It's a hell game, who can still be a human being?

Chapter 692 Liu Zheng: I Summon Myself

"We agreed."

The clever one spoke before the magician could.

It's not that they believed Liu Zheng's words, but rather that they genuinely needed a job.

The money Liu Zheng gave them was confiscated, and their wages for this month were also deducted.

Rent is due next week, and if they can't find jobs soon, they'll be sleeping on the streets.

In a metropolis like this, sleeping on the streets is less appealing than digging a hole and burying yourself.

"Very good. Figure out your own way to get to the bathhouse street, and call me when you get there. If you can't find it or die on the way, then you deserve it."

After Liu Zheng finished speaking, he prepared to leave.

"Wait a minute, boss, you should at least give me some money for the journey."

The clever man called out to him.

"Didn't we give you ten thousand yuan?"

"The property manager confiscated it, and they haven't paid us our wages."

"Smart Head" said with a constipated look on his face.

"Then why are you still arguing with me? If I hadn't come, wouldn't you all be finished?"

Liu Zheng rolled his eyes.

"We have to go through the proper procedures. What if we don't act smart enough, and you suddenly decide to sell us out?"

"That's how the clever one argued," he countered.

"Alright, I guess you have a point."

He took out a wad of banknotes and handed it to it.

"thank you boss."

"Smart Head said with a big smile."

"Ah."

Liu Zheng nodded and turned to leave.

"Uncle Huang, I'm leaving now."

When he arrived at the entrance of the residential area, he greeted the old security guard.

"You killed that brat?"

The old security guard glanced at him and said.

"I didn't kill him. I paid for his medical expenses and then let him go."

Liu Zheng shook his head.

"Hmm, you're a good guy."

The old security guard said approvingly.

"Uncle, do you know that kid?"

“His mother is a prostitute. Normally, people who do this kind of work are not allowed to rent houses here, but I felt sorry for her because she was heavily pregnant and spoke quite politely, so I said a few nice things for her.”

"Later, I took sick leave for a while, and when I came back, I found out that she had gone to work and hadn't come back, and that her child had starved to death."

He spoke in a very flat tone, as if he were talking about a leaf falling.

"That's what the metropolis is like."

Liu Zheng said.

"Yeah, that's how it is in the Metropolis. Wait, that kid usually doesn't hurt people except for making some noise and playing some pranks, so how did you end up fighting with him?"

The old security guard asked curiously.

"Cough cough, I said if he keeps making noise, I'll blow up his mother."

He said with some embarrassment.

"You really have a sharp tongue. Young man, be more polite when you're out in public, and stop causing trouble for yourself."

The old security guard warned him.

"Okay, okay. I'm off."

Liu Zheng quickly drove the hearse away.

"We have half an hour left, where should we go?"

He was looking at his phone while holding the steering wheel.

After thinking it over, Liu Zheng decided to go find the miniature people.

If the miniature people can offer enough benefits, then he will hand over the "visual flesh" to the miniature people.

If the miniature man doesn't need or can't offer enough benefits, then he'll consider whether to eat it himself.

To be honest, Liu Zheng really doesn't want to eat this stuff anymore.

He's already neither human nor ghost now; if we keep "supplementing" him, who knows what indescribable thing he'll turn into.

Upon arriving at Jiahe New Residence, with his honorary homeowner medal in hand, he drove the hearse directly into the community.

Perhaps because of this time driving in, there are many more vehicles in the community.

After going around in circles, Liu Zheng finally found a spot that wasn't a private parking space and wasn't likely to get scratched.

Of course, it's not exactly a proper parking space.

When he arrived at the door of 1503, he rang the doorbell and waited quietly.

"Tindaros, go open the door."

The voice of a miniature person could be heard coming from inside.

"Ow!"

With a howl, the security door opened.

Tindalos stretched his long, large head in front of Liu Zheng, staring intently at him.

"Here, take this and eat it first. There will be more good stuff later."

Liu Zheng took out a few dried fish and stuffed them into its mouth, saying softly.

"Ow~"

Tindaros chewed on a small dried fish and returned contentedly to the feet of the miniature man.

"If you keep feeding it, it'll become a picky eater."

"It's a miniature human," the miniature man complained.

"Then I'll take care of its food."

Liu Zheng laughed.

"No need, if it eats too much, it won't be able to leave the metropolis."

The miniature man shook his head.

"So, this means we can't drink this either?"

He took out a bottle of gold label and a bottle of silver label.

"Ow!"

Tindalos snatched the bottle in his mouth, then teleported to the miniature man's side and rubbed his big head against him.

