The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?
Chapter 535 - 413 Genealogy of the Gods_2

Chapter 535: Chapter 413 Genealogy of the Gods_2

He discovered a blind spot.

"Are we that close? What if you harass me with phone calls?"

The French Plane Tree rolled its eyes.

"...Although I’m just a delivery person too, my sexual orientation is completely normal."

Liu Zheng said, speechless.

"Heh, who knows? Li and Niu Ma are cut from the same cloth, so how much better could you be?"

The French Plane Tree sneered coldly.

"..."

He wanted to argue back but found he had no argument.

But he was used to it; in reality, he was often the victim of unjustified rumors.

After all, in this day and age, the term "journalist" had long become a derogatory word.

If someone praised you for being good at journalism, it was dirtier than cursing out your entire family.

As for why that was, Liu Zheng neither understood nor cared to understand.

To him, being a journalist was just a job. If he couldn’t do it anymore, he’d simply switch to another.

So he wasn’t about to compromise his conscience for promotions or pay raises, nor would he fight tooth and nail for professional honor.

Everything Liu Zheng did was guided by his basic moral compass as a person, nothing more.

"Fine, if you’re not giving it, then so be it."

He shrugged.

Anyway, the French Plane Tree wasn’t like others who wandered off. If something came up, he could just talk face-to-face.

"Hmph. Stay away from me. If you dare eavesdrop, I’ll rip off your ears and shove them up your nose."

The French Plane Tree warned.

"Tch, like I’m dying to listen."

Liu Zheng curled his lip and walked back toward the tank.

It wasn’t hard to figure out—the French Plane Tree was surely afraid he’d learn the true value of Shao Yanming’s head, making it easier to haggle down the price.

But Liu Zheng didn’t really care. If the price wasn’t right, he wouldn’t sell. He could always take it back to Napoleon for a look.

If that didn’t work out, he’d ask around in his network. Someone was bound to pay the highest price.

"Hey, come here, you dumb human."

After a moment, the French Plane Tree called him back over.

"What’s the deal?"

Liu Zheng asked expectantly.

"There’s good news and bad news. Which do you want first?"

The French Plane Tree asked coyly.

"Bad news."

He answered without hesitation.

"Wrong! You should’ve picked the good news first."

The French Plane Tree shrieked.

"...Fine, I’ll take the good news first."

Liu Zheng replied, exasperated.

Wait, weren’t trees supposed to be genderless? Why was this one more bothersome than a human woman?

"The good news is, this Shao Yanming is a god of the High Heaven Divine System. And gods of that system are careful in their actions and rarely interact with gods from other systems, so their artifacts are relatively scarce, commanding high premiums."

The French Plane Tree said with satisfaction.

"What’s the bad news then?"

He asked cooperatively.

"The bad news is, there’s a big collector who has a particular fondness for artifacts from the High Heaven system and has declared that no one else is allowed to compete with her. She’s known for her generosity, often paying prices upwards of 50% above market value."

The French Plane Tree explained.

"Isn’t that good news though?"

Liu Zheng asked, puzzled.

If she were driving down prices on High Heaven artifacts, that would qualify as bad news.

But if she’s paying 50% more than market value, doesn’t that make it an obvious sell?

"It might be good news for others, but not for you."

The French Plane Tree said with an odd look.

"Why? Wait, don’t tell me that big collector is..."

A bad feeling began creeping into him.

"Yep, it’s Peacock. Hahaha!"

The French Plane Tree cackled with schadenfreude.

"Could you laugh any louder? You’re practically hurting my eyes."

He said blankly.

"Hurting your eyes, hahaha! Is this the so-called human sense of humor? Hahaha!"

The French Plane Tree laughed even harder.

"Heh. Could I perhaps hire you to broker the sale for me?"

Liu Zheng inquired.

"Dream on. I’m not risking offending Peacock for you."

The French Plane Tree refused without hesitation.

Although Peacock might not necessarily trace where the artifacts came from, what if she did?

For a stationary being like it, ticking off Peacock was as good as courting death.

"Forget about it. In the whole Metropolis collector circle, no one would dare take this thing off your hands."

The French Plane Tree informed him.

