Ethan stopped dead, his eyes widening in astonishment at the item that materialized before him.

Though the System used to talk constantly, it rarely ever interrupted him; it usually left him to be independent. But now, it seemed genuinely interested in this experimental person, monster, or whatever Alpha was.

Moreover, the System's tone was deadly serious, nothing like its old relaxed and playful attitude. Since they had encountered the Ancient Creator, the System had become quiet, reserved, and serious. The strangest thing was that it was now providing active aid. In another situation, it would have given him nothing and would have waited just to mock him for not having asked for the solution.

Ethan stopped dead, his eyes widening in astonishment at the item that materialized before him.

[Rebellious Pet Obedience Contract]

[Blood binding contract that allows for an exchange of wills. The pet will surrender its freedom and independence to the demands of its master. The contract can only be used to make two demands which must be fulfilled without exception. In exchange, the pet may also ask for one wish that cannot be invalidated.]

Ethan's mind raced, his focus entirely off the broken man on the floor. This is genuinely interesting. Two demands in exchange for one wish sounds very intriguing.

"System, what are the restrictions?" Ethan asked mentally.

[Since this is a maximum Silver-level contract, it only allows for objective demands that the target can fulfill. They must not be relative, which would allow for loopholes. You may ask for almost anything.]

Ethan checked the price tag on the item's description and winced. It was not cheap at all.

10,000 lux points for just one slave contract? After all his recent skirmishes and assassinations, he had barely saved up 16,823 lux points remaining after purchasing his core abilities. This cost genuinely hurt, yet there wasn't much choice. It was this, or dragging Alpha along until he found a permanent way to kill him.

Damn it, Ethan thought, mentally slamming his fist down. "I accept. Give me the contract."

The System executed the purchase.

[10,000 lux points deducted. Remaining lux: 6,823.]

The System delivered the item. Ethan pulled it from his inventory; it was an ancient, parchment-like paper that looked heavily worn.

Ethan mentally asked the System how to use it.

[You must both hold it at the same time, Master.]

Alpha, watching Ethan's internal dialogue reflected in his intense expression, saw the strange, aged paper materialize in Ethan's hand. He looked at it warily.

Ethan held the paper out to him, his expression serious.

"This is the only alternative I propose to you," Ethan said. "Become my slave."

Alpha stared at the parchment. Something deep within his core—deeper than the programming and the memories of the lab—screamed at him that this paper was not just paper, but the single most dangerous thing he had ever seen in his life.

"What is that?" Agent Alpha asked, his voice low and suspicious.

"It is a contract of servitude," Ethan said, holding the paper steady. "It gives me the right to ask for two demands, and you can ask for one thing in return. No tricks, no loopholes."

Alpha looked at the parchment, then back at Ethan's cold, serious eyes. "And what happens if it's broken?"

"Do you want to try?" Ethan challenged him calmly.

Ethan spoke with the utmost confidence, as if he knew the catastrophic penalty for breaking the contract, when in reality, he was completely ignorant of the consequences.

Agent Alpha knew the monster before him was unimaginably powerful and now capable of materializing objects out of thin air. He realized his situation was rapidly deteriorating, and he resigned himself to the inevitable.

"Let's hear the demands, then," Agent Alpha said, defeat in his tone. "I'm already their slave; being yours can't be much worse."

"My terms are simple," Ethan said, his demands clear and non-negotiable. "First: Absolute and unwavering obedience to my direct commands. Second: You will not reveal anything you hear, see, or are told while under my command. This includes concealing my identity, my abilities, and any of my private conversations."

Alpha considered the terms. Ethan was not asking him to kill himself, betray his own survival, or perform any suicidal tasks. The demands were not excessively extreme, considering his prior situation.

"And my wish?" Alpha asked.

"Ask it," Ethan said.

"If I fulfill my side of this bargain, will you fulfill yours, no matter what it is?" Alpha asked, needing absolute confirmation of the single loophole he had.

"There is no option," Ethan said. "The contract also binds me to fulfill your request. The contract doesn't allow cheating."

Agent Alpha, without any better option, nodded. "Fine. I accept. My single wish is this: You must discover the truth of what happened to me. My origin, who I was before the lab, and who controlled me."

"It's a deal," Ethan said.

Ethan extended the contract toward Alpha. Alpha hesitantly grabbed one end of the parchment.

The moment their hands touched the ancient paper, the contract moved. It twisted and writhed, transforming into a terrifying entity—a two-headed serpent made of ethereal black energy. It rapidly coiled itself around both of their forearms and simultaneously bit them both.

A low, painful hiss emanated from the ephemeral beast. As the bite marks faded, they were replaced by a cold, black serpentine seal that looked genuinely menacing. Both men could feel an alien presence on their arms, a dangerous awareness that seemed to be constantly watching them.

Ethan looked down at the seal, then back at his new slave.

"Go," Ethan commanded. "Say someone else killed them. Find a way to conceal our identity here."

Alpha, feeling the strong, undeniable compulsion of the contract, immediately nodded. "Of course, Master. Do not worry; no one will find out."

Ethan paused as Alpha started to turn away, a forgotten thought surfacing.

"Wait," Ethan said, his voice stopping Alpha mid-step. "I just remembered something I've been wanting to know. Why are you really here? I didn't buy the story that you were simply degraded and sent on a simple babysitting mission."

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