Chapter 202: Are You Polite?
Seth pointed to the menu taped to the window outside. He kept it short and sweet. "Look here. There’s a menu. Just tell me what you want to eat."
The menu was incredibly detailed, with names paired with vibrant, appetizing photos. Just looking at it made one’s mouth water. You couldn’t help but wish you had eight or ten stomachs to devour it all in one go.
So everyone crowded in front of the menu again, scrambling to be first. "I want this one!"
"Me, me, me! I want that one too!" A barrage of shouts nearly drowned Seth out.
He calmly held out his hand. "Crystal Cores first."
"I..." The crowd choked. They reached into their pockets, rummaging for a long time only to find a single one. Some didn’t even have that, but they still stared at Seth with pleading eyes.
They hoped his faint sense of sympathy might kick in, that he might spare them a box—no, even half a box of fast food would do.
But it was obvious that Seth, having survived ten years in the apocalypse, wasn’t so easily softened. There was no way he was giving out freebies. He waved his hand dismissively. "If you don’t have money, stop looking. Get lost."
They didn’t budge.
Seth’s face darkened, and he tried to shoo them away again. "If you don’t have any Crystal Cores, then get going. Don’t just hang around here."
Someone cried out in anguish, "Are you looking down on us?!"
Seth shrugged, glancing sideways at the person who had challenged him. "What is there about you for me to look up to?"
Everyone instinctively held their breath, their eyes fixed on Seth in unison. They didn’t feel humiliated; after all, they had been through much worse. What were a few verbal jabs?
The most important thing right now was the fast food!
They appeared to be staring at Seth, but in their hearts, all they could think about was the fast food.
Fewer than twenty people were crowded in front of the window, pushing and shoving. Someone whispered, "Do you have any Crystal Cores? Lend me one, I’m just one short!"
"Not a chance. How about you lend me two instead?" the other person flatly refused.
The two stared at each other, then discussed it in low voices for a while before making a decision.
One of them held two Crystal Cores, the other held one. Hand in hand, they squeezed to the front of the window and slapped the Crystal Cores on the counter together.
They said in unison, "We’ll take one order of the braised beef brisket with daikon!"
Seth took the Crystal Cores and turned to get them an order of the beef brisket and daikon.
Each holding one side of the container, they walked to a corner in apparent harmony, followed by a few "little tails"—people who wanted to see what the fast food looked like.
The fast food nowadays had been improved. It was divided into two layers, with the rice on the bottom and the main dish on top. The portion size was quite generous.
The moment the lid was lifted, a cloud of steam rushed out, and a rich aroma washed over them. The crowd gathered around the meal instantly widened their eyes.
"Th-th-this!"
"Is this real fast food?!"
"It’s really meat! And there are green vegetables! Good heavens! Am I seeing things?"
While the others were still talking, the two people squatting on the ground had already started to divide the meal. Since they had contributed different numbers of Crystal Cores, it naturally had to be split proportionally.
One of them took out a stainless steel bowl, his eyes glued to the food container, urging, "Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
The survivor who had paid two Crystal Cores took out a pair of disposable chopsticks and reluctantly portioned out a third of the meal for the other man. Feeling like he’d given too much, he secretly held some back.
The other man’s sharp eyes caught him. "You, you, you! What do you think you’re doing?! Put it back, put it back!" he shrieked.
The two glared at each other, then resignedly compromised. They both wanted to eat, so they could only divide it amicably. Having been hungry for days, they didn’t have the energy to fight.
And so, right in front of everyone, the two of them quickly divvied up the meal. Even the pieces of beef brisket were split one for you, one for me, with careful attention paid to the size.
Not to mention the green vegetables. One stalk for you, one for me. They even had to compare the length and the number of leaves. It had to be divided perfectly evenly, otherwise the chirping from the onlookers would drive you crazy.
When it was finally divided, the two began to eat with satisfaction, moved to tears with every bite.
The people nearby were drooling. The two men turned their backs, afraid that saliva would land in their bowls, but the crowd simply rotated with them.
Halfway through the spectacle, someone finally couldn’t take it anymore and shouted, "I have two Crystal Cores! Who wants to pool with me for a meal?!"
"Me, me, me!" Someone responded immediately. It was just too fragrant, too tempting! The beef brisket looked tender and chewy, and the vegetables were so vibrant green—they had to be fresh!
’Good heavens, even if it’s not fresh, who cares! These are green vegetables, a rare sight indeed! I’d eat it either way!’
In an instant, another crowd swarmed the window. Everyone found partners to pool their resources with; some in pairs, some even in groups of three. Seth didn’t mind. A sale was a sale.
He glanced behind him. With fewer than twenty people, he thought he could close up early. But the customers just kept coming. A second look revealed they were all coming from the lottery shop.
He knew it was Boss Hart’s doing. He could only sigh and diligently get back to work.
Little did he know that inside the lottery shop, Boss Hart was also dealing with someone.
"Hello, Boss Hart. I am Yael Lowell, the director of Central Command’s Logistics Department. We welcome you to join us." Director Yael Lowell’s expression was sincere, his words earnest.
"Oh, oh... huh? Join? Welcome?" After a full day of travel, her mind was a bit foggy. She responded instinctively before realizing something was off and questioning him.
Yael Lowell was confused. "Didn’t you come to Central Command to join us, Boss Hart?"
Lily Hart shook her head decisively. "Of course not."
"Then?"
"None of your business. In any case, it’s not to join some bullshit Logistics Department," Lily Hart blurted out. It was simply the truth.
Yael Lowell was instantly speechless, his face turning pale then red. The ’bullshit Logistics Department’... this was the first time anyone had dared to say that. The Logistics Department held an extremely high status in Central Command.
It was responsible for coordinating the distribution of all supplies in Central Command. Even the Powers Squads had to go through the Logistics Department’s approval process to apply for food and weapons for their missions.
The new types of food and misshapen fruits produced by the research institute also had to be sent to the Logistics Department for allocation.
If you offended the Logistics Department, they could directly cancel your natural water quota for the month. It was no exaggeration to say that members of the Logistics Department were considered a cut above the rest wherever they went.
And in her mouth, it became ’bullshit’?
Yael Lowell let out a heavy breath, composing himself. He remembered how Logan Holland had sung Boss Hart’s praises, going on about how amazing she was, how she could conjure anything out of thin air, and even grow normal vegetables and fruits.
He suppressed the small spark of anger in his heart and told himself he understood. ’Important people are like this. They have high standards; it’s understandable that they’d look down on the Logistics Department.’
’After all, she alone could replace the entire research institute.’
In the apocalypse, strength was truth.
’Those freeloaders at the research institute either research things you can’t eat or things that taste absolutely disgusting. Utterly useless!’
Yael Lowell cursed out the director of the research institute in his head, then turned back to Lily Hart with a smile. "Then you’re here to join Central Command?"
"Neither. I’m just here to set up a stall," Lily Hart said.
But she sighed inwardly. ’Looks like the days ahead won’t be so peaceful.’
Yael Lowell kept the smile plastered on his face, not at all surprised by Lily Hart’s words. He just said, "I heard that you’ve recently grown some fruits and vegetables, Boss Hart? Would you mind taking me to have a look?"
’Do you have any manners? You just met me and you’re already asking to see my trump card.’