220: Chapter 221 Having accomplished his task, he departed.

Lin Muyang looked at the blonde woman who was restrained by the Yama Prison Decree; she was pale but trying hard to maintain her composure, and there was not much surprise on his face. This result was basically within his expectations. Unlike the patriotism and unyielding integrity rooted in the culture of the Xia Kingdom, many powerhouses in the American Empire and its allied factions often make more pragmatic choices between personal interests, family survival, and so-called loyalty.

Especially at critical moments of life and death, this choice becomes even more direct. When an absolute power gap is placed before one, and resistance will only bring worthless destruction, submitting to a stronger person is not unacceptable; it is even a wise survival strategy.

Lin Muyang could not say he admired this phenomenon, but he understood it. Such is human nature, and culture dictates it.

"Marianne, right?" Lin Muyang spoke, his voice flat. He didn't actually care about this woman's specific name; he was just asking casually.

At the same time, with a slight movement of his mind, a gentle yet irresistible invisible force took the mythical grade skill book that was floating above Marianne's palm, emitting a pale golden holy light. The thick, ancient-looking book felt slightly heavy in his hand, and the mysterious runes flowing on the cover, along with the powerful summoning law fluctuations contained within, confirmed to him that this was indeed the goal of his trip—the Dual Contract. He casually put the skill book into his storage space, his movements as careless as if he were putting away an ordinary notebook.

"Replying to Master, my original name is Marianne Cersie." The blonde woman, or rather Marianne, immediately replied respectfully, even proactively adding information. Her gaze toward Lin Muyang was complex, containing awe, fear, the calmness of resignation, and a hint of imperceptible confusion and exploration regarding her future fate.

Lin Muyang nodded, not dwelling on the name issue, and asked the key question directly: "Do you have a Soul Contract scroll on you?"

Upon hearing this, Marianne's delicate body trembled imperceptibly, but she quickly recovered. She glanced at Lin Muyang's calm and waveless eyes, knowing that any hesitation or bargaining would be foolish and dangerous. She gave a bitter smile and once again took an item out of her storage necklace.

It was an ancient and worn-looking leather scroll, about a palm wide. The leather of the scroll was dark brown with traces of wear on the edges, and complex, mysterious runes were drawn on it with special dark golden ink, faintly emitting a strange fluctuation that bound the soul and could not be disobeyed. This was the Soul Contract scroll that the American Empire strictly controlled and rarely allowed to leak out. Its manufacturing process was complex, the materials were rare, and it was firmly controlled by the authorities; it was one of the ultimate means to control important figures and ensure absolute loyalty. As a high-ranking official, it was reasonable for Marianne to have one on her just in case.

Taking out this scroll, the last shred of luck in Marianne's heart was completely extinguished. Once this thing was signed, her life, death, freedom, and even her soul would no longer belong to her. But circumstances were stronger than people. Having witnessed Lin Muyang's ability to turn his hands and create clouds and rain, having seen the terrifying strength of the young ladies under his command, and thinking about how figures like Hansa Bami had chosen to submit... Marianne was very clear that this young Xia Kingdom man before her had an unlimited future and might even overturn the existing global power structure.

A being who could easily slaughter more than a dozen top powerhouses when he was under level 100—what would it be like when he reached level 200, 300... or even higher? I'm afraid no one on the entire Blue Star will be able to stop him! The American Empire? Perhaps in the near future, it will become a historical term.

Should she remain in the doomed old camp and resist to the end, becoming a stepping stone and dry bones on Lin Muyang's path to rise? Or should she decisively seize the opportunity and board the deck at the beginning of the giant ship's turn, even if it meant starting as a low-level sailor? For a top powerhouse like Marianne, who was shrewd, realistic, and possessed a strong survival instinct, the answer was not difficult to choose. Although it would cost her the freedom of her soul, at least she would survive and could even use this giant ship destined for a long voyage to see a broader landscape.

"I have one." Marianne held the precious Soul Contract scroll with both hands and presented it respectfully, while adding in a low voice: "This is the highest-specification Master-Servant Contract scroll. Once signed, the subordinate party will be unable to harm, betray, or disobey the will of the master party in any form, and the master party can perceive the approximate status and location of the subordinate party at any time and can send mental instructions one-way within a certain distance..." She was proactively showing "sincerity," indicating that the contract she provided was of a high level and had strong binding force.

