NOVEL WEB Chapter 25: Episode 25: The Best Burger in The World.
After I gave the guard the permit fee, he became a bit of a chatter. The reason that he was shocked earlier, is that he assumed that I am some sort of a big shot merchant. all thanks to that truck of mine and the Automaton, since he thought of me that way, I naturally don't want to change his perceptions of me, after all, having that sort of image would also be a helpful deterrent to any possible troubles.
"Oh, I just a simple food merchant…. just trying the market here…you know, seeing if this might be a good place to conduct further business...".
"Hahaha…Don't you worry, Mr. Azra …I can assure that…we at Station Ail and Wail…guaranteed that we have the best security this wasteland can offer…". (Town Guard Robert)
The Town guard name is Robert, and he is quite a friendly fella, and the Town Guard leader as well. I know that his friendly manner was just to imposed the town good image and impression on me, after all, he sees me as a Merchant that have a potential to have some good product to sell.
"Anyway, Mr. Robert…do feel free to visit my Stall later…we are selling high quality and the most delicious Bread and Clean Water in the world...and we also have our very own Azra Family Co. Special Product…. The Delicious Burger!".
"Wow…delightful...worried not, Mr. Azra…I will surely stop by later…". (Town Guard Robert)
It doesn't hurt to do a little bit of marketing, so I intentionally make a big and seemingly arrogant claims using a slightly louder voice. Mr. Robert before me is still keeping his decorum by not antagonizing me and just acted like he is just entertaining my brag. Finished by my shouting marketing that do make some heads turns, I grabbed the Permit plaque, it was just a simple wooden plaque with a word 'Permit' written on it, and walked back to my truck, slowly as a lot of heads turns towards me.
"Honey…is the shouting really necessary? .... look…everyone is looking at us now...". (Natasha)
As soon as I got close to my truck, Natasha come to my side in a hurry and grab my hand and assist me walked, whilst voicing her concern.
"[I believe, Master is doing a marketing for our stall…]". (Alfred)
"Thank you, Alfred…don't worry, Nat…it's just a little bit of crowd works…now that the attention is on us…we can start our business with a bang…".
"Sigh~…alright…". (Natasha)
I supposed Natasha are slowly to get used to my weird antics, so she just sighs and resumed to work. Our Azra Family Co. stall, are finally open, Alfred is going to be in charged of moving the products from the trucks and also our security. After all, he is using the real time satellite monitoring to ensure our safety, he can see a threat from a mile away. Natasha would be in charge of the money and customer service. While I would be in charge of cooking the Azra Family burger, our signature product.
"COME!! COME!!...COME AND BUY…DELICIOUS WHITE BREAD FRESHLY COOKED…CRYSTAL MINERAL WATER, FREE FROM RADIATION AND REFRESHING AS THE MOUNTAIN DEWS!!...COME!!COME! COME AND BUY...WE HAVE SPECIAL DELICIOUS FOOD…THE BURGER!!...SEASONED AND TOASTY BUNS WITH JUICY AND DELICIOUS MEATS, FRESH LETUCE AND TASTY SAUCE!!...COME EVERYONE AND BUY…AZRA FAMILY CO. DELIVERED THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN!!...". (Alfred)
There is no need for me to shouts and call for the customers, when I got an Automaton that can serve as a loud speaker for that. So as soon as I started to cook the patties and toast the buns, Alfred went off with the promotion. And sure enough, together with Alfred loud announcement like voice, the aroma of our signature seasoned meat patties sizzling on the flattop started to bring the customers to us.
"Excuse me, what is this? …hold on…is that meat? ....and…is that…a fresh lettuce?....".(Bearded Man)
"Yes, it is, Sir…. this is our signature dish ...a burger…a thick and juicy meat patties, served in between a toasty bun, WITH Fresh and green lettuce….and then…. with ketchup sauce, Mayonnaise and mustard….".
The bearded man wasn't the only one that comes to our stall, along with him there's a few people around him as well, naturally his eyes and attention were already glued to all of our product. But the one that attract his and the other customers the most, the burger, they all saw the round fresh meat patties turned brown as it cooks, and with every single word I said and explained to him what the burger is, I showed him all the ingredients stacking one by one, forming the burger. From the smell, the color of the ingredients, and the sauce itself, every customer that laid their eyes on our stall, were enraptured by my Burgers. This is not some ordinary food; it was perhaps the first premium food that they would ever get in this gloomy world.
"Gulp! Sir…how much is this…. burger?". (Bearded Man)
The bearded man eyes were glued to the burger that I just finished cooking and put it on a wrapper. The sound of him swallowing his saliva, aren't just coming from him alone, but from everyone that were standing before our stall.
"It is 3 coins, sir customer~…".
"3 Coins?!...that's...". (Bearded Man)
"A... a... a~…. for 3 coins…you not only get, our Azra Family Burger…. but also…this Azra Family Mineral Water…. look at this, Sir…such a crystal clean water…free of radiations, it's refreshing, cool and tasty like no water you have ever taste…. Sir…. this is a deal of a lifetime…a delicious burger paired with a refreshing and definitely clean drink…. now…3 coins don't feel so expensive right?".
Before he was able to object me more, I showed him our 'Mineral water', we decided to just rebrand the Clean Water to Mineral water at the last moment. There's a stall a few meters away selling clean water, I don't want to antagonize the stall owner, and also my water was too clean to be in the same category of their water. So why not, make my own brand, from now on I am sure that my water would be remembered as Mineral Water.
"You know what, Sir…. with that kind of clean water…and that…Burger….3 coins. Is not expensive.... give me one, NOW!!!....
It was clear on his face that he is already tempted with the offer, he fished the 3 coins out of his pocket, and either it was his eagerness or because he was a fool, he slammed his hand on my piping hot flattop.
"Why the heck, would you slam my flattop for?".
"Sorry about that, Boss…ahh...it's hot…. here's the money, Missus…now…. give me my burger…". (Bearded Man)
Embarrassed, he gave the coins to Natasha, and in returns, she handed him the one wrapped burger and a 500ml Mineral water. And for some reason, everyone aside from our first customer, did not budge at all. Rather all of them were waiting behind him, silently waiting, seconds passed, as the bearded man notice the gaze, he just slightly moves out of the way standing beside my stall.
"What the hell are you all looking at me for? ...". (Bearded Man)
"Eat it, you fool! …. we want to see if it was really that tasty…". (Mob of Customers)
"Fuck you all! ...I'll eat it when I want!!...". (Bearded Man)
"KAAACCHHAAKK!!!... eat it now…". (Mob of Customers)
The crowds unanimously point their guns at him.