The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?
Chapter 106: Did the Boss Wear It or Not?

Chapter 106: Chapter 106: Did the Boss Wear It or Not?

"No worries, your mouth is still not as dirty as my feet,"

Si Xue said nonchalantly.

Liu Zheng had to admit, she made a lot of sense.

After all, at most his mouth had some bacteria and food residue, but her feet were covered in Black Water.

Drops of pure black liquid seeped out from Si Xue’s pores, only to be absorbed back by her skin, cycling endlessly.

This Black Water didn’t have a strange smell, but when Liu Zheng looked at it, he felt as though his face was being smothered by Black Water.

"What is this Black Water?"

He asked with difficulty.

"Want to know? Then taste it,"

Si Xue wobbled her foot.

"Can I take it back?"

Liu Zheng said with a bitter smile.

"You can’t. The moment you saw it, you no longer had a choice,"

"Alright then,"

He resignedly held up Si Xue’s foot, and gave it a quick lick like lightning.

An indescribable taste exploded in his mind.

It was none of the basic tastes—sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, salty, or that endlessly complex taste of Indian paste.

If he had to describe it, it was a mix of fresh and decayed blood.

Countless voices were grateful, thankful for the food that extended their lives.

Countless voices were resentful, resentful for being used as food only to have their lives end.

The shouts of gratitude and resentment, along with the taste of blood, spread throughout Liu Zheng’s body.

Every cell in his body started to riot, attacking each other, consuming each other, treating each other as food needed for survival.

His body turned into a food chain, and an unsustainable one at that.

"Warning, player’s rationality is declining."

The system’s prompt did not awaken Liu Zheng.

Because he was already awake.

He watched soberly as his body stepped closer to collapse.

Just as he was about to turn into a pile of mush, Si Xue suddenly splashed tea on his face.

A strange life rhythm stabilized Liu Zheng’s cells, then catalyzed their death.

After death, came regeneration.

"Fuck!"

He, transformed back into his Tentacle Man form, cursed instinctively.

"I thought you were more capable, turns out you’re just this,"

Si Xue’s lazy tone was even more ironic.

"I’m just a mere human, how could I compare with you?"

Liu Zheng replied frankly.

"Smooth talker. Behave a little better lately, and maybe you’ll even have a chance to take it back,"

"Alright, take that little thing and go. Don’t let me catch you doing bad things again, or next time you’ll be licking more than feet,"

Si Xue tensed her arch, executing a perfect airborne kick.

Missed!

He only had time to glance before he was kicked right in front of the elevator.

By the time he looked up again, the platinum throne had already sunk into the Lava Sea.

"Seems this boss gig isn’t so easy, after all,"

Liu Zheng shook his head, got up, and pressed the down button.

The elevator doors opened, and he stepped inside.

While it was moving, he pulled out a glass sphere from his pocket, inside which curled a tiny mermaid.

This was what Si Xue had slipped in when she kicked him.

"Name: Mermaid Fledgling’s Soul Ball"

"Type: Miscellaneous"

"Quality: Excellent"

"Effect: None"

"Note: The fate-filled premature soul, can it return to the embrace of the ocean?"

"Can be taken out of the instance: Yes"

"Such a loss."

Liu Zheng sighed and put away the Soul Ball.

A powerful and excellent piece of equipment just gone, one that could even be taken out of the instance.

And it had cost him his rationality.

But looking on the bright side, this whole affair was finally over.

That was part of the reason he agreed to lick Si Xue’s foot.

Thinking even more positively, having lost an item and his dignity, didn’t that make him more of a clown?

Luck Value UPUP, yay!

Screw that, damn it!

"Joker Card, give me a break. At this rate, I might even lose you,"

Liu Zheng patted the Lucky Clown Card in his pocket.

The elevator doors opened again, and he was startled because Ghost Hand was waiting outside for him.

Seeing him seemingly unharmed, Ghost Hand jumped and patted his shoulder.

Liu Zheng smiled and patted his chest.

It meant that he was too awesome to be hurt.

