The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human? Chapter 1406 - 851: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished (Part 2)

"Okay."

Liu Zheng ended the call and promptly dialed Jinzi.

"Zheng Chan~ You haven't visited in ages, have you forgotten all about us?" Jinzi answered almost instantly, her voice drawling with a complaint.

"How could I? I might forget anyone else, but never you all. I've been occupied with the Stinky Thick Soup these past few days, and I didn't want it to affect you," Liu Zheng offered as an excuse.

"What exactly is Stinky Thick Soup?" Jinzi inquired.

"It's hard to describe. I'll just list the ingredients, and you'll understand. The gallbladder of a Stinky Snake, sludge from a sewer, old bandages from a hospital..."

"Stop, stop, stop! Zheng Chan, don't say another word. If you continue, I feel like even my phone will start to stink!" Jinzi hastily interrupted him.

"Then I'll drop it. I wanted to ask you about something," Liu Zheng stated.

"What is it?"

"Do you happen to know a person named Shi Yidao?" he asked.

"Of course, I do. He used to be a frequent customer at our bathhouse. It's a pity he rarely comes anymore since that incident," Jinzi replied.

"You mean when his only son was killed?"

"Yes. So, Zheng Chan, you're aware of that too?" Jinzi sounded surprised.

"Tang Zi informed me," Liu Zheng responded.

"Oh. He used to be a good man, just like you, Zheng Chan. Such a tragedy. But it's not as if he's turned bad now; you could say he's simply lost all hope in life," Jinzi sighed.

One's purpose in protecting others seems pointless if they cannot even protect their own family.

"Do you have any leads on who exactly killed his son?" Liu Zheng inquired.

"That..." Jinzi hesitated, wanting to speak but holding back.

"If it's inconvenient, then forget it. I'll inquire through other channels," he said immediately.

"If it concerns you, Zheng Chan, then there's nothing inconvenient about it," Jinzi decided, her tone shifting.

"Not long after Shi Yidao's son met his demise, I overheard a customer mention, 'Just as Boss Yamaguchi had predicted, that blind man is finished now.'"

"Who is Boss Yamaguchi?" Liu Zheng asked.

"He's a half-human, half-cat, half-demon. He's also the leader of the largest Fusang Descendant gang, the First Group," Jinzi explained.

"What kind of feud does he have with Shi Yidao?"

"Boss Yamaguchi once intended to acquire the entirety of Shou Town Street and transform it into a high-end shopping district. Shou Town Street... Zheng Chan, do you know the Kowloon Walled City?" Jinzi asked.

"Yeah." He knew it, not just knew it, but knew it intimately.

"Mm, Shou Town Street is akin to that for the Fusang Descendants, only on a considerably smaller scale. Many homeless individuals reside there, and if they depart Shou Town Street, they have nowhere else to go."

"Furthermore, the price Boss Yamaguchi offered wasn't substantial. Even if the Shou Town Street property owners sold, they still couldn't afford to purchase a place elsewhere. Consequently, with everyone uniting, Boss Yamaguchi's demolition plan didn't proceed smoothly at first."

"However, Boss Yamaguchi quickly exhausted his patience. Wisely choosing not to target the property owners directly, he instead focused on temporary residents, the unemployed, the homeless, and debtors abandoned by their families. Before long, blood stained the streets of Shou Town Street."

"Boss Yamaguchi's brutality instilled immense fear in the property owners. They convened a street-wide meeting, intending to vote on whether to accept Boss Yamaguchi's terms. But just as the voting concluded and the results were about to be announced, Shi Yidao stormed into the meeting and shattered the ballot box into countless pieces."

"He proclaimed that he too was a property owner on Shou Town Street, and without his vote, the tally was invalid."

"It turned out that one night, one of the owners went out to procure medicine for his daughter and was mistakenly identified as a homeless vagrant by the First Group operatives, leading to his death. His daughter then approached Shi Yidao and sold him their house for a single yuan."

"From that point onward, any First Group thug who dared set foot on Shou Town Street would have their limbs broken by Shi Yidao and be thrown back out. Boss Yamaguchi's grand plan was forced into a standstill."

"Later, the incident involving Shi Yidao's son being killed unfolded," Jinzi recounted slowly.

"So, what is Shou Town Street like now?" Liu Zheng inquired.

"It's now called First Street," Jinzi replied with a sigh.

"And what about the daughter of that owner who was mistakenly killed?" he asked again.

"No idea. She's likely dead as well," Jinzi responded.

"Understood. Thanks, Jinzi-chan. Let's grab a scrub together sometime."

"You're awful, Zheng Chan, always talking but never actually coming," Jinzi retorted.

