I was just fishing, how did I become a Great Old One?

Jianghai City, Deep Blue Plaza.

Although it was midday and the sun was shining brightly, a lingering, chilly mist hung over the west side of the square. There, moored, was a huge, dilapidated ancient warship that looked as if it had just been pulled from hell—the Flying Dutchman.

However, at this time, this legendary ghost ship no longer possessed the awe-inspiring presence it once commanded at sea.

Its hull was covered with colorful neon lights, and the words "Deep Blue Haunted House Theme Restaurant" were spray-painted on its tattered canvas. On the deck, the group of menacing ghostly sailors were now dressed in uniform waiter vests, carrying plates and floating around serving food to the guests.

"Make way! Make way! Freshly cooked 'Hellfire Grilled Intestines'! Be careful not to burn your soul!"

A sailor missing half a head skillfully weaved through the crowd. His eerie voice didn't scare away the guests; instead, it elicited excited screams and camera flashes.

Deep inside the ship's cabin, in what was originally the captain's quarters, a unique "cultural performance" was taking place.

"Ta-da! Ta-da! Ta-da! Ta-da!"

A stirring, tragic, yet strangely off-key organ melody resounded throughout the square via the ship's loudspeaker system.

The former King of the Deep Sea, the ruler of the undead—Davis Jones—is now sitting in front of a giant pipe organ made of countless bones and corals. His bald chin, devoid of its whiskers (cut off by Jiang Li to make noodles), looks particularly comical, but this does not stop him from frantically striking the keys with his giant crab claw and his remaining hand.

He was playing the famous "Overture to the Dead," but at Jiang Li's request, it was forcibly adapted into a cheerful version.

"Flick! Flick it hard! Haven't you eaten?"

Wang Ergou held a glow stick in his hand and stood by the side like a conductor, supervising the work.

"The boss said this piece is supposed to be played cheerfully! It should have that 'welcome' feel to it! You're playing it like a funeral procession, it's bad luck!"

David Jones's eyes burned with the ghostly fire of humiliation.

Who is he? He is the overlord who makes the seven seas tremble!

And now he's reduced to playing the piano here to entertain a bunch of humans eating noodles made from his beard?!

"I...I hate it!!!"

David Jones roared and slammed his crab claws onto the piano keys, producing a piercing boom.

"Wow! The sound effects are amazing!"

The diners outside burst into applause.

"As expected of the original captain, the emotional investment is absolutely amazing!"

"Waiter! Another bowl of 'Captain's Beard Noodles', extra spicy!"

Hearing the cheers outside, Davy Jones shed two tears (if the dead could shed tears). Looking at his bald chin, he vowed that if he were to be reborn, he would never be a pirate again; he would be a vegetarian.

……

Meanwhile, on the second floor of Deep Blue Seafood Restaurant, in a VIP private room.

An important meeting on the "opening of new sea routes" is being held.

Attendees included: Chairman Jiang Li, Vice General Manager Wang Ergou, Security Captain Ao Bing, Technical Advisor Wang Defa, and Special Advisor Professor Miller.

On the table lay the parchment map that had been looted from Davy Jones's chest.

The map was yellowish, with intricate ocean currents and star charts drawn on it using some kind of luminous blue ink, ultimately pointing to a massive whirlpool deep in the Atlantic Ocean—Atlantis.

"Everyone, that's the situation."

Jiang Li held a freshly grilled octopus leg (sponsored by David Jones) in his hand, chewing as he spoke.

"Our business is growing bigger and bigger, but the problem of the limited variety of ingredients is getting more and more serious. Our customers are getting tired of always eating squid, octopus, or some kind of insect."

"Therefore, I have decided to develop a new cuisine series—the [Deep Sea Noble Series]."

"The target is Atlantis."

Jiang Li pointed to the vortex on the map.

"I heard that mermaids live there? The kind that have the upper body of a human and the lower body of a fish?"

"Cough cough..."

Professor Miller adjusted his thick-rimmed glasses, his face somewhat pale. As a professor at Miskatonic University, he had a profound understanding of this taboo knowledge.

"Boss, although in folk tales they are mermaids, in occult records, the inhabitants of Atlantis... may be quite different from what you imagine."

"Different? How so?" Jiang Li asked curiously. "Is it that the upper body is a fish and the lower body is a human? That would be too ugly!"

"No... they are known as the progenitors of the Deep Ones, or the more advanced Merfolk."

Professor Miller explained, "They worship 'Father God Dagon' and 'Mother God Hydra.' They are amphibious, immortal, and extremely xenophobic. Their appearance... usually has characteristics of fish and frogs, which does not conform to human aesthetics."

