Ian strolled through the streets and alleys, encountering many strangely dressed "people" with bizarre makeup.

  The more Ian saw, the more amazed he became.

  "No wonder he's the mastermind behind Death House. Even this haunted house cosplay is so realistic! The scenery and actors are flawless!"

  Each building was worn, with clear signs of time.

  The air hung heavy with the scent of decay.

  It was an effect that couldn't be faked.

  And the actors inhabiting this ghost town were dedicated to their roles.

  Suddenly, a fragrant aroma wafted over him.

  Ian took a whiff, his taste buds awakening. Following the scent, he made his way to a restaurant.

  An old man, gaunt and hunched, emerged from the building. Upon seeing Ian, he greeted him with a welcoming grin.

  "Welcome! What can I get for you, friend?"

  "You actually serve food here?" Ian asked, intrigued.

  He'd seen some haunted houses with restaurants to help add the perfect eerie ambiance. In all of these ghost restaurants all of the plates and props were always fake!

  "What kind of question is that?" the old man chuckled. "What else would a restaurant be for?"

  "Then I'll see what culinary delights this establishment has to offer!" Ian smiled and walked right into the restaurant.

  The old man stared at Ian's back, his saliva dripping like thread on the ground.

  Inside, the restaurant was tidy. Tables and chairs were neatly arranged, in stark contrast to the chaos of Devil's Town outside.

  "Looks like this is really a place to eat," Ian mused.

  "What would you like to order, sir?" The old man's small, beady eyes sized Ian up and down.

  Ian grinned. "I'm new here and don't know what's good. Why don't you recommend some dishes?"

  "Sure thing!" the old man chuckled, then drifted into reminiscence.

  "The best dish is fried human heart!"

  You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

  "I'm telling you, you slice the heart into paper-thin pieces, then toss them in the pan!"

  "No need for other seasonings or oil. The heart will release its own oil!"

  "If it's a fat person's heart, even better, more oil!"

  "When the heart slices are slightly browned, they're ready!"

  "Remember to eat it while it's hot. It melts in your mouth, with a delicious, oily flavor!"

  The old man was getting carried away describing the fried human heart.

  When he got particularly excited, he shook his head and gesticulated wildly.

  Ian listened quietly.

  Though it sounded a bit strange.

  But, it was a haunted house after all. Scary food names weren't that abnormal.

  The fried heart might be just the house using pork heart or even goose liver to cook with!

  Hearing the old man describe the cooking process, Ian felt a sudden urge to get in the kitchen and experiment.

  Ever since solidifying his relationship with Tammy, he'd been dabbling in cooking, preparing for his future as a stay-at-home husband.

  "I'm not that fond of that dish. I prefer roast pig...ah, roast human feet. I've been experimenting with it lately. It's delicious!" Ian said.

  The old man was taken aback. "You don't mind the stench?"

  Who even eats roasted human feet?

  If he happened to roast up a healthy foot with good hygiene that would be fine.

  But what if you got one with athlete's foot?

  What kind of torture is that!

  Even animals don't want that!

  Ian smiled. "If you find it stinky, you're probably not preparing it right. Let me show you how."

  "Tell me," the old man said, nodding.

  "First, wash it carefully, then blanch it in boiling water."

  "Blanch?" the old man asked.

  Ian nodded. "If your food is stinky, it's probably because you didn't blanch it first. Blanching boils the meat, removing blood and other impurities, which eliminates the stench."

  The old man suddenly realized. "I see!"

  "After blanching, I make a spice packet.

  "Once the spice mix is ready, you can prepare the brine. Remember to poke small holes on the surface of the foot."

  "What's that for?" the old man asked.

  Ian smiled. "To help it absorb the flavor. Otherwise, only the surface will taste good."

  "Very well," the old man replied, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

  "Generally, a few hours of brining is enough. Then you can grill it."

  Ian was getting excited just thinking about it.

  "The flavor of roast human feet prepared this way is absolutely amazing!"

  "It's fatty but not greasy, and the flavor of oil fills your mouth!"

  "Not only that, we brined it once before, and in addition to the oiliness, there's also the aroma of the brine!"

  "Cooked this way, it's delicious! Everyone will love it!"

  The old man was drooling, his small, green eyes gleaming with anticipation.

  "Thank you!" the old man said sincerely.

  "For what? You can find the recipes online," Ian laughed. "But as a chef, not knowing how to roast human feet? That's a bit much, isn't it?"

  "If I don't know how to do it now, I can learn." The old man chuckled, staring at Ian. "I'm planning to try your method later."

  "Do you have the ingredients here?" Ian asked, interested. "I can show you how!"

  "Yes, of course!" The old man looked at Ian, nodding repeatedly. "Come with me."

  "Sure." Ian's hands were itching. He got up and followed the old man.

  The two men walked through the hall into the kitchen.

  The kitchen was even cleaner than the hall, fully equipped with all kinds of cooking utensils. The floor and stove were spotless.

  The only strange thing was that other than the kitchenware, the kitchen was empty.

  Ian looked around, confused. "Wait a minute, there aren't any ingredients in your kitchen. How do you cook?"

  The old man chuckled, his greedy eyes staring shamelessly at Ian. "Didn't you bring the ingredients with you?"

  "When did I bring the ingredients?" Ian asked, completely bewildered.