Chapter 88
Seomun Chan and Mok Saehwa were fanatics of CEO Cha.
To earn the trust of the distrustful CEO Cha, they had gone so far as to draft and hand over contracts that effectively mortgaged their own lives.
Contracts created as Trial items could bind everything a suitable candidate possessed, depending on how the clauses were set.
Since they had created and offered such contracts with their own hands, CEO Cha trusted these directors implicitly.
Because they supported their "ultimate bias" with everything they had, I actually liked Seomun Chan and Mok Saehwa.
’But I didn’t want to meet them like this.’
It seemed unreasonable for Won Tae-beom to handle two of Pasung’s directors while holding me in one arm.
The directors seemed well aware of this, as the atmosphere suggested they had already effectively beaten Won Tae-beom.
Just then, a system window popped up.
[’Seomun Chan’ and ’Mok Saehwa’ are characters available for registration. Would you like to register them?]
I was puzzled by the sudden appearance of the system window.
’Wait, it was quiet earlier in front of CEO Cha!’
[Cha ■■ cannot be registered yet.]
I had secretly hoped the system window would reveal CEO Cha’s name, but it was blocked.
Why couldn’t CEO Cha be registered? And why was the name hidden?
To my curiosity, the system window provided a surprisingly kind guide for once.
[You believe that if you completely assimilate ■■■■, you might be able to register ’Cha ■■’!]
The problem was that I couldn’t make heads or tails of it.
Assimilate? Assimilate what..?
I kept feeling like it told me this specifically because it knew I wouldn’t understand.
Given the system window’s track record, I couldn’t help but think cynically.
’What about First Lieutenant Won Tae-beom?’
[You judge that it is a bit too early to fill a slot with ’Won Tae-beom"]
This is because he is one who follows his convictions.
What is that supposed to mean? That he probably won’t listen to me?
However, the system window didn’t answer further and said something else.
[Currently, there are ’6 slots’ available for registration.]
Since I was using three slots for Je Hyun-oh, Mo Hae-in, and Kwak Han-mook, it meant I had a total of nine slots. originally only had three, so it had increased quite a bit.
Regardless, I had no intention of registering anyone.
It wasn’t long ago that I had suffered due to the real-name system of character registration.
[You believe that as a young god, you must endure a bit of trouble to improve your abilities.]
I didn’t think that at all.
’And it wasn’t just "a bit" of trouble.’
Perhaps because the system window was also a divine entity, it had absolutely no consideration for the plight of humans.
While I was fighting with the system window internally, Mok Saehwa spat out words that were far too brutal for her chubby-cheeked face.
"Lieutenant Won. This is our first time facing off, right? I’ll keep it light and end it with about four weeks of medical treatment, so don’t worry too much."
Won Tae-beom didn’t respond.
I racked my brain.
If Won Tae-beom, a member of Field Team 2, ended up with four weeks of medical leave, I wouldn’t be able to look Mo Hae-in in the eye.
’Isn’t there any way?’
Ideally, solving things through conversation is best.
For now, I thought I’d ask to see the contract they were mentioning.
Of course, I had no intention of going to Pasung; I was just curious.
Seomun Chan shifted his gaze to me. He looked at me as if he were seeing some legendary creature.
However, contrary to his curiosity-filled gaze, his greeting was polite.
"Mr. Goyo. I am Seomun Chan of Pasung."
I nodded slightly in response.
"I’m Han Goyo."
"We certainly aren’t trying to harass you, Mr. Goyo. We’d just like you to give a refreshing signature on this contract. Would that be possible?"
Since he brought it up first, I jumped on the opportunity.
"Show me the contract."
Seomun Chan gave a smooth smile and snapped his fingers.
Then, a contract appeared before me and fluttered down.
I reflexively caught the falling paper, thinking:
’Surely it’s not the life-mortgage contract the directors gave to CEO Cha?’
And as soon as I checked the contract, my eyes widened.
First of all, it wasn’t a life-mortgage contract.
But the contents were so extreme that the life-mortgage one would have been better.
Every single clause was... a masterpiece.