Lin Muyang glanced at the scroll, sensed the power of the contract laws contained within, and confirmed it was correct. He nodded, did not reach out to take it, but waved his hand casually and said to Gui Wanwan on the side: "Xiao Wan, you go and sign with her. Refer to the terms in Hansa Bami's contract; no need to change anything."

"Hmm-hum~ I know, Master~"

Gui Wanwan, who had been sitting sideways on her giant black scythe, swinging her little legs, let out a light and joyful giggle upon hearing this. She steered the scythe like an elf of the dark night and flew lightly in front of Marianne, who was restrained by the Yama Prison Decree. Those eyes, as black as the abyss but seemingly reflecting the stars, looked up and down with great interest at the "bewitching siren" before her, who held a high position in the American Empire and was famous for her charm and control.

"You look pretty good, and your figure is nice too~" Gui Wanwan tilted her head, her tone carrying a bit of innocence and playfulness, but the words she said made Marianne's spine turn cold: "However, from now on, you are our Master's little maid, and mine too~ You must be obedient, okay? After signing this contract, your soul will be bound to the Master. If you dare to have any thoughts of violating the contract, or do anything detrimental to the Master... Hehe, you will know what true soul torment is~ It will be ten thousand times more wonderful than the taste of that little cage just now~"

As she spoke, Gui Wanwan stretched out her slender, fair finger and tapped lightly on the Soul Contract scroll that Marianne was holding. The scroll seemed to be activated, automatically floating up and slowly unfolding, and the dark golden runes began to flow as if they had come alive. An invisible soul link began to be established between Gui Wanwan, Marianne, and the scroll.

Looking at the girl before her at close range—a girl with black hair and black eyes, stunningly beautiful but exuding a strange, evil aura—the last secret hope in Marianne's heart of "being personally contracted by Lin Muyang" was shattered. Lin Muyang couldn't even be bothered to sign the contract with her personally and instead handed it over to one of his subordinates... While this made her somewhat disappointed and humiliated, it also made her realize more clearly the weight she held in the other party's eyes. I'm afraid that in Lin Muyang's view, subduing her was just like subduing Hansa Bami—a trivial matter done casually, not worth too much attention.

"I... understand. I would never dare to betray." Marianne lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly, but mostly with the obedience of resignation. She closed her eyes, focused her mind, and actively opened her soul imprint to the unfolded contract scroll.

Gui Wanwan giggled, her fingers sliding gently over the scroll, and the dark golden light flared, enveloping both her and Marianne. The content of the contract was directly presented in the depths of Marianne's soul in the form of a mental imprint—absolute loyalty, unconditional obedience to all reasonable orders from Lin Muyang and his designated subordinates; no form of damage to Lin Muyang and his related interests; the Lin Muyang side would have partial perception and one-way communication rights over her soul; the contract would only end upon Marianne's death or Lin Muyang's active dissolution...

The terms were clear and harsh, but Marianne had no way back. She silently swore by her soul and accepted all the terms.

Hum—!

The dark golden runes on the scroll flashed brightly, then turned into two streams of light. One entered Marianne's forehead, and the other flew toward Lin Muyang, but as it neared Lin Muyang, he grabbed it casually, as if catching a firefly, and it merged into his palm—this meant that the master party of the contract was Lin Muyang, but the signing and execution were done by Gui Wanwan as his agent.

Contract, established!

Marianne's delicate body shook, and she felt an invisible yet incredibly tough shackle in the depths of her soul. At the same time, she faintly perceived a tiny, one-way link with Lin Muyang. She knew that from this moment on, her life, death, glory, and shame were completely bound to this young Xia Kingdom man.

Gui Wanwan nodded with satisfaction and waved her little hand. The chains of the Yama Prison Decree that restrained Marianne's soul receded like a tide and dissipated into invisibility. Marianne's body went limp, and she almost fell from the air; she quickly steadied herself. Her face was still pale, but the fear in her eyes had lessened, replaced by a complex and indescribable expression. She panted slightly, feeling the long-lost freedom, although a firmer shackle had been placed upon this freedom.

