The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?
Chapter 578: After - 435, I want to play others, not be played by others.

Chapter 578: After Chapter 435, I want to play others, not be played by others.

"You finally made it, any longer and I’d have kidney failure."

complained Nightingale.

"Then I’ll donate you two kidneys to replenish."

replied Liu Zheng.

"Forget it, goat kidneys are too gamy. You can keep them for yourself."

Nightingale seized the chance to diss him.

"Eat it or don’t. Hurry up, it’s going to be pitch dark soon."

he urged impatiently.

"Tch."

She ended the call. About ten minutes later, Nightingale and Sea Girl walked out side by side.

"Liu Zheng!"

The two suddenly split apart as a red blur lunged towards Liu Zheng.

"I knew it."

He caught it in one swift motion and held it up to his eyes. Sure enough, it was Vampire Sister.

Today she was dressed in a little red dress with a floppy pointed hat perched on her head, looking rather adorable.

"What’s this cosplay, you’re a dwarf now?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"This is a Christmas Elf, you big dummy Liu Zheng!"

Vampire Sister flailed her arms dramatically.

"Wait a second, you actually celebrate Christmas?"

Setting aside the question of whether Christmas is even an official holiday in Metropolis, a vampire celebrating Christmas seemed a bit much.

"She’s understaffed today, so I made her play an NPC part-time. Once she put on the costume, she refused to take it off."

Sea Girl exposed Vampire Sister’s secret.

"Ah, I see. If you like it, just keep it."

Liu Zheng said, patting her on the head.

"But I have to return it tomorrow."

Vampire Sister pouted.

"Then buy a new one, I’ll cover the cost."

He offered generously.

"Mm! Liu Zheng, you’re the best. Mwah~"

Vampire Sister giggled as she slathered his face with a big, slobbery kiss.

"Drink some organic blood next time. Your breath stinks."

Liu Zheng retorted, wiping his face with her dress in disgust.

"You’re mean, humph, bad Liu Zheng!"

Vampire Sister huffed and climbed onto his head, nibbling on his scalp with her tiny teeth.

"Alright, let’s go."

Liu Zheng addressed Nightingale and Sea Girl.

"Where to?"

Sea Girl asked.

"Back to your apartment, where else?"

He replied as if it were obvious.

"I thought you’d take me to find that old guy."

Sea Girl pouted.

"Would you want to go?"

"I’d rather be a nun."

Sea Girl answered without hesitation.

"Well, there you go. Your apartment should still be relatively safe, right?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"If even you can get in, how safe can it be?"

Nightingale teased him.

"Hey now, what’s that supposed to mean? I’m the deputy manager of Bloody Restaurant’s delivery team. There’s nowhere I can’t go!"

He protested indignantly.

After all, he’d even been inside Si Xue’s quarters, so did that mean her place was unsafe too?

"Just joking, jeez. Why so serious? But honestly, we’ve never crossed paths with those baldies before. How can we be sure the apartment’s security measures can stop them?"

Nightingale switched to a serious tone.

"Then why don’t you just stay at the board game café?"

Liu Zheng suggested.

"No way, staying overnight at the café without working is extremely risky."

Sea Girl shook her head.

"Alright then, back to the apartment. Even if you have to relocate, you’ll need to pack some essentials first."

he reasoned.

"I bet you’re just trying to lure them out, huh?"

Leave it to someone who could work as a tutor; Nightingale saw through his plan instantly.

"I won’t deny it."

Liu Zheng admitted.

There’s a saying: you can’t guard against thieves every day. The best outcome would be to draw out as many of them as possible and blow them all to pieces at once.

"Think you can handle it? Those baldies aren’t easy to deal with."

Nightingale asked.

"Didn’t you just say you’ve never fought them before?"

"Heard it from my dad. Back in his youth, he ran into those baldies while surfing the web. They almost converted him."

Nightingale recounted.

"Surfing the web? What, they can shave someone’s head through the screen?"

He squinted mockingly.

"Sometimes I wonder if you’re even from Metropolis. Don’t you know about the Metaverse?"

Nightingale looked at him doubtfully.

"What’s wrong with us folks from the countryside not knowing about your fancy city stuff? Before coming here, I didn’t even know where City Hall was."

Liu Zheng declared boldly.

He’d swear on Niu Ma’s entire future happiness that there wasn’t a single ounce of exaggeration in his words.

"How backward is your hometown? Don’t tell me you can’t even speak the common tongue."

"Not only that, back home it’s all humans—we’ve never even seen non-humans."

Liu Zheng explained.

"Well, your story is certainly inspirational."

Nightingale quipped.

From a poor kid out in the sticks to building an intricate web of connections in just a matter of days, accomplishing feats that even shook City Hall.

When you think about it like that, this kid truly had the makings of a kingpin. Frighteningly so.

"I didn’t have a choice. When I set out, I swore I wouldn’t return until I’d made a name for myself. A thousand years is too long; I fight for every moment."

Liu Zheng said, genuinely moved.

His time in the welfare home might sound amusing to others, but for him, it was far from pleasant.

Though the old director had done his best and Liu Zheng’s personality kept most bullies at bay, being an orphan meant a life of scarcity and a lack of affection, coloring his childhood in heavy shades of gray.

As for the latter part, it was even easier to understand: Liu Zheng had a progressive disease. If he didn’t seize the moment, he wouldn’t even have a nice grave plot reserved in time.

"Will you take me back to your hometown, Liu Zheng?"

Vampire Sister asked hopefully.

"I was just saying. Even if I make a name for myself, I wouldn’t go back."

He shook his head.

Liu Zheng had been a master of avoidance since childhood. To avoid ridicule, he’d minimize interaction; if someone forced his hand, he’d simply walk away. If cornered, he’d respond with physical undertones.

Being an orphan under mandatory education, schools couldn’t do much to him anyway.

So Liu Zheng held no particular attachment to the idea of returning home as a success.