The lobby manager looked at the yellow and pink individuals before him, and the crab roe buns in their hands.
"Uh... the two of you, our restaurant's burger recipe is already quite good, hmm~"
The lobby manager rephrased, continuing, "Our diners have already adapted to the current taste, and a sudden change might cause dissatisfaction among them."
"That's not important, I just want to treat you to a delicious crab roe burger."
The speaker was a mutated yellow sponge, a very rare variant.
Sponges were not ordinary bath towels, but extremely primitive multicellular animals, belonging to the phylum Porifera in the natural world.
Typically, such a primitive cell mutation would take the host's life, and surviving was a miracle.
Apart from the larger holes and skin color, the yellow sponge was no different from an ordinary person.
Taking the delicious crab roe burger, the lobby manager examined it from top to bottom.
"Indeed, superb burger-making skills!"
"From its appearance, color, and the combination of ingredients, it's already very appetizing!"
He took a bite!
A complex flavor exploded in his mouth, an unparalleled, exquisite taste that made the lobby manager collapse to his knees.
"This taste... is far superior to that of Chef Octavius! This is simply unbelievable."
"Oh my god, the burger chain is saved!"
"Boss, you can rest assured staying in the Mortal Ascension Palace..."
The lobby manager said in disbelief, "Have you studied burgers before? I don't believe you could create a recipe of this caliber in just a few days!"
The yellow sponge grinned foolishly, "I've been a professional burger chef for a long time. I even participated in the Burger Championship with your Chef Octavius years ago~~"
The lobby manager blinked, realizing they were old acquaintances of Chef Octavius.
But with such incredible culinary skills, why be a wandering chef?
They could be a treasure in any restaurant, with access to all sorts of rare ingredients.
"So, who won between you and Chef Octavius?"
"We were teammates back then~"
The yellow sponge scratched his head and grinned foolishly, "We came this time just to see how Chef Octavius was doing, but sadly, he's gone. There's not much point for us to stay here then."
Hearing that the two wanted to leave, the lobby manager's hair stood on end.
What would happen to the burger shop if they left?
"Well... Mr. Krabs might know of Chef Octavius's whereabouts, we can just wait here!"
"It's fine, we'll go find him directly."
"No, no, no, Mr. Krabs is in the Mortal Ascension Palace, and entry is forbidden there. I don't think it will be long before Mr. Krabs returns."
The yellow sponge put on his jacket and walked out of the shop.
He turned back to the manager and said, "As long as I clearly state my intentions, I believe the guards at the Mortal Ascension Palace will be accommodating."
...
Northern Region - Sunscorched Mountain Logistics Department
The person in charge here is the owner of "Dili River Freshness" - Xiao Hu.
It is said that Head Chef Wu Zi Kruegiewsk and he were sworn brothers, and Wu Zi's disappearance had made Xiao Hu very gaunt.
Mountains of checklists on the desk.
Logistics material dispatch...
Conscription of personnel...
Verification of pensions and disability benefits...
Preparation for allied forces' movement...
Subsequent personnel deployment...
Although this logistics minister's position was not high, he had an endless amount of things to manage.
Fortunately, the 200,000-strong army had already crossed the Tianchi Lake of Sunscorched Mountain and reached the Two Realms Spring, which significantly reduced Xiao Hu's pressure.
"Minister Xiao Hu, scouts report that two units are heading towards the logistics department, one from the east and one from the west!"
Xiao Hu was startled, "What kind of units? How many people, and do they have banners?"
"The unit approaching from the east has about two thousand men, with gleaming armor, white horses and white armor, and a cloud pattern on their banners. In addition, there are large numbers of archers and infantry accompanying them, with a wide variety of weapons!"
"The unit approaching from the west has only eight hundred men, all cavalry, with both men and horses clad in heavy armor, and their weapons are knightly swords. According to their banners, they seem to be called the Black Blade Knights!"
Xiao Hu shot up from his seat.
"Cloud patterns? Black Blade Knights?"
"Quickly give the order, prepare a welcome ceremony, with wine, meat, and dishes, to wash away the dust for our brother units!"
The camp gate was opened wide, and Xiao Hu looked around.
The two units were vastly different.
The white horses approaching from the east had wings on their backs, as white as swans, likely Level 9 captured Pegasus.
The black horses approaching from the west had a single horn on their heads, and were very sturdy. They were a subspecies of the fallen unicorn, with a capture level between 6 and 10.
Xiao Hu shouted, "You've traveled far, welcome! We have prepared tea and pastries, please rest here for a moment."
The unit from the west arrived first. The leader, on horseback, galloped up to Xiao Hu, raising his hooves high!
"I am Knight King, ninth on the Black List, this is my token!"
Xiao Hu caught the flying token and tucked it into his chest, "The Black Blade Knights are renowned, no one dares to impersonate you, please be seated quickly."
"No!"
The Knight King said coldly, "The front lines are in dire straits. Prepare rations and water quickly, I need to depart immediately!"
Although ranked only ninth, his influence was considerable.
If others on the Black List were mercenaries, then the Knight King was an army of mercenaries! These loyal black knights had followed the Knight King through countless battles!
And most of the wealth earned by the Knight King was distributed among his subordinates.
Xiao Hu asked, "Do you require wine?"
"Under my command, no one drinks! Borrowing courage from alcohol is the act of a brute."
"Understood."
Xiao Hu said no more. Water and rations were already prepared; they could depart with them.
The characteristic of fallen unicorns was great strength, strong vitality, and extreme endurance. Even subspecies could gallop for days without issue.
Watching the retreating backs of the knights, Xiao Hu couldn't help but sigh, "Even a delicious feast couldn't tempt them, they are truly an ironclad army."
"Life must be so dull without wine."
As soon as the Black Blade Knights departed, the unit from the east arrived.
Due to the presence of many infantry, archers, and chariots, their marching speed was considerably slower than the pure cavalry of the Black Blade Knights.
Xiao Hu was very familiar with this unit; they were old acquaintances from the northern region.
The Wolf Valley Volunteers!
Their leader was Lang Tu, one of the Ten Heroes of the North.
Wolf Valley was a vast grassland, similar to the Ice Hell Plains, and was also a secret gourmet paradise rarely visited by people. It produced ingredients between Level 1 and 45, and its meats, such as deer, lamb, rabbit, and wild boar, were very famous.
But Wolf Valley was renowned for its extremely large number and variety of wolves.
Every winter, when food became scarce, a portion of these beasts would leave Wolf Valley to raid human villages.
The Wolf Valley Volunteers were thus formed.
The leader of the Wolf Valley Volunteers was known as Lang Tu.
Xiao Hu stepped forward and greeted him warmly, "Old Butcher, how have you been lately!"
"Haha, that kid from Dili Freshness, haven't seen you in twenty years, are you still alive?"
"You can still hop around, why can't I!"
"Stop blabbering, my mouth is so dry from this journey!"
"Hey, it's about time you showed up, you've been making a fool of yourself for too long!"
Clearly, the two were very familiar with each other.
So familiar that they only used crude language.
The volunteers were used to it; Lang Tu was a well-known figure.
Xiao Hu smiled, "I say, can you guys not abstain from alcohol while marching?"
Lang Tu paused, and said with a hint of life's weariness, "Bearing scars, only wine can heal."
"Damn, the big brute is even quoting poetry now, I'm getting goosebumps."
"By the way, what kind of wine is it today?"
"You'll be satisfied!"