"Rationality decline exemption successful."
The system prompt arrived as expected.
The fiery tears fell to the ground, burning the pool of blood completely dry.
Liu Zheng couldn't help but feel curious - if the deer head didn't shed tears, could it accumulate enough to form an artificial lake?
He circled around the deer head and entered the coffee shop.
"Welcome to Unlucky Coffee."
The busy staff paused their work and called out in unison.
Or rather, they were originally just one person.
A single heart floated mid-air, with several thick blood vessels extending outward, connecting to each staff member.
Their bodies only had the front half, with all their organs and bones exposed to the open air."Would you like to order?"
A staff member floated over, their blood vessel almost tangling with the one next to them.
Only then did Liu Zheng notice they didn't have lower bodies either.
"I'll have one Orange C Iced Americano, half sugar. One Coconut Hot Latte, standard sugar."
He first ordered the coffee the cleaner wanted.
"Then give me one of every coffee you have, all iced, half sugar."
He couldn't remember how many people were in the kitchen, so he figured he'd order extra.
You can never go wrong with being generous with gifts.
"Certainly. Half sugar might be somewhat bitter, is that acceptable?"
The staff member asked.
"Acceptable."
The kitchen couldn't possibly be without sugar - if they found it too bitter, they could add their own.
"That will be 1000 yuan with our bulk discount."
The staff member said.
The price of half a bottle of Ascension Moss - not expensive at all.
Liu Zheng handed over the cash.
"Can you carry all this coffee? We can deliver it to a specified location for you."
The staff member said helpfully.
"You offer delivery service too?"
He asked in surprise.
He thought delivery was monopolized by Bloody Restaurant.
"We normally don't deliver, but we make exceptions for bulk customers like yourself."
The staff member replied.
"Alright then. Deliver it to Bloody Restaurant, put the order under 'Excellent Employee Bullhorse'."
Liu Zheng said.
He really couldn't carry all that coffee easily.
Plus, without the Legendary vest bonus on the return trip, if he encountered any trouble, he wouldn't have the energy to protect all this coffee.
"Certainly. Delivery to Bloody Restaurant will require an additional 1200 yuan."
"Highway robbery! The coffee's only 1000, your delivery fee costs more than the order itself."
Liu Zheng frowned.
"Sir, please don't be upset. This 1200 isn't actually a delivery fee."
The staff member explained.
"Then what is it?"
"It's employee depreciation expense."
The staff member said with a smile.
"Based on our experience, delivery personnel sent to Bloody Restaurant never return."
"Ahem, I see."
Liu Zheng felt somewhat awkward.
Although he belonged to the category of being eaten, he was still part of the restaurant after all.
"So, it's only reasonable that we charge some employee depreciation expense. Don't you agree?"
The staff member said leisurely.
"Reasonable, quite reasonable."
Liu Zheng handed over the 1200 yuan.
If he were sending it to someone else, he might have been reluctant.
But since he still needed to help the plane tree steal something from the kitchen, this coffee would be worth it.
As long as Bullhorse remained, he should be able to collect on this favor.
Besides, with Salmon there too, that calico cat should understand favors.
As long as he had sufficient strength.
Thinking this, Liu Zheng suddenly had a clever idea.
"Do you sell desserts here?"
"We do, here are our newest offerings."
The staff member showed him the menu.
Liu Zheng randomly picked a few items and bought several extra cups of coffee.
"Anything else, sir?"
The staff member asked after taking payment.
"Nothing else."
Liu Zheng shook his head.
"Well then, sir, you still need to pay my tip."
The staff member said.
"Huh?"
He made an old man subway phone expression.
Wait, you're just a cashier - what gives you the right to demand tips?
Even coffee shops in Europe and America don't have this rule, right?
"I'm sorry, sir, but this is our establishment's policy."
The staff member said apologetically.
"How much?"
Liu Zheng asked, suppressing his anger.
He'd already spent so much money earlier - if it wasn't too much, he could endure it.
The delivery was what mattered.
"One face will suffice."
The staff member maintained their smile.
???
Liu Zheng's hair stood on end.
Now he finally knew why the cleaner's smile had been so eerie?
She must have known about the tipping requirement.
The office building people's faces were all drawn on - could it all be because they paid tips?
The more he thought about it, the more horrified he became.
"What if I refuse?"
Liu Zheng tested the waters.
"Then we'll have to make you join us."
All the staff members said in unison.
They all floated over, surrounding Liu Zheng in the middle, staring at him expressionlessly.
"Welcome to the Unlucky Coffee family."
"Join us, and you'll be far from all luck."
"Join us, and you'll be far from all beauty."
"Join us, and you'll be far from all individuality."
"Join us, and you'll be far from all reality."
"But you'll lose your worries."
"But you'll lose your pain."
"But you'll lose your hunger."
"But you'll never be fired."
"Work, eternal work!"
"Join us!"
The staff members chanted loudly.
Their voices grew faster and faster, becoming more rhythmic.
By the end, it sounded like they were reciting scriptures.
"Hello? Hello?"
Liu Zheng blocked one ear and dialed Bullhorse's number.
"The user you're calling doesn't want to answer your call."
A heartless response sounded.
Under normal circumstances, he might have taken the hint and hung up.
But right now, he just wanted to curse.
"Boss, did you know Unlucky Coffee takes faces as tips?"
"Of course I know."
Bullhorse's voice finally came through.
Lazy, probably just finished exercising.
"Then why the hell did you tell me to buy coffee for you?"
Liu Zheng finally couldn't hold back.
"Who do you think you're talking to? Just wait, you'll get what's coming when you return."
Bullhorse threatened.
"That's if I can make it back."
He said coldly.
The surrounding staff members pressed closer, almost touching his face.
"Is it really that serious? It's just losing your face - for others it's a big deal, but for you, what's the difference from losing a strand of hair?"
Bullhorse said carelessly.
"Huh?"
Liu Zheng wondered if he'd heard wrong.
"If they want your face, they'll just peel it off - what are you afraid of? It'll grow back in the time it takes to fart."
Bullhorse said.
"You're telling the truth?"
He felt somewhat doubtful.
"Obviously. If I really wanted to send you to your death, it wouldn't be now. Otherwise, with just me alone, why would the boss let me go on vacation?"
Bullhorse sounded impatient.
Liu Zheng thought about it - that indeed made sense.
It wouldn't even get a piece of meat.
"I'll pay the tip!"
Liu Zheng shouted loudly.
The scripture-like chanting instantly stopped.
All the staff members looked down at Liu Zheng, disappointment in their eyes.
"Then please sit over here."
The staff member who had taken his payment said.
He guided Liu Zheng to sit in a lift chair.
"What's this for?"
Liu Zheng asked.
"This is our premium service, specially for distinguished guests like yourself who place large orders and are willing to pay tips."
The staff member pressed a button, and the lift chair immediately transformed into a recliner.
A dozen-plus handcuffs grew from the seat, binding him securely.
"First service: eye scraping."
The staff member rotated their fingers, a sharp blade dancing and weaving between their fingertips.
Then, it sliced open Liu Zheng's eyeballs.