The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?
Chapter 44 Never Empty Air Force

Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Never Empty Air Force

A strong fishy smell invaded Liu Zheng’s nostrils.

In a daze, he thought he saw a gigantic salmon lunging at him.

Liu Zheng instinctively raised his tentacles to block, but then saw that he was holding a trident he hadn’t noticed before.

"Stab it."

A voice reminded him.

He took a deep breath and stabbed the salmon in the head.

Grey-white blood trickled out.

"Ah!"

The salmon flailed its tail painfully, emitting a baby-like cry.

"Warning, Rationality Points decreasing."

Liu Zheng reached out to grab, but only caught a tuft of cat fur.

"Why are you grabbing me, meow?"

San Huamao turned its head, looking puzzled.

"It’s nothing."

He smiled and casually wiped his hand.

The system prompt appeared again.

"Player has obtained the ’Never Empty-Handed’ status, lasting for one instance."

"Never Empty-Handed: Significantly increases fishing success rate and enhances resistance to fish-type mental contamination."

Well, the Fisherman was ecstatic.

Even though he lost some Rationality Points, Liu Zheng felt it was worth it.

Even though there was no opportunity to fish at the moment, that didn’t mean there wouldn’t be one later.

Moreover, there were quite a few fish dishes in the takeaway.

With this status, he wouldn’t have to worry about losing san anymore.

After washing a few baskets of vegetables, White Feather Chicken called out to Liu Zheng.

"Come and taste the food."

It scooped a spoonful of soup and handed it to Liu Zheng.

The soup was light yellow and thick in consistency, with several black threads swimming around in it, complete with heads and tails.

"I have lost my sense of taste, my boss knows about this."

He quickly said.

"That’s true."

Niu Ma nodded in agreement.

"Stop pretending, your sense of taste has already recovered."

White Feather Chicken pierced through his lie.

High physical fitness plus "Blood and Flesh Rebirth," Liu Zheng’s sense of taste had recovered this morning.

"But I don’t know how to appreciate food."

He tried to struggle once more.

Although there was no system prompt, just from the looks of it, he knew this soup wasn’t anything normal.

"The guest is human, I’m not sure of the taste."

White Feather Chicken admitted frankly.

"Then, let’s have..."

Liu Zheng looked around at a group of odd creatures with whom he exchanged glances.

"Sigh."

He resigned himself to taking the spoon and putting it into his mouth.

"What does it taste like?"

White Feather Chicken asked.

"Spicy."

Liu Zheng gritted his teeth in discomfort.

"Hmm, what else?"

White Feather Chicken took out a notebook and jotted down his response.

"Sour."

Saliva uncontrollably flowed out, forming strings that dripped to the ground.

"Anything else?"

"Numb."

He spoke with a swollen tongue, feeling a buzzing in his head.

"Anything else?"

White Feather Chicken continued to inquire.

"A bit salty, and there’s an indescribable fishy taste."

"William, add two bunches of rosemary and a small handful of laurel leaves. Throw in two salt leeches to soak up the salt, three seconds should be enough."

White Feather Chicken turned and shouted.

The duck named William gave an OK sign, picking up two fat leech-like creatures from a nearby culture dish and tossing them into the soup.

"Uh..."

Liu Zheng’s eyes twitched as he watched.

"Now what?"

White Feather Chicken asked again.

"No taste."

He smacked his lips, and then his face changed.

"I feel something crawling down my throat."

"That’s normal, don’t worry."

White Feather Chicken said while pulling out a gas mask.

"Then why are you wearing a gas mask?"

Liu Zheng said with hollow eyes.

"That’s standard procedure, don’t worry. Is everyone ready?"

White Feather Chicken called out loudly.

"Ready."

Replies came from all around.

He looked around, and all the kitchen staff had put on gas masks.

Except for him and Niu Ma.

"Okay, you can let it go."

White Feather Chicken said.

"Let what go?"

