The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 1391 844: Staying in the Metropolis

"You hold animosity towards Gong Baiyi?" Liu Zheng inquired.

"No animosity," the Honey Badger replied, shaking its head.

Liu Zheng pressed further, "Then why did you permit the delivery to him immediately upon hearing the request, despite having no ill feelings?"

"Do you observe those two statues?" the Honey Badger gestured towards the entrance.

"I see them. What are they?"

"They are the founders of this settlement, and also the leaders of us carnivores. They personally financed the establishment of this community, providing us with a sanctuary. Furthermore, they spearheaded our defense against incursions from the Green District and other factions, securing our peace," the Honey Badger explained with evident admiration.

"That sounds remarkable, but how does it pertain to Gong Baiyi?" Liu Zheng asked, acting the unwitting foil.

"Gong Baiyi is a descendant of Lord Silver Tiger, yet it has failed to inherit even a sliver of Silver Tiger's prowess. Any carnivore, even a herbivore, possesses greater bravery and capability than it!" the Honey Badger declared with indignation.

"It couldn't possibly be that dire. As the adage goes, a dragon begets dragons, and a phoenix begets phoenixes; surely a tiger's offspring is still a formidable feline," Liu Zheng mused.

"Ha! Have you ever witnessed a cat nearly choke on meat?" the Honey Badger countered.

"Indeed, I once saw a cat struggle with a piece of dried fish," Liu Zheng responded.

"And how large was this cat, and how large was the dried fish?"

"The cat was roughly this size, and the dried fish was about the size of this," he gestured, indicating the dimension of a keyboard, then that of a packet of tissues.

"Ha! Gong Baiyi is as massive as that statue, yet a piece of beef, no larger than my palm, nearly proved fatal!" the Honey Badger scoffed.

"Well, the statue's palm is quite substantial," Liu Zheng offered, attempting to salvage some semblance of dignity for the creature in his role as a food delivery person.

"It's my palm that I'm referring to," the Honey Badger stated flatly.

"Actually... alright, that is indeed exceedingly weak," Liu Zheng conceded, abandoning his defense of Gong Baiyi's honor.

"Such a disappointment is a blight upon this world. Every moment it draws breath is an insult to the legacy of Lord Silver Tiger," the Honey Badger fumed.

"But if it perishes, won't Silver Tiger's bloodline be extinguished?" Liu Zheng inquired.

"No, it has three cousins, each far superior to it. However, they are all currently pursuing their own paths beyond the community," the Honey Badger explained, shaking its head.

"Very well. Nevertheless, my responsibility is solely delivery; its fate is beyond my concern," Liu Zheng stated.

"It makes no difference; the situation cannot possibly deteriorate further. If there's any chance, I'd prefer it if your presence could awaken its dormant bloodline and courage. Should you succeed in this, I shall be indebted to you," the Honey Badger proposed.

"So, you harbor a desire for it to improve, a sort of 'tough love,' so to speak. That's understandable. Alright, I shall make an attempt, but do not raise your expectations unduly," Liu Zheng replied, offering no firm commitment.

His reticence stemmed not from a disregard for the Honey Badger's favor, but from the sheer difficulty of the task. If even the inherent power of bloodline and genetics could not prevent Gong Baiyi from becoming utterly useless, how could he possibly restore it to its former majestic glory?

"It makes no difference; the situation cannot possibly deteriorate further," the Honey Badger reiterated its earlier sentiment.

It then personally escorted Liu Zheng to the door of Building 3, Room 502.

"The outcome rests with you now," the Honey Badger declared before departing.

Despite its profound disdain for Gong Baiyi, it could not stand idly by while the noble bloodline of Silver Tiger faced potential extinction before its very eyes.

"If I handle this, what will be left for me?" Liu Zheng muttered, rolling his eyes before knocking on the door of Room 502.

"Who, who is it?" a muffled voice emanated from within.

"Greetings, I am a food recommendation specialist, here to introduce our newly developed 'Universal Carnivore Cuisine.' Would you be amenable to sampling it?" Liu Zheng employed his familiar guise once more.

"Ah? Are you an official from City Hall?" Gong Baiyi inquired.

"Not precisely, but I maintain close ties and extensive cooperation with City Hall officials," Liu Zheng elaborated.

"Oh. Then, please allow me a moment."

Shortly thereafter, the door creaked open.

A magnificent white tiger stood before him, its form bearing an eight or nine-tenths resemblance to the statue of Silver Tiger. However, subtle discrepancies in facial features, coupled with a vastly different expression, rendered its temperament entirely distinct from that of the venerated Silver Tiger.

Liu Zheng found himself recalling a cat café he had visited, where he observed a silver shorthair cat. Due to the unfortunate consequences of inbreeding, this particular silver shorthair exhibited exceptionally low intelligence, struggling not only with basic hygiene, like using a litter box, but also demonstrating an inability to consume dry cat food.

While other felines engaged in playful skirmishes, this one merely observed. When confronted by aggression from its peers, it continued to watch. Even when embraced by humans, its gaze remained steady.

Were it not for its evident lack of intelligence, this creature might almost appear to be a sage, perceiving the intricacies of the world.

Indeed, reflecting upon it, the demeanor of this silver shorthair possessed a gravitas that surpassed even Gong Baiyi's.

Gong Baiyi's expressions were so remarkably human-like that its inherent foolishness became glaringly apparent.

"Kindly place it within this receptacle,"

The colossal tiger relinquished the sizable iron basin held in its maw, then nudged it forward with a paw.

"May I inquire if you are Gong Baiyi?"

Liu Zheng posed the question.

"Affirmative."

The massive tiger inclined its head.

"Do you recognize the insignia on my attire?"

He gestured towards his uniform while asking.

"I believe I ought to, but the recollection eludes me,"

Gong Baiyi replied after a brief pause.

"..."

Why did the act of delivering sustenance for the initial time evoke such a sense of culpability?

"Proceed, partake."

Liu Zheng produced a package of "Universal Carnivore Sustenance" and dispensed its contents into Gong Baiyi's designated bowl.

He refrained from offering dried fish, fearing the creature might inadvertently ingest it improperly.

"My gratitude."

Gong Baiyi responded courteously before lowering its head to begin its meal.