Hell Game: Starting from Metropolis

"Of course, after all, your grandfather is a descendant of eunuchs, how could I not understand such basic social etiquette?"

The old ghost said smugly.

"That's called being born into an official family. Why didn't you try to be more friendly with your neighbors before?"

he corrected.

"It's all the same. I lived a carefree life while I was alive, relying on your great-grandfather's influence. Now that I'm dead, I have to be subservient to others. What a waste of my life!"

The old ghost picked his nose and said.

"What you're saying isn't entirely unreasonable. So why did you agree this time?"

Liu Zheng asked curiously.

"Isn't that all for you? You're eyeing the honorary homeowner medal just so you can deliver food here, aren't you?"

The old ghost rolled his eyes.

"so good?"

He looked at the other person with a suspicious gaze.

"Your great-grandfather was so good to me, so I'll naturally treat you the same way. Of course, if the funeral isn't handled well, then you can expect me to use your name to take advantage of you even more."

"I guarantee you'll be able to get in, but you won't be able to get out."

Old Ghost Head revealed a sinister smile.

"I knew it."

Liu Zheng chuckled.

"Good to know. By the way, Grandpa has a favor to ask you."

Old Ghost's expression suddenly became somewhat awkward.

"Change how you address me first, then I'll consider whether I'll listen or not."

He squinted and said.

"Old man, I have a favor to ask of you, okay?"

The old ghost changed his tune.

"That works. Tell me about it first."

Liu Zheng nodded.

“I heard there’s a funeral home called ‘Death is Funeral’ that has a lot of exciting and prestigious services. I don’t ask for much, just give me ‘Eighteen Farewell Scenes’ and ‘Sister Flowers’.”

The old ghost seemed to be trying to laugh awkwardly, but no matter how you looked at it, it was extremely lewd.

"Is it expensive?"

he asked.

"I don't know. But you've already thrown gold bars on the ground, so you probably don't care about this little bit of money, right?"

The old man's tone was slightly ingratiating.

"The old lady with the bun doesn't want it anymore?"

"How can that be? Finding a partner and buying a maid can be done at the same time."

Old Ghost Head hurriedly said.

"Old man, you're pretty good at this."

He twitched the corner of his mouth.

"I'm already dead, can't I at least have some fun? Anyway, I won't get any diseases."

The old ghost said this with a straight face.

"Let me ask first."

Liu Zheng glanced at the map.

The "Death is Good" funeral home and cemetery are in the same direction, but they are not very close to each other.

"If the price is right, adding a few more items is not out of the question; I don't mind the trouble."

The old ghost said with a shameless grin.

"I don't like it."

He pursed his lips and left Building 17.

Back at the entrance of the residential compound, the half-gray-haired security guard stood in the guard booth, clutching the wound on his shoulder and staring intently at Liu Zheng.

To outsiders, his eyes were filled with hatred, but Liu Zheng saw a probing gaze.

He subtly made a circle with his tentacles.

He couldn't make a "K", but an "O" should be enough.

"Brilliant."

The half-gray-haired security guard gave Liu Zheng a thumbs-up with his hair.

"Damn it, why can't I move my hair?"

He thought with a hint of envy.

Liu Zheng detoured to Rose Street to pick up the fish, then returned to the restaurant.

"Where's your beer bottle? Can I borrow it again?"

As soon as they entered the lounge, Niu Ma couldn't wait to ask.

"What are you going to do, boss?"

he asked.

"I got a super hard walnut, and I'm going to see which of the two is harder."

The cattle and horses raised their hooves, revealing a walnut whose color and luster resembled fresh pig's blood.

"Isn't this a collectible walnut? You can't eat it, so why are you cracking it open?"

Liu Zheng recognized him at a glance.

In reality, the custom of playing with walnuts has existed since ancient times, reaching its peak during the Qing Dynasty, where it was listed as one of the Four Arts (walnuts, birdcages, fans, and gourds).

Around the 1960s and 70s, collectible walnuts began to revive, and by around 2013, they were even being sold for tens of thousands of yuan a pair.

However, after 2015, the price of collectible walnuts began to plummet, reaching rock-bottom prices.

There are many reasons for this, but industrialization and the rise of online shopping are certainly two of them.

After all, when you can buy a pair of walnuts online for just over ten yuan that are still shiny and smooth after being handled by others for decades, it's hard to have any illusions about such things anymore.

"Who says that walnuts for collecting and playing with can only be handled and not eaten? In my mouth, anything can be a dish."

The ox and horse grunted.

"Okay, okay. But you're too late. I've already pawned that beer bottle."

Liu Zheng explained the tentacle monster incident.

"You dare to pawn that kind of thing? I don't know whether to call you bold or stupid with too much money. What will you do when you can't get it back?"

"It shouldn't be that bad. No matter how high the quality, it's still just junk. It should be able to distinguish between what's important and what's not."

He shook his head.

"Hmph, do you think everyone can think rationally? There are far more madmen than normal people in Metropolis."

The ox and horse said disdainfully.

"We'll talk about that later."

Liu Zheng said dismissively.

Given the tentacle monster's strength, he wasn't afraid of it going crazy; the crazier it went, the more excited he became.

"Whatever, I'm not going to help stop Ghost Hand from beating you up."

The oxen and horses kicked the walnuts back to their haystacks.

Clearly, it intends to continue its struggle with this little gadget.

"Hey boss, why don't you let me give it a try?"

Liu Zheng looked at it and said.

If the hardness of this walnut is due to superhuman strength, then its true damage should also come in handy.

"No, go find it yourself if you want to play."

The ox and horse clutched their walnuts tightly, watching him warily.

"So you knew you were just doing this for fun?"

Liu Zheng thought to himself.

He shook his head helplessly, took out his phone to call the white-feathered chicken to come and collect the goods, but before he could even press the number, the phone rang.

He glanced at the caller ID; it was a completely unfamiliar number.

After hesitating for a moment, Liu Zheng finally answered the phone.

"I heard you've been looking for me everywhere?"

A gentle voice came from the other end of the phone.

"Are you Mr. Fool?"

He asked hesitantly.

"I am truly honored that the delivery driver remembered me."

The fool joked.

"Not at all, Mr. Fool's charm at the last salon ball is still fresh in my memory."

Liu Zheng said.

"Oh, not at all. It was the deliveryman's wonderful story and graceful dance moves that truly amazed me."

After a round of mutual flattery, the atmosphere of the conversation immediately became lively.

"How did Mr. Fool know I was looking for you?"

he asked.

“A friend in the media contacted me through someone and told me that you were looking for me.”

The Fool replied.

"Oh, it's player number 4."

Liu Zheng remembered.

"What, Player 4?"

The fool asked curiously.

"It's someone I play board games with. I made a deal with him on the condition that he contact you."

He briefly recounted the time he played board games.

"The deliveryman is really multi-talented. I'm thinking of adding some board game-related content to my next book; could you give me some guidance?"

The Fool exclaimed in delight.

"Of course, as long as you don't mind me misleading students."

"Haha, Mr. Deliveryman, you're too modest. So, what brings you here?"

The Fool got to the point.

Although he wasn't the kind of author who liked to be in the public eye, he still had a lot of miscellaneous tasks besides writing in order to compete for the position of vice president of the Writers' Association.

"Originally there were two things, but now there are three. I hope you won't think I'm making a fuss."

Liu Zheng said embarrassedly.