From Joy of Life, the Tian Gang is reversed

Chapter 468 The Beginning of the Insect Swarm (Third update, one more to go)
Talon Restaurant in Smallville Town Center

The afternoon sun streamed through the clean French windows, casting a warm golden hue over the checkered tablecloth. Mrs. Fordman, dressed impeccably and radiant, was enthusiastically talking to Lana and her aunt Nicole Long.

"Mr. Winston raved about Whitney, calling her a genius inventor who could change the way humans communicate!" Mrs. Fordman's voice was filled with undisguised pride as she gently stirred her iced tea. The gloomy middle-aged woman from her long widowhood was gone, replaced by a noblewoman who seemed more than ten years younger and full of confidence in the future—or at least that's how she tried to portray herself.

Lana sat beside Whitney, a gentle smile on her face, but a hint of worry lurked deep in her eyes. Ever since the school was destroyed, the Kent family was taken away, and Whitney was subjected to a mysterious investigation, she could clearly feel that the atmosphere in the town had become tense lately.

She gently took Whitney's hand, which was resting under the table, seeking a sense of reassurance. Whitney squeezed back and gave her a reassuring look.

Nicole, on the other hand, appeared calm and pragmatic. She was the owner of Smallwell Flower Shop and had once been a flower in Smallwell herself. She had ventured into the metropolis in her youth and had seen far more of the world than the housewife in front of her. "Yes, who would have thought that Whitney would be such a genius?"

Looking at the promising tech talent sitting next to her niece, who had a pitiful past yet was exceptionally strong, she smiled helplessly. "I heard from Lana that you want to stay in Smallville to develop your career? Why?"

“When I was five, the Fordman family had a good asset allocation. The annual harvest was enough to cover all the bills and we could live a relatively decent life. But when I was eight, things started to change. The costs of seeds, fertilizers, and farm machinery maintenance increased every year. The farm’s income couldn’t even cover the costs. Many similar small farms were mortgaged to banks, including ours. Many young people left because there simply weren’t enough jobs here. Luther Enterprises increased its investment a little, but not much…”

Whitney's fingertips unconsciously traced the cool glass, making the afternoon sun seem a little dimmer. "I knew then that Smallville needed to change, but unfortunately, the politicians didn't think so, or rather, they weren't smart enough to handle the job. That's why I stayed in Smallville. I'll invest here, create more jobs, and bring this town back to life, back to how it used to be."

"A beautiful vision." Nicole looked at the sunny boy in front of her, a glint of admiration in her eyes, and raised her glass of champagne. "I wish you success."

"Thank you, I will succeed." Whitney smiled and raised her glass.

at this time--

Snap! Crash!
A deafening, shattering sound exploded from above without warning!

Everyone looked up in shock!

The exquisite chandelier in the center of the restaurant, with its hanging crystal pendants, was shaking violently!
A fist-sized, menacing, dark green shadow emitting a ghostly green light crashed through the chandelier base, carrying with it sparks from broken wires and dust debris, and plummeted straight down from the ceiling!

"what--!!!"

"My God! What is that?!"

"A spider! A huge spider!"

The restaurant instantly descended into chaos! Screams, the sound of cutlery falling to the ground, and chairs overturning filled the air! Diners shoved each other in fear, trying to get out of the way.

Dark green bone spurs covered its entire body like a thicket of thorns, its eight sickle-claw-like legs gleamed with a cold metallic light, and its enormous compound eyes were like eerie green will-o'-the-wisps embedded in the abyss.

Okay, at least from the outside, it's a spider, although it looks a bit strange.

Lana screamed, her face turning deathly pale.

Mrs. Fordman was terrified, letting out a short, incoherent scream. She slumped into her chair, the fork in her hand clattering onto the plate, her whole body trembling like a leaf.

“Holy shit!” Nicole’s face turned pale. She was so shocked by this monstrous creature that she cursed and quickly pulled the terrified Lana behind her.

The tarantula's goal was crystal clear!
Ignoring the surrounding chaos and screams, it displayed astonishing jumping power the moment it landed. Its eight scythe-like claws pushed off the ground, and like a dark green cannonball, it rushed straight towards Whitney with a stench. The marble floor was deeply scratched by its eight scythe-like claws!

"Whitney, watch out...!" Lana only had time to utter a cry of alarm before Whitney overturned the heavy wooden dining table in front of her. Plates, cutlery, and glasses clattered and flew everywhere...

Clang! Crack!
The tarantula's two scythe-like blades slammed into the overturned tabletop, sending wood chips flying and leaving two deep cuts in an instant! But its attack was also momentarily halted.

Whitney swiftly grabbed a heavy silver soup bowl from the table with her left hand, half-filled with scalding cream soup, and held it in front of her.

Bang! Crash—!
In that instant, before the thick soup in the bowl could spill due to gravity, the mutated tarantula crashed into it. The scalding soup and thick cream instantly covered the mutated tarantula, and Whitney slammed the silver bowl down onto the ground.

The soup was overflowing, but the mutated spider was trapped inside the bowl.

Bang, bang, bang...

The tarantula trapped at the bottom of the bowl frantically rammed against the silver soup bowl, leaving dents and marks on its surface.

“Whitney…” Lana called out worriedly from the side.

“Lana, call the police. Also, get a few more large metal bowls, glue, wax… anything that can trap this thing,” Whitney shouted.

He cursed inwardly, thinking, "Damn, the possessiveness of these simps is terrifying; they can even overcome the instincts of the swarm!"

Whitney's shouts alerted those around her, and concerned citizens rushed to make preparations.

This is a restaurant, so there's no shortage of bowls of all kinds, big and small. Soon, a waiter came over with two large, thick metal bowls. Whitney took them and placed the bowls on top. That was the second layer, and then the third layer...

Soon after, the glue and the scalding hot wax from the melted candles were also delivered...

A crisis was thus resolved.

Ten minutes later, accompanied by sirens, Amanda Waller and a group of police officers rushed into the restaurant.

Whitney, kneeling on the ground and pressing down hard on a huge metal bowl, looked at him with a strange expression.

"what's going on?"

"I think I've caught a monster!"

Whitney was sweating profusely, but her expression was one of great excitement. "We used glue and melted wax to try and seal this thing, but we don't know how effective it will be. You should have the professional tools, right?"

Amanda gave Whitney a deep look, nodded, and a man in protective gear walked over carrying a metal cage, taking Whitney's place.

“Mr. Whitney, you last came into contact with the anomalous creature and need to undergo a test.”

Whitney's face flashed with annoyance, but she also seemed quite helpless. She shook her stiff wrist and said, "Fine, you can test it if you want. However, as a professional, you still need to explain why something like this happened in Smallwell."

“Of course, we will explain to the public once the investigation is complete.” Amanda’s gaze sharpened slightly as she looked at the mutated tarantula that had been put into the metal cage.

(End of this chapter)