Seven Days Later, The Food Market

Outside Bed City, a carriage bearing the Adventurer's Guild emblem descended from the sky.

The Pegasus retracted its wings. Once the carriage had settled, the driver solicitously ran over to open the door.

"We're here already?"

A voice, aged yet spirited, accompanied the emergence of an elder from the carriage. He was impeccably dressed, with thick, salt-and-pepper hair that stood out like a lion's mane. He exuded an imposing aura, like a powerful mob boss. He pulled out a golden pocket watch, glanced at it, and said:

"Two hours earlier than expected. The Guild probably hasn't finished preparing the welcome ceremony. Let's take a look around the city first. I heard quite a few interesting things have been happening lately."

"Mr. Sid, I think, cough. I think we should go and meet the local Guild first, cough. We should go and meet them first,"

A woman with a capable demeanor emerged from the carriage next, or rather, crawled out. Her face was pale, and she couldn't help but gag intermittently.

"After all, your status, cough."

The elder named Sid said with a stern face, "Gina, to think my assistant would get car sick. It's truly inelegant. I order you to rest in the carriage."

"It's not because you insisted on speeding?" Gina finally crawled out, clinging to a large tree to vomit for a while. She managed to support herself and followed him.

She couldn't rest assured leaving this elder to act alone; he might cause some kind of trouble.

As soon as the two entered Bed City, they felt a unique vitality.

Adventurers of various attire and races flowed like a river. Every street had figures carrying weapons. With so many people, noise was inevitable. Shops along the street used magic loudspeakers to broadcast advertisements loudly to attract customers, making it necessary to shout to speak to companions on the street.

The vast majority of people seemed to be in a hurry, as if rushing to do something. Were they going to work?

No, definitely not going to work.

Sid keenly sensed that the eyes of these people revealed longing and hope, and even smiles graced their lips. Clearly, whatever they were doing was full of fun for them.

So it absolutely couldn't be going to work!

"Were there this many people here before?" Sid's lips didn't move, but his voice appeared in Gina's mind.

"According to reports received by headquarters, since the anomaly in Sain Underground City, the number of adventurers staying in Bed City for more than three days has nearly doubled. This number is still growing rapidly,"

Gina flipped through the notebook in her hand.

"Especially a week ago, when a hidden area known as the 'Food Paradise' was discovered by adventurers. Merchants from all over the country smelled business opportunities and rushed here non-stop."

"A week ago." Sid stroked his salt-and-pepper beard.

"Count Philip, who manages Bed City, converted a commercial street into a special market for the Food Paradise's local products. Would you like to go take a look?" Gina suggested. She was also quite interested in the so-called local products.

"Count Philip's business acumen is as sharp as ever. He accomplished such a major project in just a few days," Sid exclaimed and said, "Let's go, let's take a look at the so-called market."

As soon as they arrived at the food market, the two stopped in their tracks.

A colossal beast exuding scorching heat was hanging upside down from a stake at the market entrance, its presence impossible for anyone entering to ignore.

It was a Roast Whole Pig, its body exceptionally large compared to others of its kind. It had clearly been dead for a long time, yet it still radiated warmth and... a rich aroma!

Every person entering the market would first be awestruck by the giant beast, then catch the intense scent of meat. As they searched for the source of the aroma, they would clearly understand the true meaning of this market, this paradise of delicacies!

"Was this pig roasted after being killed, or..." Gina's eyes widened as she murmured, "was it cooked from the start?"

Sid took a few steps closer, and immediately a manager-like figure blocked his path. However, seeing Sid's well-made clothes, they likely assumed he was an important figure and politely said, "This is not for sale, it's for display only. If you wish to taste some, please visit the stalls inside."

Sid nodded and pointed at the Roast Whole Pig, asking, "Whose culinary masterpiece is this? To be able to roast such a massive ingredient to perfection, I truly wish to pay them a visit."

The manager's spirits immediately lifted, and he explained with great animation, "Esteemed sir, you must be new here, right? No wonder you don't know, this giant pig actually never passed through any chef's hands!"

Sid frowned, showing his confusion.

The manager had seen many similar reactions these past few days, but each time he explained, he felt a sense of superiority. See, I know so much more than you guys!

"It was born cooked!"

Born cooked?

Sid still couldn't understand what that meant even after walking a considerable distance.

How could a creature be born cooked and still be alive? It wasn't an elemental being.

"Sir, look over there," Gina's voice pulled him from his thoughts. He heard his assistant's somewhat excited tone saying, "Everything here is something I've never seen before."

Things he'd never seen before?

I grew up in Roald, the royal capital, since I was a child. What could possibly be something I haven't seen!

Sid glanced dismissively at the vendors lining the street, then froze entirely.

Fish with octopus legs, a tree covered in roasted meat on the bone, a willow tree with soba noodles for branches, lobsters that sparkled like gems...

Damn it, I really haven't seen these before.

He scanned the area, hoping to find at least one ingredient he recognized. Ah, there it was!

A pastry shop was selling sponge cake. Finally, something he recognized.

A sponge cake couldn't possibly be related to monsters, right?

Sid walked into the pastry shop, about to say something, when his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Because hanging inside the pastry shop was the corpse of a Lion Monster!

The plump owner was using a sharp knife to cut the lion's mane. The mane grew strangely, in neat squares, and seemed to be elastic like a sponge.

Isn't that Sponge Cake!

He looked at the Sponge Cake placed on the counter, his mouth twitched. So these cakes were cut from lions.

"Yo, what can I get for you?" The boss noticed him and greeted him enthusiastically.

"I'm just looking around."

Sid left in a hurry. In reality, he really wanted to taste it, but it was a bit embarrassing.

"Sir, try this."

Gina suddenly appeared with two skewers of fried batter-covered food, which looked like potatoes.

"Potatoes? No, the smell is more like..."

Sid took one and took a bite, his eyes immediately widened. "Pork chop?"

It was indeed a pork chop, both in texture and taste, it felt like a top-grade pork chop made by a master.

"I thought it was pork at first, but..." Gina said while eating, "It's actually a potato. I saw the boss pull it out of the ground with my own eyes, and it was already fried when it was pulled out. It's too magical."

Sid looked at the potato pork chop in his hand, feeling his worldview collapsing bit by bit.

Even the alchemists who loved hybridization the most couldn't come up with such a miraculous combination.

And all these things actually came from Sain Underground City?

The two ate and browsed. Although the market was built in a hurry, the facilities were complete. Plus, each merchant sold slightly different items, making it surprisingly addictive to browse.

At this moment, Sid suddenly noticed a unique stall. While other stalls were filled with goods, this one was empty, with only a tightly sealed box.

The boss looked like a young man, with his arms crossed and dozing off. He looked unusual, with black hair and black eyes, which was rare.

He was intrigued and walked up to ask, "Boss, what are you selling?"

"Hmm."

Gong Qiying rubbed his eyes and looked up at Sid, saying, "Rainbow Fruit, only a small piece."

He added, "It's very expensive, do you want to buy it?"

Seeking investment~