Witch, I'm really not an ancient god of the deep sea!

Chapter 63 The First Business Deal

Chen Qi looked at the expectant crowd in front of him.

Why did things turn out this way? Why are they so free?

You should know that the chef was just a disguise for him, the hunter!
If this continues, he might really become a famous five-star chef in Moonstone City.

Judging from their excited expressions, they had been waiting for him here for at least an hour.

Moreover, this doesn't exclude the possibility of their contacts contacting him at certain times.

It's hard to refuse.

Well, this is a good opportunity to complete a professional task.

There were at least ten people who came just to have a meal, and the small houseboat simply couldn't accommodate so many people.

Chen Qi thought for a moment, then moored the small houseboat in a less crowded corner, found some wooden chairs and tables, and set up a small street stall.

"Ladies and gentlemen, today we only have fish; no other dishes will be served."

Chen Qi said.

It's a good opportunity to get rid of all the moonfish I caught last night in one go, and I can make a good amount of money from them.

"Does a restaurant not offer any other dishes? Is that how you run a business?"

"That's what a clothing store owner wearing a plaid shirt said."

"Sorry everyone, we don't have much food left, but we have some freshly caught moonfish today."

Chen Qi shook his head.

If he provides a complete menu and runs the shop all day, then he'll really become a professional chef.

It's fine to open a shop occasionally and cook some dishes.

The guests looked puzzled, but then they thought about it.

Could this chef in front of me be the legendary chef who only pursues quality and not quantity?

Moreover, moonfish is no ordinary dish; it's a truly high-end dish! It truly tests a chef's ability to bring out the meat's natural deliciousness!
This is the kind of chef that Pelle recommends!
Chen Qi went into the boathouse and placed the moonfish on the cutting board.

Moonfish has delicious flesh, and steaming is a great way to preserve its original flavor.

Remove the unusable glowing cells from the fish skin, and then remove blood clots, internal organs, and other debris.

Then wash and cut the scallions into sections, slice the ginger, and sprinkle in some seasonings to marinate.

Finally, steam the fish, season it, drizzle with oil, and then sprinkle on the essential seasonings and some chopped green onions before serving.

In no time, a delicious and visually appealing steamed moonfish was ready!

[You have prepared Steamed Moonfish, earning 100 Spirit Points.]

100 spiritual points...

It surpassed the previous record of 80 spiritual points!

The spiritual essence provided by extraordinary ingredients is greater than that of ordinary food.

Chen Qi clapped his hands and served the steamed moonfish to the customers who had been waiting outside.

Moonfish, as a high-end and rare ingredient, can sell for 1,500 coins even without any processing.

Therefore, Chenqi sold it at four times the original price:
"Six thousand shell coins per share."

Six thousand shell coins!

Everyone was taken aback.

Too cheap!

"Boss, is this how you do business...?"

This was the first time they had ever seen moonfish sold for such a low price.

Just as reporter Peilu said, this little shop may have a basic environment, but it's really affordable!
Chen Qi raised an eyebrow.

Even though the price has more than quadrupled, they still think it's cheap.

The price of the extraordinary ingredients after cooking was even more outrageous than he had imagined.

Ten fish equals 60,000 shell coins!

Chen Qi didn't expect the chef to make money.

After all, cooking is just a hobby; hunting is his main profession.

But this income is still pretty good.

After serving the guests outside, Chen Qi returned to the boathouse and placed the moonfish for two on the table.

The old man at the newsstand didn't sit at the stall outside, but inside the boathouse.

The old man at the newsstand is a big fan of moonfish, and he eats moonfish every year during this season.

Of course, besides wanting to taste the delicious moonfish, he also had some information to share with Chen Qi.

"It smells so good..."

The old man at the newsstand used a fork to cut off a small piece of fish, put it in his mouth, and savored it.

"Ah~ This retains the original flavor of the meat!"

Boss, you did a really good job!

The perfect seasoning and exceptional cooking techniques greatly enhance the natural flavor of the moonfish.

