Chicken Claw
"【Special Envoy】 【Lord】, are you satisfied?"
【Zong Wen】, wearing a floral shirt, sat next to Chen Ling and asked with a smile.
Chen Ling knew that what this 【Old Fella】 was asking was most likely not about the decoration of this dining room, and even less about those few dishes of food that hadn't been opened yet. Seeing the other party's eyes full of romantic intent, he knew he was asking about the "appreciation" just now.
Chen Ling was too lazy to pay attention to him. Since he had found that painting, the remaining links were inconsequential. If he didn't have to continue playing the "【Special Envoy】" well, he would have already turned around and left...
Chen Ling drank a sip of tea and didn't say a word, as if he hadn't heard 【Zong Wen】's question at all.
【Zong Wen】's smile gradually became awkward. Perhaps sensing that the 【Special Envoy】's mood was not very good, he turned his head and glared at 【Liu Qingyan】, as if questioning what was going on. The latter, however, just stood silently at the door, motionless.
"【Special Envoy】 【Lord】, just eating is truly too boring. I also specially prepared some 【Performance】s for you to add to the fun..."
"【Performance】?"
But as 【Zong Wen】 clapped his hands lightly and an orchestral band walked onto the 【Stage】, Chen Ling breathed a slight sigh of relief in his heart... Fortunately, this time it was really just a "【Performance】".
As the melodious music sounded, the dining room was immediately immersed in an elegant atmosphere. In front of the 【Stage】, there were only Chen Ling and 【Zong Wen】's two exclusive dining tables. On each table, decorative glass candles were lit, dotting the silver-white surface of the knives and forks like sparks.
It had to be said, 【Zong Wen】 did have some artistic aura about him, at least he handled the atmosphere and style perfectly.
"【Special Envoy】 【Lord】, these are top-level famous chefs I specially poached from major restaurants in the Red Dust 【Main City】 today." 【Zong Wen】 smiled and said, "And these ingredients are also freshly shipped over, absolutely giving you top-level taste bud enjoyment!"
He clapped his hands, "Serve the dishes to the 【Special Envoy】!"
At 【Zong Wen】's command, the famous chefs who had been waiting for a long time in the surroundings pushed their dining carts forward and began to set the meal on the two people's tables. A dining plate covered by a metal lid was placed in front of Chen Ling.
"This first course is steamed phoenix claws with purple gold sauce, please appreciate it, 【Special Envoy】 【Lord】!"
Pa—!
The metal cover was lifted in front of Chen Ling, and a few chicken claws appeared in front of him.
【Audience Expectation Value +2】
Chen Ling's gaze fell on the plate of chicken claws in front of him, as if discovering something. He picked up a chicken claw that had been mostly gnawed away, with only a shred of skin and meat left sticking to the bone. The expression under his mask was incomparably subtle.
Seeing the chicken claw in Chen Ling's hand, 【Zong Wen】's smile suddenly stiffened.
Chen Ling was silent for a moment, and slowly opened his mouth:
"Your 【Flower Capital Consortium】's plating... is quite unique."
The smile on 【Zong Wen】's face could gradually no longer be maintained. He stared fiercely at the chefs who delivered the dishes, as if he was going to eat them alive the next moment!
Seeing the "skinless chicken claw" in Chen Ling's hand, the several chefs were also dumbfounded. After sensing 【Zong Wen】's questioning gaze, their backs were instantly soaked in cold sweat, and they stammered out,
"It shouldn't... shouldn't be ah... no one in the 【Kitchen】 should have secretly eaten it..."
【Zong Wen】's face turned completely red with anger. In this instant, various thoughts flashed through his mind... Logically speaking, this group of famous chefs wouldn't go as far as secretly eating a chicken claw. Could it be that someone had been bought by the Beidou Consortium, specially coming to sow discord in his relationship with the 【Special Envoy】??
What a malicious business war!
"【Special Envoy】 【Lord】, there is most likely some misunderstanding in this..." 【Zong Wen】 bit the bullet and explained.
Boom——!!
Right at this moment, an earth-shattering loud noise came from outside, and the ground trembled along with it.
The startled crowd looked outside and saw a thick plume of black smoke rising from the distance. Just as 【Zong Wen】 was astonished, a figure hurriedly ran in from outside.
"Chairman! Someone blew up the 【Kitchen】!!"
"What? Blew up the 【Kitchen】??" 【Zong Wen】 stood blankly on the spot.
Chen Ling: ...
Hearing these words, the expression under Chen Ling's mask was suddenly quite brilliant. Although he didn't know exactly what happened, it was most likely the doing of those three guys.
But Chen Ling couldn't figure it out for the life of him... What were those three idiots blowing up the 【Kitchen】 for??
"Have the people been caught?" 【Zong Wen】 came back to his senses and asked immediately.
"No... When our men rushed over, they didn't find anything. The culprits are most likely still in the manor." The butler then said, "However, the bodyguards have already been dispatched and are fully searching the surroundings of the 【Kitchen】."
"Damn it, trash! A bunch of trash!!" 【Zong Wen】's neck was red with anger. He didn't know exactly who did this, but he guessed the other party was most likely aiming to mess up this banquet.
Meanwhile, Chen Ling slowly stood up, and his deep voice followed:
"It seems it is time for this 【Special Envoy】 to leave."
"【Special Envoy】 【Lord】! Give me a little more time, this is just a small interlude, I guarantee it will be solved very soon..." 【Zong Wen】 became anxious immediately, walked right up to Chen Ling, and pleaded.
Then, as if thinking of something, he continued, "These people are most likely aiming to disrupt our relationship with you, the 【Special Envoy】... Their minds are truly malicious to the extreme. With your strength, 【Special Envoy】, I think as long as you slightly make a move..."
"Chairman 【Zong Wen】, I know what you are thinking."
Chen Ling's eyes beneath the mask were as deep as an abyss, "This 【Special Envoy】 will not participate in the grudges between your 【Flower Capital Consortium】 and the Beidou Consortium. Don't even think about using this opportunity to drag this 【Special Envoy】 down with you."
With this one sentence, Chen Ling backhandedly slapped the "Beidou Consortium" hat onto 【Jian Changsheng】 and the others, directly pushing all the blame out, perfectly clearing his and the 【Dusk Society】's relationship, and also finding a reason for himself not to make a move.
【Zong Wen】 froze for a moment. From Chen Ling's sentence, he had figured out the flavor... Since the 【Special Envoy】 said so, it meant the other party was indeed someone sent by the Beidou Consortium!
【Zong Wen】 gritted his teeth and tangled for a moment, still saying: "I understand... Then please rest here for a moment, 【Special Envoy】, I will be able to solve this matter very soon."
He turned around and was about to leave, suddenly thought of something, and walked to the three bodyguards behind him:
"You three, you must guard this floor well for me, absolutely do not let anyone disturb the 【Special Envoy】, understand? Make sure to serve him well and keep him steady..."
"Understood!"
After finishing his instructions, 【Zong Wen】 took the others and left hurriedly.
Chen Ling sat alone at the dining table, his gaze glancing at the three high-tier bodyguards left to stand guard at the door. Although some accidents had occurred, things were still steadily advancing in the general direction...
The elegant orchestral music was still playing on the 【Stage】. Chen Ling sat alone in the luxurious dining room, gently swirling the red wine glass, leisurely taking light sips.