Xu Ruohan, Time Utterance, and Heartstring had witnessed the whole process, and the expressions on their faces had gradually changed from initial shock and confusion to numbness, as well as a hint of unspeakable emotion.

So... he just collected another one?

[part:gemini-3.0-flash]

Was it still using this method that was nearly forced buying and selling, yet the other party was completely willing?

A Giant Dragon Summoner, Hansa Bami, and a top-tier mental-type master who held a high position in the American Empire known as the 'bewitching siren', Marianne Cersie... had both become Lin Muyang's subordinates in less than half an hour? They had signed Soul Contracts that were practically selling themselves into slavery?

Was the world changing a bit too fast? What did the three of us come all this way for? To watch the big boss Lin Muyang recruit underlings on the spot? And clean up the battlefield while acting as a hype squad on the side?

On Xu Ruohan's exquisite face, her expression was somewhat subtle; she wanted to laugh but felt the occasion wasn't quite right, which eventually turned into a helpless soft sigh. She finally understood that this guy, Lin Muyang, simply couldn't be judged by common sense. Their previous worries, tension, and even their resolve to fight a bloody battle... now seemed completely redundant. He had solved all the problems himself and even picked up two top-tier fighters and a mythical grade skill book along the way...

Heartstring pushed up his glasses, the gaze behind the lenses deep. He was thinking further ahead. Lin Muyang's actions today seemed casual, but they were actually far-reaching. The defection of Hansa Bami and Marianne wasn't just as simple as losing two top-tier combatants. This was equivalent to stabbing two knives into the heart of the American Empire and its allies' camp and handing the hilts to Lin Muyang. The assassination operation meticulously planned by the American Empire had not only failed miserably but had also lost its leaders and core members through defection. Once this matter spread, it would be a devastating blow to the reputation and morale of the American Empire. The global power structure was likely about to face an unprecedented upheaval. And Lin Muyang was undoubtedly the core and the eye of this storm.

On Time Utterance's wrinkled face, a gratified and even somewhat kind smile appeared. She looked at Lin Muyang as if looking at a piece of peerless unpolished jade finally radiating world-shaking brilliance. She was an old acquaintance of the old lady guarding the National Treasury and had long paid attention to Lin Muyang, but the strength, methods, and temperament he displayed today still far exceeded her expectations. "It seems this old woman couldn't help at all," she whispered to herself with a bit of self-deprecation, but mostly joy. With Lin Muyang around, the Xia Kingdom would be safe. She glanced at Xu Ruohan, then at Lin Muyang, and her figure began to blur, like ink dissolving into water: "There's nothing left for this old woman here. Xiao Han, you young people handle the rest. Kid Lin Muyang, come sit at my place when you have time."

As the words fell, Time Utterance's figure had completely disappeared from the spot as if she had never appeared. Coming and going without a trace was exactly the style of a top-tier space-type powerhouse like her.

Heartstring also snapped back to his senses, nodded to Lin Muyang and Xu Ruohan, and said in a deep voice: "Captain Xu, Mr. Lin Muyang, the matters here are concluded. I need to return to headquarters immediately to report today's events in detail. The ownership of two top-tier foreign powerhouses and the potential subsequent impacts need to be evaluated and addressed by the higher-ups as soon as possible." He paused and looked at Lin Muyang with a tone of respect: "Mr. Lin Muyang, thank you for today. Farewell."

After speaking, he didn't stay any longer. His figure turned into a stream of light, galloping toward the Xia Kingdom mainland and disappearing into the horizon in the blink of an eye.

In an instant, in the sky above Crocodile Shark Island, besides Lin Muyang and his young ladies, only Xu Ruohan and Marianne, who had just finished signing the Soul Contract and still looked somewhat dazed, remained.

Xu Ruohan waved her hand, recalling the eight high-level angels who had been guarding the perimeter. She flew to Lin Muyang's side and looked at this young man who created miracles time and again, making even her unsure of how to treat him. A complex smile appeared on her exquisite face—there was gratification, emotion, and also a hint of an indescribable sense of distance? Perhaps it was because Lin Muyang was growing too fast, so fast that even she, a former senior, could hardly keep up.

