95: Exclusive ability: Mind bug?

“...I'm crying.”

At this moment, Lu Chuan felt the same way He Jingrui had half an hour ago.

Which boy doesn't love cool superpowers?

[...]

The System, speechless, brought up a panel and marked it with six large black dots.

After his disappointment, Lu Chuan still forced himself to cheer up and asked the System to continue explaining.

[The Host is born with a special ability to sense and distinguish ingredients. For example, before the previous few missions began, he used his intuition to find corresponding special animal and plant ingredients, and then improved the recipes provided by the System, making their deliciousness reach a new level.]

Listening to the System, Lu Chuan nodded thoughtfully.

In fact, he had discovered this talent of his since childhood.

It was hard to say whether this factor also played a role in why he later went into the mountains to make a living.

He remembered that during the most difficult times, he had managed to survive for a period by going into the mountains to search for non-toxic wild vegetables and mushrooms.

At this point, he suddenly thought of a blind spot and couldn't help but put his hands on his hips and glare at the System.

“Hey, wait a minute! System old geezer, since it's my own talent, why are you counting it as a reward?”

[Old...old geezer?]

“Hmph, are you trying to wriggle out of giving me my reward?”

The System was silent for a moment, then patiently continued to explain.

[The System revealing the Host's latent, undeveloped talent and transforming it into an active skill that can continuously strengthen as the Gourmet Cellss evolve is undoubtedly a reward.]

“Really?”

Lu Chuan asked suspiciously.

Mainly because he had been tricked by the System several times, he already had some PTSD-like psychological issues.

[...Really.]

“Then tell me, what exactly is this ability useful for?”

[After the Host masters the Mind Bug ability, on one hand, he can understand the inner thoughts of ingredients, and on the other hand, he has a unique advantage when searching for ingredients with special effects.]

“Sounds pretty amazing.”

Lu Chuan's eyes immediately lit up.

As a chef, aside from showering and sleeping, he spent the rest of his time dealing with ingredients.

Naturally, he could understand how abnormal the ability the System spoke of was.

Now he no longer yearned for those superpowers like “flying through the sky, burrowing into the ground, spitting fire, and turning invisible.” Instead, he began to look forward to the completion of next week's mission so he could unlock the ‘Mind Bug’ ability as soon as possible.

“Hehe, with the Mind Bug, I can now try the ingredients from the other side of the rift without any worries!”

Lu Chuan had seen so many strange species when he went to the other side of the rift.

As a chef, he was simply itching with curiosity.

But in the end, he only tried the taste of the Jade Cool Fruit.

For no other reason than simply being afraid of death.

But if he had the Mind Bug ability, he could hear the inner thoughts of ingredients, making it clear which species were non-toxic, which had delicious meat, and which had outstanding medicinal effects.

At that time, bringing He Jingrui, his enforcer and bodyguard, to go on a free shopping spree for otherworldly ingredients—wouldn't that be wonderful?

As soon as he thought of this, Lu Chuan almost drooled.

He immediately rolled around excitedly on the bed, and then, uncharacteristically, suffered from insomnia.

An hour later, Lu Chuan stared blankly at the ceiling.

“Can't sleep~”

Being too excited makes one overthink things.

Just as he managed to suppress the pleasant thought of the “Mind Bug” in his heart, he immediately thought of not having to set up his stall for the two days of the weekend.

Accustomed to a busy life, he genuinely felt a bit unaccustomed to it for a while.

Tomorrow and the day after, just stay at home playing on his phone?

Lu Chuan vaguely felt that it wasn't quite right.

Too decadent, not suitable for him, a rising sun at eight o'clock.

“How about I just continue setting up my stall?”

As soon as Lu Chuan had this thought, the System immediately popped out.

[Host, please strictly adhere to the System's designated stall operating hours.]

“...”

Lu Chuan was a bit speechless.

However, he suddenly thought of something and asked the System.

“How come I feel like the income from these appetite coins isn't quite right?”

