Chapter 008 : Malicious Lies

Without a doubt, whether it was the three doctors or the director of the West Asia Branch, they had all been accustomed to a life of comfort.

So, faced with this dense mass of cockroaches...

"Everyone, relax, stay calm."

Ling Ke smiled and reminded them, "There are still two more dishes to come. It's not too late to hesitate after seeing them all."

His words clearly offered no comfort.

Because Edelweiss and the others knew well:

If the first dish was this outrageous, then what came next...

"The second dish!"

Ling Ke spoke slowly, and the maids simultaneously lifted the second lid.

"..."

Sure enough, it was even more outrageous.

Because the white and pink stuff was something everyone present was very familiar with.

It was the tissue of a Honkai beast.

Perhaps they had already braced themselves.

When the "second dish" was revealed, Edelweiss and the others weren't particularly shocked.

They were even starting to wonder what the "third dish" would be.

Could it be even more outrageous than Honkai beast tissue?

Ling Ke continued to smile.

He didn't drag it out, quickly revealing the answer for everyone.

"The third dish!"

The maids acted in unison, lifting the final lid in front of each "guest."

At this moment...

???

At the long table, everyone seated, including Edelweiss, showed expressions of confusion.

The reason was simple.

The "third dish" was far too normal.

It was a few slices of meat arranged on a bed of greens.

(TL/N: why it's feel familiar?)

This kind of dish could be ordered at any Western restaurant.

A prime example of Dubai knife skills.

Edelweiss and the others were puzzled.

So, along with her, everyone turned to look at Ling Ke.

But he just continued to smile, then gestured.

"Everyone, please choose for yourselves."

"I won't interfere."

He clearly had another purpose.

He even added, "Tonight's 'feast,' I treat my guests with courtesy."

"So, as long as the 'guests' don't act rudely, they can leave safely."

"I hope you all understand my good intentions."

At this point...

"..."

Dr. Antonio, seated to Ling Ke's right, swallowed hard.

He truly didn't know how to choose now.

Ling Ke clearly had malicious intentions.

The first dish—cockroaches with their legs removed.

The second dish—Honkai beast tissue.

The outrageousness of these two clearly escalated.

So, the seemingly normal third dish must have some hidden trick.

But...

The cockroaches, which were practically like eating shit, he couldn't bring himself to eat.

Forcing himself would definitely make him vomit.

And that would be "rude."

According to Ling Ke's implications, being "rude" meant losing one's life... death.

As for the Honkai beast tissue...

Eating that would be certain death.

So...

"Time is money."

Ling Ke suddenly spoke, startling everyone.

He looked at one of the "guests," "I think Dr. Moniz should be deeply familiar with this famous saying."

As he spoke, his expression suddenly turned icy cold.

The speed of this change was terrifying.

But even more terrifying was...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Ling Ke's right hand flicked lightly, and five nearly invisible "threads" shot out, precisely wrapping around each "guest's" neck.

It was like they had been leashed with dog collars.

After doing this, he even "kindly" tugged on the threads a few times, ensuring that all the "guests" present immediately understood one fact.

Next, their heads could roll at any moment.

"30 seconds left."

Ling Ke said in a deep voice, "Choose one of the three, or take them all."

"Time starts now!"

As he spoke, he even took out a pocket watch and held it in front of him.

Tick tock, tick tock~

At this moment, the grand hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The mechanical sound of the watch was particularly noticeable.

And the cold sensation around their necks constantly stimulated the nerves of Edelweiss and the others, making their scalps tingle.

Just like that, only a dozen or so seconds passed...

Ding!

Dr. Aegis was the first to act.

He picked up the knife and fork prepared in front of him, quickly speared a slice of meat from the "third dish," and was about to put it into his mouth.

But at the last moment, he hesitated and paused briefly.

However, seeing Ling Ke's ambiguous, meaningful smile.

He still opened his mouth and ate the slice of meat.

Until he swallowed it... and found no discomfort.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.

With him taking the lead, the others no longer hesitated.

They all chose the "third dish."

Seeing this scene...

"Hah!"

The smile on Ling Ke's face grew even wider.

And his smile made Edelweiss and the others' hearts skip a beat.

Then they heard...

"How do you all find the taste of the 'third dish'?"

"It was carefully prepared by me."

Ling Ke's lips curled slightly, "Of course, special thanks must be given to Miss Edelweiss."

(TL/N: Damn I know this references)

He looked meaningfully at the golden-haired girl, "After all, it was her selfless contribution that provided the most special... ingredients."

!!!

Edelweiss was stunned.

She stared blankly at the slices of meat on the plate in front of her...

"Ugh!"

She quickly covered her mouth.

Her expression was one of horror.

Tears continuously spilled from the corners of her eyes.

She didn't want to die!

She really didn't want to die!

But the thought that those slices of meat were actually...

"Ugh!"

Her body's natural reflex was something she couldn't resist.

In the end, she still vomited.

"Ah, what a pity."

Ling Ke untied the "threads" around the necks of the other four "guests," leaving only Edelweiss...

He slowly walked to her side, his right index finger raised, the tip connected to the last "thread."

Ling Ke leaned down and whispered into Edelweiss's ear.

"Miss Edelweiss, why are you so excited?"

He smiled and spoke in a volume only the two of them could hear, word by word, "Those were really just ordinary slices of meat."

"Freshly taken from the cafeteria."

"You..."

(TL/N: lol they got Gideon treatment)

She had been tricked.

By this person in front of her, with just a simple sentence.

She, she had thought she had eaten...

"Please rest assured, I am very particular about etiquette now."

"I wouldn't serve 'dog food' on the table!"

!!!

Edelweiss's breath hitched.

She, aside from her usual peculiar hobbies, also loved raising dogs.

She had two in her dorm.

She would even sleep with them in her arms.

She understood the underlying meaning of Ling Ke's words.

"You, you're not human! You're a demon!"

"You..."

Swish!

The hysterical curses came to an abrupt halt.

Edelweiss's head flew off her body.

Blood gushed from her neck.

Coincidentally, whether intentionally or not.

The girl's head landed right on the plate in front of her.

Her eyes wide open, and it's never close.