Old Yang pressed his handprint to sign the contract. After about thirty seconds, it took effect.
The parchnt scroll turned to ash and dissipated, and a shackle materialized within everyone's soul. If anyone were to break the contract, this shackle would explode, injuring the violator's soul.
As per the contract, Steve imdiately transferred ten million US dollars to their dark web account. "Can you both feel our sincerity now? If you don't mind, we can also provide a 'cleaning' service."
"That won't be necessary. We have other business to attend to."
Zhou Chen waved his hand dismissively and swaggered into the elevator with Old Yang. He pressed the button for the first floor and smiled at Steve and the others. "Have a nice life. Goodbye."
Combined with the blood covering his body, his smile was particularly unsettling.
The elevator doors slowly closed, and it began to descend.
After a long mont, the woman in the blue evening gown behind Steve let out a soft laugh. "Need so help from us at Oga? Two million US dollars for two lives. Any spoils of war are ours."
The contract stipulated that the Blood Race could not pursue the matter or cause trouble, but she wasn't a mber of the Blood Race. This was a small loophole in the contract. Oga was happy to do the Blood Race this favor; after all, the Blood Race was truly rich and spent lavishly.
Steve, however, shook his head solemnly. "We must abide by the contract. Miss A, I apologize that you had to witness such a farce. I hope this won't affect our cooperation."
The implication was that he agreed to let the mbers of Oga kill the two n, but due to the contract, he, as a mber of the Blood Race, could not show any sign of "targeting" them, or he would be in violation.
"Rest assured, we and the Blood Race will remain partners until the end of our contract," Miss A said with a knowing smile.
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「The Hotel.」
Zhou Chen and Yang washed off the bloodstains, changed into clean clothes, and divided the compensation they had received from the Blood Race.
Five million US dollars each—that was faster than a robbery!
As for being unable to reveal any related information after signing the contract, the two had different plans.
Old Yang felt this amount of money far exceeded the reward he would get for reporting it to the Star Association, so it no longer mattered whether he did or not. He wanted to take the money and leave Hong City for Jinzhu imdiately. It was enough to pay off all his loans and live a comfortable life for a long ti.
Zhou Chen, on the other hand, wanted to try breaking the contract's shackle. Then he could also pocket the reward from the Star Association and play the part of a model citizen, bravely reporting unethical behavior for the good of society.
And he had the ans to do it. Both his Hamr of Forging and the Wish Bottle could break the Soul shackle.
Deep within his soul, the Hamr of Forging flared to life. Under Zhou Chen's control, it smashed down upon the contract's shackle.
The mont the contract's shackle was struck by an external force, it exploded. This was the harsh judgnt reserved for contract breakers; few could withstand a soul attack that erupted from within.
Suddenly, the Furnace Fire surged, freezing the exploding shackle at the very instant it detonated. Raging flas spread out and engulfed it.
As the Furnace Fire burned, the Hamr of Forging struck again and again. The firelight shrank inch by inch, as if a piece of red-hot tal were being reshaped and reforged.
Before long, the furnace fire receded. The exploded shackle had been forged into a crystal-clear bullet, posing not the slightest threat to Zhou Chen anymore.
Its destructive power, however, had not diminished in the least. It was perfectly sealed within the bullet. Anyone struck by it would suffer the soul judgnt that ca with breaking the contract—an undoubtedly agonizing experience.
Zhou Chen opened his eyes, feeling pleased. He saw Old Yang already booking a high-speed rail ticket and quickly stopped him. "Not so fast. I broke the contract's shackle. I'm going to report them to the Star Association now. Once the Association cracks down on them, we won't have to worry about the Blood Race causing any more trouble."
Yang stared at him, stunned. "You took care of it?"
"Took care of it." Zhou Chen didn't elaborate, simply picked up his phone and dialed the local Star Association.
"Hello, is this the Hong City Star Association? I want to make a report. There's a bunch of Blood Race mbers at the Volcano Farm Club. Their agent is a guy nad Steve. Oh, right, the Crimson Sect is also active in the city. They just attacked the Blood Race gathering, causing them to go berserk, and I had no choice but to kill them all... Who am I? Zhou Chen, Gold dal Operator from the Jinzhu City Star Association..."
