Standing before the elevator, Liu Zheng checked the time.

Four minutes left.

Fortunately, the elevator was already on the first floor. He should make it.

"Ding!"

The elevator doors opened, and he dashed inside, frantically pressing the close button.

Luckily, nothing strange happened during the ride.

Twenty seconds later, the doors opened again.

Liu Zheng charged out like a wild stallion, sprinting to the door marked 503.

"Hello, your delivery has arrived," he called out while knocking.

No response came from inside, nor did anyone open the door.

"HELLO! YOUR DELIVERY IS HERE!" he shouted louder.

Still no reply.

"Open up! Your food's here!"

Liu Zheng's knocking grew increasingly violent until he started kicking the door.

After a full minute of this standoff, the occupant finally snapped.

"Stop shouting! This isn't my order!"

"How would you know without even looking?" Liu Zheng challenged.

Perhaps finding logic in his words, the door to 503 finally creaked open.

A grotesquely obese man appeared, reeking of overpowering body odor—

Like a large dog that had rolled in garbage all day before eating half a pound of shit.

"Give me the receipt," the man demanded, extending a hairy paw.

"Here."

Liu Zheng handed over the delivery slip.

"Not mine. I'm not taking it," the fat man declared after a glance.

"Is this Merlin Residential Area?"

"Yes."

"Is this Building 3, Unit 503?"

"Also yes."

"Then if this is Merlin Residential Area Building 3 Unit 503, why refuse?"

Liu Zheng's voice rose again.

"I don't care! I didn't order this! Unless..." The fat man let out a creepy chuckle.

"Unless what?"

"Unless you give me a piece of your flesh." He licked his lips, revealing yellow, rotten teeth.

"Hah."

Liu Zheng sized him up, calculating the odds of forcing the delivery through violence.

The conclusion? Not good.

Ignoring supernatural factors, the man easily weighed over 400 pounds.

In hand-to-hand combat, sheer mass provided absolute advantage.

Not to mention his vital areas were protected by layers of fat, leaving little room for technique.

"What? Wanna fight me? Ptooey!"

The fat man spat a glob of phlegm right before Liu Zheng's eyes.

"Just a stinking delivery boy. I'm not accepting it—what can you do?"

He exhaled rancid breath that could qualify as chemical warfare.

Liu Zheng held his breath and checked his phone.

One minute left.

"Running out of time? Don't hesitate. A piece of flesh for your life—good deal."

The fat man's voice suddenly turned soothing.

Low-frequency vibrations resonated pleasantly in Liu Zheng's brain.

Thirty seconds.

"Why didn't you spit on my uniform earlier?" Liu Zheng suddenly asked.

"I spit where I want! None of your business!" the fat man snarled.

"Because you didn't dare. Afraid of hitting my work clothes."

"Bullshit!" The fat man's expression twisted.

Before he could react, Liu Zheng hurled the food container into the apartment.

Five seconds.

"NOOOOO!"

An ear-splitting shriek erupted as the fat man lunged for the box.

"Delivery complete. Eat it or don't—I don't give a fuck."

Liu Zheng slammed the door shut and braced against it.

A tremendous impact struck the door almost immediately.

Liu Zheng went flying into the hallway wall.

The metallic taste of blood filled his throat as searing pain spread across his back.

Probably no broken bones, though.

The door burst open again, smashing against the wall with a thunderous crash.

The obese man reappeared, still clutching the delivery box.

"This. Is. Not. My. Order," he articulated through chattering teeth.

His eyes rolled upward unnaturally, as if avoiding looking at the container.

"I don't care what you think—only what I think matters."

Liu Zheng pushed off the wall to stand straight.

"Besides... time's up."

He smiled.

First delivery completed in 59 minutes and 59 seconds.

"NOOOO—"

The fat man's terrified scream cut off abruptly.

His face went slack as his body odor intensified exponentially.

"Thank you."

The words came mechanically before he closed the door, leaving only a lingering stench of decay.

"That delivery... definitely wasn't cheap."

Liu Zheng glanced at the 503 number plate before limping toward the elevator.

"Congratulations on surviving your first delivery."

Back at Bloody Restaurant, Bullhorse stomped a hoof in approval.

"Thanks, boss. Your advice helped."

Liu Zheng replied politely.

"Of course! I'm Bloody Restaurant's three-time 'Excellent Employee'!"

Bullhorse declared proudly.

"But you didn't warn me about customers refusing deliveries."

Liu Zheng frowned slightly.

"I'm not obligated to tell you everything. Besides, extra intel costs extra. What else can you offer?"

Bullhorse said indifferently.

"Fair point."

Liu Zheng nodded.

"Smart kid. Anyway, you delivered it, didn't you? Though at some cost."

Bullhorse eyed his arm.

"You can see it?"

Liu Zheng raised his unmarked arm.

"Everyone can see it—except you."

Bullhorse stated.

"Why?"

"Only whole beings can perceive what's missing."

Bullhorse's gaze held both pity and mockery.

"Since you're decent, I'll let you choose how you die... after they've eaten you hollow."

"Then I choose drinking myself to death on Hairy Moss."

"Wishful thinking! You think we'd waste good booze on that?"

Bullhorse rolled its eyes.

"Speaking of which, boss... got any more Hairy Moss?"

Liu Zheng asked casually.

"No Hairy Moss, but I've got Hairy Russian Moss. Want some?"

Bullhorse snorted.

"Sounds... itchy. Never mind. Can you get another bottle?"

"What, you hooked already?"

Bullhorse gave him a sidelong glance.

"No. Want to trade it for something."

Liu Zheng admitted.

"Could get more. What's your offer? No more credit."

Bullhorse didn't press further.

"Flesh?"

"Your measly flesh isn't worth half a bottle of Hairy Russian Moss."

Bullhorse eyed him with disdain.

"Name your price then."

Liu Zheng shrugged.

"Fine. Beat the Gluttonous Snake game. Whatever the reward is, I'll trade you a bottle of Hairy Moss for it."

Bullhorse pondered.

"Ascending Hairy Moss 53°," it emphasized.

"Fine, fine. Ascending Hairy Moss 53°. Humans and your damn loopholes."

Bullhorse grumbled.

"What if there's no reward?" Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novèlfire.net

"I'll still trade, alright?!"

Bullhorse grew impatient.

"Deal."

Liu Zheng nodded.

"Oh, boss—if the order only has an address, does it count if I just leave it there without signature?"

He recalled the recent delivery.

"Exactly. That's why I said you got lucky—those are the easiest."

Bullhorse replied.

"What if they won't open the door?"

"Trick them. If that fails, scare them. If that doesn't work, climb through windows or break the damn door. There's always a way."

It answered without hesitation.

"Impressive. Worthy of an 'Excellent Employee.'"

Liu Zheng showed genuine respect.

"Three-time 'Excellent Employee.'"

Bullhorse raised three legs for emphasis.

"BANG BANG BANG!"

Suddenly, violent pounding came from the storage locker.