The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?
Chapter 519 - 405: Inviting You to Dine at the Bloody Restaurant_2

Chapter 519: Chapter 405: Inviting You to Dine at the Bloody Restaurant_2

"Bathhouse Street is arguably one of the most bustling areas outside the city, and the staff of the Servicing Department should be the highest caliber of females out there."

"Now that you’re the head of such a core division as the Massage Department, your daily life is not exactly something you can’t get enough of, but it can be described as extremely luxurious, right?"

He continued.

"What exactly are you trying to say? Kid."

"I have six words for you, Minister."

Liu Zheng habitually tried to gesture the number "six" with his hands, but embarrassingly realized he currently had neither fingers nor even tentacles.

"Which six words?"

Luckily, Shao Yan wasn’t in the mood to pay attention to these details right now.

"Anticipate danger, anticipate retreat, anticipate change."

"I didn’t finish elementary school, I don’t understand."

Shao Yan shook his head.

"Having reached the position of head of the Massage Department, you’ve basically reached the top, haven’t you?"

"Any position higher than this, even if you have the capability, Granny Tang wouldn’t let you climb any further."

"And if you can’t go up, those below naturally can’t climb up either. Take for instance Deputy Minister Liu Tong, once he becomes the Executive Deputy Minister, his next target would be your chair."

He explained.

"He dares! One punch and I’d cripple him."

Shao Yan said confidently.

"This isn’t about daring or not, people aspire to rise higher and water flows downwards; it’s the natural order of the world. Even if Deputy Minister Liu Tong doesn’t harbor such ambition, those underneath him would still push him upwards."

"If you can still climb up, that’s naturally fine; they could become your support."

"But if you can’t advance any further, then they’ll join forces to overthrow you."

Liu Zheng shook his head.

This time Shao Yan didn’t respond, his face darkened.

"Actually, not being able to climb any higher isn’t the scariest thing. If I were Granny Tang, I’d use an even crueler method."

He said leisurely.

"What method?"

Shao Yan couldn’t help but ask.

"Elevated in name but reduced in power, give you a position that appears high but holds little authority. Or, you do not even need just nominal authority, as long as it has nothing to do with the Massage Department."

"After all, the Massage Department is where your base of power lies; once your foundation is shaken, taking you down would be a piece of cake."

Liu Zheng said.

"You little brat, that’s rather vicious."

Shao Yan’s hairs stood on end.

"They’re merely tricks commonly used by those in higher positions; haven’t you used them before, Minister?"

He asked in return.

"Hmm..."

Shao Yan fell silent.

He wasn’t any saint or paragon of virtue; he had naturally employed such tactics on his subordinates before.

Otherwise, why wouldn’t Liu Tong know the secret of serving Da Chuanliu?

"I’ve heard that the reason Minister Shao Yan opposes Granny Tang is because she covets your body?"

"Who told you that?!"

Shao Yan yelled, as if his fur had been blown up.

"You don’t need to worry about who told me. If that’s the case, then if you lose your power, your fate might be even worse than death."

Since the goal was to persuade him, the Deputy Minister naturally shared this gossip with Liu Zheng.

"Hmph, worst comes to worst, I’ll just take off."

Shao Yan snorted coldly.

He was not like Mr. Batiao; with his abilities, there would be bathhouses willing to pay his breach-of-contract fee no matter how high it was.

"So that’s why I asked before, you like it here a lot, don’t you, Minister?"

"...You little devil, you really are a demon."

Shao Yan couldn’t help but curse.

"That’s a new nickname; they usually call me Succubus."

Liu Zheng said with a smile.

"Tch. So by helping you, I can move up a step further, can I?"

Shao Yan asked.

"At least you’re contemplating change, aren’t you?"

"If an employee violates the rules, whether they are punished, killed, or turned into a pig is something everyone can accept."

"But keeping them imprisoned without executing them and extorting money from their families crosses the line for everyone, doesn’t it?"

"Who hasn’t made mistakes? Who wants to work with their head tied to their waistband, toiling for a lifetime without saving a cent, only to end up owing the boss untold losses?"

"If the family outright abandons you, then you might as well be born lowly and die swiftly."

"But if the family genuinely loves and cares, willing to bankrupt themselves to save you, only to end up broke and destroyed, the dead probably wouldn’t rest in peace, would they?"

