Shinji: Alcohol Really Is No Good!

However, for Li Ri'ang, who has already seen the IMAX version once, it would be impossible for him to watch any other version of the movie now.

"I definitely want to go to the movie theater alone. If I go with those little brats, they'll just drive me crazy."

Li Ri'ang was muttering to himself as he browsed the official website of <Super Eight> with his mouse when a link at the bottom of the page caught his attention.

"Interested in becoming one of us... Is this a job posting from Tsuburaya Productions? Why is it in this corner?"

Driven by curiosity, Li Ri'ang clicked on the link.

And so, the door to a new world opened for him.

◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆◇◆

Late at night, in Fuyuki City, at Saizeriya Restaurant.

When Shinji arrived at the restaurant, Artoria and Mordred had already taken their seats.

The father and son not only ordered steak, but also "luxuriously" ordered a bottle of red wine.

Ordering red wine at a high-end restaurant like Saizeriya is definitely a luxury.

It's clear that Artoria is very unhappy about Shinji changing his late-night treat from ramen to Salia, and also about being late for the meal.

Shinji didn't mind. He walked over, pulled out a chair, sat down, and glanced at Mordred.

"You've come."

"I am coming."

Mordred nodded naturally.

You shouldn't have come.

"But I still came."

"..."

Shinji's lips twitched.

To prevent the conversation from veering into the style of Gu Long's martial arts dramas, he immediately changed the subject.

"Do you have anything to eat?"

Artoria sneered, "Heh, Master, go order whatever you want to eat. How was I supposed to know you'd be so late?"

"I got pestered by Johnny Kitagawa after the premiere... that old man was just..."

Shinji, who was reaching into his pocket for a tissue, suddenly changed his expression.

He asked somewhat awkwardly in a low voice, "Artoria, did you bring your wallet?"

"Fine, Master! You're treating me to a late-night snack, changing the location is one thing, but you didn't even bring your own wallet! Are you trying to freeload off me?!"

Artoria slammed down her wine glass and glared angrily at Shinji.

Chapter 248 Shinji: Alcohol is definitely not a good thing!

Faced with Artoria's questioning, Shinji innocently shrugged.

"There's nothing I can do. Tonight's the premiere, and I haven't needed my wallet. I probably left it in the office when I was changing clothes this afternoon."

It's quite embarrassing for the CEO of Type-Moon Company to be unable to pay for a meal at Saizeriya.

Mordred was delighted to hear that Shinji broke, and she immediately slammed her wallet on the table in excitement.

"Father, let me invite him today."

Although Mordred was summoned to the mortal world only a few months ago, not a single movie has been completed, and unlike Joan of Arc, she doesn't already have advertising contracts.

However, in order to allow them to live a normal life, Shinji still gave several Heroic Spirit a monthly salary.

Besides, at a budget-friendly family restaurant like Saizeriya, you could eat until you were sick of it and it wouldn't cost much.

Don't be fooled by the fact that Artoria and her companions lavishly ordered a bottle of red wine; this "lavishness" is only relative to the average spending at this restaurant.

So, even though Mordred doesn't have much money, treating everyone to this meal is still no problem.

Mordred wanted to treat everyone, but Artoria herself disagreed.

"No need, Mordred, you can pay for your own portion. I'll treat Master to this."

With that, Artoria handed her wallet to Shinji.

"Let me make this clear first, I don't have much money in my wallet. Master, if you're really going to order anything, I'll have to leave you here as collateral!"

"I'm not you."

Shinji rolled his eyes, then picked up the menu and ordered Neapolitan pasta and Saizeriya's signature grilled snails.

Although Neapolitan pasta contains the name of Italy country, it is actually an Italian dish invented in Japan.

Shinji had always been curious whether this dish was considered Japan or Italy.

There are actually quite a few Japanese dishes with foreign names, like Neapolitan Pasta, such as Tianjin Rice, which is very famous in Japan Chinese cuisine.

In contrast to Japan's preference for using place names, Westerners tend to add personal names to the "foreign dishes" they invented, such as General Tso's Chicken.

Shinji didn't have any objection to this approach; any cuisine that wants to enter other countries needs to undergo so-called "localization" modifications.

People often like to comment on whether Chinese food abroad is authentic or not, Shinji thinks these people are just plain crazy.

If it were truly authentic, it wouldn't be able to survive in the local market because its flavor wouldn't suit the local tastes, and it would be eliminated.

This is like feeding a sweet person savory tofu pudding; it only exacerbates the conflict instead of seeking common ground while reserving differences.

