CFSMS -Chapter 269 (￣～￣) Chew!

There was a particular method to making French fries.

For the potatoes, Lu Wu chose yellow-fleshed potatoes. After cutting them into strips, she soaked them in ice water to cool them down and wash away excess starch. This not only removed the starch but also made the fries crispier after frying.

She prepared another pot and added the potato strips to hot water. After adding an appropriate amount of fine salt, she boiled them until they became slightly translucent before removing them.

A breeze swept by, carrying away the moisture on the potato strips.

At just the right moment, the oil in the wok reached the perfect temperature. The clear, shimmering surface rippled gently.

Lu Wu carefully slid the fries into the hot oil.

Crackle!

The sizzling erupted instantly. Oil bubbles surged as the fries rolled within the pot, their glossy surfaces gradually taking on a golden hue.

Using a skimmer, Lu Wu stirred them occasionally to prevent sticking.

The rich aroma of potatoes emerged first, followed by a faint roasted fragrance brought out by the high heat.

Once the skins began to wrinkle slightly, she removed all the fries and set them aside to cool, preparing them for a second fry.

While waiting, she glanced toward the battlefield ahead.

The fighting was still raging.

With Lu Wu’s eyesight, she couldn’t tell what kinds of techniques those powerful beings were using. All she could see were endless flashes of light and the silhouettes of mighty creatures appearing and disappearing amidst them.

When the oil temperature rose again, she poured the fries back into the pot.

The fries puffed up under the intense heat. Their golden color deepened, and their edges curled slightly as they browned.

Just like that, a simple serving of French fries was complete.

Lu Wu scooped them out and placed them onto a plate.

The sound of the fries clinking together was delightfully crisp.

The golden fries were coated in a thin, crunchy shell. Each strip was evenly cut, and some had developed tiny bubbles from the high temperature, making them look plump and appetizing.

Picking one up while it was still hot, Lu Wu snapped it in half.

Inside was a soft, pale-yellow center, with steam rising from the break.

Perfectly cooked.

After a moment’s thought, she divided the fries into two portions.

One portion was sprinkled with fine white salt. Plenty of people preferred salted fries.

As for the other—

It naturally had to be paired with classic ketchup.

“French fries for sale! Delicious French fries for sale!”

The amplification stone hung above the stall as Lu Wu had Big Wings carry the stand around the edge of the battlefield while she followed alongside.

She soon noticed that after she started moving, many gazes landed on her.

Some were subtle.

Others were cold and sinister.

Each carried tremendous pressure.

Yet Lu Wu acted as though nobody existed, continuing to advertise her food in the middle of the dangerous battlefield.

A special forces soldier never admitted defeat.

“Where did this idiot come from?”

A sneering voice sounded from the sky, mocking Lu Wu’s death-seeking behavior.

“Just some attention-seeking fool.”

Others echoed the sentiment.

In a place like this, a weak creature should be hiding. By making herself so conspicuous, she wasn’t inviting admiration.

She was inviting death.

A giant palm strike descended from the heavens toward Lu Wu.

The enormous five-fingered mountain seemed intent on suppressing her on the spot.

Lu Wu had no intention of imitating the Monkey King.

Faced with a killing blow, she simply stood where she was and looked upward blankly, as though she had been frightened silly.

In reality, she was thinking.

The system had promised to protect her.

She believed it.

And even if she had been deceived, there was nothing she could do in this situation anyway.

She might as well wait for death.

Struggle?

What a joke.

Could an ant resist an elephant?

The overwhelming force smashed into the ground.

The earth around Lu Wu exploded outward, leaving the area barren and lifeless in an instant.

Yet despite the devastating attack, Lu Wu remained completely unharmed.

She casually brushed the dust off her clothes and turned up the volume of the amplification stone.

Look at that.

Such a huge commotion had just advertised her stall for free.

Now all she had to do was wait for customers.

“How is that possible?”

The attacker in the sky stared in shock.

That strike had been intended to kill her.

Yet this tiny human remained entirely unscathed.

It was an unbelievable miracle.

“Tsk. As expected of demons. Their brains are only good for fighting and killing. The rest of them must’ve been eaten by worms.”

Someone laughed at the situation.

“I sensed a stronger force erasing the attack.”

Another analyzed.

Still, some couldn’t suppress their curiosity and approached Lu Wu.

One of them appeared to be an eleven- or twelve-year-old boy.

His features were exquisitely beautiful, and a red mark sat between his brows, making him resemble a celestial child.

“Are these fries good?”

His nose twitched involuntarily.

The fragrance of the fries carried not only the scent of potatoes but also a primitive, milky richness that slipped into his nostrils little by little.

He had long since reached a state where external things could neither delight nor disturb him.

Yet before this seemingly simple dish of fries, his heart couldn’t help but stir.

“They’re delicious.”

Lu Wu nodded.

As the owner, she couldn’t exactly ruin her own reputation.

“Heh…”

The boy smiled faintly when he saw the expectation in her eyes.

“Then give me a serving.”

One serving of fries cost a single top-grade spirit stone.

Anywhere else, people would curse such a ridiculous price.

But the boy didn’t even blink.

He casually tossed a spirit stone onto the stall.

Gulp.

After quietly pocketing the spirit stone, Lu Wu spread out a sheet of oil paper and asked,

“Customer, would you like salted fries or ketchup fries? Of course, you can also get a half-and-half combo.”

“Then I’ll take the combo.”

The boy’s gaze swept across the peculiar wings attached to the stall, and his fingers twitched with the urge to poke them.

This time, the system had set an extremely high price.

As a result, Lu Wu’s business strategy was simple:

Large portions and guaranteed fullness.

She piled the fries generously onto the paper.

One side was sprinkled with snowy white salt crystals.

The other was covered with ketchup, whose bright red color spread across the golden fries, creating an appetizing contrast.

“Here you go.”

Lu Wu handed over the finished product.

Looking up slightly, she noticed several figures in the sky had actually stopped fighting.

They were watching her with complicated expressions.

Whispering among themselves.

Unfortunately, Lu Wu lacked the ability to eavesdrop.

Not even letting me join the gossip? One-star review.

While she grumbled inwardly, the boy picked up a ketchup-coated fry and took a bite.

The finger-length fry possessed an irresistible aroma.

The outer layer was crisp, while the inside remained fluffy, soft, and pleasantly moist.

It had a satisfying chew without being dry or hard.

As it lingered in his mouth, the natural flavor of the potato became increasingly pronounced.

But what surprised him most was the combination of the fries and ketchup.

The ketchup shattered many of his preconceived notions.

Its sweet-and-tangy flavor merged perfectly with the fries’ savory taste, creating a richer and more layered experience.

As he savored it carefully, the flavor evolved from an explosive initial burst into a long-lasting aftertaste.

Simple cooking.

Ultimate enjoyment.

The expression on the boy’s face resembled a cat that had successfully stolen a fish.

Pure satisfaction.

Unable to wait, he quickly tried a salted fry.

The fine salt crystals looked like freshly fallen snow, making the fries visually appealing.

Although the sweet-and-sour sensation was gone, the warm savory fragrance was no less impressive.

The seasoning evenly coated every inch of crispness, making one’s appetite surge.

His tongue swept across the salt crystals.

A gentle umami flavor claimed his taste buds first, but without overwhelming them.

As his lips and tongue pressed against the fry, that hint of savoriness blended into the potato’s soft interior.

The simple, rustic flavor was utterly irresistible.

(￣-￣) Chew!

Watching the boy’s expression, Lu Wu immediately knew it.

Her first day of setting up a stall on the battlefield—

Was a success.