Chapter 166: A Business Card Full of Sincerity
The shout cut through the rich, savory atmosphere of the restaurant like a knife, instantly silencing the sizzling sound of the roasted meat.
"I remembered!"
The transition was so jarring that it felt as if the genre of the world had shifted in a split second. One moment, the three Cerberus sisters were acting on pure, primal canine instinct—barking, drooling, and eyeing the glistening skewer of Brazilian Picanha with predatory hunger.
The next moment, they had frozen in perfect synchronization, their eyes wide with a shared, terrifying realization that had absolutely nothing to do with food.
Ren, who was standing by the cart with his carving knife poised over the beef, paused. The blade hovered mid-air, a drop of savory juice falling from the tip onto the plate below. He looked at the triplets, genuinely confused by this abrupt shift from "starving hellhounds" to "panicked teenage girls."
"Remembered?" Ren asked, his voice calm amidst the sudden tension. He lowered the knife slightly. "Did you forget to wash your hands before eating? Or did you leave the stove running back in Hell?"
The Cerberus sisters didn't answer immediately. Instead, they turned their heads toward Ren in unison. The movement was mechanical, eerie, and desperate. Their urgency was palpable, practically overflowing from their crimson eyes as if they had just realized they missed the deadline for a world-saving quest.
They scrambled out of their chairs, rushing to the counter and gripping the edge with white-knuckled intensity. Their faces were pressed close to Ren's, invading his personal space with zero hesitation.
"Master!"
The word erupted from three throats simultaneously, creating a harmonic chord of pure distress that bounced off the wooden walls.
"The photo booth!"
"We forgot the photo booth!"
"The Purikura stickers! The sparkly ones!"
The realization hit the room like a physical wave. Lucifer, who had been busy secretly admiring the photo she had just taken of the eating Pikachu on her phone, looked up. She blinked, her expression a mix of confusion and mild annoyance at the interruption of her peaceful evening.
"Photo booth stickers?" Lucifer asked, swirling her wine glass elegantly. "You mean those cramped, flashing machines in the arcade that make everyone look like an alien with huge eyes and smooth skin? Why on earth is that worth interrupting dinner for? I thought the world was ending."
To the Cerberus sisters, however, it was a catastrophe. They had spent the day conquering the crane games, dominating the rhythm games, and eating crepes. But the Purikura—the sacred ritual of Japanese high school girls (which they were currently cosplaying as)—had been skipped. They had seen groups of girls giggling and pasting those tiny, sticker-photos onto their phones, and they had vowed to do the same. To miss it was a failure of their "Day in the Human World" mission.
"It's essential for the aesthetic!" The Left Cerberus cried out.
"It's the proof of friendship!" The Right Cerberus added.
Ren paused for a moment, recalling the neon-lit exit of the arcade where rows of those pink, curtained machines stood. He smiled, his expression softening into that of a doting parent dealing with children who missed their favorite cartoon.
"Ah, so it was the photo booth stickers. I suppose we did get distracted by the snacks and the rush to get back for dinner."
He reached out, patting the head of the nearest Cerberus (Left). The hair was soft, contrasting with the sharp horns hidden beneath. "Don't worry. We can go another time. The arcade isn't going anywhere, and neither are we."
"Really?" The triplets asked in a shaky, hopeful unison.
"Really. Next time, we'll take so many the machine runs out of film. Or paper. Whatever it uses these days."
Cerberus nodded, the tension draining from their shoulders instantly.
"Pika-pi!"
Pikachu, who had been watching this drama while holding a half-eaten cookie, shook its head. These people are loud.
Before Pikachu could take another bite, it witnessed something that defied its understanding of biology. The three girls looked at each other, nodded once, and then—
Shimmer.
There was no smoke, no flash of light, no dramatic sound effect. Just a blurring of reality. The three bodies overlapped, merged, and condensed. In the blink of an eye, the three distinct girls became one singular entity again. The three personalities folded back into the original soul.
