The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?
Chapter 211 - 210: The Opportunity to Dine with the Supreme Speaker

Chapter 211: Chapter 210: The Opportunity to Dine with the Supreme Speaker

"Chef boss, are you trying to get me killed?"

Liu Zheng’s eyelid twitched.

He had to dodge even the green vests, and now he was expected to go bomb the store of a member of the Special Action Team?

Why didn’t the White Feather Chicken just directly suggest he go challenge Si Xue to a solo duel?

"It was a former member,"

emphasized the White Feather Chicken.

"Is there a difference?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"A former member means he has lost the protection of City Hall and also lost the capabilities and equipment that come with being a member of the Special Action Team,"

said the White Feather Chicken.

"But he originally got into the Special Action Team because of his strength, right?"

He pointed out the loophole in White Feather Chicken’s words.

"Indeed,"

admitted the White Feather Chicken reluctantly.

"Give me a clear standard here, how does he compare in strength to me, boss?"

Liu Zheng bluntly asked.

"Hey! Don’t freaking compare everything to me, I’m not a damn unit of measurement,"

Niu Ma retorted angrily.

"If we’re judging by the strength he’s shown so far, that person would be somewhat stronger than him,"

contemplated White Feather Chicken.

"Well, that settles it, if I could take him down, why wouldn’t I just become the boss of the delivery department myself,"

he said, spreading his hands.

Then he received a hoof from Niu Ma and fell face-first into the dirt.

"I knew you were plotting to turn against me, come on, let’s settle this right now, beat me and I’ll become your underling,"

Niu Ma taunted.

"I was just giving an example, once a boss, always a boss, how could I possibly turn against you?"

Liu Zheng said, getting up and grinning.

"Besides, you’re about to pick up your bucket and run, the position is naturally mine to inherit,"

"Hmph, with you? Even if I leave, they would just parachute another department head in,"

Niu Ma responded disdainfully.

Being a department head requires real strength; connections can instill fear but cannot inspire allegiance.

"We’ll talk about that when the time comes,"

he shrugged.

Niu Ma might run off, but he’d escape first, and not even bringing in a new department head would affect him.

"The guy has a weakness you can exploit,"

finally spoke White Feather Chicken after much hesitation.

"What weakness?"

"He enjoys mating with furry creatures that have a cloaca,"

White Feather Chicken paused before saying.

A cloaca and furry creatures?

If one did not consider the special species of Metropolis, wouldn’t that refer to birds?

Realizing this, Liu Zheng’s gaze towards White Feather Chicken turned strange.

"Hmph,"

White Feather Chicken knew what he was thinking but did not react.

Having said it already, being coy about it would only make things worse.

In this cutthroat Metropolis, being used as a tool for relief by the powerful was already considered a decent origin.

If it hadn’t climbed up to the position of head chef at the Bloody Restaurant, it probably wouldn’t have thought of taking revenge.

Of course, not taking revenge did not mean there was a lack of hatred.

And after hearing about Liu Zheng’s impressive achievements, the hatred in its heart ballooned uncontrollably.

"The weakness is birds, huh."

Liu Zheng fell deep into thought and immediately thought of French Plane Tree.

Not because it empathized with White Feather Chicken but because it often dealt with birds.

What if it knew of some magical species whose cloaca could excrete Poison Liquid?

"Got any more information?"

Liu Zheng asked again.

"No, I was just a pet and toy to begin with; how much information could I possibly have,"

said the White Feather Chicken, shaking its head.

"But, I can offer you a piece of information that has nothing to do with his strength as an additional reward,"

it added after a moment’s thought.

"What information?"

"If you’re going to buy a lottery ticket at his place, remember to only buy scratch-offs and preferably those with saliva marks on them."

the White Feather Chicken said.

"What are the prizes inside the scratch-offs?"

Liu Zheng asked.

If it’s just money, he would be less interested.

"Don’t know, I’ve never scratched one,"

White Feather Chicken shook its head.

"I know,"

Niu Ma interjected.

"Boss, tell us,"

Liu Zheng’s eyes lit up.

"A mouth without saliva, how can I speak? Cough, cough,"

Niu Ma mocked a cough.

"Chef boss?"

He looked towards White Feather Chicken.

"Hmph, one day I’ll drink you to death,"

White Feather Chicken flicked its chef hat, pulling out a bottle of wine, and hurled it at Niu Ma.

Liu Zheng saw only the motion of hurling, and the bottle was already in front of Niu Ma.

Fortunately, Niu Ma was not just for show.

It opened its mouth wide, bit the wine bottle, and, using its tongue, pulled off the cork and downed it in gulps.

"Tch, palming me off with cooking wine again,"

Niu Ma spat out the bottle, unsatisfied.

"Be glad there’s even cooking wine. Get on with it,"

urged White Feather Chicken.

"Besides money, you can also win benefit points in the scratch-offs,"

Niu Ma finally revealed.

"What are benefit points?"

"Benefit points are a welfare policy created by City Hall. Both non-citizens and citizens can use these points to exchange for material or non-material things,"

explained Niu Ma.

"Like what?"

