"Restaurant Mai Mi? Where did this restaurant come from?" Mo Bai stood outside the restaurant, a black hammer almost as tall as him casually slung over his shoulder. Sweat dripped from his gray-white beard onto his half open, reddish-black chest, his face, tanned reddish-black by the stove, filled with confusion.
Just yesterday at noon, he had seen it as a dilapidated wooden hut, inhabited by a father and daughter. The man was a cripple who could barely walk and had never spoken to him. The little girl always wore a gray hat and was quite cute; sometimes she would squat at the entrance of the weapons shop watching him forge weapons.
But just one night later, the nearly collapsing wooden hut had completely transformed into a beautiful two-story building. The first floor even had an entire wall replaced by transparent crystal, revealing a beautifully decorated restaurant inside. Mo Bai was momentarily bewildered.
Even in Aden Square, you couldn't find a more beautiful restaurant. The entire wall of transparent crystal was so thin and translucent, the tables looked clean and comfortable, and the semi-transparent crystal chandeliers were even more exquisite than those in the palace.
"Could that crippled human actually be a very powerful mage? And then, overnight, this restaurant appeared, and he decided to start cooking?" Mo Bai stroked his beard and shook his head. "The minds of cunning humans are indeed hard to fathom. But since the restaurant is here, why not try it out? If it's good, I won't have to travel so far to eat anymore."
He was certain this restaurant belonged to the same father and daughter. Through the transparent crystal wall, he could already see the little girl sitting behind the counter, lost in thought. She wasn't wearing a hat today, making her look even cuter.
Carrying the heavy hammer, he pushed open the door. The sound of the bells on the door startled Mo Bai. He glanced up at the two small bells hanging on the door, gave a self-deprecating smile, and then stepped inside.
The restaurant was even cleaner and more comfortable than it appeared from the outside. While the decorations were exquisite, the brown-gray color scheme was soothing and didn't feel jarring; instead, it created a relaxing atmosphere.
Mo Bai looked down at his clothes, riddled with holes from burns, and his boots covered in a thick layer of ash. Then he looked at the clean, bright floor and hesitated for a moment.
…
"Daddy! We have a guest! It's Grandpa Dwarf from next door!" Amy, who was waiting for her meal at the counter, brightened up and excitedly called out towards the kitchen after seeing who had entered.
Just as Mai Ge had prepared the ingredients to start making fried rice, he heard the bell and Amy's voice. Somewhat surprised, he turned towards the door. The door opened, and in entered a dwarf old man carrying a heavy black hammer on his shoulder. He had short hair, a long, gray-white beard, and his open chest revealed his muscular physique. His arms were as thick as an average person's thigh.
Just as Mai Ge had prepared the ingredients to start making fried rice, he heard the bell and Amy's voice. Somewhat surprised, he turned towards the door. The door opened, and in entered a dwarf old man carrying a heavy black hammer on his shoulder. He had short hair, a long, gray-white beard, and his open chest revealed his muscular physique. His arms were as thick as an average person's thigh. He wore a patchwork of animal hide clothes riddled with holes, and a worn-out leather wine sachet hung from his waist.
This was the first time he had ever seen a real dwarf. The dwarf was about waist-high and looked somewhat square because of its muscular build, like an upright box.
This was Mo Bai, the dwarf blacksmith who owned the weapons shop next door. He was one of the best blacksmiths in this Chaos City. Dwarves had long lifespans; he was probably over two hundred years old, but still very healthy. The original owner had carefully observed and learned about the shop owners and people who frequented the area. Although he might not know their names, he knew their general identities.
This was the first customer, and Mai Ge was naturally delighted and expectant. He grabbed a towel, dried his hands, and walked out of the kitchen. Seeing Mo Bai standing hesitantly at the doorway, he glanced at his grey-black leather boots and understood. Instead of greeting him at the door, he stood at the counter, patted Amy's head to signal her to be quiet, and then smiled, "Hello, would you like to dine?"
Mo Bai looked at Mai Ge, somewhat surprised. The man who had been dressed in tattered clothes and hunched over was now wearing well-tailored clothes. Although still thin, he stood upright, and his demeanor seemed completely different. To him, human men were all somewhat effeminate, especially thin men, whom he found particularly repulsive.
Although this man looked thin, he stood there like a drawn sword, not at all effeminate. This man was no ordinary person.
The gentle smile on his face softened his sharp edges considerably, creating a subtle distance that actually made Mo Bai, entering the restaurant for the first time, feel quite comfortable.
The little girl standing beside him wasn't wearing a hat today, but a black dress, her face full of joy and anticipation, making her look even more adorable.
What had happened to this man overnight, as if he had been reborn? Mo Bai couldn't help but wonder what kind of food this human man's restaurant sold, and whether it was worthy of the restaurant's decor.
"Yes, I want to eat. What do you have here?" Mo Bai didn't hesitate any longer, nodded, and walked inside carrying the heavy hammer. He pulled out a chair, sat down, put the hammer on the ground, and looked at Mai Ge.
"There's a menu on the table. Guests can take a look first." Mai Ge said, pointing to the menu on the table.
"Hmm?" Mo Bai casually picked up the menu on the table. His calloused hands slid roughly over the cover, and a look of surprise appeared on his face. The delicate feel of it was definitely made from the finest bison hide. Just one piece of hide like this could sell for one dragon coin. One menu per table, that's really extravagant. Even the menu of Freyr Tavern, the most popular restaurant in Aden Square, is simply bound with a plain leather cover.
This fueled Mo Bai's anticipation. Such a lavishly decorated restaurant, with such an extravagant menu, must offer a wide variety of dishes. Besides drinking, his favorite thing was food. It had to be said that while ordinary humans were weak, they were unmatched by other races when it came to eating.
Opening the cover, Mo Bai looked at it expectantly, only to be stunned.
The large menu was completely blank.
No, it wasn't completely blank. In the upper left corner, there was a line of small print. Mo Bai squinted slightly and read softly: "Yang Zhou Fried Rice—600 copper coins per serving."
"600 copper coins?" Mo Bai paused, blinked, and thought his eyes were probably blurry from staring at the stove for too long that morning. He picked up the menu and looked at it again. The menu still read: Yang Zhou Fried Rice—600 copper coins per serving.
"Boss, I think you wrote this menu wrong?" Mo Bai put down the menu, looking at Mai Ge with a suspicious expression.