Outside the houseboat, exclamations of admiration could be heard!
"Delicious, and so cheap! I knew it, Peluru only tells the truth!"

"Although the presentation was a bit lacking, it really brought out the deliciousness of the moonfish. Paired with wine, it would be perfect."

"Moreover, it seems to have successfully unleashed extraordinary power."

"Really, such a dedicated chef, how could he have been targeted by the Black Rabbit Gang?"

Oh no, shouldn't a trendy online store have a terrible reputation...? Chen Qi smiled slightly and ate a piece as well.

[By consuming the Moonfish, you will receive a moderate boost to Inspiration and enhanced Perception, lasting approximately twelve hours.]

Inspiration is enhanced, and perception is improved.

Chen Qi felt the sensations in his body.

Moonfish is an extraordinary ingredient, and when combined with a chef's skills, it can produce some unexpected effects.

Watching the elderly man at the newsstand eating large chunks of meat, Chen Qi steered the conversation to the main topic:
"Boss, do you know anything about that policeman?"

Chen Qi still had some worries in his heart.

This gang clearly won't let him off easily.

Moreover, as expected, the other party is related to the Black Whale Gang.

In other words, it's related to Captain Blackeye of the Sawshark.

His current strength is enough to deal with ordinary gang leaders, but it is far from enough to contend with Captain Blackeye.

However, he is now dressed in hunter's clothes and has developed muscles, shedding the颓废 (颓废 is a difficult word to translate directly, but it implies a state of listlessness, decadence, or dejection) appearance he had when he first entered this world.

His entire demeanor had changed, making it difficult to recognize him.

Moreover, judging from the Black Rabbit Gang's reaction, they had no idea that they were connected to the Deep Sea Hunters' treasure.

The old man at the newsstand paused for a moment, then shook his head:

"Sigh... I know a little about it. It's about the Black Rabbit Gang. They're planning a big operation soon!"

"A major operation?"

"Yes, although there is no concrete evidence, based on our speculation, the Black Rabbit Gang is very likely to abandon its gang identity and become pirates!"

Moreover, they are pirates under the command of the Black Whale Crew, one of the Four Great Sea Emperors!

The old man at the newsstand became somewhat serious:
"The Black Whale Gang is frantically recruiting people in various coastal cities in order to establish their dominance in the open sea, almost like conscription."

"Right now, our Bei nation's navy is still undergoing so-called reorganization, establishing three generals and seven corps, and we don't have time to deal with them."

Join the pirates?

I was startled when I woke up in the morning.

After the tides recede, the number and quality of cracks on the sea far exceed those on land.

The pirates' income will increase significantly.

However, gangs and regions are closely linked, and becoming a pirate means giving up the connections and resources they have accumulated over the years.

In a sense, this is indeed an extremely bold choice!

Immediately afterwards, the old man at the newsstand picked up a bottle of rum and took a sip:
"If they were to join the pirate crew, it would mean they no longer had to worry about their reputation in the city, and could do even more despicable things before leaving."

Besides you, there are also quite a few first-tier and even second-tier superhumans in the civilian area who are being targeted by gangs.

Those bastards, they're probably after what you got in the hunting grounds. They'll frame you for something, steal your things, and force you to join their ranks!

The old man at the newsstand spoke vehemently.

This is a classic case of bullying others by abusing one's power!
He was a resident of the Black Rabbit Gang's territory and had been swindled out of a lot of money by the gang, so he had long harbored resentment towards them.

"Is this so..."

Chen Qi shook his head.

His individual strength is not yet strong enough to confront the entire gang.

Even if he could barely fight a second-tier hunter, he would be no match for a gang with more than a hundred members.

However, as long as you are careful, you should be able to protect yourself even if you are hostile to a gang.

The elderly man at the newsstand comforted her, saying:
"However, don't worry too much. Peru is currently tracking the Flower Witch. After dealing with the Flower Witch, she'll investigate the relationship between the Black Whale Gang and the Black Rabbit Gang." "Peru?"

