The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?!-Chapter 1214 - 755: Metropolis Discrimination Hierarchy, Part 2

Chapter 1214: Chapter 755: Metropolis Discrimination Hierarchy, Part 2

This area is more accurately described as a large region rather than just a street.

As the name implies, most of the buildings in this region are related to metallurgy.

The larger ones are sprawling factories, while the smaller ones are workshops packed tightly together.

And judging by the black smoke billowing from the chimneys, these factories are still operational and have not been abandoned like other buildings in the Old City District.

Of course, it makes sense: when relocating a city, you only move the good stuff and leave the bad stuff behind.

Most of the residents in the Old City District are non-citizens anyway, so it’s pretty generous that they get to enjoy toxic gas and waste water for free.

The roads on Metallurgical Street, like those in many industrial areas in reality, are full of potholes crushed by those heavy freight trucks.

Good thing the spirit car is considered an extraordinary item; otherwise, this trip would have definitely required major repairs.

"Clang, clang, clang!"

Liu Zheng followed the spirit car as it bumped along, searching for his target for quite a while.

Number 88 Metallurgy Road, from the outside, looked like another metallurgy workshop, but it had no signboard, only a shield by the door with an image of a creature engulfed in flames.

He parked the car and walked up to the workshop to knock on the door.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

After three knocks, there was no response from inside.

Thinking the people inside might not have heard him because they were working, Liu Zheng took out an arm exerciser and smashed it against the door another three times.

Now, even if they were digging underground, they should have heard it.

However, there was still no response.

Just when he thought the other party was playing deaf, he noticed a row of small characters on the door.

Please ring the doorbell.

After searching for a while, Liu Zheng finally found a button resembling a doorbell on the shield.

He pressed it, and soon, the workshop door opened.

A wild, bushy red beard, resembling a wildfire, emerged first, followed by a dwarf with a bare torso and a wrench in hand.

"Huh?"

Seeing Liu Zheng’s uniform, the dwarf didn’t hesitate and immediately threw the wrench at him.

The dusty, oil-laden wrench turned into a dark shadow, heading straight for Liu Zheng’s head.

He drew his sword to block it, and "Anger" vibrated incessantly from the impact.

"What great strength."

Liu Zheng stepped back half a step to dissipate the remaining force, then took a quick step forward to wedge himself in the doorway.

The iron gate squeezed his arm, emitting a screeching metal sound.

"I threw a wrench to let you know your limits; don’t be shameless."

The dwarf said with a displeased expression.

"If you’re giving me face, I’ll definitely save it, but at least give me a chance to speak, right?"

Liu Zheng said with a grin as he saw there was room for negotiation.

"There’s nothing to say with weaklings who can’t even grow a beard,"

The dwarf said, glancing at his clean-shaven chin.

"..."

Liu Zheng rolled his eyes inwardly.

Discrimination chains in the Metropolis are everywhere; humans are discriminated against, non-humans are discriminated against, those without scales are discriminated against, and those without beards are also discriminated against...

Every race has the power to discriminate against others; perhaps this is a form of equality.

"So, is this acceptable, even without a beard?"

His eyes darted as he took out the "Killing Stone fragment."

"Huh?"

The dwarf’s attention was immediately captured.

"Living metal, interesting."

He said while stroking his beard.

"Master Yan Xu, you have a discerning eye."

Liu Zheng gave a thumbs up.

"How do you know my name is Yan Xu? Oh, I forgot, you’re from the Bloody Restaurant. Don’t call me a master; I haven’t graduated yet, and if my teacher hears it, he’ll beat me up."

The dwarf said.

"Then it’s Grand Craftsman Yan Xu."

He corrected himself.

"You humans sure know how to sweet-talk; no wonder my teacher warned me to be careful when dealing with humans."

The dwarf’s face broke into a slight smile.

"Not only do I speak well, but I’m also extremely honest, a paragon of integrity in the Metropolis, a model among humans."

Liu Zheng said.

"This is the first time I’ve heard someone belittle themselves like that. So what do you intend to do with that piece of metal? Trade it for my acceptance of takeout delivery?"

