"Rationality decline exemption successful."
The system notification arrived as scheduled.
Teardrops of fire fell to the ground, burning the pool of blood dry.
Liu Zheng couldn’t help but wonder, if the stag hadn’t cried, would it have accumulated into an artificial lake?
He bypassed the stag head and walked into the café.
"Welcome to Unlucky Coffee."
The busy employees stopped what they were doing and called out in unison.
Or rather, they were originally one person.
A heart floated in mid-air, thick blood vessels extended in all directions, connecting to each employee.
Their bodies had only the front half, all organs and bones exposed to the air.
"Would you like to order?"
An employee drifted over, nearly tangling its blood vessel with another nearby.
Only then did Liu Zheng notice that they also lacked lower halves.
"I’d like an Orange C Iced Americano, half sugar. A Coconut Hot Latte, standard sugar."
He first ordered the coffee that the cleaning staff wanted.
"Also, give me one of every coffee, all iced, half sugar."
He couldn’t remember how many people were in the kitchen, so he simply ordered more. ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ⓝovelFire.net
One can never be too polite.
"Okay. Half sugar might be a bit bitter, is that alright?"
The kitchen surely had sugar, he thought; if it’s too bitter, he could add his own.
"With a group discount, that will be 1000 yuan."
The amount was no more than half a bottle of Maotai; quite affordable.
Liu Zheng handed over the money.
"Can you handle all this coffee? We can deliver it to a designated location for you."
The employee kindly offered.
"You also have delivery service?"
He exclaimed in surprise.
He had thought delivery was monopolized by the Bloody Restaurant.
"We normally don’t offer it, but we have special accommodations for group purchases like yours."
The employee responded.
"Alright then. Deliver them to Bloody Restaurant, and put it under the name ’Outstanding Employee Niu Ma.’"
He indeed found the coffees too much to carry.
Moreover, without the boost from Legendary Armor on the way back, he wouldn’t have the energy to protect the coffees should something happen.
"Okay. Delivering to Bloody Restaurant will require an additional fee of 1200 yuan."
"What a rip-off. The coffees were only 1000, and delivery costs more than the order itself."
Liu Zheng frowned and said.
"Sir, please, don’t be upset. The 1200 isn’t for delivery."
The employee explained.
"Then what is it for?"
"It’s for staff depreciation."
The employee said with a smile.
"Based on our experience, couriers sent to Bloody Restaurant definitely won’t come back."
Liu Zheng said, somewhat embarrassed.
Although he too was from the feeding class, he belonged to the restaurant.
"So, charging a staff depreciation fee is only fair, right?"
The employee said calmly.
"Fair enough, fair enough."
Liu Zheng handed over the 1200 yuan.
If it had been for someone else, he might have been reluctant.
But since he was about to help French Plane Tree steal from the kitchen, the purchase was worth it.
As long as Niu Ma was still around, he could likely recoup this favor.
Moreover, with Salmon there, the calico cat should value their camaraderie.
Provided he was powerful enough.
At that moment, Liu Zheng suddenly had an idea.
"Do you sell desserts here?"
"Yes, we have some new items just added to the menu."
The employee showed the menu.
Liu Zheng casually picked a few items and bought a few more cups of coffee.
"Anything else you need, sir?"
The employee asked after collecting the money.
"No, that will be all."
Liu Zheng shook his head.
"Then, sir, you will also need to pay my tip."
His face was as blank as an old person fumbling with a smartphone.
No way, a cashier asking for tips isn’t even a thing in Western coffee shops, is it?
"I apologize, sir, but it’s the rule of this establishment."
The employee said apologetically.
Liu Zheng asked, holding back his anger.
He had spent so much money already, if it weren’t for that he would have endured it.
Delivering orders was what mattered.
"Just a face will do."
The clerk maintained a smile.
Liu Zheng’s hair stood on end.
He finally understood why the cleaner’s smile was so eerie.
She must have known about the tip.
The faces of the people in the office building were all drawn, it couldn’t all be because they had paid a tip, right?
He thought profoundly and terrified.
"What if I don’t give it?"
Liu Zheng asked tentatively.
"Then we will just have to have you join us."
All the employees said in unison.
They all floated over, surrounding Liu Zheng in the middle, looking at him expressionlessly.
"Welcome to the Unlucky Coffee family."
"Join us, and you will be far from all luck."
"Join us, and you will be far from all good things."
"Join us, and you will be far from all personality."
"Join us, and you will be far from all reality."
"But you will lose troubles."
"But you will lose pain."
"But you will lose hunger."
"But you will never be fired."
"Work, eternal work!"
The clerks said loudly.
Their voices grew quicker and more rhythmic.
In the end, it sounded like they were chanting scriptures.
Liu Zheng blocked one ear and got through to Niu Ma’s phone.
"The user you dialed does not wish to take your call."
The merciless response came.
Normally, he might have just hung up understandingly.
But now, he just wanted to curse.
"Boss, did you know Unlucky Coffee takes a face as a tip?"
Niu Ma’s voice finally came through.
Lazy and relaxed, probably just finished exercising.
"Then why the hell did you still ask me to buy coffee for you?"
Liu Zheng couldn’t hold back anymore.
"Who are you with right now? Wait for it, you’re not going to have a good fruit juice to drink when you get back."
"I have to make it back first."
The clerks moved even closer, almost sticking to his face.
"Is it really that serious? Losing a face to others is a big deal, but for you, what’s the difference from losing a strand of hair?"
Niu Ma said nonchalantly.
Liu Zheng felt as if he had misheard.
"They just rip the face off; what are you afraid of? It’ll grow back in the time it takes to fart."
He was somewhat skeptical.
"Nonsense. If I were really sending you to your death, it wouldn’t be now; how could the boss let me go on a vacation alone?"
Niu Ma got impatient.
Liu Zheng thought about it, and it made sense.
His death here wouldn’t benefit Niu Ma at all.
He wouldn’t even get a piece of meat.
Liu Zheng shouted loudly.
The chant-like voices immediately stopped.
All the clerks looked down at Liu Zheng, their eyes somewhat disappointed.
"Then please come this way."
The clerk who had handled his payment said.
He led Liu Zheng to a liftable chair and had him sit down.
"This is our premium service, especially for a big spender like you who is willing to tip."
The clerk pressed a button and the liftable chair immediately transformed into a recliner.
And several handcuffs sprouted from the seat, securing him tightly.
"First service, eye scraping."
The clerk twirled his finger, and a sharp blade whirled and danced at his fingertip.
Then, it sliced open Liu Zheng’s eyeball.