"Pika..." Pikachu's jaw dropped. The cookie fell from its paw onto the table with a soft thud. "Pika-pi?!"
"I'm not surprised anymore..." Tony Stark muttered, slicing his steak with renewed vigor. He didn't even look up. "At this point, if the dog turns into a spaceship, I'll just ask for the schematics. Conservation of mass is clearly just a suggestion in this establishment."
The singular Cerberus shivered, shaking off the sensation of merging—a feeling like static electricity running over her skin. A bright smile replaced the earlier panic. She hopped up and down, her ponytail bouncing with her energy.
"Master, Master, Master! When will you have time?! Tomorrow? Or the day after tomorrow? The day after the day after tomorrow?"
Ren chuckled, wiping his hands on a clean towel. "As for that question, I'm not entirely sure. Because until tomorrow comes, I don't know what will happen."
He looked at the excited demon girl, his eyes reflecting a quiet wisdom that contrasted with the chaotic energy of the room. "But that's the fun part, isn't it? It's precisely because we don't know what will happen tomorrow that life is interesting."
This sentence hung in the air for a moment.
Tony Stark paused. His fork scraped against the ceramic plate. Unpredictability. For a man who built armors to prepare for every conceivable threat, who created AI to predict global security risks, the idea of embracing the unknown was... alien. Yet, looking at the smiles in this impossible restaurant, listening to the casual way they discussed the future, he felt a strange sense of peace. It was a luxury he rarely afforded himself.
Cerberus nodded vigorously, though she clearly didn't grasp the philosophical depth of Ren's words. She sat down on a nearby stool, looking a bit dejected that the date wasn't set in stone immediately.
Ren saw this. He smiled and walked around the counter. He pulled Cerberus over to sit right beside him on the bench.
"Master, Master, Master, what are you going to do?"
Ren didn't say a word. He reached out with his other hand and grabbed Lucifer's arm.
"Eh?" Lucifer yelped as she was unceremoniously pulled into the huddle. "Ren! What are you doing? I was drinking! Unhand me!"
She looked at him with a puzzled expression, her cheeks slightly flushed from the wine—or perhaps from the sudden proximity. She tried to maintain her regal composure, but being squeezed onto a bench between a human and a dog-demon made it difficult.
Ren took out his smartphone. He held it up high, angling the lens to capture the three of them.
"Look at the camera," Ren commanded softly.
"Wait, I'm not—" Lucifer started to protest, realizing what was happening. Her hair was a mess! She wasn't posing! She hadn't practiced her 'cool, indifferent queen' face!
Click.
The shutter sound echoed. Ren nodded with satisfaction and put the phone away.
Cerberus blinked. Then, her face lit up like a Christmas tree. "Master, Master, Master! Were we just taking a picture?"
Lucifer, however, was not amused. She slammed her hand on the table, her face turning a distinct shade of crimson. "I wasn't ready! That was a sneak attack! Delete it! Take another one! My eyes were probably half-closed!"
Ren naturally ignored the complaining Queen of Hell. He turned to Cerberus and said gently, "That's right. If we don't have time for photo booth stickers, we can take pictures like this today. We'll just go to a nearby place to develop them tomorrow. A photo is a memory, with or without the stickers."
Cerberus didn't think that much. The logic was sound enough for her simple heart. She had a photo with Ren. And Lucifer was there too. It was a family photo.
"Yay!" Cerberus cheered, her earlier dejection vanishing instantly. "I want to see it tomorrow! I want a copy for my room! I'll frame it!"
"Ren! Are you listening to me?!" Lucifer tugged at his sleeve, her voice losing its regal authority and sounding more like a pouting girlfriend. "It's undignified! Take another one, please~"
"Hey! Don't deliberately ignore me! I'll bite you!"
"Hey! Hmph!"
Lucifer crossed her arms and turned her head away, sulking. But anyone looking closely would see the slight curve of her lips. She was annoyed, yes, but she wasn't leaving. She leaned ever so slightly against Ren's shoulder.
