Chapter 41
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Chapter 41: Contract Sealed
A flash of green light, and Luo Di found herself back in the luxurious hotel room.
“You…” Bran stared at her, visibly stunned, but his shock quickly turned into relief and elation. “You’ve finally returned!”
Outside the window, neon lights continued to flicker against the night sky, as if she had never left.
However, Luo Di knew it couldn’t be that simple. “How are you still here? How long was I gone?”
Bran lifted his wrist, checking the time. “Four hours. It’s now 23:31.”
Damn, she hadn’t realized she’d been unconscious for so long!
“Didn’t I tell you to leave if I didn’t return within thirty minutes?” Luo Di exclaimed, clearly agitated. “Why didn’t you follow the plan?”
“And then have you suddenly reappear like a fairy godmother before the police?” Bran raised his voice in response. “I already said I couldn’t abandon you and leave alone. Or did you intend to ditch everyone and just walk away? This squad…this Skull’s Hand, was built by your efforts! Without you, what purpose do we serve being together?!
Seeing her companion even more agitated than she was, Luo Di suddenly found her rebuttal caught in her throat.
“…I’m sorry.”
“I accept your apology.” Bran’s expression immediately softened. “But who exactly are you? I mean… normal people can’t just transform into green light and disappear or reappear at will, can they?”
“Didn’t I tell you already?” Luo Di said, pursing her lips.
“Hold on, everything you mentioned before… was all true?” he stammered. “I thought—”
“You thought it was just a youthful fantasy? Or maybe some delusion caused by watching too much anime?” Luo Di jumped off the couch. “I wouldn’t lie to you about something like this.”
“Alright, alright, my apologies… I just need some time to adjust.” Bran slapped his cheeks forcefully, as if trying to wake himself up. “So… demons really exist in this world? And… you captured one?”
“I…” Luo Di felt momentarily tongue-tied, emotions swirling within her.
She looked down at her hand, her emotions swirling with conflict.
It was with this very hand that she had taken the demon’s pen and signed her name on the contract.
She never imagined her first encounter would unfold like this. According to her plan, she would use her ability to pinpoint the demon’s location, then upon arrival, immediately conceal herself. From hiding, she’d observe the demon and its surroundings, gathering enough intelligence before deciding on her next move.
However, everything went contrary to her expectations.
Not only did she unexpectedly materialize in an unfamiliar place, but the journey was far longer than anticipated, nearly exhausting all her strength. To make matters worse, the demon reacted with exceptional speed, quickly locking onto her presence, forcing her to take immediate action…
Luo Di had extensively prepared herself mentally for this day, having thoroughly memorized the “Angelic code” meant to counter demons. Yet from start to finish, nothing unfolded as planned…
Were the decisions she made… truly correct?
“Luo Di, are you okay?”
Her partner’s touch brought her sharply back to reality.
Glancing at Wayne Jenkins lying unconscious on the ground, Luo Di composed herself quickly. “I’m fine. Did he wake up at any point?”
“He stirred once, so I gave him another knock.”
“And you didn’t call the police as planned either?”
Bran shook his head and couldn’t help but complain, “Who made you suddenly disappear, boss?! Even though you told me to leave first, Hill and I talked it over and agreed that sticking to the original plan wasn’t wise anymore.”
“Alright, alright. Since I’m back now, let’s call the police immediately. With the evidence we have, it should be enough to send him to prison!”
Bran nodded, taking out his phone.
Just then, their teammate Hill’s warning came through the headphones, “Hey, is Luo Di still not back yet? Something seems off outside the hotel!”
“She just returned. What’s happening?”
“Thank heavens! Quickly, take her away from there. It looks like someone has blocked the main entrance… Damn, even the rear exit is guarded now!”
Bran swiftly approached the window, pushed it open, and looked down. He noticed numerous figures in black surrounding the hotel. Some were blocking tourists, while others were inspecting the parking lot; their actions clearly did not resemble those of a police force.
“People have already infiltrated the hotel, you need to hurry!” Hill’s voice grew increasingly anxious.
At the same time, chaotic footsteps echoed in the hallway.
“What’s going on?” Luo Di sensed the seriousness in her companions’ expressions.
“We’ve lingered too long; I fear we won’t make it before the police arrive.” Bran pulled the curtains shut and casually grabbed a dining knife. “I suspect that Jenkins missed his scheduled meeting tonight, raising suspicions among those people. Regardless of whether they’re specifically targeting him or not, I’ll create an opportunity for you to escape.”
Before he finished speaking, urgent knocking sounded at the door.
Knock, Knock, Knock!
“Mr. Jenkins, can you hear us?”
“Please open the door!”
Bran’s guess was correct; this group had indeed come for Wayne Jenkins. Not only that, but they seemed aware of the danger Jenkins was in, starting to forcefully batter the lock after just a few knocks. Within thirty seconds, they would burst into the room!
“They arrived so quickly… there’s no time to hesitate!” Bran lifted Jenkins and held the knife against his throat. “Luo Di, quickly hide in the wardrobe. I’ll use him as a hostage to draw their attention. As soon as there’s a chance, you—”
Luo Di didn’t hear what Bran said next.
Instead, whispers from the demon echoed in her mind:
“…The scarcity of Wish Power limits your abilities. Faced with true evil, without utilizing your innate talents, you stand no chance.”
“You need power too, don’t you?”
If it were her in the past, faced with such a rapidly deteriorating situation, she indeed would have had no choice but to follow Bran’s advice.
But now, she was no longer the same Luo Di.
Just minutes ago, she had struck a deal with the demon.
Subsequently, she watched as Chaoyang deliberately bit his own thumb, drawing blood.
“What are you doing?”
“An advance payment.” He smiled, “I don’t like having people work for free; giving them a taste of reward can better motivate the contractor.”
His words were formal and rigid, and there was an unsettling defiance in the demon’s smile that she didn’t appreciate. However, she suppressed the urge to object, feeling tense and defiant, yet harboring a hint of unexplainable anticipation. With great effort, she lifted her chin.
Then, Chaoyang swiftly wiped his bloodied thumb across her lips.
Instantly, a shudder coursed through her soul. The blood felt like flames scorching her lips. Yet, she did not flinch but closed her eyes tightly. Though she hadn’t swallowed anything, Luo Di distinctly felt the inferno sliding down her throat, permeating throughout her body.
Now, that flame resided within her heart.
Taking a step forward, Luo Di positioned herself in front of Bran.
“Step back,” she commanded.
Bran opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately closed it, following her instruction to step back several paces.
Bang!
At that moment, the door burst open!
Four or five burly men charged in, dressed in black suits and wielding club-like weapons. Clearly, firearms were not ideal in crowded urban areas, but this didn’t diminish the threat posed by their clubs. Whether they intended to take lives depended solely on a single thought.
Luo Di raised her hand, gathering an invisible gale within her hand!
“Sword of the Wind!” she silently intoned, swinging her arm downward.
Instantaneously, a fierce hurricane swept through the room, lifting the intruders off their feet and slamming them brutally against the walls! The furnishings were thrown into chaos, with knives and forks from the dining table even embedding themselves into the ceiling.
Clank
The knife in Bran’s hand dropped to the floor.
He stared wide-eyed at the scene, his mouth agape enough to swallow an entire pizza slice.
“Let’s go.”
Luo Di turned, grabbing both Bran and Wayne Jenkins by the wrists, and forcefully pulled them towards the balcony. With expansive wings unfurling behind her, she leaped upwards, soaring amidst the neon lights of the bustling city, straight into the starless night sky.