For Shinji, it didn't matter whether Neapolitan pasta was Italy or Japan, as long as it filled his stomach.

However, Artoria thought differently.

"Master, are these two things enough for you?" Artoria asked. "Aren't you going to order more?"

"That's enough. I'm not like you; I can't possibly eat that much so late at night."

"Master, are you saying I'm a good-for-nothing?"

Artoria asked angrily, her face flushed.

Shinji retorted, "Please remove the 'ma'; you know your own appetite."

"Ugh, Master, I'm angry."

Artoria slammed her hand on the table and moved the steak in front of her to Shinji.

"As an apology, please cut my steak for me. It's too hard to cut, I can't."

Wouldn't it be more convenient for you?

Shinji's eyebrow twitched.

Although the mystery has faded, the number of Heroic Spirit on the page has decreased.

But no matter how "weak" she is, cutting steak with a knife and fork is definitely not a problem for this Lady King of Knights in front of her, and she can even cut up an iron plate.

Difficult to cut?

Is this steak made of diamonds?

I said you...

Shinji looked at Artoria, wanting to say something.

But looking at the blonde girl's slightly coquettish gaze, her pair of green eyes were as unfathomable as a deep pool.

Her long eyelashes, slightly flushed cheeks, and thin lips exuded a captivating beauty.

Are you drunk?

Shinji frowned as he confirmed.

"I'm not drunk!"

Well, it seems he really is drunk.

Shinji tilted his head and looked at Mordred: "Is your dad's alcohol tolerance that low?"

Mordred shook her head slightly. "I don't know. My father has always been strict with himself, and she rarely drinks except for certain ceremonies. I don't even know her alcohol tolerance."

Shinji automatically translated this sentence as "Artoria's alcohol tolerance has decreased."

Aside from a few exceptionally gifted individuals, most people need to gradually develop their alcohol tolerance through practice.

"Well, consider it serving His Majesty."

Shinji didn't mince words, picked up his knife and fork, and lowered his head to begin carefully cutting the steak.

Based on Shinji's understanding of drunk women, it's best not to argue with them, but to stroke them gently.

Well, that's a different story if you're facing a chastity crisis.

Of course, without any business entanglements, Shinji would be quite willing to give up his virginity and dedicate it to a girl, such as His Majesty Artoria in front of him.

However, King of Knights's drinking etiquette is much better than that of the wealthy and beautiful Flower Goddess.

Although his face was flushed from drinking and he looked a bit off, he didn't make a scene or rush over to tear Shinji's clothes.

This made the Second Master feel a little regretful, but also a little curious.

Was Lizzie truly drunk, or did she use intoxication as an excuse to commit the act?

Mordred, who was standing to the side, was about to ask her Master a question when she saw Shinji lost in thought, but Artoria waved to her.

"Never mind him, Mordred, let's continue our conversation."

"Oh"

Mordred looked away.

Normally, her father's willingness to chat with her would be enough to excite her to the point of setting off 20 firecrackers in the sky.

But now, Mordred seemed somewhat distracted.

[Master is cutting steak for his father, what's with this? It feels like they're flirting... Oops! I have this weird feeling like I'm a third wheel.]

Suddenly, Mordred seemed to understand why Shinji had been so annoyed with her when he entered the restaurant.

"Damn it, Master! You big-eyed, thick-browed bastard, what are you planning to do to my father?!"

Smack

Mordred received a chop to the neck from Artoria.

"What do you mean 'yours'? Am I yours? If I am yours, then what are you to me?"

"..."

Hearing Artoria's string of drunken ramblings, Shinji's hand trembled as he cut his steak.

Smack

Now it's Shinji's turn to get chopped in the hand.

"Cut it properly, don't waste the food."

"Alright, the steak is cut. Your Majesty, you may eat!"

Shinji placed the cut steak in front of Artoria, then took Mordred's plate and started cutting it for her as well.

"Hey, it's too late to try and please me now."

Mordred said, frowning.

"I wasn't trying to please you, I was just doing it on a whim."

Shinji kept talking, but his hands didn't stop moving.

"If I really wanted to please you, I should go to the arcade next door and buy you a game console so you can play somewhere else and not bother us."

"Master, you're such a penniless wretch, you have no money again," Mordred retorted.

"I have money, I have a bank card."

Shinji had just taken out his black card when he realized something was wrong.

"Master~~"

Artoria and Mordred glared at Shinji with unfriendly expressions.