"Like citizenship status, job opportunities, low-rent housing, exemption from entrance exams, mostly stuff that the rich don’t need and the poor can’t afford,"

Niu Ma described.

"Sounds pretty good."

At least non-citizens can also exchange them, and job opportunities and low-rent housing sound like very practical rewards.

"It is good, but you have to be able to afford the exchange. Even the lowest job opportunity costs 1,000 benefit points. Do you know how much the highest prize I’ve ever won was?"

Niu Ma asked.

"How many?"

"100 points."

"Ahaha, one-tenth, not bad."

Liu Zheng comforted.

"Then the second highest is 10 points."

Niu Ma said expressionlessly.

"Then the probability of winning is quite objective."

He said tactfully.

"But you, kid, have always been lucky; it’s indeed worth a try."

Niu Ma looked at the residual clown makeup on his face and said.

If he weren’t so lucky, he would’ve been dead long ago.

"What’s the best prize you can redeem?"

Liu Zheng asked curiously.

"A meal."

Niu Ma said.

"What kind of meal?"

"It’s not about what meal it is, but who you have the meal with."

Niu Ma said.

"Who?"

"The Prime Speaker."

Niu Ma said, pausing with each word.

"Sss~"

Liu Zheng gasped.

"How many points does that require?"

He asked.

"One billion."

"Only a billion?"

Liu Zheng said in surprise.

This was the Prime Speaker, the one standing at the top of Metropolis’s pyramid of power. Si Xue, Mr. Li, and Peacock probably seem like ordinary people in front of the Prime Speaker.

"Only a billion. The highest lottery prize I’ve heard of is just a million. And welfare points cannot be transferred, plus they reset every ten years. It means you would have to win the big prize ten times a year, almost once a month."

"Do you still think it’s a little?"

Niu Ma said with a cold laugh.

"With so many unique individuals in Metropolis, there must be some who can keep winning, right?"

Liu Zheng was not intimidated.

Fishermen have things like Black Koi to increase their Luck Value; surely, other bizarre residents have their tricks.

"Of course, there are. But that’s exactly the purpose of City Hall."

Niu Ma said.

"How so?"

"Why do you think City Hall allows non-citizens to redeem welfare points?"

Niu Ma countered.

"To ease tensions, to give the lower classes a false sense of hope?"

He thought and then said.

"That’s part of the reason. Another part is to lure those ’unstable’ elements among the non-citizens into a trap."

"Because the ability to keep winning big prizes is often chaotic or against the order."

Niu Ma said.

"I see."

Liu Zheng nodded.

It was very much in line with Metropolis’s style.

Such a vast and complex city, maintaining its current state of controlled chaos, the finesse of City Hall is apparent.

It’s just unknown whether the Prime Speaker is a supremely intelligent policy maker or an unmatched enforcer of policies.

Or perhaps, both.

"So forget about the top prize, if you really win a big prize..."

Niu Ma hesitated a moment, then continued.

"Just help me redeem a box of eugenics medicine."

"Sure."

Liu Zheng nodded.

"You aren’t even going to ask what it’s for, how many welfare points it needs?"

His ready agreement made Niu Ma somewhat uneasy.

"You’re my big shot, man. Isn’t it supposed to send you a gift, why would I ask?"

Liu Zheng said nonchalantly.

"It’s taken before conception to increase the chances of the next child passing the ’birth test.’"

White Feather Chicken suddenly interjected.

"Looks like you’ve been in contact with ’dirty stuff,’ huh?"

It looked at Niu Ma mockingly.

"Like you’ve never touched it."

Niu Ma rolled his eyes.

"I’m not planning to have kids."

"You’re great, you’re high and mighty, okay then."

Niu Ma said dismissively.

"You’re too greedy, Niu Ma."

White Feather Chicken shook its head.

"Even if you became the head of the department, having a family is too luxurious for employees of the Bloody Restaurant."

"Mind your own business. Anything else? If not, back to your kitchen."

Niu Ma started shooing the chicken away.

"Hehe."

White Feather Chicken picked up a soup pot and left the break room.

"Boss, if you really want that eugenics medicine, I can get another Black Koi."

After it left, Liu Zheng took the initiative to say.

"But you’ll have to bear the side effects that come with it."

"Let’s not then."

Niu Ma rolled his eyes.

"Last time I was almost done in by it, another time and I’ll only be able to have a posthumous child."

"Alright then."

He was only offering out of gratitude, but since Niu Ma himself wasn’t interested, it was better left alone.

But considering the karma involved with Liu Zheng now, if his Luck Value dropped to 0, he couldn’t imagine the massive calamity that might befall him.

The deity corresponding to the Gospel might directly descend upon Metropolis.

Or even send an order directly to the Chaos Club.

While Liu Zheng was lost in his wild thoughts, Niu Ma’s phone rang again.

"I’ve basically become your receptionist."

He couldn’t help but complain.

But after seeing the number, his expression immediately turned respectful.

"Boss, what are your orders?"

"Okay, okay, I will tell him."

After hanging up the phone, Niu Ma raised his eyebrows at Liu Zheng.

"I told you the boss would be pleased."