Chapter 195 -196 The First Step to Absorbing the Dark Contract
Dark Contract was in chaos.
When Viscount Bernard was being pursued by the Transcendents and had been missing for almost half a month, while the army of Green City was fervently hunting the members of Dark Contract, the leaderless Dark Contract plunged into unprecedented turbulence and chaos.
Every day, a large number of Dark Contract’s members were captured, and every day, strongholds were destroyed.
Even Grot, who had returned to Green City, did not know how powerful the Dark Contract, which Viscount Bernard had operated for decades, had been.
But now Dark Contract had become a scattered force, with no one stepping forward to lead this giant entity, turning this dark force into sheep to the slaughter.
The power composition of Dark Contract was very disparate, including Late Bell Church, Abyss Demons, Undead Mages, and the Shadow High Priest Emi, plus Grot, a Northern Warrior, and a mysterious person who had never revealed their true identity.
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So, when Grot returned to Green City and wanted to consolidate the remaining forces of Dark Contract, he also felt somewhat at a loss as to where to begin.
Fortunately, he found an old stronghold and met a few of his old subordinates.
In the western district of Green City, an old civilian residence.
Grot looked at the five figures before him with a slightly grim expression.
After scanning the group, he spoke to the middle figure with a full beard and a large, burly figure, a Level 12 Advanced Warrior.
“Gary, what’s the situation with Dark Contract now? And what about Viscount Bernard?”
Dressed in gray warrior armor, with a dim look in his eyes, Gary shook his head, his voice very coarse.
“Lord Grot, Dark Contract has suffered heavy casualties these past days under the attacks from Green City’s army, our underground strongholds have already been mostly destroyed.
Currently, we might have fewer than 500 members left,” Gary said in a low tone, “The chairman has been without news, may the Life Goddess protect us, I hope Viscount Bernard returns safely.”
After speaking, he looked a bit blankly at Grot. Dark Contract had rescued him from the slums and nurtured him.
His life had been given by Dark Contract.
But now with Viscount Bernard missing, and Dark Contract nearly facing destruction, his faith for which he fought was about to collapse; he now felt directionless.
A contemplative look flashed in Grot’s eyes as he recalled the instructions from Lide. After pondering for a moment, he slowly spoke.
“Gary, although Viscount Bernard is being hunted by an Extraordinary Mage, we must believe that Viscount Bernard can escape.”
After finishing, he changed the subject, “But what I’m curious about is, why did Viscount Bernard suddenly attack the City Lord’s manor? Does he not know about the existence of the Transcendents?”
Gary shook his head, “I cannot fathom the wisdom of Viscount Bernard, I think, perhaps there was a deeper consideration.”
Though he said this, the Advanced Warrior’s eyes were still very confused.
Everyone knew that Extraordinary Beings were not to be provoked, yet under these circumstances, their boss still offended a Transcendent, which deeply puzzled him.
Grot slightly shook his head, his tone growing heavy.
“Yet, Viscount Bernard could have easily informed the members of Dark Contract beforehand, allowing our comrades to take cover to avoid Green City’s military encirclement.
But why would Viscount Bernard go about a pre-planned action and yet keep it hidden from our comrades?”
Ah? This…
Gary and the other four in the room were also full of confusion, and couldn’t help but widen their eyes to listen for Grot’s explanation.
“One would think that for such an important event, even if the chairman did not wish to reveal the secret, would it have been difficult to arrange for someone to notify Dark Contract’s members to take cover after the attack?
By the Goddess, our respected chairman, did he ever think about us? Did he really care about our lives?”
His harsh words, like a dagger, struck the hearts of others in the room, making everyone’s expression unsightly as wild thoughts tangled in their minds like weeds.
No matter how much they thought about it, the conclusion they reached was that Viscount Bernard had perhaps never cared about the lives of the other members of Dark Contract.
Although everyone knew that the lower-tier members weren’t valued, upon serious reflection, it was still hard to accept.
No one wanted to be considered expendable, or treated as a worthless piece to be discarded.
Grot shook his head, his tone seeming pained, “I’ve been Bernard’s Guard Commander, following Viscount Bernard for over twenty years,
but I’ve always felt that Dark Contract was nothing more than a tool for the chairman, a tool that’s discarded once its use is fulfilled.”
With a hint of lamentation on his face.
“Although I don’t want to admit it, I must say that perhaps Viscount Bernard has never cared about Dark Contract, nor has he ever cared about us who are willing to give our lives for him…”
These words, as Dark Contract was caught in encirclement and the ordinary members fell into panic, pierced like a sharp knife into their hearts.
Gary’s complexion turned pale as he shook his head, his beliefs seemingly crumbling slowly.
