Chapter 33: Chapter 32: Signing a Contract

Liu Xingxing felt he’d never been so unlucky in his life. ’I go treasure hunting and dig up an Undead City Lord. Treasure hunting in the Otherworld is just too thrilling. I’m never doing it again. No, wait, who knows if there’ll even be a next time? The Undead City Lord is still trying to figure out what to do with me. I have to save myself, or I’m a dead man.’

"Boss, I know I was wrong! It’s my first offense, please, spare me!"

"It’s all a misunderstanding! I just transmigrated and don’t know the rules. Don’t waste your time on a nobody like me. Just let me go, please."

"Look, my underlings are just a bunch of useless, combat-ineffective cats. We’re no threat to you, Boss!"

If not now, then when was the right time to grovel?

’Dignity? Face? Is any of that more important than my own life?’ He, Liu Xingxing, had never been some kind of tough guy. He was just a young man from a peaceful era who enjoyed treasure hunting. Faced with an Undead City Lord, if you had to grovel, you groveled.

Li Ziyu glanced up at the Mobile Fortress, which bore a plaque with the word "Treasure," then back down at the kneeling, begging Liu Xingxing. He was conflicted. ’According to the laws of survival in the Otherworld, killing him and seizing his fortress would be an effortless way to gain resources and benefits...’ But Li Ziyu didn’t see himself as a bloodthirsty person.

’Killing Desert Wolves and Big-Horned Bulls didn’t give him any pause; they were Wild Beasts, after all. Killing Lizardman Robbers didn’t weigh on his conscience either. They were robbers, so killing them was just... killing them. It could even be considered a public service—a good deed, even. And killing Demonized Minotaurs? That was even easier. Those things were more detestable than the Lizardman Robbers.’

But Liu Xingxing was a Transmigrator, just like him. To kill the guy who had accidentally dug him up... Li Ziyu just couldn’t bring himself to do it. It was a line he wasn’t sure he could cross.

’Frankly, that line had everything to do with profit. The gains from killing Liu Xingxing simply weren’t enough. If it meant acquiring a massive amount of resources, Li Ziyu wouldn’t have minded finishing him off. After all, Liu Xingxing was the one who started it by digging him up. Mutual slaughter between City Lords was just another law of survival.’

But letting him go scot-free didn’t sit right with Li Ziyu either. He’d put his Mobile Fortress into Hibernation Mode and buried it underground, intending to get some quality sleep, only to be rudely awakened for no good reason. Anyone would be annoyed. He now understood exactly how the Conscience Merchant felt every time he got woken up. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

’I don’t want to kill him, but I don’t want to let him go either. Is there a third option?’

’Hmm... Actually, there might be.’

Li Ziyu suddenly remembered the contract function in his system.

’The system offers a wide variety of contracts. Since they’re system-provided, they’re completely binding. Different contracts have different effects. This might be a good time to try one out... make Liu Xingxing sign a contract.’

’But before making him sign anything, I need to confirm if this guy is even qualified to enter a contract with me. I can’t afford to take on a liability. That would be a disaster.’

"What Race are those cats under your command, and what can your Mobile Fortress do? Answer honestly. Your life depends on it," Li Ziyu asked, his expression hardening.

"Their Race is the Beastman Race, and they’re called Treasure Hunting Catmen. My Mobile Fortress’s special ability is that it can find treasure," Liu Xingxing answered with complete honesty.

’It’s not like I was planning to hide anything anyway,’ he thought. ’Best to be upfront. Sometimes the truth works better than any lie. There’s no harm in being sincere. If you treat others with sincerity, they’ll treat you the same.’

Treasure hunting?

’Now that’s an interesting ability. A very rare one, too.’

Li Ziyu raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. ’So that’s how he managed to find my exact location and dig me up. It must be this ability at work. A treasure-hunting ability... that’s actually pretty good. Resources are scarce in the Wasteland. If we could find high-quality resource nodes... that would be a game-changer.’

With that thought, Li Ziyu hesitated no longer. He waved his hand, opening the system interface. After searching through it for a moment, he selected a contract.

[Conqueror Contract: When you arrive at the head of your army, wherever your blades point, all enemies shall submit. Your benevolence and mercy shall forgive their sins, allowing them to survive.]

