Perfect Item

"Name: Paradise Island Couples' Vacation Voucher"

"Type: Item"

"Quality: Perfect"

"Effect: After use, you will travel to Paradise Island for a 15-day paid vacation and may bring one companion."

"Note: Once you have been to Paradise Island, everywhere else becomes hell."

"Can be taken out of the instance: No"

Liu Zheng looked at the colorful prize ticket in his hand, pensive.

"System, do the fifteen days on Paradise Island count toward survival time?"

he asked.

"Yes."

The system's answer was concise.

Fifteen days meant 360 hours, five times the clearance requirement.

Even if the clearance rating had to take everything into account, it should at least reach A-rank or higher.

In other words, he had already boarded the express train to clearance.

A smile crept onto Liu Zheng's lips.

But he immediately realized that he had gotten happy too soon.

"Paradise Island Couples' Vacation Voucher!"

Cow-Horse's massive head leaned in, scorching breath blasting from his nostrils.

"Fuck, the clearance reward is actually this thing!"

His tone was filled with delight.

"You really want this?"

Liu Zheng asked tentatively.

"Obviously. Do you know how long it's been since I had a vacation?"

Cow-Horse answered without hesitation.

"And it's a couples' voucher. My wife and I haven't seen each other in half a year. Fifteen days is enough for us to make a Little Cow-Horse."

he said excitedly.

Hearing that, Liu Zheng recalled the photo of Cow-Horse in a maid outfit.

"Cow-Horse, our deal might have to be called off."

he said after hesitating for a moment.

"What do you mean?!"

Cow-Horse's eyes widened, and the breath he exhaled became even hotter.

"I need this Vacation Voucher."

"So do I. We had a deal. If you dare go back on your word, believe me, I'll kill you."

Cow-Horse lowered his head, aiming his sharp horns at Liu Zheng.

His four thick hooves pawed at the ground, muscles rippling all over his body like waves.

Liu Zheng had no doubt Cow-Horse could skewer both him and the wall in one go.

But instead of showing fear, he met Cow-Horse's gaze without backing down.

Liu Zheng was gambling that Cow-Horse could not simply take his things by force.

He had an immortal body anyway. If he lost the bet, he could just surrender and cut his losses.

"I'm not trying to renege. I just want a fair trade."

Liu Zheng said.

Putting aside the fact that the Vacation Voucher practically guaranteed clearance, it was itself a Perfect-grade item.

One bottle of Heavenward Moutai clearly was not enough for the trade.

"Then what do you want?"

Cow-Horse said after letting out a heavy snort.

"You know its value, and you understand my situation. What I need is for you to judge."

Liu Zheng said.

"You're the craftiest, boldest, luckiest human I've ever seen. Wait here."

Cow-Horse stared at him for a full two minutes before finally speaking.

After saying that, he smashed the door open with his head and left.

It was half an hour before he returned to the lounge.

"Take it."

Cow-Horse set the box he had been carrying in his mouth before Liu Zheng.

He looked utterly miserable. Only half of each horn remained, and his nose had been completely caved in.

His body was covered in wounds and bruises. One hind leg hung limply in the air, with half a segment of white bone protruding from it.

There was even a dinner knife stabbed into his chest, and it looked silver.

"Boss, what happened to you?"

Liu Zheng asked casually.

"None of your damn business. Check the goods already. Hiss—"

Cow-Horse sucked in a pained breath.

"Alright."

He opened the packaging. Inside the box was a bottle of red wine.

It was an ordinary glass bottle, without decoration or label. Instead of a cork, however, its mouth was plugged with a miniature skull.

"Name: Vlad III Limited Edition"

"Type: Item"

"Quality: Perfect"

"Effect: Strength and Constitution +15, Perception +20. High chance of awakening Vampire Bloodline, low chance of awakening the special bloodline 'Dracula's Descendant.' Drinking it with the blood of other extraordinary creatures can increase the chances."

"Note: A fine wine brewed with a secret recipe from the heart's blood spilled after the Impaler was impaled. Even in Bloodstained Restaurant, it is among the finest drinks."

"Can be taken out of the instance: Yes"

All attributes were increased, and it could even awaken a bloodline. It truly deserved its status as a Perfect-grade item.

Liu Zheng swirled the bottle, the wine inside shimmering with a ruby-like gleam.

"Give that to the tree, and it'll sell you even its roots."

Cow-Horse said smugly.

"What's the best thing it has?"

he asked.

"How should I know? But it's definitely something good. That guy is self-employed, much richer than wage slaves like us."

Cow-Horse said with a hint of bitterness.

"Alright, then."

Liu Zheng put away the red wine and handed the Vacation Voucher to Cow-Horse.

"I thought you'd demand that bottle of Heavenward Moutai too."

Cow-Horse said in surprise.

"Would you give it to me?"

"I'll give you my grandma's hoof."

Cow-Horse spat on the ground.

"Still, since you know what's what, I can wait a week before going on vacation."

he said, turning his head aside.

"That really is good news."

Liu Zheng smiled.

With Cow-Horse, this newbie-guide NPC, around, he did feel much more at ease.

With the trade complete, Cow-Horse lay off to one side, repeatedly admiring the Vacation Voucher.

"Come to think of it, what kind of place is Paradise Island?"

Liu Zheng asked.

"It's an artificial island built by City Hall specifically for outstanding talents from all walks of life to vacation on. It has the most advanced entertainment facilities, the most beautiful scenery, the richest food, and the most professional staff. Most importantly, all of it is free."

Cow-Horse said longingly.

"That really does sound like Heaven."

The pitch sounded oddly familiar to him.

"Of course. Why else would it be called Paradise Island? As long as you can go there once, it's worth it even if you get fired the next day."

Cow-Horse said excitedly.

"Uh, Boss, there's a story. Want to hear it?"

Since Cow-Horse had helped him quite a lot, Liu Zheng decided to give him a warning.

"Spit it out already."

Cow-Horse said irritably.

"Once upon a time, there was a closed underground city. The people inside worked under surveillance every day, and life was dull and tedious. But every so often, a Lucky One would be selected to go to the legendary Paradise Island. From then on, they would never have to work again and could enjoy life."

"But in truth, those people were all clones. Going to Paradise Island meant being sent off to be dissected, their organs transplanted into their original bodies."

That was the plot of The Island. Liu Zheng had found it quite shocking when he first watched it.

"Interesting. Where did you hear that?"

Cow-Horse asked.

"I made it up."

"Quite an imagination. Too bad Paradise Island really exists. One of my relatives went there."

Cow-Horse licked his nose.

"How did he get that opportunity?"

"He spent his life savings on a scalper ticket. After he came back, he killed himself."

Cow-Horse said.

"Why?"

"Because he knew he would never have another chance to go."

Cow-Horse said calmly.

"What about you, Boss?"

"I'm different from him. He was a widower, while I have a wife. Besides, I'm still young, and I'm an outstanding Deliveryman for Bloodstained Restaurant."

"Even if I hadn't traded with you, another decade or so of saving would have been enough to buy a scalper ticket."

Cow-Horse said proudly.

"Impressive, impressive."

Liu Zheng gave him a thumbs-up.

"Keep it low-key."

"Just asking, Boss, are your injuries serious?"

he suddenly asked.

"I've got just enough breath left to beat you to death."

Cow-Horse replied with a fake smile.

"Heh heh."

"Heh heh."