Article 1. Purpose
The purpose of this contract is to establish the absolute dominion of ’Party A’ by permanently attributing the existence, soul, body, and all post-mortem rights of ’Party B’ to ’Party A’.
Article 2. Attribution of the Body
All cells, organs, blood, and skeletal structures composing the body of ’Party B’ shall become the private property of ’Party A’ immediately upon the signing of this contract.
’Party B’ may not arbitrarily cut or damage a single strand of hair or a piece of nail without the permission of ’Party A.’
Article 3. Attribution of the Mind
’Party B’ must think only of ’Party A’ 24 hours a day and may not harbor any reason or negative emotion that harms the well-being of ’Party A’ or ’Party B.
Article 4. Contract Period and Termination
The period of this contract shall be permanent.
The death of ’Party B’ shall not be grounds for termination of this contract, and the right to dispose of the body and soul of ’Party B’ after death shall also belong entirely to ’Party A’.
This contract can only be terminated by the unilateral expression of intent to terminate by ’Party A ’and ’Party B’ has no right to request termination.
Article 5. Special Provisions
The mental state of ’Party B’ feeling that the clauses of this contract are unreasonable shall also constitute a breach of contract and be subject to immediate punishment.
Naturally, Party A was CEO Cha, and Party B was me.
Dominic, who read the contract alongside me, seemed impressed by the magnificent clauses.
"This is... quite remarkable. Are such contracts common on Roasted Chestnut’s planet?"
Absolutely not, Mr. Dominic. CEO Cha is just a crazy bastard.
It was a contract that forced me to use harsh insults toward my ultimate bias.
I wondered what kind of mindset a person had to have to create something like this.
The reason CEO Cha looked so pleased when he looked at me earlier must have been because he was planning to make me sign this slave contract.
Won Tae-beom, who saw the contract while handing it over from behind me, added a short comment.
"The TRA Administration is better."
l agreed.
At least the trainee contract Commissioner Jang Seok-yoon gave me had a proper format.
I looked at the Pasung directors while holding the slave contract.
Mok Saehwa looked at me with eyes full of anticipation and said:
"CEO Cha wrote this contract himself. Aren’t the terms wonderful?"
"Are you serious?"
At my question, Seomun Chan laughed out loud.
"I fully understand your bewilderment. However, once you come to Pasung, you will realize how joyful it is to belong to CEO."
"We plan to treat you far better than the TRA Administration ever could. For starters, were thinking of giving you a director position..."
Seomun Chan listed a series of dazzling conditions. High pay, great welfare, and so on.
After hearing it all, the conclusion was one thing.
’Something like CEO Cha’s pet hamster.’
A role where I’d run on a wheel and eat sunflower seeds inside a cage he built.
And occasionally come out to clear a Trial.
But since I was in a position where I had to close seven Trials within two months, freedom was paramount.
I absolutely did not want to sign CEO Cha’s contract.
However, the directors seemed intent on forcing me to sign.
I lowered my voice and called Won Tae-beom.
"Lieutenant Won."
The indifferent eves beneath thick eyebrows looked down at me.
"Please speak."
"I think we just need to hold out for about 11 minutes from now. What do you think?"
The reason Samra specified the time of 15 minutes and 37 seconds to spread the reverse- phase wave was likely the time until Je Hyun-oh arrived.
Since about 4 minutes had already passed, Je Hyun-oh would arrive in 11 minutes.
Won Tae-beom guessed my meaning and replied immediately.
"If we’re lucky, it’s possible."
Won Tae-beoms answer essentially meant it was impossible.
Because he was holding me, he was only wearing the gauntlet item on his left hand.
He had to focus on defense, but his attacks weren’t free either; in this state, holding out for 11 minutes would be difficult.
However, I judged that it was worth taking a gamble. After a moment of hesitation, I voiced my opinion.
"Lieutenant Won... I’m very sorry, but could you lend me the other gauntlet? I will provide support."
Won Tae-beom stared at me.
That gaze somehow resembled Mo Hae-ins.
I hurriedly explained my thoughts to him.
