Chapter 1073: Chapter 42: Book of Contracts
The fireplace roared fervently.
The Holy Light Squad drank four expensive Sequence Potions. After Lu Li applied the Revealing Potion, Kiluat unfolded what wrapped the pollutant.
The notebook they treated with caution lay quietly on the Alchemy Blanket, seemingly an ordinary notebook.
"The key is in its content," Yege whispered to remind them.
Naxi leaned in, releasing the "Awkward Staring Mouse," directing the creature, with an eyeball occupying a quarter of its body, toward the notebook.
But just as Kiluat was about to open the notebook, it suddenly flipped its pages on its own with a "rustle".
Kiluat gripped his shield tighter, as the rose thorns cut into his palm, blood flowing to fuse with the shield, extending a bloody glow along the shield’s edge that could only protect a limited area, almost covering most of his body.
Yege and Naxi lowered their heads too, using the Awkward Staring Mouse’s body as cover while they continued to watch the notebook’s outline.
"The pollution hasn’t changed; it’s still surrounding the notebook."
Lu Li’s calm voice echoed, and Naxi relaxedly opened his eyes, still bowing, took out a stimulating needle from his satchel, and inserted it into the Awkward Staring Mouse’s head.
The mouse suddenly let out a sharp "squeak," struggling on Naxi’s palm.
"The mouse is fine too."
Naxi withdrew the stimulating needle, and the mouse returned to its "Awkward Staring Mouse" state.
It could be concluded that staring at the notebook itself wasn’t a problem.
The Holy Light Squad gradually fixed their gaze on the open notebook, a line of text slowly appearing on the blank page.
[Giant Tree Academy... A familiar place, unexpected to be here again, brought back by a group of little fellows...]
The unexpected content not only surprised the Holy Light Squad, but the text continued to appear.
[I can sense your presence... Kiluat, Naxi, Yege...]
Amid Kiluat and the others’ astonishment, the notebook seemed to "notice" Lu Li.
[...Huh? An interesting hero, Lu Li. I suppose that’s why you would acquire me.]
"You know me?"
[Of course, who doesn’t know the human hero? The Book of Contracts greets you.]
"The Book of Contracts?" Naxi recalled several Books of Contracts in his memory but couldn’t match them with the notebook before him.
[Yes, make a contract with me, and you will gain everything you need, whether it be power, wealth... or a way to eradicate the abnormal.]
"What’s the price?" Lu Li asked.
Nobody indulged in the beautiful imagery the "Book of Contracts" painted. Yege sarcastically remarked, "The life of whoever makes the contract?"
[That guy called Lannar... A fool? He was just a weak fool, craving too much with too little strength. A contract can bring everything, but an ant cannot bear the weight of a boulder.]
The reasoning seemed valid. But more crucial was the fact that the self-proclaimed "Book of Contracts" knew the Giant Tree Academy, knew them, and knew Lu Li.
"We don’t have what we need to make a contract with you."
[Oh? Really don’t need anything... I can bring everything, solve abnormal powers, resurrect deceased loved ones, even turn back time, as long as the weight on the other side of the scale is enough.]
Kiluat and the others distrusted the notebook, unwilling to easily believe it. At this moment, Lu Li suddenly approached the "Book of Contracts."
But before Lu Li could say anything, the Book of Contracts refused him: [Your request is beyond me.]
"Even you can’t do it?" Lu Li furrowed his brow.
[The Book of Contracts is omnipotent... but the price is beyond your ability to bear.]
"Should we believe it?" Kiluat asked Lu Li.
"For now, no."
Lu Li had something else to verify. He approached the round table, his slender hand reaching towards the left side of the open Book of Contracts.
[The Book of Contracts must not be touched!]
A new line of text emerged, Lu Li paused briefly, then returned to the fireplace to pick up a piece of wood, poking at the night.
[Turning to the previous page will be eternally cursed, plunged into the abyss!]
Amidst the visible tension within himself, the pages were turned to the previous page.
[What’s happening... I... I’m in the book? How... he tricked me! He tricked me! I’m a scapegoat! I replaced him, trapped in this book!]
[I need to get out... Lannar... Use your smarts... got it!]
[Giant Tree Academy!? Damn damn damn damn damn! Why is it them, why did they come so soon! Was it my scream? Lannar, you’re downright foolish... Should I beg for mercy? But I’ve become abnormal, they’ll probably kill me]
[Lu Li... My god, why is it His Excellency Lu Li? So many people... It’s okay, as long as Lu Li doesn’t replace me, just don’t let him in my place! If it doesn’t work, I’ll find a scapegoat to replace him once I get out]
[Moreover, they can’t see this page!]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
[Turn the page]
Lu Li continued flipping forward, the power of the "Book of Contracts" hindered him, but weakly like pages lifted by a breeze.
[My name is the Book of Contracts]
[Food, water, wealth, or power. Write your name, and the contract will be fulfilled]
[Yes, I will bring you everything...]
Continue to open it.
[Where am I... the book is deceiving me! Please let me out, please... I don’t want to die, my children are waiting for me...]
[I want to get out... yes, quickly pick me up... pick me up... can he see my inner thoughts? I want to turn to the next page...]
The identity of the "Book of Contracts" was perpetuated between the victim, and the perpetrator, seven times.
It was clear that Lannar wasn’t smart enough, or the content revealed on the notebook made him ecstatic, ignoring the front pages of the Book of Contracts.
Amid Kiluat and the others reading in shock, Lu Li flipped back to the latest page, revealing Lannar’s lament and inner thoughts.
[Oh no, I’m done for... I’ve been exposed... I’m going to die... I don’t want to die... They’ll take me along with the notebook...]
New content steadily appeared: [Please don’t kill me, I don’t want to die...]
"He’s not worth saving."
Because of deceit, Kiluat felt aversion towards Lannar.
"If he’s still alive, he is." Lu Li calmly said. "Life itself is value."
At least from Lannar’s inner thoughts, he wasn’t completely bad—at least towards Lu Li.
"Then following your lead, what should we do?"
"Use a creature to replace Lannar."
Kiluat had no objection, exchanging 10 squad points for a bewitched Brain-Eating Dream Beast. Amidst the mix of grateful "boo hoo hoo hoo" crying, they made the bewitched Brain-Eating Dream Beast sign in the notebook.
The bewitched Brain-Eating Dream Beast instantly became lucid, letting out a brief, piercing scream, twisting and melting as it was absorbed into the notebook.
Lannar’s heart cries suddenly stopped, the eerie chewing and screaming briefly vanished.
New text emerged on the paper, belonging to the Brain-Eating Dream Beast species, chaotic, disordered, and incomprehensible strange characters.
The Holy Light Squad realized at this moment. The anomaly was never Lannar—
It was the notebook itself.