"..."

The Killer Demon didn't think this was a normal mark that should be on a badge.

"Leopard Head, you came just in time. The thing David brought back has issues. Help me check out what this stuff is."

The expert, who was called out, rolled his eyes.

"Don't give me that Santa nickname."

He took the badge and carefully examined the indentations discovered by the Killer Demon, but couldn't figure it out. He could only wait to consult with a colleague in cryptography to see what's going on.

Meanwhile, the Killer Demon sneered coldly.

"Aren't you an expert? Is there a problem calling you Leopard Head?"

"Didn't expect someone with thick eyebrows and big eyes like you, an old relic, to be interested in movies?"

The expert sneered back.

"But it's fitting, an old relic like you watching old relic movies from decades ago is quite fitting."

——————

"I heard the cop's cafeteria has opened up in Cuba, and they have some awesome new dishes. Where is it?"

The Sword Saint, freshly returned and smelling of gunpowder, had countless bullet holes in the bulletproof armor plates of his MT-3 exoskeleton, with some embedded bullets still stuck in various places. His face even bore scars from burns.

Indifferently, the Sword Saint found the location of the cafeteria. Having just arrived in Cuba, it's unlikely there would be buildings, so the cafeteria was open-air, with a bunch of tables laid out, creating a dining hall.

A bunch of Hell Divers, Masked Riders, and chief officers were seated at tables devouring the food before them.

"Wait a minute, what kind of stuff are you guys eating? Can you finish all you ordered?"

The Sword Saint almost drooled upon seeing what they ate.

A huge chunk of roast beef in the center of the platter was steaming with delicious juices, some long hard breadsticks soaked in the fragrant cream soup, skewered roasted meat on a wooden platter, various fruits piled below, and even cake, donuts—the scene made the Sword Saint dumbstruck.

Not a buddy.

Where have I arrived?

The food we had in Night City wasn't this good.

"Give me some too."

The Sword Saint, almost drooling, grabbed a skewer from in front of Masked Rider's plate and stuffed it into his mouth.

The unknown kind of hot, roasted meat burst with rich meat aroma in his mouth, its golden oil significantly eased some of his fatigue from the nocturnal battle.

The Masked Rider protested angrily.

"Buy your own if you want to eat! I worked hard for the 150 I spent on this meal."

Only 150?

This price shocked the Sword Saint and shifted his focus to the cooking area.

The person cooking was someone the Sword Saint knew, but he didn't expect it to be her.

He stood at the order counter, his mouth agape in surprise.

"You...."

"Hello, what would you like to eat? You can choose from the menu."

Yoshida Saki, wearing a chef's apron, smiled pleasantly. Behind her, a dozen different machines were humming, large chunks of roasted meat, soups, bread, were sent to the serving counter like on a conveyor belt, making the long-waiting players treasure what they received.

Besides her, there were seven or eight other chefs, offering cuisines including Chinese, Italian, French, Turkish, Mexican, and more.

"No... how come you're here?"

The Sword Saint couldn't help but ask.

"You even became a cook here? Making these...."

"Ah! You mean this."

Yoshida Saki gratefully bowed to the Sword Saint, although she didn't know him, she knew everyone here was considered her benefactor and a friend of Agent Mister.

"Because I'm not skilled in combat but wanted to repay the life-saving grace, a kind person suggested I cook for everyone. The menu styles were taught to me by him, and I learned for a long time before getting the hang of it. I hope you all are satisfied."

Swordfish, devouring seafood gratin from afar, suddenly stood up waving a drumstick excitedly.

"Don't thank me."

As the soilless cultivation base continuously expanded, the yield of various vegetables and fruits was rising rapidly. Even the synthetic meat factories and livestock breeding facilities began large-scale production. These items couldn't be marketed, as that would conflict with biotech, so they had to be internally consumed, massively sent to Cuba to fill the players' stomachs.

With the new profession, Mechanic, and the popularization of automation, previously time-consuming and labor-intensive dishes can be cooked quickly, so why not?

Who said all these things must be used for warfare?

A group of Monster Hunter players were eating and crying.

"World's cat food is just better. Thinking about what days I had in Flame Village, eating rice cakes every day, my mouth almost went bland."

"Flame Village was okay. Do you know how hard it was to keep a straight face every time I ate in the wilderness watching that impossible expression?"

"My Cloud Village hasn't even spoken up yet!"

This is definitely not coming to fight; this is a vacation.

Despite the Sword Saint's inner complaints, he ate while balancing work and play.

I've fought for so long, can't I enjoy myself at all?

"Give me some English roast beef and French lobster soup, plus a Spanish seafood paella."

"Alright, please wait for a moment."

While the cooking process couldn't truly replicate Monster Hunter, watching huge pieces of roasted meat skewered by machines and roasted over fire, the fat melting into golden oil covering the brown-roasted meat was mouth-watering.

As Yoshida Saki cooked, the Sword Saint nosily asked.

"By the way, why do I only see you? Where's the street delinquent? Did he dare let you come to Cuba alone?"

Yoshida Saki trembled, almost dropping the meat into the fire upon hearing the question, and she lowered her head after a while.

"Agent Mister took a task from the Truth Department. They said they went to develop new software."

"New software?"

The Sword Saint murmured.

"What mysterious stuff are they up to at such a time?"