Sky-cracking Rider

"Are you saying... Xiao Jiu stole wine? How amusing!"

Hanna Gagel was utterly astonished as she looked at the little bird frolicking among the warm-room plants, laughing behind her hand, her body trembling like blossoming flowers behind the bar.

My little bird (the mascot of Jiu Defense) is already so capable!

She hadn't noticed it at all.

On one hand, it was oversight in plain sight; on the other, there were so many bottles in her collection that she wouldn't notice if two or three went missing occasionally. Even if she did notice the shortage, she'd mostly assume they'd been drunk.

The way a rich person and a poor person perceive the same situation can be entirely different.

Chen Fei was inevitably limited by poverty in his imagination—poverty is the original sin!

"Yes, yes, it's my lack of discipline but I will compensate,"

An embarrassed Chen Xiao'er was gauging whether his remaining money after paying off his debts would be enough to cover the wines Xiao Jiu had pilfered, especially since he had impulsively brought along two bottles when visiting his future in-laws.

No matter the cost, it was certainly not cheap.

Poor him, barely clearing old debts before new ones emerged, an endless cycle, natural like the law of debt.

After retrieving a bottle of wine from the cabinet, Hanna Gagel waved her hand and said, "Nevermind, consider it a gift to him, not worth much. You still need to save up for your bride-price!"

With a home wine cellar like Boss Hana's, a few bottles less were no concern. She hoarded wine by the crate and even invested in vineyards—losing one or two bottles was no issue at all.

A boss of such magnitude, with an open heart, wouldn't quibble over a little bird.

Pursuing such a trivial matter against a core staff of Jiu Defense was downright unnecessary.

After all, good wine is for drinking, not just for display, otherwise what's the point of having such a vast family wine cellar?

"No hurry, there are always ways to save money."

Chen Fei shook his head, his skills naturally came with a money-making bonus.

Lacking money with an industrial-grade ability?

Ridiculous!

Believe it or not, if he submitted his resignation now, there would be major factories scrambling for him. In some specific high-end production fields, industrial-grade abilities dominated utterly, not leaving room for other factories to survive.

But Jiu Defense was a private enterprise with warmth and heart. Hanna Gagel had been willing to pull Chen Fei back from death's door with a magic potion worth ten million Star Yuan, so it would be tasteless and disrespectful to do otherwise.

After all, one should have some conscience, Boss Hana had treated him well, so he owed it to continue working there. It would be shameful to simply shake off the dust and climb upwards.

"Mm, I believe!"

Hanna Gagel nodded, understanding that Chen Fei's quick recovery of the funds to pay his debts was greatly related to his ability to make extra cash.

If he only relied on his salary from Jiu Defense, he would have had to wait at least another seven or eight years to accumulate it.

Getting the bottle opener, she gripped the bottle's neck and turned it twice with a creak, then pulled with force, and with a pop sound, a rich fragrance of wine mixed with a hint of sweet floral aroma was immediately released, refreshing everyone present.

Every aspect of good wine can lift one's spirits.

"Jiu?"

Drawn by the scent, the little bird flew over and alighted on the bar, tilting its little head as it inspected Boss Hana.

"You little rascal!"

Realizing the little one not only had a taste for drinks but also stole them, Hanna Gagel, not at all amused, reached out to flick its delicate sharp beak, but the agile creature easily evaded, denying any touch.

Aside from Chen Fei, perhaps only Chef Abel at the Aircrew Base could touch this little bird, even the female boss had no luck.

Hanna Gagel had no choice but to pour a half-full measure of wine into a small cup and pushed it towards the little troublemaker.

The little bird immediately approached cheerfully, first cautiously taking a sip, then gleefully gulping it down with high spirits.

This was her and Chen Fei's private little bar where they enjoyed occasional other guests.

With people, wine, appetizers, and stories, the atmosphere was very relaxing and stress-relieving; naturally, Hanna Gagel would not choose to drink gloomily alone.

"This little fellow, I really don't know why it loves human beverages so much."

Chen Fei walked back from the table with the "flesh mushrooms" to the bar next to the wine cabinet. As usual, he took his seat on a tall bar stool, satisfied with whatever the boss served—definitely good wine, no need to choose, no need to be picky, just drink and be done.

Xiao Jiu didn't just like wine; it also enjoyed coffee and strong tea. Human cuisine isn't actually suitable for other creatures, often causing malnutrition, yet this little guy just loved them.

"Xiao Jiu is a Magical Beast, it knows how to take care of itself."

Hanna Gagel also poured a glass of wine for Chen Fei and then slid the food box over.

Xiao Jiu, like Chen Fei, was good at holding its liquor, rarely getting drunk, and even when it did, it would quietly sleep it off, very well-behaved.

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"Try this 'flesh mushroom,' Abel prepared it in three different ways."

Using the cultivation techniques obtained from Chen Fei, the correctly cultivated "flesh mushrooms" were no longer sickly; they grew at a visible rate and filled a large pot inside the glazed container.

Hanna Gagel had even picked a few and tried cooking them, and now was the time to share the results.

Chen Fei picked up chopsticks, took one of the battered and fried pieces, didn't hesitate, and popped it into his mouth, chewing a few times.

