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墨書 Inktalez
The elevator's arrival chime sounded, indicating they had reached the top floor.
As the elevator doors opened, they saw Dream Source stepping out with a flushed face and a slightly angry expression. Lin and Xing Shifang both pursed their lips, not daring to say anything more.
However, the three of them quickly shifted their focus from that topic as they were captivated by the top-floor restaurant.
The decor of the upscale restaurant was markedly different from the other floors; it wasn't just one restaurant but a combination of several dining establishments.
The entire floor's design also set it apart from others, featuring a massive one-way glass in the center that allowed a view of the scenery on the floor below. The upper circle was also open, giving a sense of the morning sun's warmth, with soft white clouds drifting by like cotton candy.
A faint aroma wafted through the floor, the scent of cream, which made the three who hadn't eaten feel even hungrier, wishing they could find a place to feast immediately.
As they exited the elevator, they noticed that the top floor was quite empty. It was only eight in the morning, and most Noodle Shops had yet to open. Being luxurious restaurants, there were few diners, and it was rare to see customers in the morning; it was better for them to rest a little longer before opening.
Through the glass windows, they could see that each restaurant had decent facilities. Although their styles varied, they could all be considered high-end establishments.
Based on Lin's experience, he had a knack for assessing restaurants since he had once run a top-tier dining establishment himself!
"I just wonder how these restaurants' Craftsmanship is..."
The facilities of the restaurants were merely superficial; what truly retained customers was Craftsmanship, which included culinary skills and service. Lin glanced at one restaurant and then another, wishing he could call them all to open up and cook for him.
"Bro, it seems like we came at the wrong time..."
Xing Shifang looked dejected; not being able to enjoy a top-notch breakfast felt like a disaster for him. He was quite simple-minded, having only two passions: cultivation and gourmet food. He needed these interests to accompany him; otherwise, he would feel very down.
After wandering around for a while, their initial excitement turned into disappointment. Xing Shifang sulked with his arms hanging down behind him, mumbling, "These shops have no conscience; not opening early in the morning is going to starve us!"
As they walked along, aside from seeing those lavishly decorated Noodle Shops, they found no other stores open from Lin Ta's family. This left them feeling quite disheartened.
Just when they had nearly given up hope, they noticed some activity in an inconspicuous corner where a restaurant appeared much older than its surroundings.
The wooden door remained closed; it seemed they had no intention of opening yet and were busy with something inside.
However, Lin and his companions felt as if they had found a lifeline. While there were no patrons in the surrounding Noodle Shops, this one had some activity inside, even though it looked like the least upscale restaurant here.
"Let's go take a look and see if we can eat something here!"
Dream Source was excited; she didn't want to leave this place that smelled of cream. Even if the decor was somewhat shabby, the food could surely qualify as top-notch.
"I'll give it a try..."
Lin Ye was unwilling to leave like this and was about to knock on the door.
"I'll do it! I'll do it!"
Before Lin could step forward, Xing Shifang eagerly ran to the wooden door and began knocking. The sound of knocking echoed, and through the nearby glass window, they saw someone coming out.
After a short while, a shorter figure emerged from inside. A frail voice came from behind the door, "What do you want?"
The voice sounded kind, but the gentle tone couldn't hide the sorrowful emotion. He seemed to have some worries, and his words carried a sense of melancholy.
Lin Yi heard it was an elderly man and immediately pulled Xing Shifang back. This straightforward guy might inadvertently offend the old man, which Lin wanted to avoid. He stepped forward himself.
"Hello, sir. We're here to eat. Are you open for business?"
To his surprise, this polite inquiry was met with a sigh. After a long sigh from inside, the old man said, "Just go away; I'm not open anymore. I'm closing down today. I just came to take a look..."
Hmm? Closing down?
Lin Xin felt a jolt; every restaurant closing made him tense. As a fellow chef, he most dreaded seeing his peers lose their jobs, as it could signify a downturn in the industry.
A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind. Lin hesitated but did not give up. Instead, he spoke up: "Sir, we're newcomers who have been wandering around all morning and would love to taste dishes from a top restaurant. We're quite hungry now; could you let us eat something?"
There was silence inside for what felt like half a minute before they heard the sound of the door lock turning. The lock was an old-fashioned style, not electronic, indicating that this establishment had a retro theme, much like the carvings on the wooden door that exuded a sense of history.
The wooden door slowly opened, revealing a plump old man standing inside. He appeared to be over five feet tall with an oily octopus-like face that was deep purple in color. On either side of his cheeks were tentacle-like whiskers curled into circles. Fortunately, these tentacles were still; otherwise, they would look quite disgusting. This old man was not human; Lin couldn't identify what species he belonged to.
"Come in!"
Fat Octopus Elder said as he walked inside with his hands behind his back. His gait was unsteady, much like the weathered wooden door; he had also endured the trials of time and was now in his twilight years.
Lin furrowed his brows in deep thought as he watched the back of the Fat Octopus Elder, feeling an uncomfortable sense of melancholy that came with old age. The two people beside him, however, were less affected and excitedly walked into the shop.
The Noodle Shop was small, with only ten tables made from century-old wood, much like the old man himself, both filled with a sense of history. A faint scent of wood lingered in the air, suggesting that it had been a long time since a fire had been lit; otherwise, there would be the aroma of cooked food.
The shop felt heavy with time; it accompanied the elderly man into his twilight years, and it was an old establishment with stories to tell.
The three found a seat by the window. Xing Shifang looked around excitedly but couldn't find a menu after searching for a while. He then shouted, "Old man, could we see the menu, please?"
The old man had already entered the kitchen and began bustling about. His aged voice floated out, "There is no Divine Menu here. At Gurikumon, you eat what I prepare."
This statement left the three momentarily stunned. Xing Shifang scratched his head and muttered, "What kind of restaurant is this? No ordering allowed? Just eat whatever is made?"
"How strange. Gurikumon? The name of this restaurant is odd, and that old man is peculiar too. The rules are even stranger," Dream Source chimed in with wide eyes.
Only Lin raised an eyebrow and chuckled softly, "Interesting, interesting. He dares to impose such rules."
The rule of eating whatever the chef prepares was not new in the Culinary World, but few dared to implement it because it required not only exceptional culinary skills but also demanded loyalty from customers to the restaurant.
Indeed, it was a restaurant with stories to tell, and Lin was even more eager to taste what was offered.
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