The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?
Chapter 673 - 482: You’re Here to Become an Apprentice, Not to Get Married_2

Chapter 673: Chapter 482: You’re Here to Become an Apprentice, Not to Get Married_2

So, unless you’re close enough to share underwear, no one would spend this much effort teaching someone to write.

"Well, then just don’t find one. Right now, it’s you who needs me, not me who needs you. It’s a buyer’s market, you get that?"

The Tentacle Monster said smugly.

"Damn, you creatives sure have a better head on your shoulders than us screw turners."

Liu Zheng grumbled.

"Exactly. So, can you do it?"

The Tentacle Monster looked at him with a challenging gaze.

"Can I? I can do more than you think I can."

He sneered.

"But let’s get this straight — there’s no way I’ll teach you hand-in-hand; at most, I can give you an opportunity to become my disciple."

Liu Zheng said.

"And you think I would like to sign off on your delivery for that? No way."

The Tentacle Monster flatly refused.

"What if it’s a Platinum Author?"

"Not even if... wait, what author did you just say?"

The Tentacle Monster suddenly looked at him.

"Platinum Author, and an active one at that."

Liu Zheng said.

The Platinum Feather Pen is a lifelong honor; as long as the Writer Association doesn’t revoke the qualification, it can be retained regardless of future book performance, just with varying actual influence.

So, some Platinum Authors, lacking follow-through and with poor new book performance, might even go silent, getting mockingly dubbed as retired Platinum Authors.

Those still creating during their rising or peak periods are known as active Platinum Authors.

Each active Platinum Author is a top-tier presence in the Writer Association’s pyramid, carrying substantial influence even in the whole Metropolis.

"And you, a delivery guy, claim to know an active Platinum Author and can ask for help?"

The Tentacle Monster didn’t believe it at all.

"Can a delivery person at Bloody Restaurant be compared to an ordinary one? See this?"

Liu Zheng took out a small yarn ball.

"Why give me a yarn ball? I’m not a cat."

"I know, you wouldn’t deserve to play with it anyway. It’s meant for my Platinum Author friend."

He said.

"A Platinum Author who plays with yarn balls... You must be talking about Fool?"

The Tentacle Monster exclaimed in shock.

"That’s right, it’s Fool."

"Holy cow!"

The Tentacle Monster’s eyes nearly popped out.

Fool has been in the spotlight these past years, reigning supreme in both subscription performance and mainstream breakthrough in the long novel domain.

Even though recent sequels have stirred up some controversy, their reputation is undoubtedly solid.

"Do you really know Fool?"

Despite the shock, the Tentacle Monster was still skeptical.

"Sure do. I even won the championship at the Feather Pen Club’s ball game, and they invited me to join the Writer Association, but I politely declined."

Liu Zheng recounted lightly.

"Why did you refuse?"

The Tentacle Monster asked puzzledly.

"Because I felt delivering food suited me better."

"Are you out of your mind?"

The Tentacle Monster blurted out.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

He retorted.

"Authors who write well tend to have a bit of a mental issue."

The Tentacle Monster looked at him with a mix of sympathy and envy.

"Dare you say that in front of Fool?"

Liu Zheng glared.

"Do you think I’m stupid? If Fool is willing to see me, I’d be rushing to lick their paws, not talking nonsense. Hehehe."

The Tentacle Monster fantasized about the meeting, wearing a silly grin.

"Your smile is a bit disgusting."

He commented.

"You talented authors simply wouldn’t understand how painful it is to be stuck at the threshold of quality. Just a bit more, just a tiny step more — if only I could cross it and write an outstanding piece, I wouldn’t mind dying delivering your food."

The Tentacle Monster put away the smile, his tone becoming incredibly serious.

"It’s not completely incomprehensible."

Liu Zheng also struggled with the barrier of a significant following before deciding to switch careers.

"Can you really make Fool take me as a disciple?"

The Tentacle Monster stared into his eyes.

"I can’t; I can only give you a chance to meet and then mentor them."