[What's not right?]

“Look, I've calculated it carefully, and the number of appetite coins only corresponds to what I earned during the stall operating hours.”

“But during non-stall hours, I also made grilled fish for He Jingrui and Uncle Deming to try. So, dear System, tell me, where did their appetite coins go?”

After Lu Chuan finished asking, the System was silent for a moment, then slowly replied.

[The System only counts appetite coins harvested during stall operating hours.]

“...Aren't you being a hooligan?”

[The System only counts appetite coins harvested during stall operating hours.]

“Hmph! Too much!”

[The System only counts appetite coins harvested during stall operating hours.]

“Is that the only sentence you know?”

[The System only counts...]

“Alright, alright, I'm afraid of you.”

Lu Chuan lay back on the bed, speechless with emotion.

It seemed that the right to interpret appetite coins rested solely with the System.

Damn System!

At this moment, the System's mischievous voice echoed in Lu Chuan's mind again.

[Detected that the Host has earned over 20,000 appetite coins, enough to repay the debt. Would you like to deduct them?]

“Deduct them, deduct them. The sooner they're deducted, the sooner I'll have peace of mind. Oh, and display my character panel.”

Lu Chuan waved his hand and said.

The next moment, the System panel appeared.

[Gourmet Resonance System]

[Host: Lu Chuan]

[Cell Awakening Rate: 5%]

[Abilities: None]

[appetite coins: 23]

Lu Chuan looked at his original deposit of over 20,000 appetite coins, now a measly 23, and couldn't help but twitch his lips.

Was it easy for him to earn coins?

Damn System!

After grieving for a while, Lu Chuan's gaze moved upwards, and he saw the cell awakening rate had increased to 5%, which surprised him a little.

However, thinking about it carefully, his current cooking skills were not low, and with the System's recipe buff, he was cooking special meals for himself and He Jingrui every day.

This progress seemed fairly normal... right?

“I wonder what He Jingrui's cell awakening rate is, but it should be lower than mine, hmph hmph.”

[I'm sorry, he has 10%, which is double yours.]

The System suddenly spoke up again.

“Cough, cough, cough.”

Lu Chuan had been a bit smug, but this choked him, making his face red and him cough.

It wasn't until his breath returned to normal that he said, unconvinced:

“Why does he have so much more than me?”

[Although the ‘Autophagy’ state is terrifying, once recovered, the Gourmet Cellss will be further developed.]

“That's possible?”

Lu Chuan was a bit surprised, then, as if he had found a shortcut to becoming stronger, he happily laughed.

The System asked hesitantly:

[Host, what are you planning to do?]

Lu Chuan chuckled.

“What else? Find a way to enter the ‘Autophagy’ state!”

The System was silent for a few seconds, then seemed a bit speechless as it said:

[It is not recommended for the Host to do this.]

“Why?”

[The numerical value of the Cell Awakening Rate objectively reflects the degree of Gourmet Cells evolution.]

Seeing that Lu Chuan still didn't understand, the System patiently continued to explain.

[And the benign evolution of Gourmet Cellss requires the participation of the Host's subjective consciousness.]

“You mean?”

[Once entering the ‘Autophagy’ state, it means that the evolution of the Gourmet Cellss cannot be corrected by the Host's subjective consciousness. At that time, what the individual will evolve into is an unknown.]

“...”

Lu Chuan blinked, then cold sweat seeped from his forehead.

Images of unknown monsters like octopus monsters, Mud Monsters, and tentacle monsters flashed through his mind.

Then, thinking that He Jingrui might also turn into that appearance in the future, he suddenly couldn't sit still.

[Host, please calm down. He still has a chance to correct it.]

The System spoke to comfort him.

Hearing this, Lu Chuan finally relaxed.

Then, a wave of drowsiness began to wash over him.

“Ha~”

He yawned.

Lu Chuan waved at the System.

“I'm going to sleep. Good night, you damn System~”

[...Good night.]