Chapter 178: Staff Meal

After dealing with the Alien Insect, Jiang Xia continued to be his own chef.

Tiandao was once again nowhere to be found, but Jiang Xia guessed he must have gone to work out or to buy groceries and cook.

"Impressive, you're far stronger than Kagami."

The proprietress, looking at today's Saer Restaurant revenue, exclaimed with surprise.

"Thanks for the compliment; it's thanks to Xiao Xi's teachings, and some dishes still need to be familiarized with," Jiang Xia said with a smile.

The sun had already set, and today Jiang Xia also got a taste of a part‑timer's working hours.

But that meant little to him; it was Rixia Bu Xi who was truly exhausted today.

Seeing Rixia Bu Xi's condition, Jiang Xia walked up to the proprietress and whispered:

"We should bring Kagami back; Xiao Xi is a bit worn out."

"Hmm, indeed we should hire another person."

Seeing Rixia Bu Xi slumped on the table, exhausted, the proprietress said with concern.

She treats Xiao Xi as if she were her own daughter; although many customers are a good thing,

but because this affects Xiao Xi's health, she would rather not have so many customers.

"Leave it to me; I'll handle it," Jiang Xia said.

"By the way, your room has been tidied; in a moment Xiao Xi will take you there," the proprietress said.

"Alright."

"Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi, go back to your room and rest."

After Jiang Xia changed clothes, he found that Xiao Xi was already slumped on the table, half‑asleep.

"Hmm~" Rixia Bu Xi mumbled half‑asleep.

"Fine, that's all we can do," Jiang Xia sighed, lifted her by the waist, and carried her into her room.

Watching Rixia Bu Xi, already covered with a blanket and deep in sleep, Jiang Xia gently closed the door.

"The environment is fine—clean and tidy," Jiang Xia said, looking at his own room.

The space isn't large, but it has everything it needs.

Jiang Xia likes white and especially loves cleanliness, so for them, comfort isn't primary; order and cleanliness are.

Here almost nothing can escape their perception; possessing senses several times greater than a human's already allows them to handle the vast majority of life's troubles.

Night fell, and the exhausted Jiang Xia's body fell into sleep.

"Search, keywords: Knight system, Original Insect, manufacturing method," Jiang Xia said.

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Kagami was working in the mobile Commander room, because the Alien Insect doesn't care whether it's day or night—it has no such concept.

Because Kagami retrieved the Knight belt, he was promoted early and officially became a member of ZECT.

However, in front of Tashiro Xiu Yi and JiaYouYue, he is still a junior with limited experience.

What's worse is that, precisely because Kagami was promoted early, he still has to stay in the van at night to monitor Alien Insect activity.

"Bang bang bang."

Countless bullets formed a fire‑net, surrounding an Alien Insect in its larval stage, while Ant Soldiers in black combat suits encircled it.

"Good, just a little more," Kagami said, watching the soon‑to‑be‑defeated Alien Insect on the monitor, encouraging the Ant Soldiers.

At this moment, the Alien Insect was driven to its limit; its larval shell could block bullets, but not a barrage from dozens of shooters.

"Careful, it's about to molt."

Seeing on the monitor that the Alien Insect's temperature had surged above 100 degrees, Kagami shouted immediately.

But it was clearly too late; the moment Kagami shouted, the Alien Insect used Super‑Acceleration to kill all the surrounding Ant Soldiers.

Super‑Acceleration is almost invincible against humans.

"Damn it."

Kagami looked at the fallen Ant Soldiers and helplessly hammered the table.

After retrieving the belt, he failed to gain recognition from any Insect Instrument.

Although he was promoted, his sense of powerlessness grew stronger.

This feeling of powerlessness is unavoidable; everyone starts weak and works their way up, no one is born strong.

As a clamor rose, police vehicles from the Metropolitan Police Department surrounded the area, blocking any escape; someone had called the police.

It wasn't just because of the Ant Soldiers; the fleeing Alien Insect, during its Mimicry, killed another ordinary person.

If they see Ant Soldier corpses, they would inform ZECT, but when an ordinary person is killed, they choose to call the police.

"Don't move; if you move again I'll fire," the police pointed a gun at a young woman in white.

"Grab her; she's a murderer."

They surged forward, restrained the young woman, and escorted her into a police car.

"These are the details of what happened that night."

Kagami lowered his head and reported to Tashiro Xiu Yi.

"JiaYouYue, you're in charge of the one locked up in the police station, and there's another I will notify ZECT to locate."

Tashiro Xiu Yi looked at the downcast Kagami and said:

"Kagami, take a day off; this isn't your responsibility. When you joined ZECT, they had already accepted the prospect of death."

Kagami walked alone onto the street, not knowing where to go.

When he has free time he works part‑time at Saer Restaurant; otherwise he's in ZECT training. Now, with a rare day off, he still doesn't know what to do.

"How did I end up back here again?"

Kagami looked at the familiar sign and gave a wry smile; he had been dismissed, and even if he wanted to stay, he couldn't.

Because this place is not just a simple part-time job location.

Jiang Xia opened the door, saw the dejected Kagami standing outside, and said, "Come in."

I see, I roughly understand now.

Jiang Xia sat on the chair, patiently listening to Kagami recount his inner journey.

Kagami was not feeling down because of a failed operation.

On the contrary, his desire to kill the Alien Insects hadn't changed at all; he merely felt bewildered by his own weakness, and for a moment he didn't know what to do.

The failure of the Knight selection, and personally seeing how the Alien Insects wiped out an elite squad, caused Kagami's mood to sink into despair.

Jiang Xia stood up and handed the mop placed in the shop to Kagami.

Jiang Xia, what is this?

Instead of overthinking, try doing a small thing first; you'll naturally end up here because your consciousness tells you there's something here that can resolve your confusion.

So, go back to your old trade for now," Jiang Xia said, leaning against the wall.

Huh?

Change your clothes, then go mop the floor; I can tell the boss lady to let you come back, to keep working here until you no longer want to.

Oh.

Kagami changed clothes skillfully, then began to carefully clean the shop's hygiene.

Set the stools properly, the customers are coming soon.

Jiang Xia looked at Kagami's appearance and shouted.

Yes.

Kagami, you're back.

Rixia Bu Xi had just come down the stairs when he saw a stern-faced Jiang Xia and Kagami being made to go in circles by the Commander.

Xiao Xi, go make Kagami a serving of miso bluefin fish; he's working here again now, so he's qualified for the staff meal," Jiang Xia said.

Okay, I'll go make it right away.

Really?

Upon hearing Xiao Xi agree to make him miso bluefin fish, Kagami suddenly sprang to life, then a familiar silly smile appeared on his face.

My guess was right; the answer is miso bluefin fish.

Jiang Xia looked at Kagami's heart; at the moment Xiao Xi agreed, Kagami's bewilderment and loss were completely filled with excitement.

Although not like the Heavenly Dao Chief who is max-level from the start, the growth speed of Kagami, the future Steel Bucket war god, is astonishingly rapid.

(End of chapter)