No sooner had Liu Zheng asked the question than his stomach made a violent rumbling sound.

He glared with fury, his gluteal muscles tensing and relaxing, and a wave of foul air immediately blasted out.

"Tut-tut-tut! Tut-tut-tut!"

The sound of a machine gun burst filled the air as Liu Zheng’s pants billowed out.

The suffocating stench spread rapidly in the air, causing his eyes to burn too much to keep them open.

"Turn on the ventilation! Full power!"

White Feather Chicken ordered.

A kitchen staff member immediately turned on the ventilation system, and the loud noise of the motor started up.

It took a full half-minute before Liu Zheng finally stopped the gas emission.

Seeing the legs of his trousers deflate, he even felt the urge to weep tears of relief.

Thank goodness these guys weren’t human, otherwise he might as well have renounced his humanity.

"My oversight, I forgot you’re not entirely human."

White Feather Chicken took off its gas mask, looking solemn.

"But still, him eating this, won’t the other customers have something to say about it?"

Liu Zheng questioned.

"That’s a VIP customer who has their own private room."

White Feather Chicken explained.

"They must be suffering from the smell themselves."

"Who knows, I just cook; customer experience is for the service department to worry about."

White Feather Chicken shrugged its shoulders, then left on its own.

Liu Zheng pouted, about to resume washing vegetables, only to see Niu Ma charging toward him, looking ferocious.

"Not good!"

Liu Zheng was startled in fright.

Niu Ma had not had a gas mask on just now.

He immediately dropped the basket of vegetables and took refuge on the other side of the workstation.

"Come here, I promise I won’t beat you to death."

Niu Ma said, panting heavily, leaning on the table edge.

Tears were still streaked in the corners of its eyes, obviously, the fumes had gotten to it too.

"Do you think I’m stupid?"

Liu Zheng dismissed its promise with a snort.

"Besides, it’s not like I wanted to fart. There’s an actual perpetrator for this crime, go find Napoleon."

"The fart came from your butt; who else would I find if not you?"

Niu Ma said, glaring.

"Well, it was you who brought me into this kitchen. If you hadn’t brought me here, how could I have farted?"

He retorted sharply.

"You little brat, you’re asking for a beating."

Niu Ma grew furious, backed up two steps, and was about to leap over.

"Enough, what’s all this fuss about a little fart?"

White Feather Chicken came over to mediate.

"You’ve got nerve, why didn’t you give me a gas mask?"

Niu Ma shifted its target.

"Why the hell should I? I haven’t settled the account with you for that bottle of Vlad III."

White Feather Chicken got angry, its comb turning blood red.

"Is that how it is, we going to throw down again?"

Its claws scratched the stainless-steel floor, leaving furrows.

"Hey, it’s all in the past. Why keep bringing it up?"

Niu Ma said with a sheepish smile.

"Hmph. No fighting, huh? Okay, then get out and take care of the delivery."

"The smuggled goods?"

Niu Ma frowned.

"Right. I took the hit when the last delivery wasn’t inspected. With so much manpower lost, it’s impossible for me to stay silent."

"Just so happens you’re not kitchen staff, you can help me vent this frustration."

White Feather Chicken nodded emphatically.

"What’s in it for me?"

Niu Ma asked.

"The matter with Vlad III is squared away. As for your underling, I can offer a cup of Golden Honey Wine."

White Feather Chicken glanced at Liu Zheng as it spoke.

"That generous?"

Niu Ma also looked at Liu Zheng.

"Are you going or not? Just to be clear, if a real fight breaks out, I might not be able to look out for you."

It stated.

"What’s Golden Honey Wine?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"Have you gone mad once already?"

White Feather Chicken countered.

"Yes."

He admitted freely.

In these times, it’s no shame to be sick; what’s abnormal is to be without sickness.

"Go mad one more time, and you should hear the Gospel again."

White Feather Chicken said ominously.