"Name: Heart of the Ocean (Enhanced)"
"Type: Equipment"
"Quality: Fine"
"Effect 1: Increases movement speed in water by 50%, allows free breathing underwater."
"Effect 2: Absorb the soul of an aquatic creature killed by the player and gain corresponding effects. When a new soul is absorbed, the old soul will be released."
"Note: I'm like a fish in your lotus pond."
"Can be taken out of dungeon: Yes"
An additional effect appeared, which seemed quite practical.
Liu Zheng thought about that frog-fish - what effect would the Heart of Ocean gain if it absorbed its soul?
A 500% increase in speaking volume?He thought with a peculiar expression.
"Please help distract them for a while, I need to escape."
The Mermaid Princess's voice sounded again.
"Alright."
Liu Zheng didn't say much and directly agreed.
If he were a kitchen employee, helping a mermaid escape would definitely be suicidal.
But he was from the delivery department - if the sky fell, Bullhorse would be there to hold it up.
Besides, if Liu Zheng hadn't gotten fierce, this business deal would have already been ruined.
"Boss, where's that inn you mentioned last time?"
He found a topic to discuss.
"What, you still plan to use that sick leave note?"
Bullhorse looked at him.
"No choice, I'm only missing one hat now. I'd always feel unwilling if I didn't try."
"And unlike you planning to switch jobs, if I can complete the legendary deliveryman set, my work will be easier to handle."
Liu Zheng shrugged.
His reasoning sounded perfectly logical, so Bullhorse didn't suspect anything.
"I know quite a few inns, but they're all too dangerous for you. If you check in, you'd be lucky to survive the first night."
It shook its head.
"Aren't there any inns that cater specifically to humans?"
Liu Zheng asked.
He felt that humans' status in this world was similar to that of black people.
He had once seen a movie called "Green Book" that mentioned how in the American South, there were inns specifically catering to colored people where staying was much safer.
This world should have similar places, right?
"You're quite clever, kid. There are indeed such inns, but they probably wouldn't let you stay."
Bullhorse said.
"Why?"
Bullhorse looked at him strangely.
"Kid, take a look at yourself - don't you have any self-awareness? You're afraid others might eat you, but they're even more afraid you might eat them!"
It retorted.
"Fine then."
Liu Zheng said helplessly.
It seemed he was like Zhu Bajie looking in the mirror - neither human nor monster from either perspective.
Somehow, he suddenly understood how undercover agents during wartime must have felt.
"By the way, kid, do you know how to play any musical instruments?"
Bullhorse suddenly asked.
"No, but I sing pretty well. I was even in a choir before."
Liu Zheng said.
"Then there's one inn you could try - they're relatively friendly toward music enthusiasts."
Bullhorse said.
It complained.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Hmph, you're looking down on me, kid. Don't think I'm just a deliveryman now - I used to be a band bass player too."
Bullhorse said proudly.
"Uh..."
Liu Zheng looked at its hooves that could only make the "paper" gesture in rock-paper-scissors, finding it hard to imagine how it could strum strings.
"Then why didn't you continue with the band?"
He asked just to buy time.
"The Municipal Government said our songs were vulgar and violent, not conducive to building a good city image, so they shut down our band. And strictly prohibited us from working in related industries."
"By the way, the band's lead singer was Black Claw."
Bullhorse said casually.
"How vulgar could you possibly be?"
Liu Zheng was genuinely curious now.
Based on what he'd seen and heard since entering this dungeon, this world seemed to have no bottom limit for depravity.
Compared to those noble creatures, Bullhorse could be considered morally upright.
"We just sang about things like racial equality, how all intelligent creatures should enjoy civil rights and such."
Bullhorse said.
"That... is indeed quite vulgar."
He said, his mouth hanging open.
Bullhorse detected his sarcastic tone but didn't curse at him, just sneered coldly.
"Actually, boss, you could still form a band. I could be your lead singer."
Liu Zheng suggested.
"Forget it, I want to live a few more years."
Bullhorse refused without hesitation.
"And don't get any ideas about me, kid. I don't believe in that stuff anymore. What bullshit equality, what stupid rights. This world is about the strong preying on the weak - not only will I eat people, but I'll feast on them."
"Like your meat is pretty good - I'm just waiting for you to complete your transformation so I can have a proper meal."
It showed its serrated sharp teeth, just like when they first met.
"Aren't you going to Paradise Island? Still thinking about my few pieces of meat?"
Liu Zheng wasn't worried at all.
The line of people who wanted to eat him could stretch from the Bloody Restaurant to the Black Market. Even though Bullhorse was close, it would still have to wait in line.
"Need to have the main course, but can't pass up dessert either. Besides, you're renewable meat - if I ration it properly, I could eat for decades."
Bullhorse licked its lips.
"Boss, do you know how to do that wax dripping thing like Garcia?"
Liu Zheng asked with a smile.
"No, why?"
"Since you don't know, where do you get the courage to think about eating me?"
He took out the teething stick, lightly tapping the tentacle with it.
"Hey now, we're just chatting casually - no need to take it so seriously."
Bullhorse quickly said.
"Really?"
"Really, really."
Bullhorse nodded like pounding garlic.
Bullhorse detected his sarcastic tone but didn't curse at him, just snorted coldly.
Liu Zheng put away the teething stick.
Bullhorse wiped cold sweat from its brow.
This damn kid somehow managed to get so many strange things - when he didn't want to live anymore, he'd drag others down with him.
"Hey, are you done yet? I'm running out of topics."
Liu Zheng asked in his mind.
"Almost almost, please buy me one more minute."
The mermaid replied.
One more minute? She's already almost through the passage.
Whatever, you take someone's money, you solve their problems.
Liu Zheng thought for a moment, then took out the map.
"Boss, where exactly is that inn you mentioned?"
"You're really planning to go?"
Bullhorse took the map and pointed at a spot.
"Here, right here."
"That's really close to the Chaos Club."
Liu Zheng looked at the indicated location, his gaze sharpening.
"Brother, you're looking at a scale map - it just looks close. They're at least several hundred meters apart, okay?"
"Huh, actually it doesn't seem that far either."
Bullhorse muttered to itself after speaking.
"These two places shouldn't have any connection, right?"
He asked.
"Probably not. Never heard of the Chaos Club having that kind of business - they hardly operate publicly at all."
Bullhorse said hesitantly.
"Forget it, I'll try a different one."
Liu Zheng shook his head.
Even the kitchen had suffered losses from the Chaos Club - who was he, a mere deliveryman, to think he could handle it?
"Up to you. Anyway, you'll definitely die at other inns - this one might give you some chance of survival."
"What's this inn called?"
He asked.
"Rock Never Dies."
"Good name."
Liu Zheng nodded.
The name alone sounded full of vitality.
"Success!"
The mermaid's delighted voice suddenly rang out.