Tony Stark watched this interaction and felt a retort rising in his throat. 'You have a phone, your Highness. Just take a selfie yourself.' But he wisely kept his mouth shut. arguing with the Devil was not on his agenda for the night.
Cerberus yawned, a massive, jaw-cracking yawn that showed off her sharp canines.
"Master, Master, Master! I'm going to sleep! The excitement made me tired!"
"Mm~ Good night, Cerberus."
"Mm! Goodnight, Master! Goodnight, Lucifer! Goodnight, Iron Man! Goodnight, Ash!"
Cerberus bounded up the stairs to the living quarters. Now that the crisis was averted and the memory secured, she had no more use for being awake.
Lucifer remained in her corner, still feigning anger but stealing glances at the phone in Ren's pocket. Ren returned to his tablet, resuming the movie.
At the other table, the culinary journey was still underway, and it was entering its climax.
Pikachu glanced at the retreating demon, tilted its head, and then returned its focus to the true priority: the cookies.
To call these "biscuits" would be an insult to the art of baking. The aroma wafting from the basket was heavy, sweet, and comforting. It was the smell of home, of warmth, of safety. It was the scent that made you forget about cold nights in the forest or battles with Team Rocket.
The cookies were golden-brown discs of perfection. Ren had used a high-ratio butter recipe. The unique richness brought by the high-quality churned butter made what was originally just a biscuit taste as decadent as a cake. They were crispy on the edges, shattering with a satisfying snap, but the center was soft, dense, and melt-in-your-mouth tender.
If you don't like biscuits, you still wouldn't refuse one of these. That rich aroma can only exist in fresh, handmade cookies. And the most amazing thing about cookies is their versatility.
You can soak them in milk, crumble them into coffee, or crush them over ice cream. But right now, Pikachu was enjoying the purest form of consumption.
The little electric mouse held a large chocolate chip cookie with both paws, looking exactly like a squirrel holding a prized pine cone.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
Pikachu took small, rapid bites. Although the bites were small, the speed was incredible. The cookie disappeared in seconds, leaving only crumbs on its yellow fur.
If Pikachu's feeling at this moment had to be described, it was pure, unadulterated "resource guarding." It was eating the cookie in its hand while keeping a watchful eye on the basket, terrified that Ash might decide to switch from meat to sweets.
"Pika..." So good.
The aroma of the butter left a lingering taste in its mouth, and the sweetness of the chocolate chips made its taste buds dance. This sweetness, this richness, was enough to make anyone—human or Pokémon—forget their troubles.
"Phew~ That was truly delicious! Thank you, Restaurant Owner!"
Ash Ketchum slumped back in his chair, clutching his stomach. His plate was clean. Not a speck of Picanha or a grain of salt remained. The savory, salty richness of the beef had completely revitalized him.
"I'm stuffed!" Ash laughed, a bright, carefree sound. "That meat was amazing! It melted in my mouth!"
Ren smiled and nodded. "I'm glad you liked it."
Pikachu, on the other hand, finished its last cookie. It grabbed the cup of warm MooMoo Milk with both paws and chugged it.
Gulp, gulp, gulp.
"Phaa~!"
The milk was mellow, sweet, and creamy. It washed down the cookie crumbs, creating a perfect harmony of flavors. The warmth spread through Pikachu's small body. It slammed the cup down (gently) and flopped onto the table, rubbing its round, white belly with a blissful expression.
"Pika~"
"Pikachu, are you full too?" Ash asked, poking his partner's belly.
"Pika-pi!" Absolutely.
Hearing Pikachu's cry, Ash nodded, then turned to Ren. "Restaurant Owner, it was truly delicious. If we have the chance, we'll come again! Can we bring friends with us? Brock would go crazy for this meat! And Misty would love the cake!"
"Of course," Ren replied, wiping a glass. "You're always welcome, anytime. Just remember, my Restaurant only opens in the evening. As long as the door appears for you, you can enter."
