The Tianng Ice Worm's gaze landed on this human youth, whose depth it couldn't quite discern.
It couldn't figure out the current situation at all, but after a slight pause, it still tried to sound tough: "W-who are you? Why did you capture ?"
Kong Mingan did not answer imdiately.
He glanced at the Ice Empress behind him. Their eyes t briefly, and then Kong Mingan retracted his gaze and gently raised his hand.
Imdiately, a golden, sparkling contract scroll with clear clauses unfolded out of thin air, floating before the Tianng Ice Worm's eyes.
The Tianng Ice Worm's consciousness swept over it, quickly reviewing the contents, and soon understood the contract.
This was a long-term labor contract with limited freedom, requiring it to contribute its Soul Skill Module and cooperate with various research projects.
The benefits were minimal; the greatest advantage highlighted was being allowed to live.
At this mont, Kong Mingan's calm voice finally sounded: "Sign the contract."
The Tianng Ice Worm's expression was montarily conflicted. It tried to struggle a bit more: "Are there any other options?"
Under the Tianng Ice Worm's slightly expectant gaze, Kong Mingan nodded and said softly, "There are."
Imdiately after,
"Buzz—!"
The Energy chains restraining the Tianng Ice Worm instantly contracted. A fierce pain that penetrated its Soul and marrow struck, causing its massive body to tremble violently and emit a silent wail.
Struggle was futile, but after only one or two seconds, Kong Mingan's clenched hand relaxed, and the Tianng Ice Worm's pain receded like a tide.
The Tianng Ice Worm's body trembled. Kong Mingan's eyes were calm, and his tone remained peaceful: "The second option is to erase your consciousness and beco research material."
The massive body of the Tianng Ice Worm shivered.
Then, in the next second,
It used its remaining weak ntal force to unhesitatingly imprint its Soul mark at the end of the contract:
"Hello, Boss! Tianng reports for duty! Do you have any instructions for !"
Its voice was loud and loyal, and it sounded eager to improve.
Kong Mingan paused for a rare mont.
This swift, decisive, and no-nonsense speed of submission...
Kong Mingan couldn't help but turn his head to look at the Ice Empress beside him. "Has this guy always been like this?"
The Ice Empress had a hint of indifference in her eyes, but her hand naturally grabbed Kong Mingan and leaned against him:
"What kind of backbone do you expect from a piece of trash that is useless except for its age?"
Kong Mingan offered no comnt, rely nodding, then turned back to the Tianng Ice Worm and showed a benevolent smile:
"In that case, welco aboard."
"Thank you, Boss!"
The Tianng Ice Worm was streaming with tears.
Never mind everything else for now; surviving was more important than anything!
... A mont later, after having the Tianng Ice Worm leave behind the few Soul Skill Modules it possessed, Kong Mingan had Elder Yi take it away.
Kong Mingan admitted that he couldn't fully control such high-level research material yet.
After all, the Tianng Ice Worm was not the Snow Empress. The Snow Empress would cooperate wholeheartedly with his tests and maintain absolute trust in him, while the Tianng Ice Worm... it would be good enough if it didn't interfere with him.
It was better to hand it over to Elder Yi for research. It might be possible to study how to forge a million-year spirit ring.
With Elder Yi's strength, he might even be able to produce sothing like a "Divine Ring."
After sending Elder Yi off, only Kong Mingan and the Ice Empress remained in the laboratory.
With no one else around, Kong Mingan was about to speak, but the Ice Empress released his hand, slightly increasing the distance between them. Her delicate little face was turned away, looking like she didn't want to talk to him.
"What's wrong?" Kong Mingan asked, sounding slightly puzzled.
"Nothing. Let's go back first." The Ice Empress shook her head.
Kong Mingan looked at the Ice Empress but ultimately didn't press the matter.
The two stepped through the doorway and returned to the Mingng Chamber of Comrce's base in Shrek City.
Kong Mingan would be residing permanently in Shrek City for the foreseeable future.