"Don't you want to go back to Tindaros City?"

The miniature man said, frowning.

"Hey~"

Tindalos barked like a puppy as he held the miniature man in his mouth and licked him with his long, thin tongue.

"Alright, alright, you're only allowed to drink one bottle. Leave the silver label bottle behind."

"It's just a little guy," the miniature man said helplessly.

"Ow!"

Tindalos carefully placed the miniature man back on the sofa, then happily ran into the room with the gold label in his mouth.

"Give me the handkerchief from the drawer."

"It is a miniature man," the miniature man commanded.

"Oh well."

Liu Zheng opened the drawer of the coffee table, took one from the neatly folded pile of handkerchiefs, and handed it to the miniature man.

The miniature man used a handkerchief to wipe away Tindarus's drool, and the handkerchief turned into a pile of black ash.

Without the miniature man's instruction, Liu Zheng took a napkin and cleaned it up himself.

"What brings you here this time?"

"The miniature man asked."

"I got this."

He retrieved the "visual flesh" from the system space.

"Where did you get this?"

The miniature man stroked the "visual flesh" and asked.

"can not say."

Liu Zheng shook his head.

"I understand. Old friend, it's been a long time."

The miniature man sighed.

As an extremely rare species, the body of "Vision Flesh" was taken away by the Biological Management Bureau immediately after his death was confirmed.

"what do you want?"

After reminiscing about those academic years, the miniature man asked directly.

Do you have any research on iron-eating beasts?

he asked.

Miniatures are experts in studying mythical creatures, and the Iron Eater should also be considered a type of mythical creature.

"I've been researching this for a while."

The miniature man nodded.

"To be precise, my research focuses on promoting the reversion of pandas to their ancestral form as iron-eating beasts."

"Any research findings?"

Liu Zheng's spirits lifted.

"No. I've tried many methods and discussed with other scholars, and the conclusion is that metropolitan areas lack some element that promotes their atavism, but what exactly it is is unknown."

"If we were allowed to dissect and experiment on them, we would surely gain further insights. However, the Biological Administration Bureau does not permit us to do so, and the only one that successfully reverted to its ancestral form, the Iron-Eating Beast, also distrusts us."

"It's a miniature man," the miniature man said regretfully.

Nonsense, if you're thinking about dissection and experiments right off the bat, only an idiot would trust you.
Liu Zheng rolled his eyes inwardly.

"Do you know about the extinction of the panda race?"

he asked.

“I know, this incident caused quite a stir in our circle. We even wrote a joint letter demanding that the Bureau of Biological Management strengthen the protection of rare species, and one of the deputy directors of the Bureau of Biological Management resigned because of it,” the Miniature Man said.

"Oh?"

The black skull didn't tell him that.

"I wanted to ask the Biological Bureau for a few corpses to study, but they said they were evidence and wouldn't even give me an arm."

"Ha, after all these years, they still haven't figured it out."

"The miniature man scoffed."

"I suspect they didn't even do any investigation."

Liu Zheng continued.

"Hmm, that's possible. Why are you asking about this?"

"The miniature man asked."

"That's right, I've recently taken on a new little brother; it's a regressed iron-eating beast."

He briefly explained everything.

"So I would like to ask you to reinvestigate this matter."

"can."

The miniature man agreed without hesitation.

"I haven't had any good ideas lately either."

Otherwise, he wouldn't be staying home with his dog.

"However, you will be responsible for providing the research funding and public relations expenses."

"That's what the miniature man said."

"This is no problem."

Anything involving money is negotiable.

"Okay. Now you can continue to tell me what you want."

"That's what the miniature man said."

"Huh? Wasn't that the one from just now?"

Liu Zheng asked, puzzled.

“Researching the Iron-Eating Beasts is an unfinished research project of mine. Your funding makes you my benefactor. Asking me to investigate the truth behind their extinction is just a request from my benefactor, not a form of repayment.”

The miniature man said in a serious tone.

"You're so meticulous, Professor."

Liu Zhengchao gestured with a large tentacle.

Stop flattering me and start thinking.

"If you insist that I think of something, I really can't think of anything right now. Why don't you just give me whatever you think is appropriate?"

Liu Zheng smiled wryly.

"Slippery."

The miniature man glared at him.

For a person as particular as a miniature person, if they were to think about what they could get in return, they would definitely be aiming for the highest possible reward.

"hey-hey."

Liu Zheng scratched his head, feigning embarrassment.

"Wait."