Although he didn’t want to acknowledge Grot’s words, the reality was right before him; he couldn’t not acknowledge it.
“No, that can’t be, perhaps Viscount Bernard is just entangled with the Extraordinary Mage, he definitely won’t abandon us,”
Another member of Dark Contract painfully refused to accept this reality.
Grot watched their vacant expressions and continued to pressure them.
“Give up? Yes, in fact, when Viscount Bernard chose not to make any arrangements before leaving Green City, we were already abandoned.
Didn’t everyone know our original target was the Crimson Mage Tower?
Everyone had prepared for months, but in the end, Viscount Bernard chose to attack the City Lord’s manor. Did he really not have time to arrange for the others in the Dark Contract?”
The voice grew colder.
“No, he had time, he just didn’t care about the lives of us all in the Dark Contract. How many of us died because of Viscount Bernard’s actions? Two thousand or three thousand?”
In fact, Viscount Bernard hadn’t involved ordinary gang members in this operation. Although it wasn’t exactly caring, he indeed hadn’t sent them to their deaths on purpose.
But the fact remained that, whether intentionally or not, the Dark Contract was now on the verge of collapse under the siege of Green City’s army.
Especially at this critical time, when all the higher-ups of the Dark Contract were absent.
Emi, Grot, along with the captured Stanley and Undead Mage Withered Bone, and the dead Kolong.
These five were the bulk of the Dark Contract’s top combat strength, while the Eight-Armed Snake Demon Roy and Viscount Bernard had left Green City, their whereabouts unknown.
The remaining mysterious person seemed to care nothing for the Dark Contract, even now when the Dark Contract was facing collapse, no one appeared.
So, the situation now was that the Dark Contract had no one to lead, all the influential members were gone, it would be strange if it weren’t collapsing under the siege.
“Lord Grot, what are your thoughts?”
Gary asked with a trembling tone, and the rest turned their gazes towards Grot, their eyes filled with hope.
Not many who had survived in the Underground Forces for so many years were fools, now with the other high-ranking members gone, the only one who could carry the weight of the Dark Contract was this formidable Northern Warrior.
Grot’s reputation in the Dark Contract wasn’t weak, on the contrary, due to the Northern people’s straightforward personality and powerful strength, he was highly respected.
So after he pointed out the current predicament of the Dark Contract, several middle-ranking members of the Dark Contract immediately shifted their hopes to him.
A Level 16 Northern Warrior, a powerful professional, could definitely carve out a living space for the Dark Contract.
Relying on the strong is human nature, even the nature of all life.
Grot, with a sharp gaze like that of an eagle, stared at the several people.
He uttered a sentence that instantly changed the color in their faces.
“Although Viscount Bernard has abandoned us, I will not abandon those who have fought alongside me.
I will take control of the Dark Contract, securing a path of survival for everyone!”
His tone was sonorous and firm, carrying an unshakeable determination.
None present were fools; they understood the intentions of this formidable Northern Warrior from the gleam in Grot’s eyes.
People exchanged looks, and for a moment, their hearts were in disarray.
Seeing this, Grot’s lips curved with an indifferent arc.
“If anyone doesn’t wish to become a part of the new Dark Contract, you can leave on your own.”
This statement caused some stir among the others in the room, but no one dared to stand up first; those who lived in the dark world were not without brains.
After glancing around at the others, Grot spoke solemnly, “If you wish to join the new Dark Contract, I, as a Northern Warrior, guarantee you.
We will become the new power in the Underworld of Green City, and together, we will govern the order of the Underworld.”
After finishing, he paused in his speech, looking at Gary and said word by word, “And, I never abandon any of my comrades unless my head is chopped off by the enemy!”
The room instantly fell silent upon this declaration, a strange emotion brewing in the eyes of those watching Grot.
Finally, Gary, the burly warrior, gritted his teeth and stood up, a fierce look flashed through his eyes as he knelt on one knee towards Grot.
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“Lord Grot, Gary is willing to serve you!”
The others, seeing this, changed expressions and after exchanging looks, they too knelt down without further hesitation.
“Lord Grot, we are willing to serve you.”
The promise of the Northern Warrior moved them; in the underworld, they were nothing but expendables, their lives and wealth never truly valued.
But the Northern Warrior’s tradition of never abandoning a comrade inspired their trust, and Grot’s esteemed reputation in the Dark Contract gave them enough confidence.
Grot’s expression slightly relaxed, a depth appearing on his face.
The first step was finally taken.
Next, it was to swallow the entirety of the Dark Contract.
His eyes narrowed slightly, his sharp gaze like the blade of a warrior.
Ancestor Crown, from now on, I will control the Dark Contract for you.