"Mm, no wonder it's called 'flesh mushroom'; this is entirely like meat!"

It was rare to find a fungal fruiting body in nature that gave the sensation of meat when eaten.

He prodded it a few more times and said, "It's a bit like a mix between beef and lamb, tender but not mushy."

Mushrooms are naturally tender and delicious. Now that they have a meaty flavor, they are even more incredible.

"I had the people in the biological lab analyze it. The 'Flesh Mushroom's protein content is slightly lower than beef but higher than eggs, and the nutritional elements are very balanced, suitable for long-term consumption."

The Aircrew Base originally had the professional equipment for analyzing mutant creature samples, and as Boss Hana Gagel, using it for personal benefit was completely reasonable.

After all, it's something to be eaten, so being cautious is always correct. With no issues found in the composition of the substances, the next step was to see how it tasted.

"No wonder the 'Water Bear' organization was able to stay hidden for so long!"

Chen Fei picked up another piece of the 'Flesh Mushroom' that looked like braised meat, and the taste was great. You couldn't tell at all that it was a mushroom.

The sensitivity of chemical and biological agents is far less than that of food, as the output of animals and plants is cyclical, and the consumption is much greater than that of manufactured goods.

With high-yield food sources like 'Flesh Mushrooms,' the secret breeding bases of the 'Water Bear' organization could achieve self-sufficiency to some extent, greatly increasing their concealment.

If it weren't for an accidental slip, this mysterious organization conducting illegal research might still be lurking, unknown to the outside world.

Then he tasted the third sample. The 'Flesh Mushroom' was no longer prepared on its own but mixed with other ingredients, cooked in a dish called twice-cooked pork, which requires careful control of the ingredients and cooking time. Only a chef like Abel could handle it with ease.

"Tastes just like real meat, hmm, this is going to be a big deal."

Chen Fei's gaze met Boss Hana's. A second ago, they were talking about extra earnings; now, the opportunity was right there.

Fried, braised, and stir-fried—passing these three tests means the 'Flesh Mushroom' has carved out a place for itself in the culinary world.

The 'Water Bear' organization, lying low, wouldn't dare to bring out 'Flesh Mushrooms' for use, but Jiu Defense Company, mixing openly under the sun, has no such scruples.

The samples of 'Flesh Mushroom' and related cultivation techniques Chen Fei captured are immeasurable in value. This is an exclusive, open business.

Even if the 'Water Bear' organization has 'Flesh Mushrooms,' would they dare to sell them?

"Yes, we can make a killing!"

Boss Hana smiled radiantly.

Everyone is in the business of making money, and it's not embarrassing!

Damn! Chen Fei was shocked into shivering by the one-eyed old lady.

You should at least remove your eyepatch before you smile; it's quite scary, you know.

Normally, Boss Hana's stern and serious demeanor was also good; a boss always needs to maintain their dignity. However, the sight of her smiling with an eyepatch could cause someone to shiver uncontrollably.

"You studied economics for your undergraduate, do you understand how to manage business matters?"

Hanna Gagar turned to business. The 'Flesh Mushroom' had preliminarily won the approval of both, and now it was time to explore its commercial potential.

This deal is one that only Jiu Defense Company can pull off—it's just too good.

"I only know how to count money!"

Chen Fei grinned, his words holding a double meaning.

Isn't that what economics is all about? Counting money?

Since the female boss showed interest in commercializing, he would just sit back and wait to get paid, which is also, in a way, counting money.

If Boss Hanna wasn't willing to share the profits with Chen Fei, or didn't even plan to make the deal, she probably wouldn't bring it up at all.

So, that's...generous!

That the Jiu Defense Company has not had any defectors was not solely due to Chen Fei; the pilots of the Genuine Fragrance Combat Flight Squadron and the other departments had their reasons for staying.

"Alright, I'll handle it. Let's split it thirty-seventy; you take thirty, I take seventy. How about that?"

Hanna Gagar poured more wine for Chen Fei.

In business talks, clear accounts make for good friends. Boss Hana was treating Chen Xiao'er as a partner.

After all, they had drunk so much together and had a life-and-death relationship; knowing each other so well, it made sense to keep the benefits within their circle.

"Deal!"

Chen Fei agreed swiftly, his seed money was on its way.

A fifty-fifty or forty-sixty split was out of the question. After all, the hard costs of production, operations, and channels were all very real expenses, not to mention the relationships involved, whereas Chen Fei's earnings were cost-free. He would be a true absentee owner unless he also took part in the management by contributing technology and leadership to earn a higher share of the profits.

Chen Fei had the self-awareness to know that as an outsider, he shouldn't add to the chaos.

"I've already prepared the business plan and contract. I'll send it to you to review. If there's no issue, I'll start setting things in motion, and we could enter the market in three months at the earliest."

The decisive Hanna Gagar had everything ready; she just needed Chen Fei's agreement.

"Sure, I'll give you an answer within three days."

Chen Fei still needed to have a lawyer review the contract and other legally binding documents; these were all standard business procedures.

The two raised their glasses, clink!~

"Cheep!"

Xiao Jiu also wanted to join in the toast, but unfortunately, its little claws weren't steady, and it spilled...