However, because he was too arrogant, relying on the Lava Lizard ranked D-Peak, he thought he was the strongest in this area, and no one could match his power.
Therefore, he could not accept the existence of soone stronger than him. No, more precisely, he did not want to believe it.
Now, the truth was right before his eyes. If he continued to resist Noan, he would truly be a fool.
Austin trembled slightly, then, following Caleb's lead, he slowly knelt, his expression filled with reverence and fear.
Your next journey awaits at My Virtual Library Empire
Recalling the Skeleton monster and the giant spider from earlier, Austin felt so terrified that he wanted to cry.
Just how powerful were those two monsters to be able to control his creature so effortlessly?
Furthermore, who was Skeleton, standing beside him and holding a shield? That Skeleton had appeared so quickly that he hadn't even noticed, and then…
Austin did not want to rember that mont anymore—it was too humiliating, a black mark in the history of his life.
But since when had the Skeleton beco this powerful?
A Skeleton in a black cloak, a Skeleton holding a shield, a giant spider… Just how many terrifying monsters did Noan still have?
Austin didn't know. The only thing he knew was that he was no match for Noan.
Noan didn't even consider him an opponent. From beginning to end, without even needing to show himself, he could push Austin into despair, causing many lords to et their demise.
At this mont, Caleb glanced at Austin, his face full of disdain.
You were so arrogant before, weren't you? Then why are you copying now, kneeling like this, looking just like a dog?
Ack! No, I am not a dog because at least I know my limits.
Caleb thought, then looked toward Noan, waiting for his decision.
Noan took another sip of fruit juice, then said, "Tell , what can you offer that would make interested enough to let you live?"
Caleb and Austin trembled.
Caleb now truly had nothing left. The items he once considered special he had already handed over to Noan.
At this mont, Caleb suddenly rembered sothing and hastily said, "Noan! No, big brother Noan, before this, I gave you a card, and you said that in a mont of crisis, you could save once, right?"
Noan looked at him with an intrigued gaze. "That's right. Are you planning to use that promise now?"
"Yes! Big brother Noan! I want to use that promise." Caleb hurriedly responded.
"Good! And what about you, Austin?" Noan glanced at Austin.
Hearing the exchange between Caleb and Noan, Austin imdiately realized there had been so sort of agreent between them.
More precisely, Caleb had given Noan so kind of item, ensuring that Noan would save him if he were in danger.
Austin shuddered. If he had decided to kill Caleb earlier, he probably wouldn't have survived now.
He was no fool, so he quickly bowed and said, "Big brother Noan! I… I also have sothing that I hope you will like."
"Hm?!" Noan frowned.
Austin dared not say more. He swiftly took out a small box from a hidden pocket sewn inside his clothes and placed it on the ground.
"Big brother! This… is everything I have. I hope you will grant a chance to live." Austin spoke sincerely.
He was truly afraid. After all, staying alive was still the best option compared to death.
At this mont, a female NPC stepped forward, picked up the box, and brought it to Noan.
Noan furrowed his brows and opened the box. Inside was a key and several red stones, similar to what Caleb had given him.
He did not examine the key first but instead picked up the stones, which looked like crystallized droplets of blood, and held them in his hand.
Counting the stones that Caleb had previously given him, he now had seven.
'Just what exactly are these stones used for?' Noan wondered to himself.
Afterward, he turned his attention to the key. Its design was ancient, evoking the image of a key that could unlock the gates to vast treasures.
Noan asked, "Where did you get these two things?"
"Big brother!" Austin respectfully replied, "I stumbled upon them in the Gloomy Forest after discovering a cave."
Hearing this, Noan felt a bit puzzled. He knew Vylyss could use magic like a radar to scan the surroundings.
She had thoroughly searched that entire forest and confird nothing unusual there.
Even Urlgan and Urlgug had led many Skeletons to search the area, yet they, too, had found nothing unusual.
And yet, Caleb and Austin had sohow managed to stumble upon a hidden cave and obtain valuable items from it.
Although Noan did not yet know the purpose of the key and the crystallized blood-like stones, his instincts told him that these things were anything but ordinary.
He glanced at the box, tossed it onto the table, and said, "What use is giving this?"
Austin trembled upon hearing his words.
In truth, he had no idea what the key and the blood crystals were for. He had co across a cave by chance, and inside, he had found a small box containing these two items.
He had assud they were magical artifacts or so kind of mysterious object. However, after days of studying them, he still couldn't figure out how to use them.
Now, he was offering them up because he had nothing else to exchange for a chance to survive.
After all, any Lord who arrived in this new region could not bring anything aside from their soldiers and heroes.
Even the territory he had spent so much building could not be brought along.
Austin quickly said, "Big brother, I… I can beco your subordinate. I can help you with many things. Please… don't kill ."
His voice trembled as he spoke, his eyes filled with terror as though he were facing a bloodthirsty monster.
Noan glanced at Caleb, then at Austin, before smirking.
"Very well. I'll give you a chance," Noan said, raising his hand. The 'Servitude Pact' function was activated.
Imdiately, a notification panel appeared before Caleb and Austin.
[Ding! Lord Noan wishes to sign a slave contract with you. Do you accept?]
Seeing the notification panel, Caleb and Austin's faces turned pale, then ashen, like the color of ash.
Caleb quickly spoke up, "Big brother, I… you… you already agreed to let live. Why do you want to turn into a slave?"
Noan said nothing, his gaze toward Caleb carrying a hint of killing intent.
Caleb shuddered in fear and hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, I… I just don't understand."
Noan sneered. "The choice is yours. You're free to leave if you don't sign the contract."
Austin and Caleb exchanged glances. They both understood that, despite Noan's words, they could really walk away from here without agreeing to beco his slaves.
The answer was no.
Leaving this place would bring consequences they both knew all too well. That was why, in the end, Caleb and Austin had no choice but to accept Noan's demand.
Seeing them comply, Noan smiled and said, "Don't worry. Aside from your lives being in my hands, you will still retain your territories."
"In other words, you will still be Lords. You simply… must be loyal to ."
Caleb and Austin felt a faint sense of relief upon hearing this.
According to system information, the slave contract's function only took effect if a Lord's territory was destroyed. Because of that, they had assud Noan would destroy their lands.
However, if the contract worked even while their territories remained intact, they still had a chance—however slim—to regain their freedom.
That chance was nearly nonexistent, but it was still better than certain death.
In the end, Caleb and Austin chose to sign the slave contract with Noan.
[Ding! The slave contract has been successfully signed. You now own two slaves.]
Lord Caleb: Level 3, Rank E . Lord Austin: Level 2, Rank E .
As Noan looked at the system panel, he saw that by selecting their nas, he could access further details, including the resources they owned, their troops, heroes, and more.
He smirked, then waved his hand, signaling for the female NPC to leave.
Caleb and Austin could feel it at that mont—their lives were now held in soone else's hands. If Noan willed it, they could die at any mont.
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