March 7, Year 54 of the New Era. Today, there was no yellow fog.
Fifty-four years had passed since the Sporefall swept across the world, infecting the planet with its deadly rain. Beyond the Safe Zones, the Earth was a rotting wilderness filled with mutated creatures.
A lone traveler, passing by the eastern gate of Safe Zone 9, noticed a modest little shop tucked inconspicuously between the ruins.
Behind the open counter stood the shop owner, wearing dark sunglasses, casually and skillfully working with a few slabs of tender meat.
Fresh meat—in this age?
Though Zone 9 was relatively well-stocked, truly fresh meat was a rare treasure. The traveler approached out of curiosity.
The meat, already prepared, was a vivid red and carried a faint metallic tang.
With practiced hands, the shopkeeper sliced the meat into finger-width strips, each only two millimeters thin. He placed them into a bowl, adding a dash of salt, egg white, and a splash of starchy water.
After mixing, he reached for a gleaming iron wok. In went precious cooking oil, followed by scallions, ginger, and dried chilies.
A rich, spicy aroma exploded into the air.
Then came crisp cucumber slices and bamboo shoots. A few strips of fresh red and green peppers followed, all sizzling in harmony.
Finally, the meat.
Ssszzz!
The sound echoed into the distance.
The spicy, savory scent wafted beyond the Safe Zone's perimeter. Even the patrolling soldiers involuntarily swallowed. From outside the wire fences, mutant beasts howled in confusion.
Without missing a beat, the shopkeeper stir-fried the meat, added soy sauce and rice wine, letting the aroma deepen. The marinated meat glistened, tender yet firm, irresistible.
The traveler's stomach growled.
In this apocalyptic world, when was the last time he'd smelled something so divine?
He swallowed hard and stepped forward.
"Excuse me… how much for a plate?"
"Four hundred," the shopkeeper replied without looking up.
The traveler gasped.
In the current economy, 400 credits was a steep price—enough for three magazines of 5.56mm ammo or two liters of pure, untainted gasoline.
"Barter works too. You know the going rate," the cook added, wiping down the table with gloved hands.
He plated the dish and sprinkled a final garnish of chopped scallions.
The traveler hesitated. But the scent was bewitching.
"It smells… incredible…"
That compressed ration bar he ate three hours ago suddenly felt like ancient history. He'd never felt this hungry.
"I… I'll take one!"
He pulled out two magazines. "5.56 rounds. Enough for most mid-tier mutants."
Still not enough.
The shopkeeper tilted his head. "Nice gun."
The traveler's hand instinctively hovered near his holster, lips trembling. His eyes, however, remained glued to the sizzling plate.
This was his favorite weapon. But a dish like this? He might never find it again.
Reluctantly, he drew the pistol and laid it on the counter.
A dangerous thought flickered across his mind—rob the place. But when he saw the lean muscle beneath the chef's shirt and the way his left hand gripped a gleaming blade, the idea vanished.
"Here," he said quietly.
The shopkeeper smiled, revealing pearly teeth.
"Then this meal is yours."
He set a table, pulled out a chair, and served the sizzling stir-fried meat with care.
The aroma slammed into the traveler like a memory from a forgotten age—meaty, spicy, and layered with umami.
He took a bite.
The meat was elastic yet soft, juicy but not greasy. Even an old man could chew it with ease. It was addictive.
"S-so good… Where do you get meat like this? The cost must be huge!"
"Sourcing's easy. Processing is where the real skill lies."
The traveler chuckled. "You're not an ordinary chef, that's for sure. This meat—Zone 9's officials can't even dream of it. Come on, tell me your supplier."
The cook didn't respond.
He quietly placed the used utensils in a tub of concentrated disinfectant, then sterilized the countertop with flame.
Then he pointed beyond the fence.
There, loitering just outside, was a mid-tier mutant.
"That one. Mid-tier 'Legg-Egg'. Its thigh meat is rich—six times the protein of frozen beef. Better than insect protein, too."
The traveler stared.
"Legg-Eggs?! Those things are edible?!"
His chopsticks clattered to the table. In a panic, he grabbed a spore test kit and drew blood.
The higher the spore concentration, the higher the risk of mutation.
The chef watched calmly, lounging in a recliner with a glass of gin and a wedge of lime, like a man watching late-night drama.
The results came in.
"No abnormalities?" The traveler blinked.
"Told you. Detox is a skill. In all of Zone 9, only I can do it right."
He took a sip. "So, how's the Legg-Egg?"
"D-delicious!"
He glanced at the meat with lingering fear, then scooped up another bite. Soon, the plate was spotless.
Such danger. Such temptation.
Born after the Sporefall, he had never imagined that food from outside could still be eaten.
"Boss, what's your name?"
The shopkeeper removed his sunglasses, smiling humbly.
"Liu Bi. Just an ordinary chef with a humble diner."
When Liu Bi was reborn into this world, he spent one minute assessing his surroundings.
In his previous life, he'd died suddenly while working late to pay off his mortgage. Starved, exhausted, and alone.
Now, he'd awakened in a small abandoned farmhouse at the edge of a buffer zone.
The good news? No rent. No property tax.
The bad news? Occasional mutant visitors crossing the perimeter.
Perhaps because he died of hunger, he'd awakened with a special ability: a Divine Chef System.
A great system—shame about the timing.
In a world of biological mutations and resource scarcity, it was… awkward.
He didn't even know what was edible.
Out of the corner of his eye, Liu Bi spotted two strange creatures moving outside.
Maybe it was because he'd already died once, but he felt oddly calm.
Scanning the area, he spotted a boning knife not far from him. He picked it up and slowly approached the creatures.
One was pale yellow, shaped like a gelatinous egg, squirming like a slime. It reeked of rot and looked like it might fall apart any moment.
The other was a larger yellow sphere, about 1.6 meters in diameter. It was mostly fungal, with visible muscle fibers, dark red and vivid. Its bones were yellow-black. Most bizarrely, it had two long legs.
At that moment, glowing entries appeared before his eyes.
Left:
Lesser Legg-Egg
Fungal Parasite
Approx. Growth Period: 2 months
Slow, fragile, reeks of decay, highly toxic
Inedible
Right:
Mid-tier Legg-Egg
Fungal Parasite
Approx. Growth Period: 6 months
Developed organs and nervous system
Fast, social, phototactic, highly toxic
Thigh meat edible
"Edible???"
Liu Bi didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
So the Divine Chef System saw these things as ingredients?
He'd never seen anything like this.
[Begin harvesting phase?]Current proficiency: Mid-tier Legg-Egg — Success Rate: 80%
Liu Bi swallowed hard.
He selected "Yes."
Guiding lines appeared before him, along with cut lines on the creature's body.
[After the beep, you have 3 seconds to cut along the marked lines.][3...][2...][1...][Beep—]