Cthulhu Panel: One organ mutates every day

September, early autumn, slightly cool.

The Silver Corridor Karaoke is located on the 6th floor of a standalone building in the core business district.

The north side is a cluster of office buildings, and the south side is adjacent to a cluster of high-end hotels. A tram runs under the building, making it a prime location where the upper class and underground forces intersect.

Ethan was a regular here, and he led a few people in a private elevator directly to the high-floor karaoke room.

The entire nightclub was filled with layers of crystal chandeliers, and the air was thick with the scents of cigar smoke and various expensive perfumes, while jazz music played continuously.

"This is a well-known karaoke bar in Michigan. Some business tycoons and city councilors frequent this place, and of course, some gangsters are also involved," Ethan explained to Wayne.

Wayne looked at the scene in the karaoke bar.

A small, permanent stage is set up in the center of the karaoke room, where a female singer with short, wavy hair, wearing a knee-length dress, is performing with great enthusiasm.

The area in front of the stage is filled with booths, and some customers get up in groups and sway gently to the music.

The overall pedestrian density is moderate.

[Perception Lv.1 - Observation of the Microscopic] Progress 17.1%

"Then you forgot to mention one of the most important people. Our Special Affairs Bureau has also secretly infiltrated them." Wayne was in high spirits. He had been starving for a day. He smelled the aroma of food and was about to devour it.

Ethan: "Of course, in Michigan, under normal circumstances, our Special Affairs Bureau has the highest authority."

Matthew looked around and then asked, "The main hall or a private room?"

Lillian was still looking around happily: "Anything is fine with me."

Matthew then looked at Wayne, signaling for Wayne to give his opinion.

Ethan put his arm around Wayne: "Today is your first day on the job, so it's most appropriate for you to choose."

After thinking for a moment, Wayne felt that there would be more room for observation in the hall, so he made his decision: "I choose the hall."

Three men and one woman sat down in a good spot in the lobby, where they could see Lake Mi'an through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Upon seeing this, the waiter immediately stepped forward, bowed, and laid the exquisite menu flat on the table.

The menu is clearly divided into sections, with printed information on the day's karaoke menu, including food, cocktails, tea, and sparkling drinks.

When Lillian saw the food, she remembered that Wayne had taken a sedative earlier that day and probably hadn't had time to eat lunch. So, her eyes crinkled slightly as she said:

"Wayne, you must be hungry."

"I'm starving, I've been starving for ages."

Wayne nodded repeatedly, inwardly sighing:

"Girls are so considerate. I'm really in a hurry to eat, yes, not just eat, but really eat. And honestly, in my previous life as a corporate slave, I never went to a place like this before. I never thought that on my second day after transmigrating, I'd be able to indulge in a little bit of revelry."

Seeing that the others seemed a bit restrained due to his influence, Matthew stepped in to set the tone: "Don't worry about me, do as you please."

Since the team leader had spoken, Ethan and Wayne began to give it their all.

Ethan was a regular customer, and Wayne's family had deep roots and naturally knew a lot about food, especially since his sister Rosalind had recommended it before.

"Let's start with four signature cold dishes: smoked thick-cut beef tongue, olive and cheese platter, meat jelly toast, and chilled fresh oysters."

"Let's have some of our signature hot dishes: creamy lobster bisque, thick-cut filet mignon with black pepper, and pan-fried foie gras. We'll each have one hot dish."

"There's also dessert: crème brûlée and fresh fruit cups."

"How could we forget the wine?"

"Then let's have the vintage whisky, and chilled sparkling fruit champagne..."

After ordering, the waiter bowed and left.

A moment later, two waiters served the dishes together, arranged them neatly on plates, and poured drinks, filling the air with the aroma of butter and the fresh scent of seafood.

"Very good, let's get started," Wayne said with a smile.

Outside the window, car lights streamed along Michigan Avenue; inside, soothing jazz music flowed through the venue.

During the casual conversation, Wayne picked up his fork and began to enjoy his meal.

The food here doesn't have the additives of modern takeout, nor is it heavily seasoned with spice or oil. It relies entirely on natural ingredients, handmade butter, and wood-smoked flavors.

"Oh right, Ethan, you still haven't told me what 'reality deviation exceeding 50%' means?"

Wayne used his knife and fork to cut open the beef tongue, sliced ​​off a small piece, dipped it in a small dish of yellow mustard, and put it in his mouth.

Ethan picked up a piece of biscuit, held a piece of cheese on it, and ate it along with a small olive:

"More than 50%, then it's related to the Great Old Ones. Bob's house had already attracted some aliens, which is why I didn't talk to you much to avoid attracting the attention of unknown beings."

"learn."

So that's how it is. The Great Old Ones. I wonder how they differ from the Great Old Ones I know.

Wayne savored the meaty texture in his mouth. The handmade smoked beef tongue was soft and tender, with a mellow and lingering smoky flavor, without the overly salty taste of modern pre-cooked dishes.

[Feeding Lv.1 - Digestion] Progress: 1.1%

"What a pleasant surprise! The progress has increased so quickly!" Wayne chewed on the beef tongue in his mouth, in a great mood, and quickened his eating speed, enjoying his meal.

Lillian ate her foie gras and apple slices in small bites, watching Wayne's enjoyable expression with envy: "Wayne, why do you look so happy eating this? How can you eat so well? Teach me!"

"Hmm...look, like this." With his mouth full of smoked beef tongue, Wayne's speech was already slurred. Then he picked up a glass of wine, gulped down a fruity champagne, and drank it all in one go—a simple and straightforward Chinese way of eating.

She then put down her glass, wiped her lips with a tissue, and chuckled, "Can you handle being this rough and savage, Lillian?"

Lillian took a small sip of her whiskey: "I can't. Ethan, are you sure you can?"

Ethan pretended not to hear what Wayne said: "Huh? His mouth was stuffed too full, I couldn't hear what he was saying at all."

"Ethan, our team leader and Lillian have been fighting all day. You said you weren't slacking off, but you still haven't told me why you weren't slacking off!"

Wayne picked up a slice of toast, used a knife to gently spread the meat jelly evenly on the toast, and then took a big bite.

Hmm... the meat jelly is refreshing and not greasy, with a naturally rich and mellow gelatinous texture.

[Feeding Lv.1 - Digestion] Progress: 2.2%

Ethan picked up his fork, pried off the oyster meat, dripped two drops of lime juice on it, and put it in his mouth.

"That depends on my role. I'm the survival role in the group. The daytime arena is so small, and the combat is overwhelming, so I naturally seem to be slacking off."

"Survival slot? What's that?"

Wayne looked at the sizzling steak on the hot plate and asked the waiter to set it to "golden doneness," medium-rare.

Then cut the meat into pieces, fork it, and put it in your mouth.

Hmm... The steak was juicy and tender, and the black pepper was hand-ground coarsely, spicy and authentic, much better than the cheap steaks from roadside stalls in my previous life.

[Feeding Lv.1 - Digestion] Progress: 3.4%

Matthew simply leaned back in his seat, sipped his drink, and spoke at a measured pace:

"Wei En, it's your first day here, and I didn't have time to tell you about some things regarding the team's positioning. Of course, this is also a way of letting you experience it firsthand."

"Team positioning? I do have a feel for the information positioning, but what about the other positions?" Wayne asked.