Re: Evolution Online

Dante felt a weight lift off of his being as the soul contract vanished into nothingness. Immediately, a feeling of dread overcame him. What just happened? Did he just sign away ten years of his life for nothing?

His mind raced as he grappled with the reality of the situation. He did not know how but whatever Liam did made him fall into a sort of trance that urged him to obey the order. But how could something like that be possible?

He shook his head in disbelief, trying to snap back to reality. "What did you do? What did you do?" The guy started panicking.

Liam only smiled calmly. "Relax. Like I said I just need a few days of your time. Now let's sit and talk." He sat down on the luxurious chair opposite Dante, gesturing for him to do the same.

Dante did not want to accept it. He remained standing, his body tense, not ready to lower his guard. "Talk? After you just forced me into a contract? You expect me to just sit and chat?"

Liam nodded, his expression unchanging. 

Unfortunately, the system did not care how the contract was signed and this resulted in exploitation.

"Don't try to weasel your way out of this one. Your soul is way too weak for you to do anything about it. Your best option is to work with me." Liam's smile finally faded, replaced by a more serious look.

Dante was struggling to process everything. His instinct was to lash out, attack Liam, and force him to release the contract. 

But he was also acutely aware of his vulnerable position. If Liam had the power to impose a contract like that, a direct confrontation could be disastrous.

"What do you want from me, Liam?" Dante finally asked, indignance clearly written all over his face.

Liam knew that his gamble had paid off. There were two types of people, the stubborn type and the type who was willing to compromise.

Perhaps someone else would have chosen to fight and rebel instead of simply submit, and in the process drag him down also with them but Dante was someone who valued his life.

Liam was 90% sure he would end up relenting and things played out just like he calculated. He narrowed his eyes and once again gestured for the guy to sit. "Let's first talk about Nymphomania."

Dante barked back. "What do you want to know? What are you even doing here?"

Liam shook his head. "No. I will be the one to ask the questions."

Dante glared at the person in front of him. He hated him and utterly despised him. "Ok. ok. What do you want to know? This place is just a pit of prostitution. What else is there?" He scowled.

Hmmm. Liam nodded. "That much I can see. I don't need you for that. What else is there in this place? Remember. If your answer is not satisfactory means I don't need you. You should think before you speak."

The next second Dante opened his mouth to say something but before he could say it, he winced in pain as if an invisible current zapped him from inside out. He lifted his head up and looked at Liam in alarm.

However, Liam only chuckled at his plight. "You really thought that you could lie? Tch. tch. Tch. Amateur." He added oil to the fire.

Gritting his teeth against the pain and humiliation, Dante spat out. "This place is just ass and tits. If you want more than that, then there is only the auction that takes place once a month."

Finally! Liam's eyes lit up. This was exactly what he wanted to know. Apart from the system shop, this auction seemed extremely promising.

"The one in the twenty-first island?" He probed.

"Huh? Twenty-first island?" Dante looked surprised. "Who told you about that?" The guy then made an o-shape with his mouth, understanding what had happened. He couldn't help but slap his head in frustration.

"That's the body collection unit." Dante sighed. 

"Those bastards target the weaklings who waltz in here, the kind that has no connections to any of the big families in the Myriad Realms, essentially the kind who has no one to look out for them."

"Which idiot targeted you though?" Dante shook his head. 

In fact, he did not care that they targeted him, but the damn bastards did not finish the job properly. If they had only done that, he wouldn't be in this predicament right now.

Hmmm. Liam frowned. "How could it be a lie? I confirmed it with many sources."

"Yes. Yes. Almost everyone thinks that it is true. Only the inner circle knows about the real truth. Think about it. Who really visits this pit? Do you think the elites of this sector even step into this pathetic world?"

"It's only a newly integrated world like ours. Idiots and sleazebags from trash third-grade worlds. Most of them will never see the light of the day again. They only come in. They never get out."

"The auction that I am talking about is another event. It takes place on the fifth island and the next one should be in about 2 weeks." 

Dante then glared at Liam and gingerly added. "You can leave after you attend the event. There is really nothing here for you besides that auction."

Liam waited for a few seconds and asked the same question in several different ways making sure that Dante was not using any loopholes to hide anything from him.

But it seemed that he was indeed telling the truth. This world was just a simple little world. All it had was some ass, tits, a little bit of auction action, and a lot of slave trafficking.

Liam nodded in silence. He then returned to the main topic. "What about the system shop? Do you have any pull there?"

"I do-" Dante once again twitched like a mosquito that got caught in a zapper bat. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." He spat out in annoyance and then added. "I do. I do." 

"What do you want with the shop? It's not like you have any money to spend." Dante looked absolutely furious. "Are you going to ask for my money?"

Liam looked calm and indifferent like a stone staring back at the flustered guy. A second later, his face broke into an ugly grin. "I didn't think of that, but now that you mention it…"

Dante grimaced, the reality of his situation sinking in deeper. The damn bastard had knifed him and was now twisting and turning the knife to give more pain.

"Fine. I'll get you what you need. But once this is over, you'll leave me and my world alone, right? That's the deal?"

Liam shrugged. "I have a lot of work. I am not going to be sitting here and lazing around. As long as you don't betray me… that is…"

"Yes. Yes. Yes." Dante hurriedly nodded.

"So what do you want to do now? Meet back in 2 weeks for the auction?"

"Heh. Did you forget so soon? We need to pay a visit to the system shop."

Dante's face turned ugly as the two of them stepped out of the room one after the other. Dante looked insufferable as he stormed out of the pill house and Liam followed him silently in tow.

When they arrived at the system shop, Dante spoke to the fairy at one of the counters, a hint of reluctance in his tone. He was a known figure here, a regular with significant influence, but today he was a man on a leash.

The fairy was surprised at first but after he recognized Dante, the surprise turned into shock as he quickly called for an assistant. The whole shop was almost in a frenzy as the fairies hurried over to wait on Dante's hand and foot.

Liam smiled. From all the respect and services Danted was getting from the fairies, it seemed that he had indeed made the right decision and captured a good scapegoat.

The fairies started escorting them to the next floor when Liam quickly whispered something in Dante's ears. Dante then conveyed it to the fairies. "Give me a minute. I have some other friends who are also arriving."

Liam did not want to exclude the others as the very reason he brought them here was to give them some exposure and visiting the restricted floors of the system shop would definitely give some exposure.

Dante grumbled under his breath but didn't protest further. He knew better than to argue with Liam at this point, especially with the contract looming over him like a dark cloud. He informed the fairy, who nodded and gestured for them to wait in a nearby lounge area.

Soon, the others arrived one after the other. Lan Deming looked confused as to why they were here again but Rey and Madan were utterly shocked to see the familiar face staring at them, the face they hadn't seen in such a long time.

"Dante?"