"No time."

Liu Zheng decisively refused.

What kind of proper god would a sect that relied on smuggling to amass wealth actually worship?

Or rather, where in the universe were there any proper gods to begin with?

Although he wasn't a materialist, he held no fondness for these charlatans who constantly fed their followers empty promises.

"Your Excellency..."

Garcia tried to persuade further, but Bullhorse blocked him.

"Hey, are you doing business or not? If not, then get the hell out of here."

He said with a vicious tone.

"After the transaction concludes, I hope to have a detailed discussion with Your Excellency."

Garcia gave Liu Zheng a deep look before stepping aside.

"What's his problem?"

Bullhorse spat another thick glob of phlegm onto the ground.

It was clear he genuinely despised these iron-masked fanatics.

No wonder White Feather Chicken had asked Bullhorse to vent its frustration for it.

Liu Zheng unfolded the cargo manifest and examined its contents.

"One live female mermaid, body parts intact, no obvious internal or external injuries."

"Identity: Mermaid Priestess with royal bloodline, virginity preserved."

A priestess, and from the royal bloodline too—quite the impressive background.

He nodded to indicate he had finished reading.

"Open it."

Garcia commanded.

Two iron-masked followers produced crowbars and pried open the wooden crate's lid, revealing a massive block of ice before Liu Zheng.

The ice appeared exceptionally pure, with the setting sun's rays reflecting off its surface in rainbow hues, like a polished diamond.

And at the center of the ice block curled a small mermaid.

She had long, gray-blue hair like seaweed, with skin as pale and fine as ivory.

Tears streamed from her tightly closed eyes, her long eyelashes completely soaked with moisture.

It wasn't hard to imagine what kind of terror she must have experienced.

For some inexplicable reason, Liu Zheng felt her facial features somewhat resembled those of Natasha, the little girl he had buried.

"You guys really have some nerve. The mermaid tribe will be protesting at the Municipal Government again."

Bullhorse remarked.

"So many races protest—one more probably won't matter to the Municipal Government."

Garcia said calmly.

"Besides, she was originally meant for those council members' enjoyment, wasn't she?"

"I said nothing and know nothing."

Bullhorse immediately drew a clear boundary.

"Why put on such a poor performance? You know perfectly well no one can hear our conversation."

Garcia sighed.

As his words faded, black circles emerged one after another from the air, enveloping them completely.

Looking out through the circles, all scenery distorted into fragmented, discontinuous pieces.

Without waiting for any system prompt, Liu Zheng immediately averted his gaze.

So that's why they dared to smuggle right on the streets—they had this trick up their sleeve.

"Heh, you really think these petty tricks can block the Municipal Government's eyes and ears?"

"Just a pathetic little sect—the Municipal Government simply can't be bothered with you. If they really wanted to act, all your crimes would be playing on loop on the Scales of Law."

Bullhorse said disdainfully.

"Only our Lord may judge our sins. Moreover, what we do serves the Municipal Government's needs. We simply strive to make ourselves useful."

Garcia replied calmly.

"Your attitude remains as repulsive as ever. Salmon, inspect the goods properly—see what tricks they're playing this time."

Bullhorse barked.

"Can't inspect through ice, meow."

Calico Cat spread its paws helplessly.

"This is Mermaid's Tears, her self-protection mechanism. Once released, she will immediately commit suicide."

"To dispel the Mermaid's Tears, the restaurant must first accept delivery."

Garcia explained.

"Damn it, so this is your trap waiting for me?"

Bullhorse's bovine eyes widened in anger.

"Then I won't accept it! Sell it or don't—I don't give a damn!" Thɪs chapter is updated by Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

"Very well."

Garcia actually nodded in agreement.

"The Black Market has also sought this item, though their offer was slightly lower. But if you won't accept it, I'll have to sell it to them instead."

"Just a pathetic little sect—the Municipal Government simply can't be bothered with you. If they really wanted to act, all your crimes would be played on repeat on the Scales of Law."

"Can't let them leave, meow! This was ordered by important figures from the council—if we can't serve this dish, the head chef will be in trouble, meow!"

Calico Cat tugged at Liu Zheng's pant leg.

"Wait a moment."

He nodded and spoke up to stop them.

Garcia signaled for pause, then looked at him with profound intensity.

"I don't believe Black Market buyers wouldn't inspect goods either. You must have a solution."

Liu Zheng stated.

"We naturally have methods, but why should we share them with you? Moreover, you lack sincerity from the start. Bullhorse's words and actions constantly provoke us—perhaps this business is better left undone."

Garcia admitted outright.

"That's because you cheated us first."

"Such transactions are clean exchanges of goods for payment. Your failure to detect issues during inspection merely reflects your lack of discernment."

Garcia said without even lifting his eyelids.

"Hey, you bastard."

Bullhorse lowered his head, ready to charge with his horn.

After two days of rest, his broken horn had regrown almost completely.

The single horn actually looked more imposing now.

"Boss, wait. Let me handle this negotiation."

Liu Zheng stopped him.

"What's there to discuss with this idiot? Better to just kill him and be done with it."

Bullhorse cursed verbally but stopped moving his feet.

"Right now, your transportation method is inadequate, preventing us from proper inspection. Even if you don't care about our restaurant's business, don't you care about your business reputation?"

"You mentioned Black Market buyers—we have connections there too."

"Oink from the slaughterhouse is our fellow townsman, and we often play cards with the casino demons. If I ask them to spread word of this, how many would still dare to do business with you?"

He stared directly at Garcia.

Behind the iron mask, Garcia seemed to frown.

He knew Bullhorse was acquainted with Oink, but he hadn't realized they'd also connected with the demons.

The slaughterhouse and casino were two major power centers in the Black Market—if they caused trouble, the sect's business would indeed suffer.

"I can dispel the Mermaid's Tears, but you must agree to my condition."

He said after a moment's consideration.

"What condition?"

"You must listen to my Lord's Gospel."

Garcia looked at Liu Zheng as he spoke.

"Why are you so persistent about preaching to me?"

Liu Zheng said helplessly.

"You have heard an eldritch god's Gospel. If you convert to our Lord, it would greatly please Him."

Garcia replied.

"But it wouldn't please me."

He shook his head.

One eldritch god's Gospel had already brought him to this state—what would happen with another?

If one god won, it might be manageable, but if they reached a stalemate, he probably wouldn't even get to remain a tentacled creature.

"If you convert to our Lord, you'll need never work again—only sing His praises to the stars. Three meals daily, clothing, shelter, transportation, and personal safety—all guaranteed."

"In the restaurant, you're merely expendable material. Especially after your essential transformation, you'll become premium ingredients. Then the restaurant will inevitably find ways to make you err, to make you fall into livestock status."

"If you don't believe me, ask Bullhorse."

Garcia persuaded with earnest concern.

"He's not wrong—that's exactly how the restaurant operates."

Bullhorse admitted without hesitation.

"Kid, now it's your choice."

"Will you keep being a corporate drone at the restaurant, or become a Holy Son for this damn cult?"