"No ti."
Liu Zheng decisively refused.
What kind of proper god would a sect that relied on smuggling to amass wealth actually worship?
Or rather, where in the universe were there any proper gods to begin with?
Although he wasn't a materialist, he held no fondness for these charlatans who constantly fed their followers empty promises.
"Your Excellency..."
Garcia tried to persuade further, but Bullhorse blocked him.
"Hey, are you doing business or not? If not, then get the hell out of here."
He said with a vicious tone.
"After the transaction concludes, I hope to have a detailed discussion with Your Excellency."
Garcia gave Liu Zheng a deep look before stepping aside.
"What's his problem?"
Bullhorse spat another thick glob of phlegm onto the ground.
It was clear he genuinely despised these iron-masked fanatics.
No wonder White Feather Chicken had asked Bullhorse to vent its frustration for it.
Liu Zheng unfolded the cargo manifest and examined its contents.
"One live female rmaid, body parts intact, no obvious internal or external injuries."
"Identity: rmaid Priestess with royal bloodline, virginity preserved."
A priestess, and from the royal bloodline too—quite the impressive background.
He nodded to indicate he had finished reading.
"Open it."
Garcia commanded.
Two iron-masked followers produced crowbars and pried open the wooden crate's lid, revealing a massive block of ice before Liu Zheng.
The ice appeared exceptionally pure, with the setting sun's rays reflecting off its surface in rainbow hues, like a polished diamond.
And at the center of the ice block curled a small rmaid.
She had long, gray-blue hair like seaweed, with skin as pale and fine as ivory.
Tears stread from her tightly closed eyes, her long eyelashes completely soaked with moisture.
It wasn't hard to imagine what kind of terror she must have experienced.
For so inexplicable reason, Liu Zheng felt her facial features sowhat resembled those of Natasha, the little girl he had buried.
"You guys really have so nerve. The rmaid tribe will be protesting at the Municipal Governnt again."
Bullhorse remarked.
"So many races protest—one more probably won't matter to the Municipal Governnt."
Garcia said calmly.
"Besides, she was originally ant for those council mbers' enjoynt, wasn't she?"
"I said nothing and know nothing."
Bullhorse imdiately drew a clear boundary.
"Why put on such a poor performance? You know perfectly well no one can hear our conversation."
Garcia sighed.
As his words faded, black circles erged one after another from the air, enveloping them completely.
Looking out through the circles, all scenery distorted into fragnted, discontinuous pieces.
Without waiting for any system prompt, Liu Zheng imdiately averted his gaze.
So that's why they dared to smuggle right on the streets—they had this trick up their sleeve.
"Heh, you really think these petty tricks can block the Municipal Governnt's eyes and ears?"
"Just a pathetic little sect—the Municipal Governnt simply can't be bothered with you. If they really wanted to act, all your cris would be playing on loop on the Scales of Law."
Bullhorse said disdainfully.
"Only our Lord may judge our sins. Moreover, what we do serves the Municipal Governnt's needs. We simply strive to make ourselves useful."
Garcia replied calmly.
"Your attitude remains as repulsive as ever. Salmon, inspect the goods properly—see what tricks they're playing this ti."
Bullhorse barked.
"Can't inspect through ice, ow."
Calico Cat spread its paws helplessly.
"This is rmaid's Tears, her self-protection chanism. Once released, she will imdiately commit suicide."
"To dispel the rmaid's Tears, the restaurant must first accept delivery."
Garcia explained.
"Damn it, so this is your trap waiting for ?"
Bullhorse's bovine eyes widened in anger.
"Then I won't accept it! Sell it or don't—I don't give a damn!" Thɪs chapter is updated by Novᴇl_Fire(.)net
"Very well."
Garcia actually nodded in agreent.
"The Black Market has also sought this item, though their offer was slightly lower. But if you won't accept it, I'll have to sell it to them instead."
"Just a pathetic little sect—the Municipal Governnt simply can't be bothered with you. If they really wanted to act, all your cris would be played on repeat on the Scales of Law."
"Can't let them leave, ow! This was ordered by important figures from the council—if we can't serve this dish, the head chef will be in trouble, ow!"
Calico Cat tugged at Liu Zheng's pant leg.
"Wait a mont."
He nodded and spoke up to stop them.
Garcia signaled for pause, then looked at him with profound intensity.
"I don't believe Black Market buyers wouldn't inspect goods either. You must have a solution."
Liu Zheng stated.
"We naturally have thods, but why should we share them with you? Moreover, you lack sincerity from the start. Bullhorse's words and actions constantly provoke us—perhaps this business is better left undone."
Garcia admitted outright.
"That's because you cheated us first."
"Such transactions are clean exchanges of goods for paynt. Your failure to detect issues during inspection rely reflects your lack of discernnt."
Garcia said without even lifting his eyelids.
"Hey, you bastard."
Bullhorse lowered his head, ready to charge with his horn.
After two days of rest, his broken horn had regrown almost completely.
The single horn actually looked more imposing now.
"Boss, wait. Let handle this negotiation."
Liu Zheng stopped him.
"What's there to discuss with this idiot? Better to just kill him and be done with it."
Bullhorse cursed verbally but stopped moving his feet.
"Right now, your transportation thod is inadequate, preventing us from proper inspection. Even if you don't care about our restaurant's business, don't you care about your business reputation?"
"You ntioned Black Market buyers—we have connections there too."
"Oink from the slaughterhouse is our fellow townsman, and we often play cards with the casino demons. If I ask them to spread word of this, how many would still dare to do business with you?"
He stared directly at Garcia.
Behind the iron mask, Garcia seed to frown.
He knew Bullhorse was acquainted with Oink, but he hadn't realized they'd also connected with the demons.
The slaughterhouse and casino were two major power centers in the Black Market—if they caused trouble, the sect's business would indeed suffer.
"I can dispel the rmaid's Tears, but you must agree to my condition."
He said after a mont's consideration.
"What condition?"
"You must listen to my Lord's Gospel."
Garcia looked at Liu Zheng as he spoke.
"Why are you so persistent about preaching to ?"
Liu Zheng said helplessly.
"You have heard an eldritch god's Gospel. If you convert to our Lord, it would greatly please Him."
Garcia replied.
"But it wouldn't please ."
He shook his head.
One eldritch god's Gospel had already brought him to this state—what would happen with another?
If one god won, it might be manageable, but if they reached a stalemate, he probably wouldn't even get to remain a tentacled creature.
"If you convert to our Lord, you'll need never work again—only sing His praises to the stars. Three als daily, clothing, shelter, transportation, and personal safety—all guaranteed."
"In the restaurant, you're rely expendable material. Especially after your essential transformation, you'll beco premium ingredients. Then the restaurant will inevitably find ways to make you err, to make you fall into livestock status."
"If you don't believe , ask Bullhorse."
Garcia persuaded with earnest concern.
"He's not wrong—that's exactly how the restaurant operates."
Bullhorse admitted without hesitation.
"Kid, now it's your choice."
"Will you keep being a corporate drone at the restaurant, or beco a Holy Son for this damn cult?"
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