Chapter 439 A Menu of Transformation
Chapter 439 A Menu of Transformation
Sometime later;
Meng Tao and Chang Bo were kneeling on the floor with Mark sitting on the chair and staring at them.
His anger couldn't be subsided no matter how much he tried to be calmer.
Chang Bo and Meng Tao defend themselves earlier by how it incredibly made the store popular and how they raked in earnings of about 754 gold coins in just a matter of two days.
If one considers the rewards they gave out in the form of guns and grenades and the cost of ingredients, the profits were still over 600 gold coins.
Mark scolded them for misusing their freedom to do whatever they want and he shouldn't have put a teenager a young adult to manage his store. He explained that he didn't lack money and that what he intends to do is to promote firearms.
Chang Bo once again defended his actions by arguing that his strategy has made them sell 285 gold coins worth of firearms and ammunition.
However, Mark wasn't convinced at all. He made the counter-argument that they didn't think of the store's reputation he built up so far. Because of their actions, now people would have a wrong impression of the store.
As Mark commented that he shouldn't have put immature boys like them as they have too many stupid ideas in their heads, Chang Bo felt wrong and he wanted to argue, but Meng Tao stopped him and forced him to kneel alongside him to apologize to their boss.
After much thinking, Mark then called out the young adult, "Meng Tao…"
"Yes?"
Mark gave an order, "Go and bring me all the dishes that you sell here. Don't make too much. I only wanted to taste them."
Meng Tao's face glowed up as he felt like their boss is giving him an opportunity to prove themselves.
"I'll return in a jiffy, boss."As Meng Tao rushed away to the stairs, Chang Bo looked hopeful at Mark.
Mark didn't spare a glance at Chang Bo and stayed silent. The welpire continued to kneel.
After a few minutes, Meng Tao returned and informed him that the food was ready. 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝑟𝑒𝘢𝘥.𝘤𝑜𝘮
Mark realized that this former heir of the Meng Clan probably made it in huge amounts in advance and stored it in a storage ring.
While storage rings will keep them fresh, the heat will be dissipated when the food entered that dimensional space. They have to be reheated after taking them out. This is probably what Meng Tao did. Or so, Mark thought as he went to the restaurant on the fifth floor.
Before he left, he didn't forget to inform Chang Bo to continue to kneel until he returns. Chang Bo obliged his order. Meng Tao could only pat his shoulder in sympathy and tried to cheer him up by saying that his food will improve their boss' mood.
As Meng Tao followed his boss, Chang Bo looked down at the floor. He almost felt like crying as he was mumbling, "I shouldn't have left his side when he gave me the offer. Life was so simple in Imperial City. Here, the ambition to earn more money has gone to my head and I became too greedy…"
Meanwhile, Mark sat at the table and Meng Tao served the dishes on small plates.
The moment Mark's eyes fell on the first dish, the Stir Fried Vegetables, his gaze changed a bit, "I see… so, these aren't made by him. Okay, let's see how good it will be." He picked up the chopsticks.
"Mmmm"
It was just stir-fried vegetables but Mark remembered the times he enjoyed the food made by Alina.
Seeing Mark's expression, Meng Tao's nervousness disappeared and he served the next set of dishes more confidently.
"Boss, this is steamed fish. The primary ingredient is the Dragon Fish (1-circle realm)."
"Boss, the eggs used in this fried rice belonged to Spirit Ostrich Queen (3-circle)."
"Boss, this is sweet and sour ribs, a delicacy from my hometown. The pork meat we used is of the Spirit Thunder Pig (4-circle)."
.
.
.
"And this is the highlight of our restaurant. It is Roasted Spirit Duck but my version. Well, I should say it is my mom's recipe. Please try it…"
Mark tasted 12 dishes and there was no dish that he could say was average. He liked everything and all of that earlier anger was gone.
If he doesn't put such talent to use, he would be an idiot. But, he didn't praise Meng Tao.
Instead, he said, "Bring out Qilin. I want to talk to it."
"Eh?" Meng Tao was slightly taken aback but he did it as he was asked. Soon, his eyes turned scarlet and his voice changed. "Lu Zhen…"
Mark looked at the youngster and smiled, "I know that it was you who did all these dishes and not your host. But, anyways, good job."
"Thanks but I only did the cooking, following Meng Tao's directions. Hence, he is the one worthy of your praise," replied the Qilin's spirit that was possessing Meng Tao.
Mark shrugged his shoulders, "He is a soldier, not a cook. I don't want to encourage him."
After a while;
Mark returned downstairs and Chang Bo prepared himself to apologize to him, promising him that he won't do such things again.
However, to his surprise, before he even gets to open his mouth, Mark ended his punishment and further gave him permission to continue with his theme.
Chang Bo couldn't help but gratefully look at Meng Tao.
And then Mark went on to modify their theme, a bit slightly.
"Since the space has been constricted, we will be selling only selective models. On the first floor, it will be non-ether firearms like Ak-47 and Ak-203, rocket launchers, explosives like C4, and grenades. The low-level ones like the pistol, revolvers, and semiautomatic handguns will be taken out and placed in the reward section on the fourth floor.
And the second floor's display shelves will be filled with ether firearms. I'll send you the required ones.
I also want you to visit the furniture store and custom order some designs like the battle tanks, robots, and others I give you later on.
As for the restaurant, raise the food prices and the quality of the ingredients. The food will be free for those who purchase firearms, although not unlimited. For example, if one buys a grenade worth 100 gold coins, they can eat dishes worth a maximum of 100 gold coins. However, takeaway is not available in that condition.
And there are too few games above. We have enough space to include two more events. You are using the sixth floor to live together and also the kitchen. Vacate it. I'll provide your accommodation elsewhere. We will also rent a kitchen outside.
Instead, we use the sixth floor as a bar, I mean, a pub. We fill with drinks of variety.
But, to access all of these additional floors, the customers would have to pay a subscription fee. It is like paying a fee per month to become an exclusive member. We'll do something about this during the next week.
Until the changes get implemented, the store will remain closed."
Meng Tao and Chang Bo looked at each other, trying their best to digest the changes instructed by their boss.
"Understood, Milord."