After so back-and-forth, the Hong City Star Association confird they had received the report and would dispatch a Special Operations Team to investigate. If the information was confird, Zhou Chen would be issued a reward.
"Okay, now we can order a late-night snack and wait for the Star Association to take care of the Blood Race," Zhou Chen said, relaxed and content.
Although Yang was curious how Zhou Chen had escaped the control of the contract's shackle, he didn't press for details. He just sighed softly. "Did you notice a little loophole in the contract?"
"You an the one where the Blood Race can't co after us, but other people can?"
"Mhm..." Yang hesitated for a long ti, then lit a cigarette and exhaled a sighing smoke ring. "I might as well tell you. My ex-girlfriend and I are both from a rcenary organization called Oga. Yes, the one you're thinking of."
Zhou Chen froze, wondering if he had misheard. 'Oga?'
It was one of the most famous rcenary organizations in the World. Whether normal people or Ascenders, every mber was the elite of the elite. The organization even had a Crowned King among its ranks; their power and influence were undeniably imnse.
Their scope of business was extrely broad, ranging from small jobs like finding lost cats and dogs to major operations like murder, arson, kidnapping, and extortion, and even participating in wars as a rcenary corps... As long as the price was right, there was almost no job they wouldn't take.
Liu Hanyan, from not long ago, was actually a forr assassin affiliated with Oga. However, she had collaborated with the Abyssal Influence and had long since been expelled from the organization.
"As everyone knows, organizations in this dark world are easy to join but hard to leave. Many years ago, due to certain events, I left the organization. I killed a lot of people and gave my ex-girlfriend the cold shoulder when I broke up with her. It made her so angry she wanted to kill . I have no idea if she's even cooled off after all these years..."
Yang took a drag from his cigarette and said lancholically, "She beca an Ascender earlier than I did and rose through the ranks quickly. I reckon she's probably a captain by now. Her being here ans Oga has at least two elite squads hidden in Hong City.
Since they're doing business with the Blood Race, there's a high probability they'll help them kill us... No, not a high probability. It's a certainty."
"..."
Zhou Chen wearily covered his face. He felt numb. 'Why is it so damn hard to just go on a trip and watch a lingerie show?'
The dark Blood Race, lurking in all sectors of society, hiding behind the scenes and secretly manipulating the city;
The Crimson Sect, who worship the Abyssal King - Monarch of Blood;
And Oga, the world's most famous and notorious rcenary organization, boasting countless elite mbers.
With so many forces secretly gathered in Hong City, Zhou Chen could already feel an undercurrent moving in the shadows. He and Old Yang had been unwittingly dragged into this vortex.
'Running for the hills is really starting to look like a good option.'
However... A thought flashed through Zhou Chen's mind, and he took out the mysterious letter he had received.
'Did the sender of this letter, who told to co to Hong City, anticipate all this?'
'Will whatever happens next have sothing to do with them?'
"So that's the letter you received? The handwriting is beautiful. Elegant. Looks like it was written by a young lady."
Yang waggled his eyebrows at him and whistled. "You've got so serious luck with the ladies, kid. First, you beco the Secretary for that cold, beautiful boss of yours. Then you save a beautiful, blonde noble girl. Now there's another young maiden... Tsk, tsk."
"...The symbol on the letter's wax seal is a tulip. Do you have any ideas?" Zhou Chen asked seriously, keeping a straight face.
"A tulip?" Yang stubbed out his cigarette and thought for a mont. "I think there's a sea of tulips in Hong City. It's a tourist hot spot. I've seen videos of it online; it's beautiful.
Speaking of which, the aning behind most tulips has to do with love. Are you sure you don't have a long-lost childhood sweetheart or a female classmate?"
Zhou Chen frowned in thought for a long while before shaking his head.
"If we want to figure out what's going on, we'd better move fast. Oga works quickly," Yang reminded him.
"Let's go to that sea of tulips now. Oh, and get a disguise so I won't be recognized."
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