Soon, the Bat-headed Server brought over a takeout box.

An extra-large clear plastic container.

Liu Zheng placed the little girl into the plastic box; her pale little face faced him.

She looked as if she was smiling, and as if she was crying.

He was silent as he took off the clown costume and draped it over the takeout box.

"The 'Lucky Clown Card' has expired."

The system's cold voice sounded.

"That's it, without the Lucky Clown how are we supposed to win?"

Bullhorse sighed.

"Who said you have to wear a clown suit to be a clown."

Liu Zheng smiled.

"Hey you, bring me a knife, and some needles and thread."

He shouted to the Jellyfish-headed Server.

"I am fucking called Soft-Drift."

The Jellyfish-headed Server finally couldn't hold back.

"Okay, okay, you there, hurry up."

Liu Zheng tossed a red chip over.

"Got it, just watch."

The Jellyfish-headed Server immediately floated away.

Soon it returned with a table knife and a box of needles and thread.

"A beauty like you must always carry a mirror, right?"

Liu Zheng asked the Succubus Dealer.

"Very perceptive."

The Succubus Dealer smiled and took a silver mirror inlaid with rubies from her chest.

He looked into the silver mirror; that face inside looked uglier than last time.

Each Flesh Rebirth made him drift further away from being human.

Liu Zheng smiled and shoved the table knife into his mouth.

One cut, then another.

He neatly reopened the healed mouthpiece.

Then he pushed the needle through the upper oral cavity and into his own temple.

Tying a dead knot, his mouth corners were pulled high.

A wildly grinning smile.

"Not enough yet?"

Liu Zheng muttered to himself.

He didn't hear the system's prompt.

Another cut, he split open his tentacle; blood spurted out.

The tentacle rolled and wrapped over his face several times until the whole face was stained blood-red.

Except for the mouthpiece.

"Miss, lend me your foundation."

Liu Zheng tossed another red chip.

"Here you go."

The Succubus Dealer generously pushed a box to him.

It too was inlaid with rubies, clearly valuable.

Liu Zheng opened the box and raised an eyebrow.

Inside was a full box of white metallic powder.

"Lead powder, huh. Works."

He shoved the mouthpiece straight into the lead powder.

A sour, bitter taste stung his palate.

Liu Zheng wiped off the excess powder and looked into the mirror.

A blood-red face, dead-white mouth, a grin stretching to his ears.

"The 'Lucky Clown Card' has taken effect."

The system prompt sounded.

"I'm fucking awesome."

He nodded in satisfaction.

Bullhorse stared at him like he'd seen a madman.

"Deal the cards."

The Succubus Dealer glanced at Liu Zheng and dealt the fifth community card.

A ten of diamonds.

Dough Ball looked at the card; its doughy skin fluttered slightly.

There were already four diamonds on the table—if that human had any diamond at all, he could make a flush.

Although it had three queens, the chance to make four of a kind with Qs was very low.

But Dough Ball was reluctant to fold. It had already thrown six black chips out earlier; folding meant wasting it all.

"Bad card, man, I've been waiting till I'm tired."

Liu Zheng slurred.

"Fold."

Dough Ball hesitated for a long time, but in the end chose to fold.

It wasn't a gourd; earlier it had only been bluffing Liu Zheng.

"Too cowardly to make pancakes, go make buns instead."

Liu Zheng sneered.

"I..."

"You were about to say you had a straight flush, right?"

Bullhorse cut in.

"You stole my line, you bastard?"

He got angry.

"The moment you open your mouth I know what crap you're about to pull."

Bullhorse laughed.

"When we get back I'll shit in your mouth. All in."

Liu Zheng pushed all his chips forward.

"Fold."

A hooded customer, his face shrouded in mist, tossed away his cards.

Dough Ball, Dog-headed Creature, Screw Head, and Mist Man all folded; only Eel-headed Creature remained.

"Diamonds A, here, with me. I don't believe you, you big talker."

When it's only about flushes, the one with the Ace wins. It had an Ace, so it was the largest.

Unless Liu Zheng really did have a straight flush.

But Eel-headed Creature wasn't worried; it still had another card that could lock Liu Zheng out.

"Tomorrow, I'll... order delivery."

Eel-headed Creature's eyes were cold like a viper.

Winning this much money was enough for it to request a designated delivery.

"I might burst you."

Liu Zheng shot back.

But everyone could tell he was a bit all bark and no bite this time.

"I'll raise."

"This handsome guy already went all in."

The Succubus Dealer shook her head.

"He still has chips."

Eel-headed Creature looked at Liu Zheng.

"I bet... your... meat."

Eel-headed Creature opened its oral cavity and drooled.

Tomorrow it could eat Liu Zheng, though it might not get his "meat."

"Then put more money up."

Liu Zheng sneered.

"Fine."

Eel-headed Creature pushed out another thirty black chips.

"Handsome guy, are you calling?" For original chapters go to NoveIꜰire.net

The Succubus Dealer asked.

Seeing Eel-headed Creature really raise, a cold sweat broke out on Liu Zheng's forehead.

"Weren't you so cocky? Keep being cocky then!"

Dough Ball taunted.

"You already folded, shut the hell up."

He shot back.

"If you're so great, call."

"Call!"

"Call!"

......

Other customers clamored too.

Their eyes, overt and covert, fixed on Liu Zheng like they were staring at rotting flesh.

"Maybe forget it. No money's better than no life."

Bullhorse advised.

"I want money not life. Call!"

Liu Zheng said viciously.

"Your meat will be mine."

Eel-headed Creature laughed wickedly and flipped its hole cards.

A diamond Ace and a diamond nine.

Bullhorse's face darkened.

That diamond nine meant Liu Zheng could no longer form a straight flush.

"This time I can't save you. But I can help you take the coffin out and bury you."

Bullhorse pointed at the takeout box at his feet.

"Thanks."

Liu Zheng was a bit moved.

"At least you called me boss once."

Bullhorse patted his shoulder pityingly.

"But it wasn't necessary."

Liu Zheng shook Bullhorse's hoof off.

"Everyone, straight flush!"

He laughed madly as he slapped his hole cards onto the table.

The other customers scoffed.

Everyone knew a straight flush here was impossible.

But immediately their laughter choked off, as if someone had clamped their throats.

Liu Zheng's hole cards were, shockingly:

Eight of hearts and eight of clubs.

"You fucking did it again!"

Bullhorse slammed the table.

"Hey, your chips fell."

Liu Zheng complained.

"Oh, sorry, sorry."

Bullhorse hurriedly bent down to pick up the chips.

"You stupid human."

The other customers cursed and left the table.

Playing with such a lunatic wasn't fun even if you won.

Losing felt even worse.

"I will... wait for you."

Eel-headed Creature looked at Liu Zheng deeply, then left too.

"Hahaha, we've hit the jackpot."

Bullhorse looked at the pile of chips stacked like a small mountain and laughed in a sound worse than crying.

Though it still wasn't enough for retirement, it was enough for it to run out of the restaurant.

"Impressive, impressive."

Applause broke out.

A demon holding a wine glass walked over and sat opposite Liu Zheng.

"Let's bet a round."

It smiled.

Bullhorse's crying got louder than its laughter.