"Got it! Evening!"
Ren nodded. Just as Ash was about to reach into his pocket to ask the price, a voice interrupted him.
"Hey! Ash!"
Tony Stark stood up, wiping his mouth with a napkin. He walked over, a charismatic smile on his face. "I'll cover your meal. Put your wallet away. It's just a plate of Brazilian barbecue and some cookies~"
"Eh?" Ash blinked. "Wouldn't that be too much... This looks really expensive..."
Tony smiled and waved his hand. "It's fine, it's fine. One drink of mine usually costs enough for you to eat like this for a month. Besides, I'm investing in the future of science. But..."
Tony's expression shifted slightly. The playful billionaire mask slipped, revealing the focused innovator underneath. He leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper.
"There's something I'd like you to help me with. Consider it a trade."
Ash straightened up. "Mr. Tony, just tell me! I'll do my best to help you!"
"The matter is about that Kadabra we discussed," Tony said. "I'm serious about it. I need you to find one. If you see an Abra, Kadabra, or Alakazam, I want you to prioritize catching it."
"I can do that!" Ash nodded. "But why do you want one so badly?"
Tony's eyes lit up. He began to gesture with his hands, drawing invisible diagrams in the air. "Listen, Ash. The data on the Pokédex says Kadabra emits alpha waves that cause headaches, right? But it also bends spoons. That's telekinesis. It's the manipulation of matter through pure thought. And Teleportation? That's the holy grail of mobility."
Tony paced slightly. "If I can study a Kadabra—non-invasively, of course—I can analyze the frequency of the energy it uses to warp space. If I can replicate that bio-signature in a mechanical drive, I could theoretically build a suit that teleports. Or a global transport network that renders airplanes obsolete."
Ash stared at him, blinking. "Uh... so you want to make a teleporting robot?"
"Basically, yes," Tony smirked. "But to do that, I need a reference point. A live subject."
Tony looked Ash in the eye. "So, the deal is this: I pay for your dinner. You find me a Kadabra. Bring it here next time. I'll trade you for it. I can offer you technology that will help your journey. How about a portable, solar-powered camping set? It unfolds automatically. Or a drone that can scout for wild Pokémon from the air and send video to your Pokédex?"
Ash's eyes widened. "A drone? Like a flying robot? That sounds awesome!"
"Exactly. A flying robot that connects to your... Pokédex thing. It'll make you the most efficient trainer in your region. Or, if you prefer, I can upgrade your bike. I can make it hover. No more flat tires."
Ash shook his head, grinning. "The drone sounds cool! But honestly, Mr. Tony, I'll do it because you seem really interested in Pokémon! It's rare to see an adult so excited about learning!"
"Okay, Mr. Tony!" Ash gave a thumbs-up. "If I see a Kadabra, I'll try my best to catch one for you! I'll make sure it's a strong one!"
Tony patted Ash's shoulder, feeling a genuine surge of excitement. "That would be truly wonderful, kid. You're doing humanity—and science—a big favor. We'll crack the code on teleportation yet."
"It's a small problem, Mr. Tony! I also want to thank you for treating me!"
Looking at Ash and Tony Stark—a boy who commanded monsters with friendship and a man who commanded technology with genius—Ren couldn't help but smile.
For some reason, both Lucifer and Ren thought of some strange, illicit transaction taking place.
'Smuggling inter-dimensional biological weapons,' Lucifer thought dryly. 'Is he contracting a child to capture a psychic soldier? Humans are terrifying.'
But that was not something they needed to worry about.
However, it was clear that despite not knowing each other for long, and coming from worlds with vastly different laws of physics, these two had formed a bond.
The friendship between men always had fewer formalities. They didn't need photo booth stickers or long emotional conversations. A shared meal, a shared goal, and a handshake were enough. Simplicity and purity were always a man's business card full of sincerity, but this business card had a limited quantity~
[Akarin Note:
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