章 83: Chapter 80: Dumpster Delight!
The next day, Raymond observed Jake and Logan as they hung up the banner for their restaurant, crafted from a simple wooden board.
"Is it symmetrical now?"
Jake turned to Raymond, seeking approval.
Raymond nodded in satisfaction, "Looks good enough to me."
With the weather clearing up, the restaurant became more visible, standing out despite its location on the outskirts of the city, where few homeless people tended to linger.
"Hey, do you see that?"
"Yeah, what is it? Did my eyes just go bad? I swear there was only rubble around here last time."
Passersby scavenging for food amidst the heaps of trash, noticed the restaurant and pointed at it in confusion, intrigued by its presence in such an unexpected place.
"Dumpster Delights? Seems appropriate for this spot," Luke remarked, eyeing the banner bearing the restaurant's name.
Turning to Raymond, he inquired, "So, what's the plan now?"
Taka, who had arrived earlier, also glanced at Raymond, curious about the next steps.
Raymond grinned confidently.
"I cook," he declared.
With that, they all filed into the restaurant, leaving the door and windows open as Raymond got to work in the kitchen.
"Get the fire going," Raymond instructed, motioning to the stone griddle he had made with his kitchen knife coated with his Nen.
"Noted, boss..."
Adin approached, igniting the flames beneath the stove made of similar stone.
With precision, Raymond deftly began to skin the boar, swiftly separating what was needed with his expert knife skills.
Each movement of his blade was precise and efficient, effortlessly slicing through the tough hide as if it were mere butter.
Finishing with the skinning process, Raymond immediately began cooking.
As the cooking progressed, the enticing aroma of the sizzling meat wafted through the air, mingling with the foul odors of the surrounding trash heaps.
"Haha, as expected, his cooking is the best..."
Luke couldn't help but salivate at the mouthwatering scent, his lips moistening with anticipation.
Taka's eyes lit up with excitement, and he found himself drooling at the delicious smell.
Despite the unpleasant surroundings, the delicious scent drew the attention of passersby, piquing their curiosity about the small restaurant.
And so it began, the small restaurant started gaining attention for its delicious meals at pocket-friendly prices.
Luke and his companions enjoyed themselves, feasting, chatting, and laughing on the opening day, while Taka tried his best to manage the influx of customers since he had never done this in the first place.
"...!!!"
As everyone savored their first bites, their eyes widened in amazement.
The meat was tender and succulent, melting in their mouths with each flavorful bite.
"Is this real life?"
The tantalizing flavors had them questioning if they had stumbled upon paradise.
"Owner! Can we have seconds?"
They pleaded with Raymond, willing to empty their wallets for another taste.
But Raymond shook his head firmly, "One meal per person only."
"Huh? But it's so delicious!"
"Exactly, because it's delicious, I want everyone to have a chance to enjoy it."
"...!"
These bums were taken aback by Raymond's words.
Despite their tough exterior, they knew the importance of looking out for one another in this harsh city where they had only each other to rely on.
Raymond's words struck a chord with them, and they left the restaurant, spreading his message of generosity throughout the city.
Dumpster Delight became an instant hit as more and more people flocked to savor its delicious offerings.
Still, with limited meat supplies, they had to close shop by nightfall.
However...
"We still have some meat left for all of us..."
However, Raymond's reassuring words brought relief to Luke and the others inside the now-closed restaurant.
Their faces lit up with joy at the prospect of another savory meal prepared by Raymond.
"...Aniki, can I take it home?"
Taka asked tentatively, his voice filled with hope.
Raymond looked at Taka's figure in silence for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Sure, just give me a moment," he replied.
Without saying a word, Raymond quickly went to the back of the room and grabbed a piece of wood.
With his kitchen knife, he skillfully carved it into a container resembling a bento box.
Each cut was precise, creating smooth edges and patterns on the wood.
Next, he cooked the remaining meat perfectly, filling the air with its delicious scent.
Carefully, he placed the cooked meat inside the wooden container, arranging it neatly.
Handing the container to Taka, Raymond smiled.
"Here you go," he said simply.
"Thanks, Aniki! You're awesome!"
Taka said happily, grateful for the tasty treat.
With a nod, Taka hurried off into the city, eager to enjoy the meal at home with Sin.
"He's surprisingly adaptable for his first day, a real tough kid," Luke remarked, and the others at the table nodded in agreement.
He then turned to Raymond, who watched Taka disappear in silence, and teased, "Hey, Boss! Time for dinner service!"
Raymond shook his head with a small smile before heading to the kitchen.
The sound of sizzling meat filled the restaurant as he cooked, and soon the fragrant aroma filled the air. With precision, he placed the cooked meat on the table.
As they dug into their meal, they noticed Raymond hadn't joined them.
"Boss, aren't you eating?" Adin asked as he was a bit puzzled.
Raymond remained behind the kitchen counter, focused on his knife. He simply replied, "Not hungry."
"Didn't you say there was enough for all of us?" Luke asked, puzzled by Raymond's refusal to eat.
Raymond nodded.
"I gave my share to someone else," he replied calmly.
Luke's eyes widened as he realized something as he shook his head with a small chuckle.
"Take half of mine then..."
"Ours too then!"
"Well, I can't say no to such free food, guys. Appreciate it," Raymond said, his smile warm and genuine.
"But... Could you guys go to the forest to hunt some wild boar again tonight?"
"...That's not how you thank someone for their generosity, you know?"
Luke couldn't help but facepalm at Raymond's request.
Raymond's smile remained unchanged, but there was a firmness in his gaze, "Why? You've been having fun throughout the day with no work, time to work..."
"..."
Now that Raymond mentioned that, they couldn't bring themselves to argue anymore as they ate their fill before going out with a sigh.
Meanwhile...
Not far from the Meteor City...
A woman with pink hair stepped cautiously towards the city outskirts after emerging from the dense forest.
She glanced around, noting the familiar sights with a hint of nostalgia.
"It's been a while since I was last here," she muttered softly to herself.
Her mind drifted to the old man with grey hair who had safeguarded Sarasa's belongings as she continued, "...Let's hope you're still alive, old man."
---
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