"Looking at the contents of the contract, it seems my body holds significant value to CEO Cha of Pasung. The directors cannot kill me, nor can they inflict injuries beyond a certain level."
I could act as Won Tae-beom’s shield.
And while I was at it, I could try to attack if possible.
"Also, I will brief you on the weapons the directors are using."
Won Tae-beom’s eyebrow twitched, as if he hadn’t expected this at all.
The directors, who were watching us, also had their eyes glint with interest.
Pasung’s directors rarely went on missions themselves.
Nevertheless, it was well known that they were powerful beings, but the weapons they used were close to top secret.
Because everyone who had encountered them had died.
Since it was information only team leaders might know, Won Tae-beom had no choice but to be ignorant of the directors’ weapons and attack patterns.
And here I was, offering to tell him.
Won Tae-beom looked at me in silence for a while.
Having almost joined the special task team’s mission, he must have known that I was a peculiar existence.
Eventually, Won Tae-beom handed over the remaining gauntlet.
As I put the gauntlet on my right hand, I checked the item description.
[Paladin’s Vow (Right Hand): Where the silver hand touches, there is no despair; where the silver hand stays, evil shall not stand.]
I thought it was an item description that suited Won Tae-beom well.
I moved my hand and explained quickly.
"Director Seomun’s weapon, ’Troublemaker Predator,’ is a living sword."
"Since the sword itself was no different from a monster, it added irregularity to the attacks, and the sword would split open like a mouth to bite the opponent with its teeth."
It was simple if you thought of the sword’s shape as a monster’s closed mouth.
"Also, the teeth were coated in a toxin that only Seomun Chan could neutralize, so caution was necessary."
I then explained Mok Sachwa’s weapon.
"Director Mok’s weapon, ’Blooming Funeral’, makes flowers bloom where the bullets hit, absorbing the opponent’s vitality."
"Mok Saehwas attack power increases in proportion to the absorbed vitality."
"When all the bullets are consumed, the flowers in the magazine part wither; at this point, if the withered flowers are plucked, new buds sprout and the weapon reloads a unique structure."
"The worst-case scenario is having vitality absorbed by Director Mok’s bullets while poisoned by Director Seomun’s toxin."
"This was because Mok Saehwa’s vitality absorption increased blood flow, accelerating the poisoning. "
I looked up at Won Tae-beom and said,
"Use me as a shield, Lieutenant Won." Won Tae-beom’s face was unreadable.
Won Tae-beom was a fighter who fought as a tanker at the very front of the line.
Telling him that I would be his shield must have felt strange.
Just then, the sound of clapping was heard.
"Wow... Mr. Goyo. I’ve only heard rumors, but it’s true? You really know a lot. I really want to take you to Pasung."
Mok Saehwa, with her gun tucked under her arm, clapped repeatedly in genuine admiration.
"But Mr. Goyo."
She said with a bright smile that made her aegyo-sal pop.
"Our Pasung is very good at reattaching severed limbs. We’re amazing at treatment."
After making a comment like something Ham Ji-wol would say, Mok Saehwa loaded her gun. And immediately fired toward me.
Bang!
As the bullet shot from the muzzle, flower petals scattered instead of smoke.
Won Tae-beom quickly dodged while holding me, but Seomun Chan was already ahead.
He swung the tooth-sword.
Clang, clank!
The gauntlet and the sword clashed repeatedly, creating a metallic screech.
Won Tae-beom tried to push the sword away with the gauntlet, but Seomun Chan grinned and held his ground, gripping the tooth-sword tightly.
Won Tae-beom, using only one arm while holding me, was noticeably at a disadvantage.
Eventually, in the moment he dodged Mok Sachwa’s bullet, the tooth-sword slipped past Won Tae-beom’s gauntlet and poured toward me.
The sword split left and right as if opening a wide mouth, revealing sharp teeth.
The target was my forearm.
Just as I gritted my teeth and tried to block it with the gauntlet...
An event occurred that left Seomun Chan, Won Tae-beom, and me all equally bewildered.
Before the tooth-sword could bite into my skin, it obediently closed its mouth.