Chapter 34: Dominating the Peak of the Cafeteria

"Everyone, please, there is really no need to see me off."

Duan Ming smiled radiantly at the group of ghost chefs behind him.

Chen Yongren replied, "Officer Duan, what are you saying? You are a busy man with a thousand things to attend to; delivering meals is really not something you should have to do yourself."

As he spoke, he pressed the meal cart into Duan Ming’s hands.

Little Ghost A: "Officer Duan is so dedicated to his duty. Despite holding such an important position, he never forgets his roots. I’m weeping, boo-hoo!"

Little Ghost C: "An attitude like Officer Duan’s is a recipe for success anywhere. He is truly a role model for all of us."

"Alright, alright, that’s enough." Although Duan Ming enjoyed the praise, the increasingly hyperbolic flattery made him feel a bit uneasy, so he waved them off. "Remember, I am on a secret mission. My identity must not be leaked. Do you understand?"

He had to be cautious about these ghosts' reactions. The identity of a "Ghost Police Officer" was far too intimidating; if it were discovered that he was an imposter, there was no telling what might happen.

"Yes, Officer Duan!"

Chen Yongren corrected them: "Don't call him Officer Duan! Call him Brother Duan!"

"Yes, Brother Duan!" the ghosts shouted in unison.

Just then...

【Hidden Task Completed: Dominate the Pinnacle of the Canteen】
【Reward: 1. Ghost Energy +5】
【2. Ghost Skill: Worship】
【Worship: A traditional cultural practice. While kneeling in sincere prayer, you are absolutely immune to being disturbed. Lasts for a maximum of ten seconds.】

Duan Ming: "???"

Whoa! A pleasant surprise!
This could count as a hidden task?
Although the reward was only 5 points of Ghost Energy, at least there was...
Damn it! Is this "Worship" skill for real?!
Kneel down and kowtow to the opponent in the middle of a fight?
Are you kidding me? Do I have no dignity?

Duan Ming gritted his teeth and, ignoring the ghosts in the canteen, began pushing the cart away with a grunt. He certainly wouldn't let his effort go to waste.

Just as he pushed the cart into the inpatient building, a notification chimed in his mind.

【F-Rank Task Completed: Ghosts Are Iron, Food Is Steel】
【Reward: 1. Ghost Energy +1】
【2. Ghost Coins: 1 Million】

That felt good. His mood improved instantly.

Socialist core values were indeed the key theory for acquiring Ghost Energy. He was now just one step away from the Fierce Ghost rank.

Duan Ming casually opened his attribute panel.

【Name: Duan Ming】
【Ghost Energy: 997 (Evil Ghost Rank)】
【Ghost Skills: Grave Weeping, Paper Effigy Crafting, Corruption, Ghost Art 78: Severing, Worship】
【Storage: Incense sticks (24), Ghost Coins (3.503 billion), Toilet Paper from the Paper-Giving Ghost (Consumable), Blood-stained Kitchen Knife (Evil Ghost Rank), Ghost Cloth (Fierce Ghost Rank), Ghost Police Cap, Damaged Cursed Amulet, Substitute Doll, Third Hand (Consumable), Jiang Xiaoxiao’s Toy Gun (Fierce Ghost Rank), Brain-Eating Doll (Wandering Soul Rank), Disfiguring Hairpin (Evil Rank)... +Click to view more+】
【Enslaved Ghost Spirit: Xiao Yun】
【Seventh Gluttonous Eye】

Every time he saw the dense list, he felt incredibly satisfied. With a gear configuration like this, he was likely more lavishly equipped than the average ghost-controller, right?

Thinking this with great satisfaction, he inventoried the meals for the first floor, placed them at the pickup point, and then took two portions toward the service desk.

"Hard work, you two."

"Wow, did Brother Duan Ming bring the food for Yueyue himself? This is so blissful!" As expected, Zhou Mengyue’s eyes sparkled wildly.

Duan Ming smiled slightly. "Yes, thanks to your help this morning, I had the brothers in the canteen add a little extra to your meal."

