Liu Zheng decisively refused.
What kind of legitimate god would a sect relying on smuggling for wealth believe in?
Or rather, where in the universe is there a legitimate god?
Although he wasn’t a materialist, he also had no fondness for these guys who constantly issued empty promises to their followers.
Garcia tried to persuade him further but was stopped by Niu Ma.
"Hey, are you doing business or not? If not, just scram."
"After the transaction is complete, I hope to discuss this in detail with Your Excellacy."
Garcia looked deeply at Liu Zheng, then stepped aside.
"What’s wrong with you?"
Niu Ma spit a thick glob of phlegm on the ground.
It was evident that he deeply despised these iron-faced men.
No wonder White Feather Chicken had Niu Ma vent her anger.
Liu Zheng unfolded the cargo list and looked at the contents.
"One live female mermaid, intact body parts, no visible internal or external injuries."
"Her identity, a Mermaid Priest and of royal bloodline, remains pure."
A priest, and of royal lineage too—quite a significant background.
He nodded, indicating he had finished reading.
Two iron-faced men took out crowbars and pried open the lid of the wooden box; a massive block of ice appeared in front of Liu Zheng.
The quality of the ice seemed very pure, the light of the setting sun shining on it, reflecting a spectrum of colors, like a polished diamond.
And in the center of the ice, a small mermaid was curled up.
She had gray-blue seaweed-like long hair, and her skin was as pale and delicate as ivory.
Tears slid down from her tightly closed eyes, her long eyelashes completely wet from the tears.
It wasn’t hard to imagine the fear she must have experienced.
Strangely, Liu Zheng felt that her features slightly resembled those of Natasha, whom he had buried.
"You guys really dare to do this. The Mermaid Clan will have to protest at the City Hall again."
"With so many races protesting, adding one more won’t make the City Hall care any less."
"Besides, she was meant to be enjoyed by those council members, wasn’t she?"
"I said nothing, I know nothing."
Niu Ma immediately distanced himself.
"Why put on such a poor show? You know no one can hear our conversation."
As his words fell, one black circle after another emerged from the air, enveloping them.
Looking through the circles, all the scenery was twisted into disjointed fragments.
Without waiting for a system prompt to appear, Liu Zheng immediately averted his gaze.
He said that smuggling in the middle of the street was too wild, but it turned out they had this trick up their sleeves.
"Heh, you really think this little trick can block the ears of the City Hall?"
"A decrepit little sect like yours, the City Hall simply can’t be bothered with you. If they really wanted to take action, all your crimes would continuously play on the scales of the law."
Niu Ma said scornfully.
"Only my lord can judge our sins. Moreover, what we do is exactly what the City Hall needs. All that is required of us is to be useful,"
"You’re still so annoying. Salmon, check the goods properly, see what tricks they’ve played this time."
"Can’t check through the ice, meow."
San Huamao spread its paws.
"These are Mermaid Tears, her self-protection mechanism. Once removed, she will immediately commit suicide."
"To remove the Mermaid Tears, the restaurant must first take delivery."
"Damn it, making me wait here, right?"
Niu Ma’s eyes bulged.
"Then I’ll just not buy it, sell it if you like or don’t."
Garcia actually nodded.
"The black market has been looking for this too, though their price is a bit lower. But if you’re not buying, I’ll have no choice but to sell to them."
He was about to order his followers to reload the goods.
"We can’t let them go, meow. The bigwigs at the council asked for this, and the head chef will be in trouble if it’s not on the menu, meow."
San Huamao tugged at Liu Zheng’s trouser leg.
He nodded and spoke up to stop them.
Garcia signaled a pause, then looked at him with a deep gaze.
"I don’t believe the black market buyers don’t check the goods; you must have a solution."
"Naturally, we have a way, but why should I tell you? Besides, you haven’t shown any sincerity at all. Niu Ma’s actions and words have been provoking us all the time; such a deal, we might as well not do it."
Garcia admitted directly.
"That’s because you tricked us first."
"Such deals are meant to be cash and carry. If you didn’t find any issues when inspecting the goods, it’s your own lack of discernment to blame."
Garcia said without even lifting his eyelids.
Niu Ma lowered his head, ready to start a fight.
After resting for two days, his broken horn had almost completely regrown.
The single horn looked even more imposing.
"Boss, hold on a sec. Let me talk to him."
Liu Zheng stopped him.
"What’s there to talk about with this idiot? Just kill him and be done with it."
Niu Ma cussed loudly, yet he stopped in his tracks.
"Your handling of the goods now makes it impossible for us to inspect them. Even if you don’t care about the business of one restaurant, don’t you care about maintaining a good reputation in business?"
"You say the black market buyers are interested, we also have connections there."
"Oynk from the slaughter room is our fellow townsman, and we frequently play cards with the Demon from the casino. If I ask them to spread the word about this, how many would still dare to do business with you?"
He stared at Garcia as he spoke.
Under the iron mask, Garcia seemed to frown.
He knew Niu Ma knew Oynk, but he didn’t realize he had also made connections with the Demon.
The slaughter room and the betting hall are two major forces in the black market; if they cause trouble, it would indeed affect the sect’s business.
"I can release the ’Mermaid Tears’, but you must agree to my conditions."
He pondered for a moment before speaking.
"You must listen to the gospel of my Lord."
Garcia looked at Liu Zheng as he spoke.
"Why are you so insistent on preaching to me?"
Liu Zheng said helplessly.
"You have listened to the gospel of the Evil God; if you could convert to my Lord, my Lord would surely be pleased."
"But I wouldn’t be pleased."
One gospel of an Evil God had already turned things messy; dealing with another would be over the top.
With one god he could still manage, but with two warring, he doubted he could even become a Tentacle Monster.
"If you convert to my Lord, you won’t need to work anymore, only sing the praises of my Lord’s name to the starry skies. Your daily meals, clothing, accommodation, and personal safety would all be guaranteed." ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ N()velFire.net
"You are just consumables in the restaurant. Especially after your essence transforms, you’ll be a prime ingredient. Then the restaurant will surely devise ways to make you err, turning you into livestock."
"If you don’t believe me, ask Niu Ma."
Garcia urged earnestly.
"He’s right, the restaurant is just like that."
Niu Ma immediately admitted without hesitation.
"Kid, it’s your choice now."
"Do you continue to be a corporate slave at the restaurant, or become a Saint Heir in this darn sect?"