[Contract Effect: A master-servant contract. The contractor is the master, and the contracted party is the servant. The contractor gains control over the servant’s wealth, assets, faction, and life and death. Note: The contract must be signed voluntarily by both parties.]

The Conqueror Contract was a highly binding master-servant contract. Once signed, it granted control over the other party’s life and death. It was perfect for the current situation. ’I don’t have to kill the other City Lord, and I still get to control him.’

The contract materialized in the air. It took the form of a sheet of ancient Beast Hide Paper covered in blood-red script, exuding a grim, murderous aura. It burned with a blue Soul Flame as it hovered in the air.

Li Ziyu signed his name in the space for the contractor. With a gentle push, the Beast Hide Paper drifted over to Liu Xingxing, stopping at a perfect height for him to read.

Liu Xingxing glanced at Li Ziyu, then turned his attention to the contract and read it carefully. A bitter expression crossed his face as he finished. ’I’m screwed. Isn’t this just a slavery contract? No, this is even worse. At least with a slavery contract, you get a couple of coins. This thing gives me jack squat and puts my life completely in his hands!’

’I don’t want to sign,’ he thought, ’but the situation doesn’t give me a choice. If I refuse, I’ll most likely be dead in the next second. To think I’d be done in on my very first treasure hunt just after transmigrating... If I’d known, I would’ve just kept my head down and developed my power in secret.’

’Freedom is precious, love even more so. But for the sake of one’s life, both can be cast aside.’

Liu Xingxing glanced at Li Ziyu one last time, grit his teeth, and signed his name in the space for the contracted party.

Under the system’s supervision, signing with a false name was impossible—the system would automatically detect it. The moment Liu Xingxing signed the contract, the Beast Hide Paper burst into flames, transforming into motes of blue light that flowed into Li Ziyu’s mind.

As the motes of light entered Li Ziyu’s mind, he learned Liu Xingxing’s name and details. He now held the man’s life and death in his hands; with a single thought, he could decide his fate. A faint connection formed between them. Li Ziyu had a feeling that, in time, he would even be able to sense Liu Xingxing’s thoughts.

’The Power of a contract really is immense,’ Li Ziyu mused. ’I’ll have to be careful if I’m ever on the other end of one of these.’

"Boss, can I... get up now?" With the contract signed and his life secured, Liu Xingxing felt a great sense of relief. He looked up and asked quietly.

Now that he was one of his own, Li Ziyu had no intention of treating Liu Xingxing too harshly. He waved a hand. "Alright, stop kneeling. You can get up."

"You got it!" Liu Xingxing scrambled to his feet, plastering a sunny, cheerful smile on his face. ’The immediate danger is gone, but my life is still in his hands, after all.’

With a single thought from Li Ziyu, the surrounding Undead all retreated into the fortress, leaving him standing alone outside.

"Boss, what are your orders?" Liu Xingxing could tell from his posture that he had something to say. ’This is a good sign. At least it means he’s starting to trust me.’

"They’re not orders, just a reminder. You’re not in a peaceful world anymore. This place is filled with danger."

"This world has all sorts of Monsters, as well as plenty of Natives who are hostile toward us. That little groveling act of yours won’t mean squat to them. If they decide they want you dead, you’re dead. So be careful. Don’t get yourself killed for some stupid reason, because I’m not coming to save you."

Having acquired a new subordinate, Li Ziyu felt it was his duty as a senior to offer a few words of advice. ’If Liu Xingxing does well, I benefit too. After all, everything he has is mine now. That’s the nice thing about the Conqueror Contract.’

Liu Xingxing nodded eagerly. He could tell that Li Ziyu’s advice, though harsh, was for his own good.

"Your ability is treasure hunting, and that’s very useful. Our Mobile Fortresses need a massive amount of resources to grow stronger. Therefore, your task from now on is to find resources—especially Skeletons and a path out of this Wasteland."

"Yes, Boss! I’ll be sure to complete the mission you’ve given me!"

"I generally operate at night. You need to be careful during the day. Even if you discover some treasure, don’t just rush in headfirst. Mark it on a map or something, and we’ll figure out a plan when night comes."

"Got it!"

Li Ziyu thought for a moment. Seeing there was nothing else, he gave a yawn, waved his hand to dismiss Liu Xingxing, and turned back toward his fortress to get some more sleep.