Liu Zheng’s words were increasingly piercing to the heart.

"Stop talking!"

Shao Yan interrupted him sharply.

"Fine. But I’m short on time, you need to make a decision quickly."

He then shut his mouth.

After a brief yet interminable silence, Shao Yan finally spoke up.

"Actually, the real owner of the bathhouse isn’t Granny Tang."

"I figured as much."

Liu Zheng nodded.

If Granny Tang is truly the boss, how could she possibly allow open opposition within her ranks.

"But for certain reasons, we cannot afford to let the real boss take control either."

Thirteen Tiles hesitated for a moment, but still didn’t reveal the biggest secret of Hundred Ghosts.

"Then why should it be Granny Tang?"

"Because besides another person, only Granny Tang has the power to control the real boss."

Thirteen Tiles replied.

"So no matter how distasteful Granny Tang is, you cannot afford to truly turn against her. Likewise, Granny Tang can only suppress you in secret, to prevent you from being pushed into a corner."

Liu Zheng summarized.

"That’s right, that’s pretty much it."

Thirteen Tiles nodded.

His rise as the leader of the opposition wasn’t solely due to his personal grudge with Granny Tang.

He was able to become the head of the Massage Department because there were veteran employees dissatisfied with Granny Tang’s management backing him.

"So, you want me to find this other person to replace Granny Tang at the helm of Hundred Ghosts?"

Liu Zheng directly voiced his thoughts.

"Precisely."

Thirteen Tiles straightforwardly admitted.

"There’s probably not enough time."

"I know, this is something you can take your time with."

Thirteen Tiles nodded.

Their conflict with Granny Tang hasn’t yet reached a boiling point.

However, with Seiko’s situation, the struggle is sure to escalate.

"Alright, remember my phone number, and after you get out, tell me the details."

Liu Zheng recited his number.

"So you’re agreeing to help me?"

"I’m not helping you; I’m helping us."

Thirteen Tiles denied his claim.

"You’re right."

People from Metropolis are notoriously stubborn, Liu had grown accustomed to it.

"Tell your women to stop creating trouble; I’ll let you know the location later."

"But I won’t help you rescue someone, nor will I help you escape."

Thirteen Tiles declared.

"No problem."

Liu Zheng nodded.

Rescuing someone never required Thirteen Tiles’ help, and as for the escape route, Mr. Batiao had already prepared it for him.

After discussing matters, Thirteen Tiles could not be bothered with idle chat and turned to leave.

Yet, as he reached the door, he looked back over his shoulder.

"Kid, try to kill fewer people, they’re just working after all."

His tone unexpectedly took on a hint of a plea.

"Don’t worry, anyone who knows me is aware I’m actually a pacifist."

"Heh."

Thirteen Tiles glanced at the room that looked like it had been hit by a typhoon and departed.

Meanwhile, Liu Zheng called Deputy Minister Liu and Yaoji to halt their operations.

After a while, Deputy Minister Liu and Yaoji returned.

"Thirteen Tiles said Seiko is locked on the 6th floor, the fifth room on the left straight out of the elevator."

Deputy Minister Liu reported.

"Good. By the way, do you have anything that can wrap up Wan Zi?"

Liu Zheng inquired.

Carrying Wan Zi during a rescue was too risky, and she wouldn’t fit in the Legendary Takeout Box.

Moreover, there was Shao Yan’s head inside; even if there was room, he wouldn’t dare to pack Wan Zi in there.

"I must’ve owed you in my past life."

Deputy Minister Liu gave him a resentful glare, then stripped off her wetsuit.

"Here, wrap her up in this. This is my favorite piece of clothing, so you better remember to return it to me."

She instructed.

"Don’t worry, if it gets damaged, I’ll give you an even better one."

Liu Zheng accepted the wetsuit; no item description popped up as expected.

"Come on in."

He spread the clothing on the ground and waved Wan Zi over.

"Oh."

Wan Zi responded obediently, lying down into the clothing and curling up conscientiously.

Yaoji approached, tied up the wetsuit into a bundle, and hung it around Liu Zheng’s neck.

"Thanks, Sister Yangzi. I’m off; take care of yourselves."

He said to the two.

"Will we see each other again?"

Yaoji queried.

"We will."

Liu Zheng nodded, then left the room like a gust of wind.

As the two stepped out of the room, he was already out of sight at the end of the corridor.

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