"That’s amazing! Brother Duan Ming is so good to Yueyue, boo-hoo~"

Yu Fangfang, standing to the side, sneered, "Putting on an act."

But Duan Ming turned to her immediately with the same gentle tone, "Although I don't know why you seem to dislike me so much, you still have to eat."

As he spoke, as if remembering something, he trotted back to the cart and retrieved a small bag.

"Being angry often isn't good for your health. I heard it makes you age quickly. I asked the canteen to cook up something special—a portion of soup just for you. It’s nourishing and goes great with rice."

"Come on, when you’re a ghost, the most important thing is to be happy."

"Alright, take your time eating. I’m off to finish my deliveries."

Watching his swift, determined back as he pushed the cart away, Zhou Mengyue cupped her cheeks, her face flushed. "My goodness, isn't Brother Duan Ming just too kind?"

"Pfft, just hypocritical." Yu Fangfang glared at Duan Ming with disgust and pushed the soup aside. After a moment of hesitation, she opened it anyway.

【Yu Fangfang’s Friendliness +1】

The inpatient building lacked an elevator, which was highly unscientific. Duan Ming had to park the cart at the stairwell and deliver meals floor by floor. As for the order? Naturally, he started with the fourth floor.

He lugged the heavy bags up to the fourth floor.

"Everyone, lunch time!"

The signal for the meal spread through the corridor. The patient ghosts poked their heads out from their rooms one by one, but upon seeing the bully Duan Ming, they quickly retracted them.

Han Lingling greeted him with pleasant surprise.

"Any progress?" she whispered.

"A big one!"

Duan Ming pulled her aside and produced the Disfiguring Hairpin and He Yuwei’s nurse ID.

Upon seeing them, Han Lingling’s eyes widened with delight.

"Not bad! You really have it in you. As expected of my younger brother, your luck is truly not bad."

"What do you mean 'luck'? This is something I figured out bit by bit through my own strength!!!"

Han Lingling replied, "Give it a rest. To get these two items, you’d have to clear at least two mini-dungeons: the canteen and the head nurse’s office. The canteen’s main issues are navigation and timing, while the head nurse’s office is right inside the inpatient ward—the difficulty is bound to be much higher. To get both in one trip, if that isn't luck, what is?"

Duan Ming curled his lip. "You’re just jealous. I’m not talking to you anymore. I’ll finish the deliveries first, and we can plan the next steps later."

"Fine."

He stomped downstairs in a huff.

...

Although the head nurse had announced that the third and fourth floors were now connected, allowing nursing staff to move freely between them, Chen Feng and Xu Haoran were still officially assigned to the third floor, where they ate and rested.

Duan Ming lugged the bags to the third floor, dropped off the patient ghosts' meals, and then took the specially prepared extra meals for his two "leaders" to the breakroom.

He opened the door.

"Brother Chen Feng, Brother Haoran, lunch is served~"
"Huh? Where are they?"

There was only one person in the breakroom, meticulously polishing a vaginal speculum. The two members of Squad 157 were nowhere to be found.

Just then, a hearty burst of laughter echoed from the hallway.

Duan Ming followed the sound, which was coming from the short ghost's room. When he saw the scene inside, he froze.

Chen Feng and the short ghost were sitting cross-legged on the bed with a small square table between them. There was a full tea set, and the aroma of tea permeated the air.

They were actually drinking tea?!

Xu Haoran sat to the side, occasionally interjecting, his expression filled with envy.

When did these guys become such good friends?

While he was puzzled, Chen Feng noticed Duan Ming at the door and immediately hopped off the bed to greet him.

"Yo, Duan Ming, come on in and sit for a bit. Dalang’s tea ceremony is truly top-tier."

"What is this?"

Chen Feng scratched his head awkwardly. "I’m not entirely sure myself. Anyway, I beat him up a few times, and he suddenly developed a strong affinity for me, insisting on becoming my contracted ghost spirit."

Duan Ming narrowed his eyes.

Dalang flared his nostrils.