"Hmm?" Mai Ge glanced instinctively towards the blacksmith's shop. Seeing it still standing there safely, he felt much relieved. He then looked at Harrison, whose expression was somewhat agitated, with a puzzled expression.
"Boss Mai, your restaurant has been removed from the food rankings! All the dishes have been removed, not a single one left." Harrison quickly explained, seeing Mai Ge's confused look.
"Removed from the rankings?" Mai Ge raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. This was indeed somewhat unexpected. Since he stopped the sweet and savory factions from giving each other five stars ratings a few days ago, Mai Ge thought that this mission was a sure thing and would be successful. But now it seems that things are not so simple.
"Uncle Gray Fatty, are you saying someone is preventing our restaurant from staying on the rankings?" Amy stepped out from behind Mai Ge, looked at Harrison, and asked, her little face showing some unhappiness.
"Yes, I think Restaurant Mai Mi was targeted, which is why it was removed from the list." Harrison nodded, equally furious. He had been checking the rankings everyday for the past few days, even more diligently than he did his own jewelry shop. Now that it had suddenly been removed from the list, it felt like his well-raised child had been lost. This feeling was very unpleasant.
The customers queuing in front of the restaurant also started discussing amongst themselves, equally indignant about Restaurant Mai Mi being removed from the list.
"Boss Mai, did you offend some villain?" Jergi asked, looking at Mai Ge. As a fellow businessman, he was better able to see what might be hidden behind such a situation.
"Oh, that's actually possible. I guess I've offended all the restaurants ranked after mine on the list?" Mai Ge chuckled and shook his head, not showing too much panic or anger.
His restaurant being removed from the list was indeed unexpected. The shamelessness of the Catering Association in this world was worse than he imagined. Removing it from the list without warning, and today being the ninth day, meant that the mission rewards he had already secured were now uncertain.
However, if there are no ups and downs in doing business, then the fun of entrepreneurship is lost. Mai Ge is very open-minded about this. After all, in his previous life, his father built a huge group, but he also went through many twists and turns and was on the verge of bankruptcy several times. If he didn't have a strong mentality, he would probably have already climbed onto the balcony.
The Catering Association's actions were somewhat unethical. He had spent tens of thousands of copper coins on voting slips alone these past few days. It wasn't in his nature to just swallow this loss in silence. Since they were shameless, he might as well tear off their mask. The current Restaurant Mai Mi was no longer the deserted place it used to be.
"Okay, I understand. Thank you all for your concern. Even if the so-called announcement and explanation are released, I still cannot accept it. However, Amy's class time is approaching, so I'll take her to class first. We'll be launching a new dish tonight." Mai Ge glanced at his watch, smiled at everyone, and lifted Amy, who was wearing a black little mage robe, onto his bicycle, then rode off towards Chaos Academy.
"Boss Mai has such a good personality. Despite being treated so unfairly, he can still smile and talk to us."
"I don't think Boss Mai cares about this list at all. Anyway, the restaurant is doing so well now. Everyday, Boss Mai is the one who has to drive customers out at closing time. Why would he need to rely on the list to attract customers?"
"That's not necessarily true. Boss Mai would buy so many voting slips to climb the rankings, which is a considerable expense, indicating that he still wants to climb the rankings. But now that he's been removed from the rankings, how to get back on the rankings has become a problem. Although the Little Boss has two great mage teachers, they are unlikely to influence the decision of the Catering Association."
"Those guys just keep saying they're waiting for an announcement from above. Isn't the Catering Association under the City Lord's Mansion? If you ask me, Boss Mai should just go directly to the City Lord's Mansion and complain, exposing their ugly faces."
"Although this whole thing is a bit disgusting, but if I heard correctly, Boss Mai said there will be a new dish tonight, right? I definitely have to try it!"
"Yes, I wonder what delicious food Boss Mai will make this time. Looking forward to the new dish!"
The guests watched Mai Ge's retreating figure and started discussing among themselves. Today, the sweet and savory factions didn't seem to be clashing.
"What happened?" Yulian, hunched over, slowly walked over and stood at the front of the group of Savory Faction. Listening to their conversation, he asked in a hoarse voice. It seemed that Restaurant Mai Mi was in some trouble.
"Lord, Restaurant Mai Mi has been removed from the food rankings." the customer behind him hurriedly said. The others echoed this, telling Yulian the same thing, hoping he could intervene on behalf of Restaurant Mai Mi.
"How could this be? Every single dish at Restaurant Mai Mi is so delicious! It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's number one. No wonder we didn't get to eat much good food when we were looking for food based on the food rankings!" Xi Xi said angrily, then nudged Lu Lu. "Lu Lu, don't you think so?"
"Yes, it is." Lu Lu nodded, reaching out to pat Xi Xi's head in comfort.
"I think it's better to have fewer people, it'll be quieter." Yulian said hoarsely, turning away after listening to everyone's complaints, his expression calm.
The others looked at Yulian's back, exchanging bewildered glances, unsure of what to say.
However, for a level 10 archmage, and the renowned Lord of Frost of the Nolan Continent, to mobilize connections to help a restaurant simply because of its ranking on a food ranking list is indeed making a mountain out of a molehill.
"By the way, if I kill all those people from the Catering Association, will the matter be resolved?" After a moment of silence, Yulian turned back to look at everyone and asked, his voice as icy and cold as ice.
"Gulp." Everyone swallowed simultaneously, instantly falling silent.
The boss's way of thinking was indeed different. No one dared to agree. And if he killed everyone in the Catering Association, there would be no more food rankings.
"Boring." Julian withdrew his gaze, turned back, and closed his eyes to rest.
...
"Master Crassus, our restaurant has been removed from the food rankings! I'm so angry! Can you please put us back on the list? We're so pitiful..." Amy said pitifully to Crassus as soon as she entered the magic room.
"Hmm? Someone's causing trouble at the restaurant again? Someone actually dares to mess with my good disciple. Looks like they want to taste the fireball. Tell me who it is, and I'll burn them all to death." Crassus glared at Amy and said with a serious expression.