Chapter 384 The Suspicious Contract

Chapter 384: The Suspicious Contract

"Would you two like to join our organization? We are currently actively recruiting more peripheral members. Perhaps only during this special period do we recruit without focusing on a player's strength, only requiring good character." Liu Yongzhi spoke these words with utmost seriousness.

Su Bai, sitting in a nearby single armchair, struggled to keep a straight face, while Chi Yan in the corner lowered his head, avoiding Liu Yongzhi's gaze.

"Of course, players who join initially can only become provisional members. Becoming an official peripheral member is still quite difficult." Picking up on the strange vibe, Liu Yongzhi immediately continued in a low, serious voice, "After becoming provisional members, we will help you with training. This can boost your physique on one hand, and improve your innate abilities on the other. As long as you can make it through our training, not only can you become official members, but you'll also be better equipped to survive in the Nightmare World."

"It sounds challenging, but it's definitely beneficial." Liu Yongzhi seemed very satisfied with his own description. After finishing, he added with great sincerity, "If you decide to give up this opportunity, although I would find it a pity, I would still respect your decision."

"Of course, if you want to give yourselves a chance to become stronger, I happen to be carrying the contracts on me." Liu Yongzhi pulled out several unusual-looking papers from an inner pocket of his clothing.

The paper caught Su Bai's eye. The material didn't look thick, but it appeared old and crumpled, with a border of mysterious patterns around the edges—identical to the contract documents Su Bai remembered.

Contract documents are a special type of item in the Nightmare World. Once both parties sign, they are bound to fulfill the terms, or face severe backlash. Of course, since not only players but also those Eerie Entities can use them, their binding force differs in potency. The ones in Liu Yongzhi's hand were likely the most basic type.

Among the contract documents Su Bai had seen, the highest level was probably the marriage contract between him and the Ghost Witch.

The origin of the first contract document that appeared under the red moon is a mystery, but Su Bai knew these documents could self-replicate. Over time, they became not so rare but still highly useful in-game items.

Furthermore, contract documents replicate in two different ways. To put it simply, the highest-level primary contract can replicate many copies of the same primary level, or it can replicate lower-level secondary contracts, tertiary contracts, and so on.

Teammates cooperating for mutual benefit can sign equal contracts, while an organization's leader can hold a higher-level contract and have subordinates sign lower-level ones to increase control over them.

Of course, many relationships built on contracts are highly unstable. Many people even loathe this forced contractual bond, especially after signing a contract of subservience—it feels like being forced into indentured servitude. As far as Su Bai knew, not even the Nameless Society, nor Chen Hai's Candlelight Association, considered it beneath them to use such contracts on their subordinates.

Precisely because too many people dislike this item, it is indeed rare among players. The contract documents in Liu Yongzhi's hands could still be used to trick inexperienced players.

Su Bai was certain Liu Yongzhi didn't intend to sign any fair, equal contract with them. If Su Bai and Chi Yan were dumb enough to sign, they would essentially be putting their lives in Liu Yongzhi's hands.

"So, what do you think?" Seeing no reaction from the two in the room, Liu Yongzhi asked again.

Perhaps because Su Bai and Chi Yan remained silent for too long, Liu Yongzhi's expression actually grew somewhat tense.

Why was he tense?

Was finding two gullible players to sign a contract that important to him?

"Perhaps we should consider it," Su Bai estimated the time; the hide-and-seek game should have already been underway for a while. "Mr. Liu's words have been very enlightening, but the thought that we're still playing hide-and-seek makes me too nervous to think clearly."

Su Bai put on a look of helplessness as he glanced at Liu Yongzhi.

"That's right, that's true." An awkward smile remained on Liu Yongzhi's face. "It is a bit strange to discuss this now. Let's wait until after the game ends."

With that, Liu Yongzhi also fell silent.

"Mr. Chi," Su Bai spoke up again at this point, "You mentioned earlier that the situation in Qingliu City is getting worse?"

In the previous "Honghuai City" created by Su Xuan, Su Bai had met Zhuang Anping, a member of the relevant authorities. It was from him that Su Bai learned Qingliu City was facing some difficult problems. However, the local authorities lacked a reliable player team, so they requested assistance from player teams in Honghuai City. This might even facilitate the relevant authorities setting up organized player teams in other areas.

In Su Bai's view, while these efforts by the relevant authorities might not significantly impact the final "battle," they could at least regulate a portion of the players, offering a glimmer of hope to those already involved or yet to join in the seemingly hopeless Nightmare World.

After all, in the world under the red moon, order and hope are themselves powerful forces.

But... from Chi Yan's tone, had the problems in Qingliu City still not been resolved after over half a month? Or had new issues arisen? Su Bai rarely held back much when dealing with other players.

Su Bai's current concealment of certain actions was solely to evade the "eyes" of that mysterious force within the Nightmare World. He didn't care how much other players or the real-world authorities knew. Unless Su Bai broke the rules again in this game, those gazes probably wouldn't bother with him.

After all, those gazes were concerned with human players who survived after breaking the rules—those were the "bugs" in the "program" that needed fixing. Beyond that, no matter what Su Bai did, it was difficult to attract the attention of those lofty observers.

This might not sound particularly difficult, but in fact, it was precisely because of this limitation that Su Bai needed to get along as peacefully as possible with that ghost named Xiao An until the game ended.

"It seems the relevant authorities aren't very tight-lipped either." Chi Yan shook his head. When not holding the previous ghost baby, although his complexion remained gloomy, he seemed more vibrant, more like a living person.

"The situation in Qingliu City is very bad now." Chi Yan gave the impression of being indifferent to everything happening outside, but when mentioning the problems in Qingliu City, a look of concern appeared on his face. "Not only has it not been resolved, but it's also showing signs of intensifying."

"Among the players currently in Qingliu City, no one can solve the problems there."