Protect against fire, protect against theft, and protect against Pepper.This was the conclusion Rimuru reached after the painful lesson she learned while shopping with Pepper that afternoon.
Ultimately, her heart was too soft, and she didn't know how to refuse a beautiful woman's request.
The sorrow of a shut-in!
"It's getting late, Pepper. Let me treat you to a big meal!"
Pepper glanced at her watch, then smiled.
"Which McDonald's meal number?"
"Which McDonald's meal number?"
Pepper looked confused, not understanding what Rimuru meant.
Rimuru cleared her throat, looking serious, like a little TV host."In the scorching summer, the people of Maine ate McDonald's Meal No. 1, while the people of Florida, thousands of miles away in the southern United States, preferred Meal No. 2. The mountain dwellers in the Tennessee mountains, far from big cities, ate Meal No. 3, while the people of California, also by the sea, preferred Meal No. 4…"
Pfft!
Pepper burst into laughter, shaking with amusement, completely entertained by Rimuru."Seriously, where did you learn that? Your prejudice against American food culture is way too deep!"
Rimuru smiled. She knew it was just a meme.
What she had said was the famous "A Bite of the U.S." parody that netizens wrote when A Bite of China was extremely popular.
As for its authenticity? Just smile!
Just like northerners often aren't used to the rice-based delicacies of the south, people from different countries have completely different feelings about food.
Eating habits formed since childhood create a unique "gourmet stomach."
Westerners can be stubborn about flavors—once they adapt to a certain taste, they might never change it in their whole life. They won't easily accept flavors they haven't tried.
If someone wants to conquer the U.S. with authentic Chinese cuisine, they might even lose their underwear doing it.
The "authentic Chinese dishes" popular in Europe and America—General Tso's Chicken and Li Hongzhang's Chop Suey—were customized for Western tastes.
Most Chinese people don't even know what these two "authentic" dishes are!
Restaurant.
"Woohoo, this is too delicious!"
Rimuru ate with pure joy, her face full of happiness.
Miss Shizue, thank you so much. It's wonderful to have a sense of taste. It's wonderful to be surrounded by delicious food again!
Seeing Rimuru's delighted expression, Pepper felt that Rimuru was glowing.
Rimuru was too beautiful, too cute!
This was also why she enjoyed Rimuru's company so much. Whether shopping, wearing women's clothes, or even just eating, Rimuru always brought her surprises.
Staring like this might be rude, but Pepper simply couldn't help it.
Pepper even felt that all the recent pressure from Stark Industries' plunging stock price had vanished.
Little Rimuru—definitely a stress reliever and a happiness pill!
"You should eat too. Why are you just staring at me?"
"Okay, okay!"
Pepper had a great appetite, but she had never felt the food at this restaurant was this delicious.
This was one of Pepper's favorite restaurants—she came here often—but today's meal surpassed all her expectations.
Happiness really is contagious!
Pepper even thought:It wouldn't be bad to have a cute daughter like Rimuru…
Once the thought appeared, Pepper froze.Was this really something she should be thinking?
Oh my God—had she been poisoned by Rimuru?
But soon, Pepper sensed something else was wrong.
Rimuru was eating too much. She must have eaten the amount for two adults!
If it were anyone else, Pepper would definitely call them a glutton.
But Rimuru? A cute little foodie!
Ten minutes later—
Pepper was utterly terrified."Rimuru, aren't you eating too much?"
"Am I?"
Rimuru chewed a piece of steak and looked around.
Only then did she realize Pepper—and many diners—were staring at her in shock.
Uh…
They were scared by that?
Foolish humans. Rimuru was slightly disappointed—she wasn't even half full.
Even so, she wisely put down her knife and fork. She had taken note of this restaurant. She would come again!
Speaking of which, with her current appetite, if she became a food streamer, she could crush every competitive eater in the world. She'd explode in popularity!
A million-dollar salary… marrying a rich beauty… becoming a CEO—not a dream at all!
But now, what appeal did a million dollars even have?
After the meal.
Pepper kept glancing at Rimuru's flat stomach, utterly amazed.
Seriously—how could someone so petite eat that much?
She was extremely curious.
On the street.
The driver and bodyguards had been waiting a long time. If it were anyone else, they might have already grown impatient.
But their professionalism ensured they showed no dissatisfaction—only seriousness.
Just as Rimuru and Pepper were about to get into the car, a man suddenly rushed out of the crowd with a knife.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his expression was twisted with madness."My life savings! Die, you scum of Stark Industries!"
He had clearly planned this for a long time. The timing and angle of his attack were extremely tricky. The driver and bodyguards hadn't anticipated anything like this.
Pepper froze completely, her body unable to move. She could only watch the knife stab toward her chest.
Just as Pepper thought she was doomed and instinctively closed her eyes, she felt something blur before her.The attacker, who had been rushing at high speed, collided with something as solid as a steel pole. His body instantly lost balance, and he fell to the ground.
"Rimuru?"
Pepper looked at Rimuru standing in front of her, covering her mouth as her beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.
She had been terrified to the point of paralysis, and yet Rimuru knocked the man down with a single punch?
Oh my God—this was unbelievable!
Was Rimuru omnipotent?!
Was there anything she couldn't do?
Once Rimuru acted, the bodyguards snapped out of it. Before the man could recover, they pinned him to the ground, completely subduing him.
The attacker went wild like an earthworm. Even held down tightly, he struggled desperately, as if ready for three hundred more rounds.
Unfortunately, reality was cruel—and all his efforts were in vain.
Eventually, he collapsed completely, like a pile of mud, but kept shouting,"Damn it! Isn't Tony Stark a genius? I trusted you! I gambled everything on Stark Industries' stock! Why did you shut down the weapons division? Why?!"
This shareholder, ruined by Tony's decisions, cried with snot and tears flowing, pitiful and tragic.
The U.S. is a country full of gun violence—had he lost so much that he couldn't even afford a gun?
Pepper: "…"
Rimuru: "…"
The onlookers: "…"