One, two, three...

"Acquired 'Flesh Rebirth' status."

"Status: Flesh Rebirth"

"Effect: Gains near-immortal physical regeneration ability."

When Liu Zheng swallowed the last piece, the system notification appeared again.

"Finally something good happened."

He let out a satisfied burp.

"Seeing you eat so happily puts my mind at ease."

The maid said contentedly.

"Should I call you Mr. Li or Xiao Jiu?"

Liu Zheng casually leaned back on the sofa, using his tentacle to wipe his mouth.

"Either is fine. Names are just labels after all."

"Then I'll call you Xiao Jiu. Thanks for the meal, I should get going."

He stood up as he spoke.

"Wait, young man. I haven't given you your tip yet."

The maid said.

"What would you like?"

She swayed her hips as she approached Liu Zheng.

"Money, supernatural items, or... me?"

The maid traced circles on Liu Zheng's mouthparts with a delicate white finger.

Her? Definitely not what Liu Zheng wanted.

Even if she weren't an old man, even without the busty maid outfit, she had zero appeal.

Money sounded good though. If Mr. Li was generous enough, he might repay Bullhorse and even buy another bottle of Ascension Moss.

As he thought this, an uncontrollable idea swelled in Liu Zheng's mind.

"I want a big, powerful supernatural item. Preferably something explosive."

He waved his tentacles wildly, slamming them against the floor with loud cracks.

"How interesting."

The maid, initially annoyed, revealed a sly smile upon hearing his request.

"It would be amusing to see that woman lose her temper."

She murmured to herself.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Wait here, I'll fetch something."

The maid walked upstairs with feline grace.

Liu Zheng waited where he stood.

His four eyes constantly scanned the surroundings while all his tentacles twitched restlessly.

Fortunately, he retained enough rationality to know he shouldn't cause trouble here.

Finally, the maid descended from upstairs.

"Use it well. This is quite rare."

She giggled while placing a yellow amber on Liu Zheng's tentacle.

"Name: Fossil of the Shit Sea Frenzied Maggot (Single Use)"

"Type: Item"

"Quality: Fine"

"Effect: Releases massive amounts of unstable ammonia gas upon activation"

"Note: Killing isn't enough? You gotta humiliate them too?"

"Can be taken out of dungeon: No"

Looking at the pale, plump worm preserved for who-knows-how-many millennia, Liu Zheng felt a chill.

Dying to this thing would truly mark the end of his human life.

Wait, he wasn't exactly human anymore.

Never mind then.

"Thanks. Goodbye."

Liu Zheng pocketed the amber and left without looking back.

Any longer and he might have smashed the maid's head with his tentacles.

"See you next time, young man."

From the corner of his eye, he thought he saw Mr. Li waving at him.

Returning to Heavenly Villa's entrance, Liu Zheng found the security guards' corpses still lying there.

"Hasn't anyone come to clean this up?"

He complained while opening his character panel.

Everything happened too fast earlier - he hadn't had time to check properly.

"Status: Flesh Mutation"

"Effect: Causes uncontrollable physical mutations in player. Doesn't alter genes or bloodline."

"Current mutation effects: Strength +30, Constitution +20, Perception +15."

Liu Zheng swung a tentacle with full force, smashing a guard's corpse into paste.

Excellent. Very powerful.

He nodded approvingly.

"Temporary Insanity: Irritable Temper"

"Effect: Player becomes extremely irritable to point of losing rationality. High mental attributes help alleviate symptoms."

"Duration: Three dungeon runs."

"Flesh mutation and irritable temper... why do I feel like the villain here?"

Staring at the pile of corpses, a thought suddenly flashed through Liu Zheng's mind.

Fifteen minutes later, he walked toward Bloody Restaurant while humming.

"Boss, I'm back."

Liu Zheng greeted.

Bullhorse was playing with its phone when it lazily looked up at his voice.

"How much did Mr. Li give you holy-!"

Bullhorse's eyes bulged wider than its nostrils.

"What the hell happened to you, kid?"

It sprang up, tail hairs bristling.

Even by "Excellent Employee" standards, Liu Zheng's current appearance was rather horrifying.

"Long story. By the way, do I still count as a human citizen looking like this?"

He asked curiously.

"Your essence hasn't changed, so technically yes, but also no. As long as City Hall doesn't send notice, your status won't change."

Bullhorse pondered before answering.

"When would City Hall send notice?"

"No idea. Except for Employment Department, other City Hall branches are pretty inefficient."

Bullhorse shook its large head.

"Alright then."

"Quick, tell me how much tip you got!"

It urged.

"Mr. Li gave me this."

Liu Zheng produced the Fossil of the Shit Sea Frenzied Maggot.

"What the hell is this thing for?"

Bullhorse asked suspiciously. Check latest chapters at novel⸺fire.net

"Apparently releases massive ammonia gas."

"Eww! Get that away!"

Bullhorse immediately covered its nose.

"Don't let the cafeteria crew see this, or even I can't protect you."

After Liu Zheng put away the fossil, it added disdainfully.

"I thought we couldn't enter the cafeteria?"

"Sometimes when they're shorthanded they call us to help. Rare though - only happened few times since I got here."

Bullhorse explained.

"Dangerous?"

"Of course it's dangerous, but the benefits..."

Bullhorse stopped mid-sentence.

"Hey kid, when are you playing Gluttonous Snake? I still wanna see the clear reward."

It nagged.

"Not now. Boss, can you get me some paper and pen?"

Liu Zheng requested.

"What for?"

"Need them to adjust to my new body."

"What a pain. Wait here."

Bullhorse regurgitated the key again, unlocking a cabinet in the lower right corner.

"Take what you need."

Liu Zheng retrieved a notebook and fountain pen.

The notebook's cover bore a name:

"Bai Langzi"

Flipping it open revealed several pages filled with incomprehensible, twisting script.

"That guy was from the Snakefolk clan. Supposedly a modern poet before retro trends made him unemployed."

Bullhorse sounded rather gleeful.

"Name: Snakefolk Poetry Manuscript"

"Type: Miscellany"

"Quality: Common"

"Effect: None"

"Note: Final works of a talented poet. Certain beings might appreciate them."

"Can be taken out of dungeon: Yes"

Miscellany?

This was Liu Zheng's first time seeing this item type.

He thoughtfully examined the note before tearing out the poetry pages, folding them neatly into his pocket.

"You should change into work clothes. Your current look is an eyesore."

Bullhorse said disdainfully.

Not only ill-fitting, but torn in places, exposing things better left unseen.

"Do work clothes cost money?"

"Yours counts as accidental damage, should be free. Let me check."

Bullhorse took out its phone and babbled into it.

"Done. New uniform's coming."

As it spoke, a white thread descended from the ceiling.