Market Research, Do the Ghosts Eat Pig Feed?

Twenty million!

And I can't use a single cent from Xia Yao or Kachi!

Chu He's mind was racing.

Three months, ninety days, to net twenty million.

This meant he had to earn over 220,000 Ghost Coins every single day!

And that didn't even include his own daily expenses, or those of the two SSS-Class Gold Swallowers by his side!

This wasn't just a simple targeted attack anymore.

This was an Open Scheme.

It was laid out in the open, just waiting to see him make a fool of himself, waiting for a Rule Kill Game that would leave him with no place to be buried!

Wasn't he supposed to be the Chosen One in this script?

"Hey, Little He He."

A soft, cool little hand suddenly tugged gently at his clothes.

Kachi tilted her exquisitely beautiful little face up, her eyes, as brilliant as stars, held not a trace of panic, but rather a near-mad excitement.

"The game hasn't even officially started, why do you look like the sky is falling?"

Xia Yao silently took half a step forward.

Her gaze, devoid of any emotion and chillingly cold, swept across the crowd like a Monarch inspecting its territory.

The elite from various countries, who had been gloating moments before, suddenly felt as if an invisible giant hand had gripped their throats. Their breathing hitched, and they all lowered their heads, not even daring to meet her eyes.

After doing all this, she turned her head.

Her dead, deep black eyes fixed on Chu He with utter seriousness.

"The food you make."

"Is delicious."

BOOM!

Xia Yao's simple five words struck Chu He's mind like World-Creating Thunderclap, instantly shattering the chaos named "despair"!

Right!

Cooking!

He suddenly looked up, and the blazing flames reignited in his eyes, which had almost lost all their light!

His greatest hobby and talent was cooking, wasn't it?

His culinary skills had been enhanced by the system, skills that even the SSS-Class Ghost Chef Xia Yan couldn't help but praise!

"How could I have forgotten this!"

Chu He slapped his thigh hard. He looked like he had been injected with a soul, his entire demeanor changing instantly, his back straightening as if he were a ramrod!

Kachi blinked curiously, her long eyelashes like two small fans.

"You... can actually cook?"

"Of course!"

Chu He's chin lifted slightly in pride, the confidence he had regained making his entire aura sharp and flamboyant.

"It's just a personal hobby, but I have actually thought about opening my own Small Eatery someday if I get the chance!"

Xia Yao, standing beside him, provided the most crucial testimony in her cool, clear voice.

"Yes."

"Uncle praised him, saying his cooking could really capture the diners' psychology and taste."

"Then this will be easy!"

Kachi put her hands on her hips, puffing out her rather unremarkable chest, looking like a mini-strategist with an "everything is under my control" expression, her eyes gleaming with wisdom.

"With us two SSS-Class Queens endorsing you, if we say it's delicious, won't the Ghost People flock here to try it?"

"Then the money will just pour in, right?"

"Excellent!"

Chu He looked at the two beauties standing before him, one on his left and one on his right.

One was full of stratagems and incredibly intelligent.

The other was overwhelmingly powerful and loyal to her Master.

A surge of mighty courage rose within him, sweeping away all his previous dejection.

What was twenty million?

Let's do it!

Without further ado, the three of them completely ignored the stunned survivors on the training ground, who looked like mere background props, and strode out of the school gates, officially entering this bizarre and fantastical city.

"Market research"... commencing!

The moment Chu He truly stepped into Myriad Phenomena City, he was deeply stunned by the sight before him.

This place...

Was incredibly prosperous!

On the exaggeratedly wide streets, there were hover cars flying silently close to the ground, as well as vintage cars burning unknown black fuel and spewing thick smoke.

People bustled on the streets, anomalies and... "ghost people" mixed and coexisted.

Restaurants, casinos, clothing stores, banks, large shopping malls... almost everything that existed on Earth was here, and even more cyberpunk, more bizarre.

"Surprised?"

Kachi walked ahead with her hands behind her back, like a little adult inspecting her territory, her tone carrying a hint of pride.

"Myriad Phenomena City's original purpose was to simulate and learn from your human society. I didn't expect it to be so effective in just over a decade. Now, anomalies also know they have to work hard to earn money to live in peace and contentment!"

She paused and added, "Moreover, most of the systems here directly adopted your Dragon Country's management. I have to admit, the current Dragon Country is indeed the most stable and happy country on Earth."