"Yes, the Black Whale Gang colluding with gangs is news, and she won't miss it."

"Then let's pray that Miss Peru can find the Flower Witch soon."

Chen Qi took a sip of wine.

The old man at the newsstand joked:
"By the way! You look quite young! Peilu has a powerful background. When you meet her again, call her 'Big Sister,' and she might be able to protect you."

"Recognize Peilu as your older sister? Doesn't that sound like something out of a gangster movie?"

Chen Qi swallowed the fish.

"Which of the big companies in Moonstone City doesn't employ a bunch of mercenaries? They're practically gangs."

The old man at the newsstand gave a wry smile:
"Boss, our White Dove Newspaper is also a large company, and we employ a large number of superhumans. In terms of strength, we far surpass the ordinary gangs in Moonstone City."

But I'm not like Peilu; I'm just a lowly newspaper vendor, a nobody trying to make a living.

"The newspaper office..."

Chen Qi ate the fish.

He recalled that in the forum, the White Dove Newspaper seemed open, but in reality it was a rather closed and mysterious organization.

The newspaper never hires outsiders, so there are very few guides or tips about working at the newspaper.

The old man at the newsstand ate while reminding everyone again:

"Be very careful before Peru makes her move."

"I will."

Chen Qi memorized the name of the Black Rabbit Gang and looked out the ship's window at the distant sea.

……

……

Afternoon, Moonstone City, Third Commoners' District.

A room inside a three-story villa.

This was originally an elegant room with a classic feel, but now most of the furniture has been moved out, and the whole room looks extremely bare, with only a sofa and a table.

The Black Rabbit Gang is preparing to leave Moonstone City and become pirates; they are already selling off a large amount of the city's assets.

On the sofa in the room sat a middle-aged man with a worried expression.

A man wearing gold-rimmed glasses opened the door and said to the middle-aged man on the sofa:

"Black Rabbit, many of the gang's brothers have been here for so many years, and there are still many who don't want to leave."

Black Rabbit is the code name for the leader of the Black Rabbit Gang.

However, his appearance has nothing to do with the Black Rabbit. From his appearance, he is just an ordinary blond middle-aged man. Rather than a gang leader, he looks more like an overworked corporate slave.

The man with glasses was the deputy leader of the Black Rabbit Gang.

Black Rabbit took the documents the bespectacled man handed him and calmly said:

"After letting them run wild for so many days, haven't the brothers' resentment subsided yet? By the way, how did you handle the kidnapping of three brothers' wives and daughters and the subsequent rescue of them?"

The bespectacled man shook his head:

"It was done quite well, without leaving a trace. Those troublemakers, because they owe us a favor, have no objections now."

At this point, the bespectacled man sighed and asked:
"Black Rabbit, why do we have to leave Moonstone City and resort to these methods to become pirates?"

Gangs are typical regional organizations.

The connections they've built in working-class neighborhoods, the properties they've purchased, and the shops they've protected are all important sources of income for them!
Selling off his property, purchasing a large steamship, and leaving the civilian area would undoubtedly be cutting off his own source of income!
Black Rabbit lit a cigarette:

"Hey, do you know about the thirteen major hunter organizations that make up the upper echelons of this world?"

"The upper echelons of the world, the thirteen major hunter organizations?"

The bespectacled man asked, puzzled.

Black Rabbit got up:

"Yes, the thirteen great hunter organizations. As long as you continue on the path to transcendence, you will surely meet them at the end."

I have personally witnessed a merchant from the [Merchant Guild] who could use other people's souls as currency to conduct demonic transactions. In the blink of an eye, a village of a thousand people became a bargaining chip.

I can't believe I'm living in the same world as someone with such power.

"The power of the nobility is more terrifying than we imagined."

Black Rabbit was lost in memories:
"Nobles and hunter organizations monopolize supernatural resources. Without this rift tide, I, no, we might never have had the chance to see these monsters a second time."