"and……"

Professor Miller glanced at Jiang Li and said cautiously, "They possess human-like intelligence and civilization. From an ethical and biological perspective, they belong to... an intelligent species."

"An intelligent race?"

Jiang Li stopped chewing and frowned.

This is a serious issue.

As a gourmet with principles, Jiang Li's rule is: do not eat people.

"If they looked like humans and could talk, it would be a bit hard to bring myself to eat them."

Jiang Li sighed, looking somewhat disappointed.

"Wouldn't that mean we'd made a wasted trip?"

"Not necessarily."

Wang Defa (the Immortal Captain), standing nearby, chimed in, "Boss, when I was young, I sailed the seas and heard old sailors talk about it. Besides mermaids, Atlantis also has many other creatures that live alongside it."

"for example?"

"For example...the pets they keep."

Wang Defa made a huge gesture.

"Legend has it that the nobles of Atlantis liked to raise a creature called the 'Seahorse Dragon.' It looked like a seahorse, but its body was the size of a whale. Its flesh was extremely tender, and it was said to be the mount of the sea god. Eating it would allow one to breathe freely in the sea."

"There's also something called 'crystal crab,' which has a transparent shell and pink meat inside. It's not only delicious, but the shell can also be used to make bulletproof glass."

"Seahorse lobster? Crystal crab?"

The light in Jiang Li's eyes brightened again.

"That's right! When you visit someone's home, even if the host can't eat the food, you can still negotiate with them about the chickens, ducks, and geese!"

"and……"

Jiang Li's gaze fell on a line of small print at the edge of the map.

Although he didn't recognize the distorted characters, the [Mi-Go Brain] next to him did.

"Hey, brain, translate this. What does it say here?"

A red light flickered inside the glass cylinder: "Buzz... Boss, this is an ancient incantation. It means: 'When the stars align, the sunken city will rise again. Only the holder of the Key of the Sea God can unlock the path to an immortal feast.'"

"The Key of Poseidon?"

Jiang Li took out the [Dragon King's Eye] from his pocket.

"You mean this ball?"

"No... After comparison, the Dragon King's Eye is the key to opening the Abyss Dimension. As for the Sea God's Key... it should refer to some kind of specific token, or... bloodline."

The brain analysis states, "However, according to the law of conservation of energy, brute force is also a feasible solution."

"That makes things easier."

Jiang Li put the beads away.

"Our Black Pearl's ramming horn is powerful enough to shatter even spacetime, so what's a single gate to it?"

"However, just to be on the safe side, we still need to make some preparations."

Jiang Li looked at Ao Bing.

"Little Dragon Man, you're a dragon, so you're probably a distant relative of that Sea God, right? Or maybe a rival?"

Ao Bing puffed out his chest proudly: "The Dragon Clan of the East Sea rules the four seas, while Poseidon of the West is nothing but a fisherman with a fork! In his prime, I could subdue him with one hand!"

"Okay, then you'll go this time too."

Jiang Li made the decision: "You're in charge of diplomacy (arguing). If they don't give you face, you reveal your true form and scare them."

"And, Lao Liu."

Jiang Li turned to Liu Wei, "We're going to the deep sea this time, even deeper than R'lyeh. We need to reinforce that [Biofield Shield], or it'll leak. Also, prepare some of those... seasonings that can be used underwater."

"The seasoning used in the water?" Liu Wei was bewildered.

"Yeah, if we caught one alive, wouldn't it be so fresh to make 'boiled fish' right in the water? Just imagine, fish cooked under that high pressure would definitely be so flavorful!"

"...Okay, boss, I'll think of a way (I'll go buy a high-concentration soup base right away)."

……

Just as everyone was enthusiastically discussing the "Atlantis Food Guide"...

The parchment map on the table suddenly underwent a strange change.

Perhaps it was because they sensed the strong aura of ancient gods emanating from Jiang Li (because they ate too much), or perhaps they were overwhelmed by the stench of the unfinished "tentacle noodles" next to them.

The blue ink on the map began to flow, as if it had come to life.

"Buzz—"

A beam of pale blue light shot out from the map, forming a blurry projection in mid-air.

It was the figure of a woman clad in magnificent armor, wielding a trident, and with a fishtail as her lower body. She had long, flowing hair like seaweed, and her features were breathtakingly exquisite, but her eyes were cold silver, and her ears were sharp, fin-like.

Hela, Queen of Atlantis.

S-class Deep Sea Lord.

"Who... awakened the sleeping coordinates?"

The Queen's voice was cold and ethereal, carrying a superior and majestic aura that echoed in the private room.

"Are they ants on land? Or...?"

Her gaze swept over the crowd, finally settling on Jiang Li... the octopus tentacles in his hand.