The dwarf asked.

"It’s not impossible."

Exchanging an excellent item for a takeout signature is naturally not worth it, but considering that it’s a miscellaneous item and highly unlikely to be collected, it’s barely acceptable.

"How many pieces of this do you have?"

The dwarf asked.

"Two pieces."

One was given to him by Guo Koutangzi, and the other by Xiao Wan.

"Forget it then, it looks like there are at least seven or eight pieces of this. It’s frustrating when I know I can’t complete a collection."

The dwarf shook his head.

"Well, if you have any troublesome matters, I can help you with them."

Liu Zheng said.

"You are the troublesome matter."

The dwarf looked at him and said.

"I’m sure there are more troublesome matters than me."

Liu Zheng replied with a steady expression.

"Okay, I do have a troublesome matter recently."

The dwarf thought for a moment and said.

"Please, go on."

"According to our dwarf customs, I must craft a piece that earns the recognition of my teacher and others to graduate. But my rival knows my recipe and has used his family’s influence to stop anyone from selling me the necessary materials."

"The day I graduate is fast approaching, and if I can’t craft an acceptable work on time, not only will my graduation be delayed, but my teacher will also be shamed among our entire race."

The dwarf said.

"Can’t your teacher help you get those materials?"

He asked.

"My teacher is also the teacher of that rival."

The dwarf replied.

"Oh~"

With just that sentence, countless stories of love and hate flashed through Liu Zheng’s mind.

"The other materials are manageable; I can source them from other channels, but one material is unique to my rival’s family."

The dwarf said.

"Didn’t you consider this when you designed the formula?"

"Who knew he’d be this despicable!"

The dwarf said angrily.

"And, it was only after designing the formula that I discovered this material was irreplaceable."

He added moodily.

"Alright. What is that material called?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"Silver Gemstone."

The dwarf said.

"Is it silver or a gemstone?"

"It’s essentially silver, but it also has the properties of a gemstone. It’s a technology unique to their family, unmatched in the Metropolis."

The dwarf replied.

"Where can it be bought?"

He asked again.

"Only their family’s own workshops can sell it; others can’t resell it even if they acquire it, or they’ll face a monumental lawsuit."

The dwarf said.

"If there’s profit to be made, surely someone will take the risk to resell."

Liu Zheng said.

"I wouldn’t know about that; I only know about the two workshops their family has."

"Give me the names and addresses of those two workshops, and I’ll try my luck."

He took out a paper and pen.

"Here you go."

The dwarf took the paper and pen, wrote down the names and addresses, and returned them to him.

"I’ll handle this, and you can accept the takeout now."

Liu Zheng took out a food box from the Legendary Takeout Box.

"How do I trust you’ll keep your word?"

The dwarf didn’t accept it.

"You dwarves like drinking, right?"

He thought for a moment and asked.

"Of course, a dwarf who doesn’t like drinking is as weak as a human without a beard."

The dwarf said without hesitation.

"Except for Master No-Hair."

He added.

"Who is Master No-Hair?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"He is a master from the Flame Clan who was born with a strange illness, with no hair on his body and unable to drink—just one glass makes him black out. Yet, he is one of the greatest craftsmen in dwarf history, not only having authored great works like the ’Forging Guide’ but also having once killed an Ancient Giant Dragon trying to take over a mine in a one-on-one duel."

The dwarf said proudly.

"That is truly impressive."

The head of the City Supervision Department is an Ancient Giant Dragon, so roughly speaking, this Master No-Hair is equivalent to having taken down the deputy head of the City Supervision Department.

"So, why are you asking this?"

"Because I intend to use this as collateral."

Liu Zheng took out a collection of Golden, Silver, and Copper Labels.

"These are... Du Kang Wine Workshop’s liquors!"

The dwarf drooled instantly.

"You have a good eye. So, how about it? Is this enough for collateral?"

He asked.

"If you gave me these liquors, I could get Silver Gemstone myself."

The dwarf said leisurely.