious yet affordable! I told you Pelu only speaks truth!"
"The presentation's simple, but the flavors are perfectly drawn out. Some wine would complete it."
"And it seems to have successfully activated supernatural effects."
"Honestly, how could the Black Rabbit Gang target such a dedicated chef?"
Damn, shouldn't Internet celebrity storehave poor reputations?... Chen Qi smiled wryly as he tasted his portion.
[You consumed Moonlight Fish. Gained Medium Inspiration Boost and Enhanced Perception lasting ~12 hours.]
Inspiration boost and heightened senses.
Chen Qi assessed his bodily changes.
Supernatural ingredients combined with chef skills could yield unexpected benefits.
Watching the elder enjoy his meal, Chen Qi steered the conversation:
"Elder, what can you tell me about that police incident?"
Concerns lingered in Chen Qi's mind.
The gang wouldn't let matters rest easily.
As expected, they had ties to the Blackfin Crew -
meaning connections to Blackeye, captain of the Sawship.
While his current strength could handle ordinary gang officers,
Blackeye remained far beyond his capabilities.
However, his hunter attire and muscular build had transformed his formerly decadent appearance.
His entire demeanor had changed, making recognition difficult.
Moreover, the Black Rabbit Gang's reactions suggested they remained unaware of his connection to the Deep Sea Hunters' treasure.
The elder paused, shaking his head:
"Ah... some information. The Black Rabbit Gang is planning something major!"
"Major operation?"
"Indeed. While unconfirmed, we suspect they intend to abandon their gang identity to become pirates!
Specifically, pirates under one of the Four Pirate Emperors - the Blackfin Crew!"
The elder's tone grew grave:
"To consolidate their rule over distant seas, the Blackfin Crew is aggressively recruiting from coastal cities like conscription.
Meanwhile, our Beiguo Navy is undergoing so-called reorganization - establishing Three Admirals and Seven Fleets - leaving no capacity to intervene."
Becoming pirates?
Chen Qi was stunned.
After the Dimensional Tide, oceanic rifts outnumbered and outclassed terrestrial ones.
Pirate revenues would surge dramatically.
But gangs were intrinsically tied to their territories - becoming pirates meant abandoning years of accumulated connections and resources.
This was indeed an extraordinarily bold decision!
The elder took a sip of rum before continuing:
"If they turn pirate, they'll stop caring about local reputation and likely commit atrocities before leaving.
Besides you, many first-tier and even second-tier supernatural beings in the commoner districts have been targeted.
Those bastards probably want what you obtained in the hunting grounds. They'll fabricate charges to seize your possessions and forcibly recruit you!"
The elder spoke vehemently.
This was classic bullying through power!
As a resident under Black Rabbit Gang's jurisdiction who'd suffered financial exploitation, he harbored longstanding grievances.
"I see..."
Chen Qi shook his head.
His current individual strength couldn't withstand an entire gang.
While he might barely contend with a second-tier hunter,
against a hundred-strong gang, he stood no chance.
But with caution, self-preservation remained feasible despite their hostility.
The elder reassured:
"Don't worry excessively though. Pelu is currently tracking the Flower Witch. Once that's resolved, she'll investigate Blackfin Crew and Black Rabbit Gang's connections."
"Pelu?"
"Indeed. Gang-pirate collusion makes good news - she won't miss it."
"Then let's hope Miss Pelu finds the Flower Witch quickly."
Chen Qi drank some alcohol.
The elder joked:
"Incidentally, you're quite young! Pelu has substantial backing. When you meet, calling her 'Big Sis' might earn you protection."
"Recognize Pelu as sister? Sounds rather gangster-ish."
Chen Qi swallowed some fish.
"Which major company in Moonstone City doesn't maintain mercenaries? Practically gangs themselves."
The elder smiled bitterly:
"Our White Pigeon Press is a major corporation too, employing numerous supernatural beings - far surpassing local gangs in strength.
But unlike Pelu, I'm just a peripheral newspaper salesman scraping by."
"The Press..."
Chen Qi ate thoughtfully.
Forum discussions mentioned White Pigeon Press appeared open but was actually a reclusive Lantern-affiliated organization.
They never recruited externally, making related strategies exceptionally rare.
Between bites, the elder reminded again:
"Until Pelu intervenes, remain extremely cautious."
"I will."
Chen Qi committed the Black Rabbit Gang to memory, gazing through the boat window at distant seas.