After a round of playful banter and flirtatious remarks, Liu Zheng terminated the call.

His resolve was set, so instead of proceeding directly to the Ping’an City Gambling House, he diverted his course to the Deep Earth Workshop. This establishment was one of two operated by the clan, and notably, a sworn enemy of Dwarf Yanxu.

"Welcome—oh. Bloody Restaurant! Oh my stars!"

Upon entering the workshop, a Dwarf diligently polishing wares was so taken aback that he dropped his rag and snatched a Chain Whip from its mount, poised to hurl it.

"Hold on, I haven't come to deliver food. I'm here for purchases."

Accustomed to such receptions, Liu Zheng called out to halt his advance.

"How can I be sure you're not fabricating that?"

The Dwarf remained skeptical, only half-convinced.

"Then by all means, keep that shoddy Meteor Hammer of yours. Once you've confirmed I'm deceiving you, you can take your time to smash me with it."

He let out an exasperated sigh.

"This is a Chain Whip, not a Meteor Hammer, you nincompoop."

The Dwarf corrected him, his tone sharp.

"Yes, yes, whatever you claim it to be. Can we finally discuss business now?"

Liu Zheng inquired, his patience wearing thin.

"Very well, only if your intentions are indeed for business."

After a moment's hesitation, the Dwarf returned the Chain Whip to its rack.

"What is it you wish to acquire?"

He inquired.

"I intend to purchase some Silver Gemstone."

Liu Zheng stated his objective.

"Silver Gemstone?"

Suspicion immediately resurfaced in the Dwarf's eyes.

"Pray tell, what business does a human like yourself have with Silver Gemstone?"

"Do all you Dwarves meddle so persistently in customers' affairs? Must you ascertain the purpose behind every transaction? If your goods are used in unlawful acts, will you shoulder any responsibility?"

Liu Zheng retorted, his words blunt.

"There's no point interrogating me. These are directives from higher authorities. Without a satisfactory explanation, I cannot legally sell you Silver Gemstone. You'll receive the identical response at our other branch."

The Dwarf offered a shrug.

"How bothersome. Fine, I am acquiring Silver Gemstone for the purpose of forging a weapon."

Liu Zheng declared.

"Forging a weapon? You hardly present the appearance of a craftsman."

The Dwarf subjected him to a thorough inspection.

"I have arranged for someone else to undertake the forging. Master Ouyegan, perhaps you've heard the name?"

Liu Zheng mentioned proudly.

"Indeed, I am familiar with him. A smith of considerable renown."

The Dwarf nodded in acknowledgment.

"At the very least, you possess discerning taste. Now, may I procure the Silver Gemstone?"

Liu Zheng pressed.

"And what quantity do you require?"

The Dwarf inquired.

"Let us begin with one ton."

Liu Zheng stated with apparent nonchalance.

"A ton! Are you under the impression you are purchasing cement?"

The Dwarf was simultaneously astonished and rendered speechless.

At this juncture, he was entirely convinced that Liu Zheng was not an operative dispatched by the Flame Beard Sect; such profound ignorance was unimaginable for their agents.

"What, is a ton considered an exorbitant amount?"

Liu Zheng inquired intentionally, feigning ignorance.

"It bears the name Silver Gemstone for a reason. Since when have gemstones been traded by the ton? Did Master Ouyegan fail to impart such fundamental knowledge to you?"

The Dwarf questioned.

"Not at all. I merely learned that Silver Gemstone is a superior material and decided on my own initiative to acquire some. Is this pursuit forbidden?"

"Very well, very well. As the customer, your word is law. However, the total annual yield of Silver Gemstone does not even approach a ton. Even if you desired such a quantity, we are incapable of supplying it."

The Dwarf stated.

"Then, what is the available quantity?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"We currently have approximately fifty kilograms in reserve. Any further amount would necessitate sourcing from elsewhere."

The Dwarf replied.

"I haven't the time for such delays. Furnish me with the entire fifty kilograms, then."

He declared.

"Are you certain? Each kilogram of Silver Gemstone fetches ten thousand. Fifty kilograms amount to half a million."

The Dwarf informed him.

"Merely five hundred thousand? That sum is insufficient even for a proper night of intoxication."

Liu Zheng promptly deposited the sum of five hundred thousand onto the merchandise display counter.

"Make haste, my delivery schedule is pressing. Should you squander further time, I shall dismantle this establishment."

He urged impetuously.

"Delivery personnel have attained such affluence these days?"

The Dwarf muttered, collected the payment, and retreated into the rear of the workshop.

A brief interval exceeding ten minutes later, he reappeared, dragging a substantial chest behind him.