"So that's how it is," Chu He exclaimed in wonder, "You know so much!"

"Of course!"

Kachi's chin lifted higher with pride, like a little peacock displaying its feathers.

"I read books whenever I have time, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, heavenly and earthly, there's nothing I don't know! Unlike someone named Yao Yao, who just stares blankly at the sky all day with an empty head!"

"Who are you calling empty-headed!"

Xia Yao's eyebrows shot up, and she swiftly reached out to pinch Kachi's delicate cheek.

"I think you're just asking for it, looking for trouble, aren't you?"

"Ow, don't pinch my face! Little He He, look at her! She's bullying me again!"

Seeing that the two girls were about to start quarreling again, Chu He quickly grabbed one in each hand, like he was holding two kittens, and forcibly pulled them to his side.

He cleared his throat and said with a serious expression.

"Alright, stop arguing."

"From now on, you two are both my capable assistants. You must love each other and not put each other down."

"In my heart, you both are wonderful!"

His words instantly quieted the two girls.

Xia Yao's heart felt sweet. Although she was still a little unconvinced, hearing the compliments "capable assistant" and "you are wonderful," she secretly resolved to read more books in the future and absolutely not be outdone by Kachi again!

Kachi, on the other hand, proudly made a face at Xia Yao, then, like a koala, affectionately hugged Chu He's arm, nuzzling her little head against him.

The three of them walked and stopped, beginning their true "appreciation."

Soon, Chu He discovered that although there were many restaurants in Myriad Phenomena City, the dishes were shockingly scarce.

He walked into a luxuriously decorated barbecue restaurant, where the signature dish was Fried Eyeball Skewers.

Chu He took a bite with a research mindset. His teeth pierced the crispy outer film, and a warm, sweet, fishy liquid instantly burst out, filling his mouth.

It felt like biting into a piece of inferior jelly filled with a fishy taste.

He walked into an antique-looking soup shop, specializing in Slime Gelatin Soup.

The slippery, cold texture, like a severely ill person's snot, flowed down his throat, almost making Chu He vomit up his undigested meal from the night before.

And then there were the Cold Tossed Tentacle Tendrils, as tough as chewing on a rubber tire that had been soaked for three days.

The most outrageous thing was that the surrounding anomaly diners were all eating with relish, their faces full of happiness.

It seemed that although this place imitated human dietary culture, it had clearly only imitated the superficial aspect of "cooking food" and knew nothing about "deliciousness"!

"It seems you haven't learned even a bit of Earth's cuisine here!" Chu He sighed.

"Of course, that old fellow Xia Yan is probably an exception!"

Xia Yao nodded, "You're right. As far as I know, only Uncle can make cooked food taste good!"

They toured the most prosperous commercial center and walked through the liveliest snack street.

However, Chu He's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

He suddenly stopped, his eyes filled with extreme confusion and bewilderment.

"What's wrong?" Xia Yao asked with concern.

Chu He took a deep breath and asked in a tone of disbelief, as if Columbus had discovered a new continent:

"You guys here..."

"Don't have a single hot pot restaurant?"

Yes!

They had searched the entire city, and not one was found!

Kachi was also stunned. She carefully activated her brain, comparable to a supercomputer, and quickly searched for a moment before shaking her head blankly, "It seems... it's true."

Xia Yao tilted her head, her pure, flawless eyes filled with the purest desire for knowledge.

"Hot pot... what is that?"

Chu He looked at her innocent and cute appearance, full of curiosity, and smiled.

In his mind, a magnificent picture instantly appeared.

The boiling, rolling red oil pot base, bubbling with a fatally fragrant aroma.

Tender tripe being swished in and out, crisp aorta that was chewy when bitten, and marbled snowflake beef slices that only needed a few seconds of cooking, dipped in the secret sauce he personally made...

Just thinking about it made his mouth water!

He dared to guarantee with his own head that this ultimate delicacy, which combined social interaction, deliciousness, and excitement, would definitely conquer every taste bud in this city in an instant!

Moreover, it was simple to operate, and crucially, it could also trick a ghost...

"Hot pot..."

The corners of Chu He's mouth slowly curved into a confident, almost arrogant arc.

"It's not a food."

"It will be our first step in conquering this city!"