"Lin Muyang, really... every time I see you, you give me new surprises." Xu Ruohan shook her head, her tone teasing yet filled with sincere admiration: "How do you plan to arrange things for Hansa Bami and Marianne? Since they've signed Soul Contracts, there shouldn't be any safety issues. Does the Xia Kingdom need to arrange temporary residences and identities for them? Especially Hansa Bami, he still has a family to settle."

Since they were their own people, the Xia Kingdom officials naturally had to help handle the aftermath; this was both to win over Lin Muyang and a necessary courtesy.

Hearing this, Lin Muyang looked at Marianne, who was standing respectfully to the side trying to lower her presence, and asked casually: "Marianne, do you have family or other concerns in the American Empire that need to be settled?"

Marianne immediately bowed and replied with a respectful attitude: "Answering Master, my parents were both ordinary people with limited talent and passed away years ago. I have remained unmarried and have no children, so I have no direct relatives to worry about. In the American Empire, although I have some properties and subordinates, they are merely external possessions that can be abandoned at any time." Her voice was steady, but when she mentioned being unmarried and childless, an imperceptible flash of complexity crossed the depths of her eyes before quickly fading. At her level and age, being single was not uncommon among Western powerhouses, mostly due to focusing on increasing strength or power, having no time for other things, or having standards that were too high.

"She has always been single." Xu Ruohan seemed very familiar with Marianne's profile. She approached Lin Muyang and added softly in a voice only the two of them could hear: "According to intelligence, she was obsessed with mental magic research and power struggles. Her private life is very clean; I haven't heard of her having any partners. Among the high-level officials of the American Empire, she is considered quite special."

Lin Muyang gave Xu Ruohan a somewhat speechless look: "Senior Xu, this... has nothing to do with me. I'm just confirming if she needs to settle her family."

Xu Ruohan pursed her lips and smiled, giving him a charmingly flirtatious glance before falling silent.

Lin Muyang turned to Xu Ruohan and said seriously: "Since Marianne is alone, let her follow me for now; I have my own arrangements. As for Hansa Bami, his family has over twenty members. Moving them from the American Empire will definitely require assistance from the Xia Kingdom. The location must be secret, and safety must be guaranteed. These people will be considered my personnel from now on. Please communicate with the higher-ups, Senior Xu, to give them legal identities and necessary protection. Related costs and resources can be deducted from my future earnings or contributions if needed."

"No problem, leave it to me," Xu Ruohan agreed readily. Settling twenty-odd people was a small matter for the Xia Kingdom officials. To be able to use such a small thing to further bridge the relationship with Lin Muyang was more than worth it. "I will personally supervise it to ensure everything is settled properly without leaking any word."

Lin Muyang nodded. He was still confident in Xu Ruohan's ability to handle things.

After dealing with these trivial matters, Lin Muyang's gaze finally fell upon that mythical grade skill book lying quietly in his storage space. The pale gold cover, the flowing profound runes, the faint resonance of the summoning laws... all of it made his heart surge slightly.

This trip to Crocodile Shark Island, although full of twists and turns and even encountering an unprecedented siege, had a final result that far exceeded expectations. Not only did he kill all the enemies and subdue two powerful subordinates, but more importantly, the goal was finally in hand.

A mythical grade skill book that could summon two new partners at once!

A flash of anticipation appeared in Lin Muyang's eyes. He wondered what kind of existences would be summoned this time.

"Alright, since things here are settled, let's head back first," Lin Muyang said to Xu Ruohan, then looked at Marianne, who was standing with her hands down: "You, come with me."

"Yes, Master," Marianne responded respectfully.

Xu Ruohan also knew Lin Muyang was anxious to go back and use the skill book, so she didn't say more, only cautioning: "Be careful with everything. The American Empire suffered such a huge loss, lost so much face, and lost so many top-tier combatants; they won't let this go. There might be more insidious methods later, or they might unite other forces to apply pressure. You must be prepared."

"Clowns jumping on a beam, nothing to worry about," Lin Muyang smiled faintly, his tone carrying strong confidence. After today, his mindset was already different. With Hansa Bami and Marianne as chess pieces, plus the new combat power about to be obtained, and the rapidly growing potential of himself and the young ladies... the American Empire? If they dared to come again, he wouldn't mind letting this so-called hegemon experience what true despair felt like.