We were supposed to turn into dust on the ground and eventually die like mud.

But this tide gives us a possibility, a possibility to a higher world.

Only by joining the Black Whale Gang and riding the wave can we possibly reach the top of the world!

"And if we remain in this slum, we will eventually decay."

"Ugh……"

Advancing to a higher rank isn't that easy... The bespectacled man shook his head and said:

"Black Rabbit, your idea is good, and it's for the future of our brothers."

However, the deaths of Scarface Rabbit and his comrades at the hunting grounds still unsettled many of the brothers. They feared that if they became pirates, they too would die mysteriously, just like their brothers.

Hearing this, Black Rabbit rubbed his forehead:

"This matter is easy to resolve. There should be quite a few brothers who believe that the person who killed them was neither the Flower Witch nor the Old Hunter, but another surviving Overseer."

"Yes."

Black Rabbit continued:

"That makes things easier. This way, the brothers will have an outlet for their anger. We'll find an opportunity to take care of him and let the brothers vent their frustrations."

The bespectacled man shook his head:

“Chief, that man is more cautious than we thought. We bribed a port policeman this morning to try and lure him to our territory.”

But it was no use. The navy was reorganized, and there were also a lot of personnel changes within the police department. Our old connections were useless.

We can't take action in the port; that would likely attract the navy's attention.

Moreover, his strength should be greater than that of an ordinary first-tier superhuman, making him difficult to deal with. Furthermore, the newspaper staff mentioned him; he's not just an ordinary person from the island, but a fairly well-known chef.

Another regulator… Black Rabbit rubbed his brow:
"You bribed the police to get rid of him? Idiot, that guy isn't someone a lowly cop can handle. He's a chosen supervisor, and even if our officers intervene, they might not be a match for him."

We must be cautious when dealing with him.

Believe me, his rating within the rift is second only to the Flower Witch.

"What should I do?"

The bespectacled man asked, puzzled.

The Black Rabbit Gang has always been a bully who preys on the weak and fears the strong; they haven't had a tough nut to crack in a long time.

The Black Rabbit Gang brothers now need an explanation, an explanation for the tragic deaths of their brothers in the hunting grounds, and an explanation that would allow them to become pirates.

Black Rabbit was silent for a moment, then asked:
"How long until our Black Rabbit, equipped with a water-based missile system, is completed?"

The Black Rabbit is a steamship purchased by the Black Rabbit Gang at great expense! It is not only equipped with cannons, but also with an extraordinary weapon system similar to torpedoes!

They believed that with this one large steam-powered ironclad ship, they could make a name for themselves in the coastal waters.

"Three days."

"Is that person going out to sea?"

The bespectacled man thought for a moment and replied:
"He's a chef, and apparently he goes out to sea to fish. Come to think of it, one of our cadres went after him without permission, and we haven't heard from him yet."

However, based on the information I've gathered, he was most likely attacked by will-o'-the-wisps or deep-sea merchants.

They pursued without authorization, and then disappeared... Black Rabbit fell into thought:
"Let's halt the operation for now."

This man's strength is definitely not as simple as it seems.

Black Rabbit believes that passing the hunting grounds might be related to this man.

They couldn't take action at the port; the law protected him.

But on the sea, it's like a crack.

It is a lawless place without any legal jurisdiction.

No matter how powerful he is, he is ultimately just a human being.

They were as vulnerable as ants beneath a large steamship.

The transformed Black Rabbit Gang needs a campaign to build confidence for their future seafaring endeavors!

Black Rabbit paced back and forth, smoking a cigarette.

"I'll ask you one more time, are you sure he's going out to sea?"

"It's confirmed, he seems to have caught quite a few moonfish this time."

Hearing this, a faint smile finally appeared on Black Rabbit's calm face:

"Let's go out to sea together next time he goes out to sea."

We need to let our brothers know that pirates make just as much money as those in gangs.

"Perfect timing! Let's make this our first deal after transitioning into piracy."

(End of this chapter)