Chapter 408

Chen Nuo flipped through the menu while checking the dining records of this group of patrons, confirming it suited the general taste.

The most ordered takeout was hot pot, with utensils always for sharing, as they had always eaten hot pot while gathering.

Next came fried chicken and similar snacks, the kind eaten during leisure time, after all these immortals weren't truly eating meals, mostly just satisfying cravings, so they still preferred something convenient to eat or that could liven up the gathering atmosphere.

Since that was the case, Chen Nuo thought of a food similar to hot pot and suitable for group dining: grilled meat.

However, to stir the patrons' emotions, grilled meat must be self-service, and stone pot grilled meat was the most fitting.

But where could one find such a stone pot?

As he pondered, a "ding" sounded, and the system spontaneously said: "Host, are you looking for a stone pot?"

Whenever this situation arose, the system was always especially proactive. Chen Nuo replied, "Do you have any here?"

When this situation arises, the system is always especially proactive. Chen Nuo answered, "Do you have any on This Side?"

The system answered, "Maifan stone stone pot, twenty centimeters in diameter costs two hundred thousand merit, fifty centimeters in diameter costs four hundred fifty thousand merit. Host, which size do you need? How many? We can deliver them all here."

The price was so high it made one's teeth ache. Chen Nuo asked, "So expensive?"

"Host, now is not like before; the price of this item naturally grows with your merit."

The system replied gloomily.

Chen Nuo raised an eyebrow, "You're price-gouging. Back when I opened the shop, things weren't this expensive."

Chen Nuo raised an eyebrow, "You're trying to guilt me into paying more. Back when you opened the shop, things weren't this expensive."

The system spoke in a cold, icy tone, "Everyone has to make a living."

The system spoke in a cold, icy tone, "Everyone in the Organization needs to make a living."

Chen Nuo stated plainly, exposing the system's meaning.

"Or host, you could also choose to source raw materials and make it yourself."

Fortunately, the system still had some conscience.

"The origin of the raw materials has already been sent to you. Whether you choose to mine the raw materials and craft the stone pot or purchase it with merit is entirely up to your choice, host."

Making a stone pot actually required mining ore—he didn't even have a permit, how could he mine?

"Host, this isn't modern times; mining doesn't require a permit here."

The system replied gloomily, "But you still need approval from local officials."

"If back then Chen Nuo hadn't sensed anything wrong, now it's truly wrong."

Chen Nuo frowned, "I feel like you're guiding me to go mine?"

After a moment of silence, the system said, "Host, you're overthinking; there's no such intention here."

After a moment of silence, the system said, "You're overthinking it. This Side doesn't have that VIP Meaning."

Chen Nuo laughed lightly, "Making stone pot grilled meat is really too troublesome; I'd rather see if there are other dishes that could substitute."

Chen Nuo laughed lightly, "Using the Stone Pot for grilling is really too much trouble. I'd rather see if there are other dishes that could substitute."

The system suggested, "This way, although merit is spent, host also saves trouble."

"Either way, you won't lose, right?"

Chen Nuo sneered, "A pot for two hundred thousand merit—you really think I'm a fool?"

"This is merely a suggestion; whether host accepts it or not depends entirely on host's own will."

"This Side is only making a suggestion. Whether you accept it or not depends entirely on your own will, Host."

"I won't play games with you—just tell me directly: what do I need to mine for?"

"I'm not here to beat around the bush with you. Just tell me straight—what do you want me to mine for?"

"The order from above."

The system spoke halfway, then shifted topic, "Otherwise, host, you might as well make another dish—this stone pot is indeed not easy to accomplish."

The system said half of it, then shifted topics, "Otherwise, Host, you should just make other dishes. This Stone Pot really isn't something easy to pull off."

Chen Nuo, hearing this, felt somewhat dazed, but according to the system's nature, it certainly wouldn't say it outright, so he decided to try another approach to press for answers: "Tell me what 'above' means."

"This side has already found you alternatives to stone pot grilled meat—five substitutable options in total. Ordinary rock can also replace maifan stone, such as quartzite, for example. Host, do you choose to use quartzite instead of maifan stone?"

The system also ignored Chen Nuo's words, directly shifting the topic, not giving Chen Nuo a chance to speak.

"Fine, you're deliberately opposing me?"

Chen Nuo sneered.

"Quartzite is common; large pieces can be found and polished into the shape of a stone pot, or quartzite can be crushed into granules and pressed..."

The system ignored Chen Nuo's words, directly beginning to introduce how quartzite could replace maifan stone.

Chen Nuo wasn't a vegetarian either, so since the system wouldn't speak, he naturally had his own way to make it talk.

"Looks like it's better to let Sun Wukong return. Since the Buddhist Sect sent him on the Journey to the West, I'll go against the grain."

The system paused its introduction,

"Host, if you do this, weren't all your previous efforts wasted?" "Naturally not wasted—Sun Wukong and my cultivation are there. Besides, even if the Buddha and Jade Emperor jointly attacked, this shop couldn't be broken. So I'll let Sun Wukong, on his Journey to the West, kill whatever he can kill—after all, living is meaningless; better to just kill them all."

Chen Nuo had just finished saying this when his vision suddenly turned red, and an alarm sounded throughout his mind.

"Warning, warning, host's idea is dangerous; now activating red alert mode."

"Host, your idea is truly unfeasible; please reconsider."

The system's voice and the alarm sounded together, making Chen Nuo's head hurt.

However, this small setback couldn't knock down Chen Nuo, since he had already decided to oppose the system, naturally he wouldn't retreat over this.

"Not only do I want to kill the monsters along the way, but also the already-human Tang Seng. Right, also Tianpeng, and Sha Seng, who hasn't appeared yet."

The warning grew louder and more urgent, Chen Nuo still speaking.

"Being able to survive until now satisfies me. I don't know who exactly is above, but it doesn't matter anymore—if I disappear, you'll disappear too, right? Your life is bound to mine."

"Being able to live until now, I am already satisfied. I also don't know who is above, but that doesn't matter anymore. If I disappear, you will disappear too, right? Your life and mine are bound together."

"Host, how did you know?"

The mechanical voice gradually became less mechanical, the electric current sound also gradually disappeared, and the voice of this system also began to sound like a real person.

"I naturally guessed it."

Chen Nuo smiled contemptuously.

"I originally thought you were just a system, but as time went on, I increasingly sensed something was off—you weren't just helping me, you even had your own mission."

"I think, after these missions are completed, you will also receive corresponding rewards, but this is merely my speculation; what truly convinced me wasn't those trivial matters accumulated over time."

"What is it?"

The system asked.

"It's what you just told me."

Chen Nuo answered with a smile.

The system voice sounded somewhat angry, "You deceived me?"

"All is fair in war."

Originally Chen Nuo was merely suspicious and not certain; after all, in his previous life he had read many novels—if this host did not cooperate with the system, there were only two outcomes: host death and system dismissal, or host and system dying together.

As for dismissal, whether it was genuine dismissal or dying alongside the host, this was not certain—unless, that is, what Chen Nuo just said: let the system reveal the truth itself.

The system remained silent for a long time on that side; Chen Nuo also did not rush to urge it. The earlier alarm sound had made his head hurt, so while the system was organizing itself, Chen Nuo sat on the lying chair, closing his eyes to rest.

After waiting a long while, the system replied: "On my side there will be keyword shielding; I cannot say it directly, otherwise my fate will be miserable."