Ghost Hand’s palm grew a mouth, and it silently smiled.

It led Liu Zheng back to the front of the lounge, then turned and left, the wound on the back of its hand still shockingly visible, as if it would never heal.

He didn’t enter the room immediately, but watched Ghost Hand’s retreating figure.

The more frequent his interactions with Ghost Hand became, the more Liu Zheng wondered whether this was a good thing.

Almost everyone mentioned the Chaos Club with great trepidation, yet Ghost Hand had given him a membership card to the club.

It was difficult to interpret this as a kind gesture.

To call it malice, though, Ghost Hand had indeed helped him a lot and was far friendlier than the other eerie residents.

Liu Zheng was not reluctant to speculate about it with the greatest malice possible, Ghost Hand probably needed him to accomplish something, and all the kindness released so far was just a means to ensure the success of its goal.

Even if that was truly Ghost Hand’s intention, it didn’t really matter.

There were too many people wanting something from him; one more Ghost Hand didn’t make a difference.

When he left the instance, it would be the time for these folks’ dreams to shatter.

Upon entering the lounge, Niu Ma was already back.

"Eh, you’re really fine?"

It said in surprise.

"Boss, didn’t you just say that the boss calling for me might not necessarily be a bad thing?"

Liu Zheng said with empty eyes.

"Yeah, but it might not necessarily be a good thing either. Considering your current luck, the likelihood of it being bad is much higher."

Niu Ma’s words were quite piercing.

"Indeed, it wasn’t anything good."

He sighed.

"The Heart of the Ocean was confiscated, and I was forced to lick the Black Water, almost died from a Soul ball."

"That’s what you get for trying to be sneaky."

Niu Ma gloated.

"And you’re still planning to smuggle."

"Smuggling is relative to the City Hall, for the restaurant it’s a legitimate transaction,"

Niu Ma said righteously.

"Tsk."

"By the way, you just mentioned licking Black Water, what is Black Water?"

Niu Ma asked curiously.

"You didn’t see it when the boss summoned you?"

Liu Zheng cautiously didn’t say directly.

"No. Every time I see the boss, she’s all majestic and dignified."

Niu Ma shook its head.

"Alright, then we better not continue on this topic."

He decisively said.

Sitting upon the platinum throne, Si Xue didn’t look so much majestic and dignified as she did haughty and aloof.

Liu Zheng didn’t know if only he and Ghost Hand had seen this side of her, but since even Niu Ma didn’t know about Black Water, clearly this topic couldn’t be delved into further.

"Indeed."

Niu Ma also realized this and ended the topic.

Ding ding ding!

A tapping sound came from the cabinet.

"Eh, the meal’s early today. But good, I’m hungry anyway."

Niu Ma said excitedly.

Liu Zheng looked at its round belly and secretly rolled his eyes.

He opened the cabinet, taking out the staff meal and drink.

Today’s main dish was a stew, and the drink was soybean juice.

From the items’ descriptions, their heavy impact was apparent.

"Name: Bloody Restaurant Staff Meal"

"Type: Item"

"Quality: Poor"

"Effect: Causes malignant mutations in random body parts, lasts an entire instance."

"Note: Made from sewer fish infused with all impurities from the sewer, an exceptional example of dark cuisine."

"Can it be taken out of the instance: No"

Liu Zheng speechlessly put down the staff meal, looking at the beverage.

"Name: Sewer Special Bean Juice"

"Type: Item"

"Quality: Poor"

"Effect: Every half-hour, randomly contract one type of poisoning status, lasts an entire instance."

"Note: Made of sewer fish bile and Yama Bean fermentation, an excellent proof for those daring to challenge themselves."

"Can it be taken out of the instance: No"

Alright, alright, even the drink is not spared.

Considering the ingredients were both from sewer fish, he was essentially lifting a rock to drop on his own foot.

"Boss, your meal is ready."

Liu Zheng respectfully presented the staff meal.

"You think I’m a fool?"

Niu Ma gave him a disdainful look.

"Make me eat all of it, and if even a bit of the broth is left, I’ll beat you up."