The miniature person jumped off the sofa and went into the bedroom.

"Tindaros! No drinking in bed!"

After a scolding, he returned to the living room carrying a hunting knife.

"Catch it."

With a little effort, the miniature man sent the hunting knife hurtling towards him like a cannonball.

Liu Zheng quickly raised his tentacle to catch it, and his body, along with the sofa, was pushed back several steps.

"What a strength."

He was slightly surprised.

I never expected that such a small body could contain such great power, and it seems that it is far from its full strength.

But thinking about it, it makes sense; you couldn't have tamed a Tindaros Hound as a pet without some strength.

"Professor, what is this?"

Liu Zheng asked.

The item description did not pop up.

"This is the Ritual Blade. Use it to slaughter a beast of the right weight, and then recite the corresponding incantation at the right time and place to summon the corresponding mythical creature. Of course, this only applies to a small number of people, and you black goat cubs are among them."

"Give me another handkerchief."

"It is a miniature man," the miniature man commanded.

"Oh."

Liu Zheng then gave him another handkerchief.

The miniature person licked his fingertips with his tongue and then began to write on the handkerchief.

As he continued writing, the handkerchief gradually turned into a bloody piece of skin.

"Alright, the incantation is written on it. Just lick the incantation skin and it will be recited automatically."

"To summon a black goat cub, you need a wild beast weighing at least 70kg, and the time and place must be in a dark forest on a moonless night."

The miniature man handed him the cursed skin.

When exactly does "a dark night" refer to?

Liu Zheng put away the curse skin and asked.

"A solar eclipse will do, the moon being covered by clouds will do, or even using magic to cover it up will do; there are many ways."

"That's it"

He began to think about what this ritual could be used for.

The simplest way to use it is to summon a black goat cub and then devour it to strengthen your own bloodline.

But doing so was not in line with his personal wishes, and it would be too wasteful.

"Haven't you thought of that yet?"

Seeing Liu Zheng deep in thought, the miniature man couldn't resist any longer.

"Please give me some pointers, Professor."

He said quickly.

"Have you forgotten that you yourself were once a black goat's cub?"

"It's a miniature man," the miniature man prompted.

“Oh! I see. I can have someone else perform the ritual and then summon me.”

Liu Zheng suddenly realized.

“That’s right. The scope of this ceremony is very large, basically covering the entire metropolis.”

"That's what the miniature man said."

"Good guy."

Such a wide-range teleportation spell, even if it's a one-time use, is indeed comparable to a perfect quality item.

Whether used for assassination, escape, or traveling, it is the best of the best.

It's a pity that it requires human cooperation, otherwise it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it legendary quality.

"Alright, you should leave now."

The miniature people have started chasing people away.

"Professor, people say that serving tea is the way to see guests off. Couldn't you at least offer me a cup of tea before you ask me to leave?"

Liu Zheng joked.

"Then you just wait. Once I've brewed the tea, you can get ready to take the drunk Tindalos for a walk."

The miniature man sneered.

"Farewell!"

He jumped up from the sofa with a start, then scrambled out the door.

A sober Tindalos can be deadly when he takes someone out for a walk, but a drunk Tindalos would probably end up with two lives.

He drove the hearse straight to Rose Street.

"First, check if anyone is around."

Liu Zheng said to the plane trees.

"Why should I listen to you?"

"Alright, then I'll keep the wine for myself."

He was indifferent to the Dao.

"Humph!"

The plane tree opened its mouth, spewing out streams of green mist.

The green mist quickly spread, enveloping both the plane trees and Liu Zheng.

"Hurry up, you idiot human, this state can't last much longer."

"It's a plane tree," said the French plane tree.

"Why didn't you use this trick last time? It made me waste a lot of favors and money."

Liu Zheng complained as he pulled out bottles of liquor.

"This is my primal power; reconnaissance is merely a secondary function. If I had to unleash my full power every time I drank, I would have died from exhaustion long ago."

The plane tree rolled its eyes.

"Thank you, but next time you drink, please don't try any performance art. Just drink it straight in the dirt. If you get drunk and cause any trouble, I won't be so kind as to save you."

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"Humph!"

Knowing it was in the wrong, the plane tree, though clearly annoyed, did not refute the argument.

"Okay, bring it here."

After Liu Zheng took out the portion he had given it, he extended his tentacles.

"What to take?"

The plane tree is trying to play dumb.

"An extraordinary item. You're not planning to drink and take it for free, are you? That's not like the style of a noble and generous French aristocrat."

He said slyly.

(End of this chapter)