Chapter 34 (1/2)
The first thing Eula did when she walked into Boss Smith’s restaurant was look at the blackboard. On the menu, there wasn’t any new addition. “Boss Smith,” Eula said, raising her voice. She glared at the chef. “You said there’d be a new menu item after selling ten thousand bowls of egg fried rice.” She had hypnotized fifteen thousand people, so she knew the chef had served way more than ten thousand bowls. “Did you lie to me?”
“I learned a new recipe,” Smith Jr. said and scratched his head. “However, I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t had time to practice it much at all. I’m still a long way to go from mastering it.”
Eula stared at Boss Smith, glad she was wearing her veil because she didn’t want the man to see her expression. Wasn’t the overflowing number of customers due to her hypnotism? It was her own actions that had been thwarting her goal of tasting a new dish. She’d have to dismiss the hypnosis set upon her citizens. Luckily, it was much easier to dismiss a hypnosis than it was to start it. Eula reached into her interspacial ring and shattered a jade slip. Essentially, the hypnosis technique was a formation, and the jade slip was the core. By breaking it, she undid her control over the citizens.
The few people who were sitting down and eating egged fried rice froze. A moment later, they chowed down with even more gusto. Just because they were hypnotized to eat the meal didn’t mean the meal wasn’t enjoyable. It was delicious! Although they were a bit confused as to why they were eating egg fried rice, it didn’t matter. Since they already ate half of it, they might as well go all the way. Once eaten, the food couldn’t be given back.
Smith Jr. seemed to have sensed the change in atmosphere. He turned his head, but all he saw was his customers enjoying their meal. With a shrug, he turned back towards Eula. “The usual?”
“Of course.”
***
Max raised his hand and placed it on the hypnotized citizen’s head. Ever since his vision was invaded by the weird line of text, he had been listening to its orders. It wasn’t voluntary. Every time he disobeyed or did something not in line with the orders, his vision would turn completely white, rendering him blind and unable to do his job. How was a blind guard going to inspect caravans entering the city? He could mistake a tiger for a donkey and have his hand bitten off if he wasn’t careful. Thus, to preserve his normal life, he had to become a crazy person.
[You are not crazy.]
Despite the floating words’ reassurances, Max still felt certifiably insane. If it weren’t for the fact he had already used his insurance plan’s free yearly doctor’s visit on a strange mole growing on his butt, he would’ve gone to see the doctor again. Unless he wanted to spend half a month’s salary, he’d have to wait another four months before he could get diagnosed. Luckily, other than going up to hypnotized people, the words didn’t ask much of him. All he had to do was place his hand on their head and insert a little bit of his spiritual energy inside of them. Once that was done, they’d return to normal. Not only did he free his fellow citizens from whatever spell was controlling them, but he also got a little bit stronger every time he did.
[Mission: Cleanse the Controlled]
[An evil sect has hypnotized the people of this empire. In the name of justice, undo what evil has wrought. Free one thousand citizens.]
[Reward: Advancement in cultivation]
Max left his hand on the hypnotized citizen’s head, waiting for the familiar increase in strength. Even after inserting twice the usual amount of spiritual energy, the boost still didn’t happen. Should he add a little more? Max frowned and pulled his hand back. The hypnotized citizen was staring at him in complete confusion instead of complete disorientation. “E-excuse me?” the citizen asked. “Guard? What are you doing?”
“You looked unwell, so I was checking to see if you had a fever,” Max said. It was the excuse he had given dozens of other citizens, and it always worked despite it being a lie. “Do you feel better now?”