If it were merely a private High Heaven artifact collection, some might dare to buy it.

After all, while Peacock had wealth and power, she wasn’t omnipotent.

But buying an artifact from Peacock’s enemies in the High Heaven system? No one would dare take that risk.

Not only because of fear but also because it wouldn’t be worth it.

After all, this was just the head of a minor god, not the core of a Main God or something equally valuable.

"No one would dare take it? I wouldn’t be so sure."

Liu Zheng smiled knowingly.

He did know someone who might take it—and might even offer a higher price than Peacock.

"Well, that’s your business. I can’t help you."

The French Plane Tree said.

"No problem. This intel alone was worth the appraisal fee."

He said generously.

"Even if you didn’t say so, I’d make sure to charge you the appraisal fee."

The French Plane Tree said dryly.

"How much?"

"One dollar."

"Huh?"

Liu Zheng was a bit taken aback. Since when did this stingy tree become so generous?

"Hmph. Pay up and get lost, useless human."

The French Plane Tree said impatiently.

Ever since it had met this guy, its artifact collection had only dwindled.

Finally, it had the chance to acquire something good, only to end up with a hot potato. What a tree-annoying situation.

"Aw, don’t be too sad. Next time, I’ll find something truly amazing for you."

Liu Zheng consoled, then turned and walked toward the sewer entrance.

In the sewer, Fisherman and Sha Jiang were grilling fish.

He noticed that the bones used as a grill looked familiar. After thinking for a while, it hit him.

Weren’t those the bones from the Skinning Monster he killed the first time he came here?

Liu Zheng had even used those as a weapon once.

So if the bones were here, the flesh must’ve ended up in Fisherman and Sha Jiang’s stomachs.

"Yue~"

The thought made his stomach turn slightly.

But disregarding the visual, given the tight texture of the Skinning Monster’s muscles, it probably made for a chewy bite.

"Here, brother, freshly grilled fish."

Sha Jiang cheerfully hacked off a piece with his axe and held it up to Liu Zheng’s mouth.

"Uh..."

Looking at how close the axe blade was to his head, Liu Zheng’s brow twitched.

If he didn’t know Sha Jiang had no need to waste effort killing him, he’d think the guy was planning some kind of covert assassination—oh wait, no—a fish-disguised blade.

"Not much flavor."

He bit off the fish head, chewed twice, and commented.

"Ah, damn it! I forgot the salt."

Sha Jiang slapped his forehead, then pulled out a massive bag of salt and dumped it entirely over the grilled fish, turning the golden-brown fish white.

"All set now, try again?"

He said cheerfully.

"Uhh, no thanks. I just remembered I’m allergic to fish."

Liu Zheng declined tactfully.

"Enough excuses—what do you want this time?"

The Fisherman asked.

"Oh, I got a new treasure and wanted you two to help activate it."

He took out the Three-Inch Mirror and described its effects.

"I can’t help with that."

The Fisherman refused outright.

"Alright, what about you, Brother Sha?"

"No problem! It’s just a bit of torture; what’s the worst that could happen? Keep it to me, brother. As long as it doesn’t kill me, I won’t let go!"

Sha Jiang thumped his chest in assurance.

"Thanks a ton, Brother Sha."

Liu Zheng said, touched.

"Ah, it’s nothing. Compared to the risks you’ve taken for me, this is no big deal. Once I’m done, I’ll call you to pick it up."

Sha Jiang said nonchalantly.

"Great. Oh, by the way, there’s also this thing. Wanna see if it’s any use to you guys? If not, I’ll sell it."

He showed them Shao Yanming’s head.

"The head of a bona fide god? What kind of chaos have you stirred up this time?"

The Fisherman asked.

"What chaos? I was just completing a commission. Stop talking like I thrive on trouble."

Liu Zheng protested.

"Heh, you’re nothing but a walking magnet for drama. Anyone dealing with you gets dragged into endless chores and favors."

The Fisherman sneered.

"If it wasn’t your actions messing with me in the first place, how would we end up here?"

He retorted.

"Stop that. Why are you suddenly talking like one of those monks?"

The Fisherman said with disgust.

"Huh, there are monks in the Metropolis?"

Liu Zheng asked in surprise.