In that instant, a crack appeared on the Queen's icy expression.

That's... Davy Jones's limbs?

That undead pirate who roamed the deep sea with such dominance, whom even she feared, was actually... roasted?!

"Oh? A video call?"

Jiang Li wasn't intimidated at all; instead, she enthusiastically waved the skewers in her hand.

"Hello, beautiful! Are you a customer service representative from Atlantis?"

"I'm planning a trip to your area and I was wondering if you have any local specialties? Like sea bream, crystal crab, or something like that? Could you pre-order some for me?"

Queen Hela: "..."

customer service?

Reserve?

Is this human challenging the majesty of God?

"presumptuous!"

Hela roared, her voice like a thunderclap from the deep sea.

"Greedy humans! How dare you covet the sacred beast of the divine realm!"

"Since you possess the coordinates, they are the guide of destiny. I will send my personal guard to retrieve the map and... reap your soul!"

"The Imperial Guard?"

Jiang Li's eyes lit up. "Does that mean home delivery?"

"How could I possibly accept this? Free shipping too!"

"You..." Hela was speechless, choked with emotion.

"Alright, don't be shy. Since you're coming, I'll wait at home. Remember to bring plenty of those crystal crabs; I really like crabs."

Jiang Li said with a smile.

"Hmph! They're courting death!"

Hela snorted coldly and cut off the communication.

The light and shadow faded, and the map returned to its calm state.

"Boss... have we gotten into trouble again?" Wang Ergou wiped his sweat.

"What trouble are you causing? This is business!"

Jiang Li stuffed the last octopus leg into his mouth and clapped his hands.

"Did you hear that? They said they're sending the 'Royal Guard' to deliver the goods!"

"What does this mean? It means that our Deep Blue Seafood's reputation has reached the Atlantic Ocean!"

"Pass on my order! All personnel on high alert... no, all personnel prepare to receive the 'ingredients'!"

"Lei Meng! Clean the pot thoroughly! We're having a big meal!"

……

Just as Jiang Li was getting ready to receive the "takeout".

Outside the breakwater along the coast of Jianghai City.

The once calm sea suddenly began to churn.

This is not an ordinary tide, but a regular wave that resembles an army marching.

Beneath the deep sea, countless dark figures are rapidly approaching.

They have streamlined bodies covered in hard scales, and wield tridents that emit a blue light. They ride on huge, armored sharks and seahorses, like a knightly order of the deep sea.

【Deep Sea Dragon Riders】(A-level Elite Legion)

This is the vanguard of Atlantis!

"For the Queen's glory!"

"Take back the map! Cleanse the land!"

The legion commander leading the charge—a gigantic Tiger Shark Man—wielded a heavy halberd and signaled for attack.

"boom--!!!"

A giant wave crashed violently against the breakwater.

Immediately afterwards, hundreds of deep-sea dragon riders leaped out of the water, carrying a spray of water and a murderous aura, and rushed towards the direction of Deep Blue Plaza.

"Alarm! Alarm!"

"The coastal defense line has been breached! Unidentified creatures have invaded!"

An alarm from the Bureau of Abnormal Affairs blared throughout the city.

Su Qingge was processing documents in her office when she heard the alarm and jumped up.

"Is it Mr. Jiang's side again?"

She pulled up the surveillance footage.

On the screen, the group of deep-sea monsters were charging menacingly toward... the entrance of Deep Blue Seafood Restaurant.

"We're doomed... these mermen..."

Su Qingge wasn't worried about Jiang Li, but rather felt sorry for those monsters.

"They probably don't know that the place they went to... is the biggest 'black shop' on Earth."

……

At the entrance of Deep Blue Seafood Restaurant.

Ao Bing, who was performing "Dragon Sucking Water" for the guests, suddenly stopped.

He wrinkled his nose and smelled a familiar, repulsive fishy odor.

"This smell... is it from those long-tailed fish scum?"

Ao Bing sneered, took off his security guard uniform, revealing his strong upper body and muscles covered with dragon scales.

"Brothers! We've got a job!"

He shouted into the store.

"The boss said there will be extra food tonight!"

"Seafood buffet! All you can eat!"

"roar--!!!"

Before the diners in the restaurant could react, they saw the usually mild-mannered (not really) Deepsea waiters suddenly tear off their suit vests, revealing their hideous true colors. They grabbed chairs, plates, and even huge king crab claws and charged out, howling.

Even Arthur (the paladin), who was mopping the floor, threw away the mop and pulled out a... Holy Light Spoon (a weapon specially approved by Jiang Li).

"For the Holy Light! For... the year-end bonus!"

A street brawl ostensibly to "defend the restaurant" was actually a fight to seize ingredients, and it broke out in an instant!