He shook his head.

"That’ll do."

The Tentacle Monster nodded firmly, as if making a decision.

"How can you guarantee you’ll fulfill the promise?"

It asked.

"Can I use this as collateral?"

Liu Zheng thought for a moment and took out a beer bottle.

"What is this thing?"

The Tentacle Monster asked.

"Why don’t you try it and see?"

He handed over the beer bottle.

The Tentacle Monster suspiciously took the beer bottle and threw it on the ground.

"Bang!"

The beer bottle bounced high and fell, completely unharmed.

"I thought you might just throw it at me."

Liu Zheng raised his eyebrows.

"Unlike you, I’m not insane."

The Tentacle Monster mocked.

"Is this thing okay?"

It picked up the beer bottle, hesitating.

"Even if it’s junk, it’s of Perfect Quality. Take it or leave it; I was planning to put it up for auction."

Liu Zheng said impatiently.

"Alright. I’ll graciously accept it."

"Then go ahead and sign off on the delivery."

He took out the exquisite abalone and handed it to the other party.

"So, when will you set up a meeting with Fool?"

The Tentacle Monster received the delivery and then eagerly asked.

"It should be within these two days."

Liu Zheng thought for a moment.

"Alright. Oh, should I prepare some kind of mentorship ceremony or something? Should I book a hotel? Get a host? Should I get a custom-made suit?"

The Tentacle Monster rambled on.

"Hold up, hold up, you’re asking for a mentorship, not getting married; isn’t hiring a host a bit over the top?"

He interrupted.

"But if you want to get a custom suit, I can introduce you to the Box Weaving Spider’s tailor shop; their craftsmanship is quite decent."

"You even know the Spider Clan?"

The Tentacle Monster was surprised.

"I know far more people than you can imagine."

Liu Zheng patted its shoulder.

"Oh wow."

The Tentacle Monster responded dismissively.

Apart from those top authors, knowing more people meant nothing to it, as it’s just a shut-in writer after all.

"Alright, I’m off."

Liu Zheng didn’t mind and turned to leave.

"Wait a sec."

The Tentacle Monster called after him.

"What’s up? Regret?

He turned back.

"I’ve already signed off, what’s there to regret? Can I have that cup of tea?"

The Tentacle Monster asked somewhat embarrassed.

"Hold on, you don’t actually want to drink it, do you?"

Liu Zheng widened his eyes.

This guy just said he has issues, yet he turned out to be the one most out of sorts.

"Jesus, who drinks that stuff? Did you see the room next to me?"

The Tentacle Monster asked.

"I saw it, 503, right?"

"Exactly. A few college students live there, and every night they throw parties. It’s not only messing up my writing but also wrecking my sleep; I’m nearly going crazy."

The Tentacle Monster complained bitterly.

"So you want to retaliate, get Old Monster to torture them?"

Liu Zheng instantly understood.

"Exactly, the pain they give me, I’ll return tenfold."

The Tentacle Monster said through gritted teeth.

"How strong are they?"

"Not strong, security in the neighborhood could beat them up. It’s just because they’re college students; if things get rowdy, the property management and Security Department would side with them, so it’s tricky for me to take action."

The Tentacle Monster said indignantly.

In Metropolis, the universities have stringent entry and exit standards, so students have high status, akin to scholars in reality.

"But Old Monster isn’t afraid of them, right?"

Liu Zheng understood the implication.

"Exactly. Children of officials and students, let them fight it out."

The Tentacle Monster said cryptically.

"Alright, here you go."

He passed the cup to the Tentacle Monster.

He only needed to inform Old Monster later and let him decide whether to go or not.

"Thanks. I won’t just take your stuff for free, wait a bit."

The Tentacle Monster went inside and quickly returned.

"Here, this is for you."

It handed over two exquisite little bottles to Liu Zheng.

One bottle had packaging printed with a long, snowy white tentacle, the other had packaging printed with a muscular, bulging tentacle.

Liu Zheng received the small bottles, and the item description immediately popped up.