Chapter 20: They... seem to be controlled by the Mastermind

Chapter 20: Chapter 20: They... seem to be controlled by the Mastermind

The restaurant kitchen.

The Food Safety Department had sent a total of four officials, along with two inspection robots.

Two of the four were fans of Lin Zhenxiang, and their trust in their idol had spread to their other two colleagues.

So after assigning the task of inspecting ingredients to the robots, the four of them brazenly gathered together to shoot the breeze and slack off.

When Shu Yao and Qin Shiwei entered the kitchen, one after the other, it made the officials tense up for a moment.

But upon seeing two unfamiliar faces, they relaxed and resumed their lazy attitudes.

Qin Shiwei glanced at them and furrowed his brow, a sinister shadow falling over his dark green eyes.

He demanded coldly, "Have you found any problems?"

The officials just looked at each other.

After a long moment, one of them finally replied, "We’re still investigating."

Another spoke up in defense of Lin Zhenxiang and the restaurant. "Miss Xiangxiang is a major influencer on the Star Network’s food channel. Why would she use low-quality ingredients? That would be just ruining her own brand! I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with her restaurant!"

The other two quickly chimed in:

"Miss Xiangxiang just explained everything to us. It’s just some trash from the Lower Star District who tried to dine and dash, so now they’re trying to smear her name!"

"That family of scum is just outrageous!"

Even though a special device disguised his features, a cold, tight, grim expression was plain to see on Qin Shiwei’s otherwise unremarkable face. He looked ready to erupt at any second.

"Hey, who do you think you are? Barging in here while we’re working. Who are you giving that sour look to?!" ℯℯ𝑙.

The words had barely left his mouth when every machine in the kitchen, as if receiving some hidden command, switched to attack mode simultaneously.

Even the two ingredient-inspection robots turned and brandished their mechanical arms at the four officials!

The sight terrified them.

What was going on? Were the machines malfunctioning?

"They... seem to be controlled by the master brain!" one of them, clearly more experienced than the others, exclaimed.

’To be able to control the robots here through the master brain...’

’Just who were this man and woman!?’

While the officials were lost in speculation, Shu Yao had already opened the kitchen’s walk-in freezer.

Following Qin Shiwei’s command, the Golden Beetle began live-streaming, tailing Shu Yao and filming everything while cleverly keeping her face out of the frame.

The earlier conversation with the four officials had also been broadcast live on the Star Network Platform.

As a result, netizens watching the stream quickly realized the broadcast was coming from Lin Zhenxiang’s famous restaurant.

The moment Shu Yao pulled open the freezer door, the live stream’s comment section exploded.

[Wait! Doesn’t Miss Xiangxiang always say her restaurant uses only the freshest ingredients?!]

[What’s with all that seafood frozen solid? Is it expired and waiting to be thrown out?]

[It’s clearly been frozen for ages. If they were going to throw it out, they would’ve done it already!]

Shu Yao expertly defrosted a scaleless fish.

This type of fish had no scales but was filled with countless tiny bones. A steamed dish made from this very fish had been served at their table earlier.

Shu Yao scanned her surroundings, her eyes landing on a knife rack. She grabbed a suitable-looking knife and sliced open the fish’s belly.

A greenish-white pus oozed out from the belly, releasing a thick, fishy stench that made one of the officials gag and throw up on the spot.

Shu Yao looked toward the kitchen entrance, a smirk playing on her lips as she watched Lin Zhenxiang’s expression flicker with panic.

"Lin, are these the ’fresh ingredients’ you kept guaranteeing were perfectly fine?

A diseased fish. Its internal organs corrode and produce this bacteria-filled pus. Once you steam it, the pus mixes with the natural fat that renders from the meat, making it impossible for the average person to notice. It’s even harder to tell once it solidifies into a gelatinous broth.

Oh, that’s right. What did you call this particular pathogen again? My memory’s a little fuzzy. Why don’t you enlighten us, Lin?"