Chapter 5: Returning Good for Evil—How Then Should One Repay Kindness?

Chen Mu continued, “The way out of this mission is actually hidden within the rules you mentioned at the start, Manager. Rule number two states: those who come to dine are guests. Guests must be treated with courtesy, and no matter what requests they make, they must be unconditionally fulfilled—even by the manager.

“The guest only tipped me 10 Underworld Coins, but the plate costs 20 Underworld Coins, so it’s insufficient to compensate for the plate’s damage.

“At first glance, this seems like an unsolvable dead end. If I simply use the 10 coins to pay for the plate, I might as well be signing my own death warrant.

“So, the key to breaking this deadlock lies in a leap of thinking.

“Break free from the fixed mindset that you are just a server. Who says one cannot change roles in such a bizarre scenario?

“Considering Rule number two again, if you are not a server but a guest, that means you can make any request!

“Including—refusing to pay for the broken plate!

“So, how does one become a guest?

“Look at the first sentence of Rule number two—it says those who come to consume are guests.

“At first this seems like a trivial statement, but in fact, it hints that simply by making a purchase in the dining hall, you gain the status of a guest!

“Right now, I am a server, but if I make a purchase here, according to the rule ‘those who come to consume are guests,’ my status changes to that of a guest.

“Therefore, the proper use of these 10 Underworld Coins is not to compensate for the plate but to make a purchase!

“Manager, bring me a stack of peanuts costing 10 Underworld Coins! As a guest, I refuse to pay for the broken plate.”

After saying this, Chen Mu handed the 10 Underworld Coins to the female manager of the eerie dining hall.

The female manager showed a look of surprise. She looked carefully into Chen Mu’s eyes and saw confidence, calmness, and composure.

She never expected such a young man to be so composed and seasoned, immediately seeing through the hidden path to survival.

Such courage and wisdom even shocked her.

“Is this your first eerie mission?” the female manager couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes, the very first in this lifetime,” Chen Mu replied honestly. This was indeed his first eerie mission since his rebirth.

As for his previous life, surviving five years in the eerie apocalypse was a story of another lifetime...

Actually, this way out was something Chen Mu had deduced after repeatedly reviewing past missions in his previous life.

At that time, the eerie diner guest had killed two servers in succession before stopping. Chen Mu was lucky not to be chosen, which is why he survived.

In other words, with five years of experience in the eerie apocalypse, even without prior knowledge, Chen Mu was confident he could find a way out, though it might have taken longer and been more troublesome.

Moreover, Chen Mu had trillions of Underworld Coins and had intended to buy out the Midnight Dining Hall.

In his eyes, the Midnight Dining Hall was already his property. There was nothing to fear. At worst, he could just use his cash power.

“I admit, you’re very impressive,” the female manager said, taking the 10 Underworld Coins, her tone much gentler than before.

A capable and wise person commands respect everywhere, even in the eerie world.

Zhao Mengmeng, lying on the ground, finally came to her senses after witnessing this incredible scene. She hurriedly shouted to the female manager, “Give me back my 10 Underworld Coins! I won’t pay for the plate. I want to order something too! I want to be a distinguished guest!”

But the female manager coldly refused, “Your 10 Underworld Coins have already been given to me and cannot be refunded.”

The light of hope in Zhao Mengmeng’s eyes extinguished. Hatred and despair surged over her face again, twisting it into something terrifying.

She glared venomously at Chen Mu and said resentfully, “Chen Mu! You saw through the way out long ago. Why didn’t you tell me? You bastard!”

When she said this, she never considered how she had sent Chen Mu to his death and then tried to frame him.

Chen Mu shrugged. “Why should I save you? Moreover, you wanted me to die in your place and then slandered me.

“To repay kindness with ingratitude—how can that be?

“Besides, even if I had told you the way out, the moment you tried to frame me, you would have been doomed.

“Because the first rule states that the dining hall manager’s orders cannot be disobeyed. You must faithfully execute the manager’s commands.

“When the manager asked who broke the plate, you did not tell the truth, violating the rule of faithful obedience. You were already a dead person walking.”

Hearing Chen Mu’s words, Zhao Mengmeng was finally silenced.

Chen Mu’s keen observation once again surprised the female manager. She hadn’t expected Chen Mu to notice so thoroughly and to catch Zhao Mengmeng breaking the first rule.

Such meticulous observational skills made this man one not to be underestimated.

Meanwhile, the other girls had yet to recover from their shock. Such a seemingly fatal trap was effortlessly dismantled by Chen Mu!

Two of the younger girls looked at Chen Mu with admiration.

It was easy to imagine that without Chen Mu, many more would have died here tonight. It could even be said that Chen Mu saved several of them.

Just as the female manager was about to leave, Chen Mu suddenly called out to her, “Don’t rush off. I have something else.”

“What else?” the female manager stopped, her tone much gentler than before.

“Call your boss over. I have something to discuss with him,” Chen Mu said.

“Boss?” The female manager looked troubled. “Our boss rarely appears. If you have any requests, you can tell me, and I will fulfill them.”

“Well, what if I want to buy your dining hall?” Chen Mu smiled brightly, exuding confidence.

This statement shocked the female manager once again.

She was taken aback by Chen Mu’s boldness. She never imagined this man would be so audacious as to demand to buy the Midnight Dining Hall right off the bat!

It was simply wishful thinking!

If anyone else had said this, she would have called them a fool and walked away without a second glance.

But Chen Mu’s earlier performance earned her some respect, so she patiently explained:

“The rules say I must fulfill all guest requests, but I do not have the authority to sell the Midnight Dining Hall.”

From the female manager’s perspective, Chen Mu was trying to use the rules to get the dining hall for free, hoping she would just hand it over.

That was obviously impossible. She was just an employee and had no such authority.

Yet Chen Mu’s next words shocked her even more.

“Yes, I know you don’t have the authority. That’s why I want you to call your boss over.

“I didn’t say I want the Midnight Dining Hall for free; you misunderstood me.

“What I mean is, I want to buy this dining hall with Underworld Coins. Your boss won’t refuse.”