...
...
Afternoon, Moonstone City Third Commoner District.
A room in a three-story villa.
Originally elegant with classical decor, now stripped bare save for a sofa and table.
Preparing to leave Moonstone City as pirates, the Black Rabbit Gang was liquidating assets.
On the sofa sat a middle-aged man radiating distress.
A gold-rimmed glasses-wearing man entered, reporting:
"Black Rabbit, many brothers are reluctant to leave after so many years here."
Black Rabbit was the gang leader's codename -
a blond middle-aged man resembling an overworked office worker more than a gang boss.
The bespectacled man was his deputy.
Black Rabbit accepted the documents, stating calmly:
"After so many indulgence days, discontent persists? What about staging kidnappings of three brothers' families then rescuing them?"
The deputy shook his head:
"Executed flawlessly without traces. The dissidents owe us favors now."
Sighing, he asked:
"Why must we leave Moonstone City? Why these methods to become pirates?"
Gangs were inherently local organizations -
their community connections, properties, and protected businesses formed crucial income streams!
Liquidating assets for steam ships meant severing financial lifelines!
Black Rabbit lit a cigarette:
"Are you aware of the world's upper echelons - the Thirteen Great Hunter Organizations?"
"The world's upper echelons? Thirteen Great Hunter Organizations?"
The deputy looked perplexed.
Black Rabbit stood:
"At the peak of the supernatural path, one inevitably encounters them.
I witnessed a [Merchant Consortium] trader using souls as currency for demonic deals - entire villages becoming bargaining chips instantly.
I can't believe such beings share our world."
"Noble power exceeds our worst imaginations."
Black Rabbit reminisced:
"Nobles and hunter organizations monopolize supernatural resources. Without this Dimensional Tide, we'd never have another chance to encounter these monsters.
We'd decay into dirt, dying like sludge.
But this tide brings possibility - a path to higher realms.
Joining the Blackfin Crew, riding this wave, is our only chance to reach the upper world!
Remaining here means certain decay."
"Ah..."
The deputy shook his head: "Ascending tiers isn't so simple.
Black Rabbit, your intentions are good - for our future.
But the hunting grounds deaths of Scarface Rabbit's group unsettle many brothers. They fear similarly obscure deaths as pirates."
Black Rabbit massaged his temples:
"Easily resolved. Many already believe the killer wasn't the Flower Witch or old hunters, but another surviving supervisor."
"Correct."
"Then we'll make him the outlet. Find opportunity to eliminate him for morale."
The deputy objected:
"He's more cautious than expected. We bribed a harbor policeman to lure him, but naval reorganization has disrupted our connections.
We can't strike at the harbor - would attract naval attention.
Moreover, he surpasses ordinary first-tier supernaturals. The Press even mentioned him - not some island commoner but a moderately famous chef."
Black Rabbit rubbed his brow:
"You bribed police? Idiot! No ordinary officer could handle someone of supervisor caliber - even our officers might fail.
We must proceed carefully.
Believe me, his rift rating is second only to the Flower Witch."
"What then?"
The deputy was baffled.
Accustomed to bullying the weak, the gang hadn't confronted real challenges lately.
They needed justification for both the hunting ground deaths and their pirate transition.
After silence, Black Rabbit asked:
"How long until our Black Rabbit - with water missile systems - is ready?"
The Black Rabbit - their expensive steam warship equipped with cannon and torpedo-like supernatural weapons -
was their ticket to maritime prominence.
"Three days."
"Does he sail?"
The deputy recalled:
"As a chef, he fishes offshore. Actually, one officer pursued him independently - still missing.
Intel suggests possible Ghostfire Fish or Abyssal Merchant attacks."
Black Rabbit pondered:
"Cease operations temporarily."
This man's capabilities were undoubtedly extraordinary.
The hunting grounds' clearance might involve him.
Harbor laws protected him - but the sea, like rifts, was lawless.
However powerful, he remained merely human -
utterly vulnerable against a steam warship.
Their transformed gang needed a confidence-building inaugural operation!
Pacing while smoking, Black Rabbit asked:
"Confirm he sails?"
"Affirmative. Recently caught substantial Moonlight Fish."
Hearing this, Black Rabbit finally smiled faintly:
"Next time he sails, we sail too.
Our brothers must understand pirate profits match gang earnings.
Consider this operation our first business deal as pirates."