Chapter 949: Finding Contract Loopholes is My Specialty
Chapter 949 – Finding Contract Loopholes is My Specialty
Lux hated that. He hated when ugly logic made sense.
Sira looked between them. "This is getting worse."
"It usually does when ancient debt enters the conversation," Lux said.
Yue’s voice sharpened slightly. "Tell me you have an idea."
Lux looked at the book again. "Not much." His smirk returned slowly. "But..." His eyes gleamed. "Finding contract loopholes is my specialty."
Sira stared at him. Then smiled despite herself. "Of course it is."
"I am Greed."
"You are a walking legal hazard."
"Thank you." Lux turned toward the book and lifted his wrist. His system interface opened with dark-gold light, several windows expanding around him.
"System."
[Awaiting Command.]
"You saved everything that happened, right?"
[Confirmed.]
[Memory Sequence Recorded]
[Visual Data Recorded]
[Audio-Melodic Pattern Recorded]
[Symbolic Encryption Recorded]
[Sigil Data Recorded]
[Emotional Resonance Signatures Partially Recorded]
Lux paused. "Emotional resonance?"
[Residual memory contained trace-patterns connected to debt, gratitude, loss, survival, and binding.]
Sira made a face. "That sounds awful."
"It is useful," Lux said.
Yue’s eyes sharpened. "Can your system interpret the song?"
[Partial.]
[Current Translation Accuracy: 18.4%]
[Additional Reference Material Required]
Lux nodded. "Fine. Tell me what you find and search for information related to it."
[Specify priority.]
Lux started pacing.
Not much.
Just a few steps.
Enough to help his thoughts move.
"Priority one: the sigil. Every instance. Every variation. Every record connected to Kaelmor’s bloodline before the Royal House formalized its current crest."
[Priority Registered.]
"Priority two: ancient elven catastrophe records. Especially first civilizations. Fire disasters. Volcanic eruptions. Forest destruction. Anything that lines up with this memory."
[Priority Registered.]
"Priority three: debt-binding structures. Not normal contracts. Old verbal debt. Gratitude oaths. Rescue-based obligation. Cross species binding. Demon to elf, demon to ancient race, anything."
[Priority Registered.]
He stopped pacing. "And priority four..." Lux looked at the frozen book. His eyes narrowed. "The attacks."
Sira’s brows pulled together. "Attacks?"
"The beasts. The poison mist. The storms. The volcano."
Yue’s gaze sharpened. "You think those were not natural."
Lux looked at her. "They were too convenient."
Sira slowly turned toward the book.
Lux continued, "A shadow appears repeatedly to save a civilization from dangers that keep forcing them into deeper gratitude. Then the largest disaster nearly wipes them out, and he saves just enough to create a debt strong enough to bind the strongest survivor?" His smile became cold. "No. That’s too much coincidence."
Yue’s expression darkened.
Sira whispered, "He staged it."
"I don’t know," Lux said. "Maybe. Maybe he manipulated existing disasters. Maybe he knew they were coming and chose not to warn them until the right moment. Maybe he caused them directly. We need data."
[Analysis Request Scope: Extensive]
[Estimated Processing Time: 12 Hours]
Lux looked at the system window. "Twelve?"
[Ancient archive cross-reference requires deep infernal, mortal, and hidden network search.]
[Additional complexity: Information suppression likely. Some records may be intentionally corrupted.]
Lux nodded once. "Approve."
[Deep Search Initiated.]
[Estimated Completion: 12 Hours.]
[Active Query: Proto-Royal Infernal Sigil / Ancient Elf Origin Catastrophe / Volcanic Event Archive / Gratitude Oath Binding / Debt Collection Lineage]
Lux crossed his arms. "I’ll give you more information if I find any."
[Accepted.]
"And you give me as much information as I need."
[Confirmed.]
[Deep Search Protocol: Active]
Lux crouched in front of the book, still not touching it. His voice lowered. "Whoever you are... If you’re still alive and chained by a promise..."
His smile returned.
Not warm.
Not cruel.
Sharp.
"I hope you left me a loophole."
For a moment, none of them moved. Lux stared at it for another breath. Then exhaled. "So, since I need to wait..."
Sira immediately narrowed her eyes.
That tone.
She knew that tone.
He turned his head toward Yue. And smiled. "Can you tell me about your cultivation?"
Yue blinked once.
Sira slowly looked at Lux.
Lux continued, completely serious. "Can it cut out sleeping time?"
Yue stared.
"Can I become more powerful with it just by doing nothing?"
Sira covered her mouth.
Not because she was shocked.
Because she was trying not to laugh too early.
Lux lifted one finger. "To clarify, by doing nothing, I mean sitting elegantly while absorbing energy from the world like a financially responsible plant."
Yue’s expression stayed calm.
But there was the faintest curve at the corner of her lips.
"A financially responsible plant?"
"Yes."
Sira leaned closer to his ear and whispered, "You are an incubus. Just have s*x nonstop and you’ll become invincible."
Lux didn’t even look at her. "I know." He gave her a flat side glance. "Do you think I’m unaware of my own biology?"
"You act like you need spreadsheets for desire."
"I do. Desire without analytics is poor resource management."
Sira made a strangled sound.
Lux looked back at Yue. "But that doesn’t solve everything. I need something to train my skills," he said. "Not just grow numbers. Numbers are nice. I love numbers. Numbers raised me. But numbers alone won’t kill a sovereign-tier enemy."
His fingers flexed once at his side.
"I need techniques. Deadlier ones. Skills that aren’t just stronger versions of what I already do."
Yue studied him quietly.
Lux’s smile faded into something sharper.
"For hundreds of years, most of my battles happened behind desks. Contracts. markets. leverage. sabotage. Authority pressure. When I fought, I won because I was faster, smarter, or had better tools." His eyes narrowed. "But Kaelmor isn’t a board member I can bankrupt with a bad quarter."
Sira crossed her arms. "You’d try, though."
"I absolutely would."
"And somehow it might work."
"Thank you."
Yue’s smirk finally appeared.
Small.
Elegant.
Dragon-like.
"Oh..."
Lux looked at her.
"I can help you with that."
His brows lifted. "You can?"
"Yes."
Yue turned slightly, her long hair shifting over one shoulder as the crystals behind her brightened in response to her mood.
"I was cultivating," she said. "And I need a sparring partner."
Sira’s eyes immediately lit up with criminal interest. "What kind of sparring? On the bed or on the battlefield?"
Yue’s gaze flicked to her. "This time, on the battlefield."
Sira snapped her fingers. "Shame."
Yue looked at Lux. "Want to try?"
"Absolutely."
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