The "Tang San" he had been monitoring had already set off three months early on the road to Shrek. Although he was currently still being repeatedly robbed and beaten by bandits along the way, it was clear that he would join Shrek Academy.
He was extrely, extrely excited about this; it might just be the start of his plan.
On the long corridor of the Chamber of Comrce base, Kong Mingan walked ahead, with the Ice Empress positioned slightly half a step behind him and to his side.
Unlike the Snow Empress, who habitually concealed herself completely when acting as Kong Mingan's personal guard to deal with possible ergencies—thus rarely showing her figure—
the Ice Empress was different. She preferred to stand directly by his side, appearing with him, never leaving his step, like shadow following form.
The Ice Empress slightly raised her head, looking at the side profile of Kong Mingan ahead, who was playing with the Tianng Ice Worm's Soul Skill Module. After a mont of hesitation, she suddenly asked, "Do you sign contracts with everyone else like you just did?"
Without turning his head, Kong Mingan answered the Ice Empress's question while examining the Soul Skill Module in his hand:
"Generally, no. The standard procedure is usually to show sincerity, and then offer a choice, seeing if the other party is willing to sign the contract. That is the conventional thod.
"For so who refuse to cooperate but are highly valuable for research, such as certain Evil Soul Masters, the thods are more direct. They sign an irreversible slave contract. After all, Evil Soul Masters are not people, so there's no need to treat them as such.
"As for the Tianng Ice Worm, this counts as a labor contract. The value of a million-year Spirit Beast is too high; I couldn't possibly let it leave. I captured it first, and we'll see later."
The Ice Empress was silent for a mont, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt. Her voice lowered slightly, carrying a nervousness she didn't even realize:
"What about ?"
Kong Mingan's steps didn't stop, and without turning his head, he casually replied: "You? You are different from everyone else."
The Ice Empress's heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and a hint of indescribable expectation quietly arose.
However, in the next mont, Kong Mingan's voice continued:
"...After all, you were brought by the Snow Empress. If I were to pressure you, although she probably wouldn't get angry at , she would be unhappy. I don't want her to be unhappy."
The Ice Empress: "..."
The expectation in the Ice Empress's heart vanished without a trace at that mont.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions, but the more she thought about this guy's words, the less calm she felt.
The Ice Empress's delicate little face gradually flushed red.
Not from shyness.
Purely from anger.
She truly wanted to bite this bastard to death right now! Couldn't he say sothing nice?! All he ever did was infuriate her! Even lying to her would have been fine!
Kong Mingan, who was observing the Tianng Ice Worm's Soul Skill Module with interest, suddenly felt a chilling coldness emanating from his side.
He turned his head and saw a pair of golden eyes staring fiercely at him.
"What's wrong?"
"...Go to hell, you bastard!" The Ice Empress shouted a curse, then imdiately punched him in the lower back.
It wasn't too painful; she seed to retain her rationality and pulled her strength back at the critical mont, but her resentnt was practically overflowing.
Looking at the Ice Empress stomping angrily ahead, Kong Mingan fell silent for a mont.
Did I annoy her again?
When?
Kong Mingan fell into contemplation... Kong Mingan didn't dwell too much on the reason for the Ice Empress's sudden anger; after all, this was how the Ice Empress behaved.
Things were fine when they first t a few years ago, but recently, she would suddenly get angry from ti to ti.
When he asked, the Ice Empress wouldn't say, constantly calling him "bastard" and "go to hell" in a tone that sounded less like cursing and more like praise.
In short, it wasn't very damaging.
Returning with the Ice Empress to the laboratory he had set up within the Chamber of Comrce base, Kong Mingan placed the two Soul Skill Modules in his hand on the table, his eyes flickering slightly.
Do you rember the concept of a "sub-brain" that Kong Mingan had conceived long ago, which was eventually shelved due to various matters and ultimately abandoned?
Now, he seed to have found a way to realize it.
(End of Chapter)
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