CHAPTER 50: CHAPTER 50: FLAYING AND STUFFING WITH STRAW

"Thank you for your help, please visit the Mermaid Kingdom when you have a chance. Just call my name loudly by the sea, and I will come to meet you."

"Goodbye."

The mermaid’s body turned transparent for a moment, then returned to normal, only slightly paler in color.

Liu Zheng discreetly observed this scene, guessing that this must be a decoy left by the mermaid, while her real body had probably fled.

True to form for a mermaid princess, she indeed had a couple of tricks up her sleeve.

As for her invitation to visit the Mermaid Kingdom, he pretended he hadn’t heard it.

Everyone in this world is deeply cunning and wicked; could this fish really be an innocent?

Discussing business is one thing, but forming friendships is quite another.

Liu Zheng didn’t play any ’thief shouting to catch a thief’ games, simply continuing to chat leisurely with Niu Ma as they walked into the hallway.

"Napoleon, we’re back."

As soon as they entered the kitchen, Niu Ma shouted loudly.

"Got it, why are you shouting so loud?"

Feather Chicken put down the onion in its hand and complained.

"You have no idea how much I sacrificed to stand up for you. Look, my subordinate’s heart was almost ripped out."

Niu Ma pointed to Liu Zheng’s not fully healed chest.

"Your subordinate’s heart getting ripped out, what does that have to do with you?"

Feather Chicken glanced at him sideways.

"I treat him like my own son, he gets hurt, I feel the pain."

Niu Ma said with a pained expression.

"If your face was used to make soup, you’d need to pressure cook it for at least ten points."

Feather Chicken said, speechless.

"That won’t do; you’d get burn marks just from my facial hair."

Niu Ma said confidently.

"Idiot. Salmon, your turn."

"Here’s what happened, meow."

San Huamao recounted the whole process.

Its description was well-organized and concise, with key parts accompanied by dramatic reenactments.

Indeed, this cat was not just a cute mascot.

"Tendaros... its owner hasn’t been to the restaurant for a long time."

Feather Chicken reminisced.

"Every time he came here, the service team dreaded it, only settling who would serve him by playing rock-paper-scissors."

It said with a hint of schadenfreude.

"Keeping such a ferocious dog, no matter how rich, one is bound to go broke."

Niu Ma commented.

"Is Tendaros really that terrifying? Stronger than Oynk?"

Liu Zheng asked curiously.

"Silence!"

Feather Chicken let out a loud crow.

The entire kitchen instantly fell silent.

"Don’t mention that guy’s name in the restaurant."

Feather Chicken shook its head and said.

"Has that become a taboo now?"

Liu Zheng said, exasperated.

The Fire Mage is that person, Oynk is that person.

This place is like a Hogwarts branch, right?

"No kidding, it once slaughtered half the restaurant."

Niu Ma said.

"Lucky for you, kid, you weren’t in the service team; otherwise, you’d have been skinned by Britain and turned into a carpet by now."

"Britain?"

"The head of the service department, a bull-headed person. Back then, when that certain individual killed the heads of both the kitchen and the delivery department, Britain was lucky to survive, though he was castrated. Therefore, his hatred for that person runs the deepest."

Niu Ma explained.

"I see."

Liu Zheng said, enlightened.

"So, mention it somewhere else if you must, worst case you get scolded. But never mention it in front of the service team; that guy really will go insane."

Niu Ma advised.

"I probably won’t meet anyone from the service team, right?"

"That’s hard to say. Us in the delivery department, we’re born to be called upon. Whichever department is short-staffed, they call, and we must hurry over."

"Today they ask you to help in the kitchen, tomorrow they might ask you to be a waiter."

Niu Ma sighed.

"Complaining? Then I won’t invite you next time, and you can also stop coming for free meals."

Feather Chicken said coldly.

"Touchy, touchy, you’re getting agitated."

Niu Ma beamed.

"Sigh."

Feather Chicken let out a deep sigh.

"Dealing with such a tough character isn’t easy for you. Why not come work in the kitchen? You could specifically handle the receiving from now on."

It spoke to Liu Zheng.

"Hey, undermining me right to my face is really disrespectful."

Niu Ma stomped his foot.

"Forget it, I think delivery is pretty good."

Liu Zheng said with a smile.

Only a fool would change jobs with the Legendary delivery man outfit nearly complete.

"Suit yourself. Where’s the merchandise?"

Feather Chicken asked.

Niu Ma and Liu Zheng stepped aside, revealing the box behind them.

The mermaid princess still maintained her curled-up position, motionless.

"A bunch of idiots, not even knowing the goods have escaped."

The moment Feather Chicken saw this, his face immediately darkened.

"The goods have fled? But isn’t this one right here?"

Confused, Niu Ma stretched out a hoof and poked the mermaid.

"See, she’s still warm."

"That’s just the skin she has shed, the inside is all seawater,"

Feather Chicken looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Damn, this fish even has that trick?"

Niu Ma was shocked and was about to poke the mermaid with his horn.

"Don’t move."

Feather Chicken quickly stopped him.

"If you puncture the skin, then it’s really unusable."

"It’s still useful with just a layer of skin left?"

Niu Ma was shocked again.

"It’s impossible for others, but not too difficult for me,"

Feather Chicken said proudly.

"Salmon, go to the cold storage and fetch J-31,"

he said to San Huamao.

"Yes meow,"

San Huamao hopped off.

Soon, it dragged back a frozen mermaid.

The ice layer covering her still had a few small tooth marks.

This mermaid was also female, not as pretty as the mermaid princess, but her sexual traits were more pronounced.

"Are you planning to use a scapegoat?"

Niu Ma asked.

"No, it’s stuffing the skin,"

Feather Chicken shook his head, then picked up a heat gun and began spraying the frozen mermaid.

Soon, the ice layer melted away completely.

The thawed mermaid’s skin quickly regained its color, her expression first confused, then resolute.

She opened her mouth, invisible notes about to burst forth.

"Shut up."

Feather Chicken flapped up and pecked at the crown of her head like lightning.

A drop of blood pearl oozed from the mermaid’s scalp, her gaze instantly becoming vacant.

"Give me the knife."

Feather Chicken extended its claw.

Liu Zheng quickly handed back the voracity.

"Three-quarters full, not bad. Later I’ll reward you with a few appetizers,"

Feather Chicken nodded and then casually waved his hand.

A red line appeared on the mermaid’s forehead, extending from the hairline to the pelvic bone.

"Skin her."

he commanded.

"Yes meow,"

San Huamao extended its claws, carefully hooking the edge of the skin, and pulling it apart on both sides.

Slowly, a complete mermaid skin was peeled off.

The pain seemed to stimulate the mermaid; tears of blood streamed from her eyes.

For some reason.

Even though the mermaid’s eyes were facing the ceiling and she couldn’t move,

Liu Zheng still felt, she was looking at him.

"I’m sorry, I’m powerless."

Although not sure if the mermaid could hear, he still said it in his mind.

It was somewhat ironic; he had saved the mermaid princess, yet her kin might die instead.

But since the mermaid had entered the kitchen, becoming an ingredient was inevitable.

Sooner or later.

"At least, please save my child."

A hoarse voice echoed in Liu Zheng’s mind.