Chapter 33: Contract |
The darkness within the domain slowly receded, and before each of them there appeared out of thin air a contract scroll glowing with soul-light.
On the scroll emerged clauses written in ancient magical script, detailing in full the prohibition against revealing any details related to this battle, as well as any information related to Kyle, along with restrictive clauses concerning subsequent cooperation. At the end was a blank space for a soul imprint.
Soul magic contracts were the hardest of all contracts to break, and their security was the highest. But likewise, their cost was also the greatest. They permanently occupied a portion of the spiritual essence of both parties to the contract, until one side died or the contract was dissolved.
Bartos did not carefully read the clauses on it like the others did. He directly pressed his still mostly intact right palm onto the imprint space.
Sensing the wholehearted acknowledgment of the contract arising from deep within him, the scroll turned into a stream of light and fused into the depths of his soul. The contents of the contract also emerged in his consciousness with the clarity of an imprint.
The next second, he suddenly widened his eyes and looked toward ‘Kyle’ in disbelief.
This contract… was far more lenient than he had expected!
Not to mention that it placed no interference on their personal freedom, even the contents of the cooperation were based on clauses of equality and mutual benefit.
However, it was precisely such clauses that made cold sweat stream down him, and the unease in his heart was not the least bit less than the perilous battle from just now.
As for the result after being replaced…
He no longer dared think about it. As for fleeing or the like, there was no need to even think about it. With the contract in place, where could he run?
The brows of the others were likewise tightly furrowed. Looking at these extremely lenient clauses, their hearts fell into an icy abyss.
The meaning released by this could not have been clearer: the other party did not want to take them along! He looked down on neither their strength and abilities, nor their connections and wealth!
The real restraint in Kyle’s contract had only one point: all information concerning himself was forbidden from being disclosed by any means. The rest of the clauses were merely decorations.
As for why Kyle did not use this chance to completely take control of those forces in Coral Thorn City—
First, this was ultimately still the territory of the Crescent Empire, a place dominated by humans. For a vampire like him, cooperation and guidance were already the limit. Going any further would very likely provoke unnecessary trouble and conflict. He was not so arrogant as to think he could make an enemy of an empire.
Second, to him, Coral Thorn City was merely a ‘pilot’ city. There was no need to overinvest in it or draw unnecessary attention. If his ties with these people became too ‘close’ and he interfered too much, it would instead affect his judgment of the ‘experiment’ results.
As for what these people were worrying about, it was groundless anxiety. If he had truly wanted to make a move on these people, he would have done so decades ago. Why would he have waited until today?
“My lord…th-this…aren’t these clauses a little too simple?” Sarkhad’s voice tightened as he could not help asking.
“Simple?”
Alvaro had naturally also read the contract Kyle had written, but he was not Kyle after all, and did not know his lord’s true thoughts. Nor would he make any decisions on his own authority.
So he could only imitate his lord’s tone as best he could, with no interest in giving any explanation, and said impatiently:
“So much nonsense! Sign and get lost. Or…stay here forever!”
The few of them looked at each other, but in the end still did not dare say anything more, and one after another left their soul imprints.
*
Because the domain had isolated the pressure of everyone’s auras, dark clouds quickly gathered once more, and the torrential rain came pouring down again.
The ordinary masses, having gained a chance to catch their breath, suddenly felt that the rainstorm was incredibly dear!
Having survived the disaster, they thought this was merely another, more terrifying battle between powerhouses, no different from usual, and began curiously peeking out again.
In taverns belonging to ordinary people, drunkards grumbled and argued over what kind of ‘important figure’ had arrived this time.
In the shops at street corners, people briskly tidied their stalls and resumed shouting their wares, waiting for the few customers who might come in the middle of the storm.
Ordinary people from all walks of life began once again another busy and numb day.
As though that sky-piercing pillar of light, the vanished tower, and the suffocating pressure had merely been another commonplace game between powerhouses.
Rather, it was those newly arrived ‘gold seekers’ who had many of their ‘guts’ frightened out of them!
Newcomers who had never experienced Coral Thorn City’s unique ‘baptism’ were either sprawled on the ground, pissing themselves, mentally broken, or even scared to death alive—and there were quite a few of the latter.
“Welcome to Coral Thorn City!”
The old drunkards laughed loudly and cheered at those newcomers making fools of themselves.
“This is the first lesson for ‘gold seekers’: learn how to survive under the pressure of the strong!”
“Hahaha!”
*
In the northern slums of the city, inside a damp little building.
“Brother Jie, th-this is even scarier than what you said…!”
“Yeah, Brother Jie! Just now…it really felt like the sky was about to collapse! Is this place…really safe?”
“You’re still okay. I…I already…sh*t myself!”
“Damn it! Get farther away! I was wondering where that stink came from!”
“······”
Several young men still shaken with fright clustered around the older fellow townsman who had brought them out to try their luck. They all spoke at once, their voices full of panic and unease.
Jack forcibly suppressed his own churning stomach and weakening legs. He firmly patted the trembling companion beside him. These were all young men from the same town as him. Now, far from home, they had followed him out to make a living.
“Don’t worry.” He forced out a somewhat steady smile and tried to keep his voice calm. “It looks scary, but I’ve worked in the city for five years. I’ve really never seen those big shots deliberately target ordinary people like us.
“They…still need us to work for them!”
“But Brother Jie, is our craft really something the big shots would value?”
The young man who spoke was thin and small, but his complexion was the best among the group.
“Of co-course…they definitely will!” Jack said with complete certainty.
He had worked at the Artisans’ Association for three years. He knew far too well just how good the craftsmanship of these fellow townsmen of his was. He believed that such skill would definitely win the appreciation of the great figures!
The first time he saw the artistic wood carvings these young men had made themselves, he had been stunned by the delicate lines and lifelike forms.
That feeling—he had only ever seen it in the hands of those old master craftsmen in the association!
“Today was just bad luck. On your first day here, there was both a rainstorm and a battle between big shots again. Once the rain stops, I’ll take you to the association so you can broaden your horizons!”
Jack forcibly squeezed out a trace of a smile to comfort everyone.
“Right now, hurry and get yourselves cleaned up, then get some proper rest! I’ll go prepare food for you! When we go to the association, you’ll need to be in your best spirits!”
After saying that, he turned and squeezed into the narrow kitchen, beginning to cook the food he was most skilled at for everyone. This had been his special skill, secretly learned years ago when he had worked in a restaurant in the wealthy district, by covertly observing the methods of the Pandaren head chef!
The remaining few hurriedly started tidying the chaotic bedroom as well. They had braved the torrential rain and finally made it to Brother Jie’s place, only to collapse to the floor in terror from that horrifying pressure the moment they stepped through the door, with their luggage scattered everywhere.
Imon took out the wood carvings that had been soaked by the rain one by one, carefully arranged them, wiped them clean, and meticulously checked whether every tiny carved line had suffered any damage.
These were the ‘stepping stones’ meant to be presented to the important figures of the association. There absolutely could not be the slightest mishap.