Chapter 615

Chapter 615: Cat Rice

Compared to the beginning of the year, Mirror City had changed yet again.

This was clear proof of a civilization developing at high speed.

Luo Ji’s situation was completely different from that of ordinary players.

Normally, once a player advanced to the Bronze Tier, they would be forced into a long transitional period.

Veteran players would raid them, while their own civilization struggled with limited resources and population.

During this phase, farming-focused players often needed to develop steadily for several years just to stockpile enough resources for a major expansion.

Players who chose to act like “wolves,” on the other hand, would simply raise armies and plunder resources directly.

That approach was faster and more efficient—but also far riskier, and it made enemies everywhere.

At least half of those war-obsessed players ended up crashing and burning during raids.

Luo Ji, however, was an anomaly.

From the moment he advanced to the Bronze Tier until now, he had never experienced that so-called transitional period.

The Myriad Worlds Civilization had remained in a state of nonstop, high-speed development, barely slowing down at all.

To other players, this was outright abnormal.

By Luo Ji’s own estimation, a real slowdown would probably only happen after he reached the Black Iron Tier.

At the Bronze Tier, he simply couldn’t stop.

After all—he had manpower, he had resources. Why stop?

After finishing his inspection of several areas, Luo Ji glanced at the sky.

His stomach was starting to growl.

Judging by the time, even with a long queue, it should be their turn by now.

His timing was spot-on.

When he and Jie Zichuan returned to the entrance of Cat Rice, it was almost their turn.

Wang Kai was still lining up, but Zhou Cang was nowhere to be seen.

When asked, Wang Kai said Zhou Cang had gone looking for them.

Leaving that aside, after waiting a few more minutes and watching a group of customers finish and leave, Luo Ji and the others were led inside by a Catman server.

The moment he appeared, the lively restaurant fell completely silent.

Luo Ji raised an eyebrow slightly, then waved his hand.

Jie Zichuan immediately understood and stepped forward, speaking to the room.

“Everyone, there’s no need to be nervous. His Majesty is just here to eat.”

Unfortunately, that explanation didn’t help much.

The Emperor being approachable was one thing—but having the nerve to chat loudly in front of him was another matter entirely.

Luo Ji, already used to this reaction, looked around the restaurant with curiosity.

The interior layout was surprisingly interesting.

The kitchen was open, with a ring of counter-style seating surrounding it.

In addition to those seats—where customers could watch the Catman chefs at work—there were also seven or eight standard dining tables.

This kind of layout was common in modern times, but here, it was rare enough to feel novel.

As he passed the counter seats, Luo Ji’s gaze quickly landed on the Catman chef behind them.

The chef’s fur was a mix of gray and white. He wore a proper kitchen apron, with a headscarf wrapped around his head.

What stood out most, however, were the three scars crossing his left eye.

They looked like claw marks—old ones.

It was obvious at a glance: this Catman had a story.

The two Catmen assisting him—cutting vegetables and handling prep—looked much younger and far less experienced.

This really was a restaurant run entirely by Catmen.

“Boss, my arrival seems to have affected your business,” Luo Ji said, glancing at the now-quiet dining hall, a trace of apology on his face.

The Catman chef hurriedly removed his headscarf and bowed deeply.

A voice resembling that of a middle-aged man came from his mouth.

“Your Majesty is a great benefactor to our Catman race. Your presence here is an honor to us.”

Luo Ji raised a hand, signaling him to rise.

“Alright, I won’t interrupt your cooking. Do you have a private room? If so, that would be ideal.”

“We do… but it hasn’t been fully renovated yet.”

“That’s fine. As long as there’s a table and seats.”

“Well then…”

After hesitating briefly—and clearly realizing Luo Ji wasn’t suited to sitting in the main hall—the Catman chef turned and called out.

“Xiaomi, take His Majesty to the private room upstairs.”

“C-coming!”

The Catman girl named Xiaomi was visibly nervous, as she nearly tripped when she hurried over, stumbling her way through guiding Luo Ji and the others upstairs.

Once Luo Ji left the first floor, the atmosphere downstairs finally eased—though people still spoke in hushed voices.

Luo Ji dining here quickly became the hottest topic of discussion.

And afterward, it caused Cat Rice’s popularity to skyrocket.

Even a month later, people were still lining up outside.

But that was a story for another time.

“Y-Your Majesty, this is the menu…”

Luo Ji flipped through it, pleasantly surprised by how rich the selection was.

Just for fish alone, there were braised fish, steamed fish, grilled fish, and fish soup.

There were also dried small fish meant to be eaten with alcohol.

On top of that, each dish came in multiple fish varieties.

Luo Ji couldn’t help but marvel—Catmen really were professionals when it came to eating fish.

There were four people at the table, so waste wasn’t a concern.

Luo Ji ordered one serving of nearly every dish that caught his interest.

The one he was most curious about, without question, was the restaurant’s signature dish.

Cat Food.

Yes—literally called Cat Food.

Once the orders were placed, the dishes arrived quickly.

They looked excellent in color, aroma, and presentation.

The Catman chef clearly knew his craft.

Still, Luo Ji’s attention focused on the bowl of Cat Food in front of him.

According to Xiaomi’s explanation, the dish was made by shredding dried sea fish and sprinkling it over steaming rice, then pouring a few spoonfuls of fish broth—made from sea-fish bones—over the top.

Soy sauce was an option, but Luo Ji chose the fish broth instead.

The method was simple, and only a small amount of broth was added—just enough to mix the rice.

Too much, and it would turn into rice porridge, changing the flavor entirely.

After quickly mixing the bowl, Luo Ji took a bite.

His eyes immediately lit up.

The sea-fish flavor was rich, yet there was almost no fishy taste at all.

After finishing the entire bowl, it left a clear sense of fullness and satisfaction.

It was genuinely good.