"A knuckle is 3,000, you ate three, that's 9,000 energy. Other skewers, roasted lamb leg, roasted lamb ribs, let's say 6,000 energy, that isn't too much?"
Hearing Xiao Feng's words, Bai Meng found this price somewhat acceptable.
"Fine!"
Helplessly, Bai Meng took out energy crystals to pay for the lunch.
However, he used white energy crystals, not higher-grade ones of equal value.
From this, it could be seen that higher-grade energy crystals have a value that goes beyond just trade value.
As for Zhang Lei in the distance, he was still eating slowly.
Regarding this, Xiao Feng smiled slightly and didn't pay it any mind.
Xiao Feng knew what Zhang Lei was thinking. However, this guy was smart enough to follow the restaurant's rules to preserve his life.
Looking at Bai Meng and his group who had finished their meal, were picking their teeth, and lounging, Xiao Feng immediately sneered.
"Everyone, are you just going to linger after eating? Don't occupy seats without ordering food; I still have business to run!"
Xiao Feng issued a customer eviction order.
Bai Meng was momentarily puzzled, "Can't I sit here?"
"You can, but you can't take too long! If more customers come, how can I accommodate them?" Xiao Feng responded before heading back to the kitchen.
Only at that moment did Bai Meng realize why Zhang Lei had been eating so slowly.
Seeing Xiao Feng return to the kitchen, Bai Meng couldn't help but say, "Zhang Lei, you eat well. This might be your last meal. I'll be here waiting to see how long you can keep eating!"
Unexpectedly, Zhang Lei responded nonchalantly, "Sure, let's see who can outlast the other!"
Just then, Bai Zhi pointed to the small blackboard in the distance, "Brother, look at the rules over there!"
After reading the content on the small blackboard, they understood.
Shortly after, Xiao Feng came out and began to chase them away without ceremony.
Helplessly, Bai Meng pulled out energy crystals again, saying, "Don't rush us. I'm not full yet. Give us some more buns!"
"Sure!"
Hearing this, Xiao Feng cracked a smile.
Even though he knew this was Xiao Feng's strategy, Bai Meng had no choice. Before long, fragrant buns were served again.
Although they had eaten a short while ago, it was barely enough to satisfy their hunger, given they were always in a state of alert and near-starvation.
As the buns arrived, they immediately began wolfing them down.
"Slow down, will you? Are you trying to be reborn in a hurry?" Bai Meng scolded as he stood up.
"Don't you see the restaurant rules? Zhang Lei is obviously stalling. If you finish all your food at once, won't the owner kick us out again?" Hearing Bai Meng's scolding, everyone slowed down their eating pace.
Time passed, second by second.
Before they knew it, two hours had passed. Zhang Lei had spent a full two hours eating a knuckle and buns.
And after finishing the meal, Zhang Lei shouted to the kitchen, "Boss, another plate of buns, please!"
Hearing this, Bai Meng was exasperated.
In the process of their slow consumption, they managed to finish all the buns.
"Boss, we want buns too!" Bai Zhi tried to stop them, but they had already been eaten.
So, the pattern continued, and two hours passed again.
Just as Bai Meng was preparing to continue this consumption battle with Zhang Lei, Bai Zhi stopped him.
"Brother, let's not do this!"
Bai Zhi shook her head. "We can't outlast Zhang Lei. He's alone, and every meal we consume is several times what he eats. In the end, it's the owner who wins."
"We can let the others go first, and you and I can stay here," Bai Zhi suggested.
Unwillingly, Bai Meng replied, "Fine, he's wasting our time anyway. We can't wait until he leave first, or we'll end up with the most significant losses."
"And we already killed his brother, Zhang Dian," Bai Zhi reminded him. "This time, we didn't get the mutation serum, but neither did they. So, in the end, we're still ahead."
Hearing this, Bai Meng thought for a moment, sighed, and stood up. He threatened Zhang Lei, "Kid, you're lucky this time. Let's see what happens next time!"
"Bai Meng!" At the same time, Zhang Lei showed no sign of weakness. "You killed my brother, and we're now sworn enemies. If I make it back this time, I will definitely kill you!"
"Hmph! Come at me if you dare!"
After Bai Meng's retort, he left without paying Zhang Lei any further attention.
At this moment, in the kitchen, Xiao Feng quietly watched everything unfold with a triumphant, shrewd merchant's smile.
The two sides consuming their resources benefited Xiao Feng, who profited a few thousand energies for himself.
After the two parties left, Xiao Feng had gained around 25,000 energy in total.
Bai Meng and his group had left, Zhang Lei was still eating.
He couldn't leave just yet; he had to wait for Bai Meng's group to leave completely.
Three hours later, Zhang Lei finally stood up and made his way out.
"Welcome back anytime!" Xiao Feng personally saw Zhang Lei off.
Upon leaving, Zhang Lei turned to look at Xiao Feng and bowed deeply.
It could be said that if it weren't for Xiao Feng, he would have met his end here.
Inside, Zhang Lei felt deeply grateful toward Xiao Feng.
However, Xiao Feng noticed that Zhang Lei didn't immediately leave through the sewer but instead headed toward the direction of the biological research institute.
Seeing this, Xiao Feng immediately understood what was happening.
Previously, Zhang Lei knows Zhang Dian had obtained the mutation serum.
This piece of information was known only to Zhang Lei, so he was returning for it.
Little did he know that Xiao Feng had already taken the serum.
Nonetheless, when Zhang Lei arrived at the Biological Research Institute and found his brother's lifeless body, he searched thoroughly but couldn't find the mutation serum.
"Could it have been taken by Bai Meng and his group?" Zhang Lei wondered.
Thinking of the way Bai Meng's group had behaved, he couldn't have obtained it. But it was unclear why Zhang Lei's brother's sword lay on the ground not too far away.
He picked up the weapon, conducted a thorough search, and eventually left the area.
On the other side, Xiao Feng closed the restaurant and began to calculate his gains.