Chapter 487: Signing a Contract

Chapter 487: Chapter 487: Signing a Contract

"Then you give it to me first!" the mutated plant demanded, its simple mind working overtime.

"That’s not happening. You leave Central Command with me first," Lily Hart said, not bothering to haggle.

The mutated plant thought for a long, long time before finally making up its mind. "Fine." ’This stinking human is tough, but she has no real attack power.’

’Going with her shouldn’t be dangerous.’

The warehouse was on the outskirts of Central Command, very close to a small gate. Lily Hart retracted her own plants, then led Frost Shaw and the others, along with the mutated plant, outside.

Just like that... so quickly.

Frost Shaw hadn’t expected it to be so easy. ’If I’d known, I would’ve brought Lily Hart along from the start,’ she thought.

The group left Central Command. Frost Shaw took the opportunity to send a message to Elder Shaw, filling him in on what had happened.

Lily Hart wanted to go a little farther, but the mutated plant urged her relentlessly, "Stop walking! Can’t you just give it to me here? Why are we still walking?! I’m getting dizzy!"

"Fine, fine! Nag, nag, nag!" Lily Hart muttered.

She took out a small knife and a clean test tube, then made a small cut on the pad of her ring finger.

Once a bead of blood formed, she squeezed it into the test tube, sealed it, and held it out. The mutated plant was practically ecstatic, its vines quivering slightly.

It instantly shot out dozens of vines to grab the test tube. Frost Shaw subconsciously took a step forward, positioning herself in front and to the side of Lily Hart.

But right now, the only thing on the mutated plant’s mind was that drop of blood. It couldn’t be bothered with anything else.

After getting the test tube, it hastily tried to leave, but Lily Hart called out to stop it. "Hey! Let’s sign a contract. Otherwise, I don’t trust you!"

The mutated plant wanted to curse her out right then and there. ’You don’t trust me? You actually dare to not trust me?’

But for the sake of the drop of blood, it reluctantly agreed.

Lily Hart took out a contract provided by the System. Once signed, it became a soul pact. If anyone violated its terms, the System would intervene.

It was similar to the contract Lily Hart had signed with the shopkeeper.

The only difference was that the other party was a plant instead of a person.

The mutated plant couldn’t understand any of the words and just asked blankly, "What do I need to do?"

"Just leave a handprint," Lily Hart said, pulling out an ink pad.

The mutated plant did as it was told, pressing its "handprint" onto the contract with absolutely no suspicion. Lily Hart pressed hers as well, and the deal was sealed.

Only then did Lily Hart feel completely at ease, though she was still a little dissatisfied.

’This plant caused so much destruction in Central Command and hurt so many people. To just let it go so easily...’

’How infuriating! I’m so mad! I just can’t accept this!’

The mutated plant was about to leave, feeling extremely pleased with itself, when Lily Hart called out to it again. "Wait. You’re coming with me."

"On what grounds?! I’m going home right now!" It was in a hurry, eager to get back to its lair and taste the drop of blood to see if it was as wonderful as it imagined.

Lily Hart frowned and spoke four words: "Obey my every word." Then she turned and walked back toward Central Command.

The mutated plant was about to ask what that meant when it found itself uncontrollably following at Lily Hart’s heels.

"Y-Y-You! What did you do to me?!" it roared in disbelief, remembering the "handprint" it had just made.

’What? How could a few simple pieces of paper have such a powerful effect? I don’t believe it!’ It struggled to control its own body, trying to force itself to move in the opposite direction.

The result, of course, was... no effect whatsoever!

It fought a fierce battle of wills with its own body, struggling and struggling, so preoccupied that it didn’t even notice it had re-entered Central Command.

Frost Shaw asked Lily Hart, "What are you going to do with it?"

Lily Hart replied thoughtfully, "Make it do hard labor. Isn’t that awesome? Let it move some bricks and get a taste of the hardships of life."

A great weight was finally lifted from Roman Rowe’s heart. He pumped his fist excitedly. "Yeah! I couldn’t stand that thing! Acting all high and mighty for no reason!"

The mutated plant kept trying to regain control of its body.

But it was all for naught! It looked up and only then realized it was back?

"Damned human, why did you bring me back here?!" it roared fiercely, attempting to scare her into backing down.

But in Lily Hart’s eyes, the plant was now a lamb to the slaughter, completely at her mercy. She couldn’t be bothered to respond.

Roman Rowe, on the other hand, wanted to get into a shouting match with it, but he gave up since he couldn’t understand what it was saying anyway.

Lily Hart brought the mutated plant before Elder Shaw and said only one thing.

"Do with it as you please."

Elder Shaw’s gaze fell on the large green leaf behind Lily Hart. "This is it? Why can we suddenly see it?"

Lily Hart guessed that it had gotten too agitated and was unable to maintain its invisibility.

So she told him her theory. Elder Shaw, who only partially understood, asked her, "What do you want to do with it?"

"It’s signed a contract with me now, so it has to obey my every word. I’m thinking of making it stay and repair the buildings it destroyed," Lily Hart said.

"It should clean up its own mess. As for what comes after, I haven’t thought that far ahead."

Elder Shaw nodded. "We’ll do as you say. We’re short on manpower right now."

’Although he really wanted to tear it to shreds to avenge the dead, he knew that compared to a quick death, keeping it here to atone for its crimes with endless hard labor would be a far more painful fate.’

The research institute had suffered the most casualties. A total of eight researchers were killed, and many others were injured.

"Alright. If you need any more supplies, just let me know. You can procure them through me," Lily Hart agreed, then added, "Our mission is complete, so we’ll be heading back now."

Before leaving, she said to the mutated plant, "You must obey Quincy Shaw, and you are not allowed to harm any humans."

The mutated plant opened its mouth to curse, "Why should I?! Damned human, let me go!"

’Damn it all! Did I really trade all my future freedom for a single drop of blood?’

It suddenly felt a pang of regret...

Lily Hart paid it no mind, leading Frost Shaw and the others away without a backward glance, leaving the mutated plant to wail and sob, utterly ignored.

Elder Shaw stepped forward with a cold smile and sinisterly whispered a few words to it, scaring it so badly that its leaves paled.

Lily Hart returned to the lottery shop and flopped onto the sofa.

During the time she was gone, the other shopkeepers had behaved themselves and stayed out of trouble.

Linnie Shaw (bar) and Sylvia Jarvis (delivery station) were keeping watch at the clinic in case of any incidents.

They had discovered the anomaly right after breakfast, and after a whole flurry of activity, it was almost time for dinner.

Lily Hart was starving, and so was everyone else, so they decided to order takeout from the hot pot restaurant.

She ordered the food while lying on the sofa, and the ingredients and soup base arrived quickly.

The others quickly tidied up, laid out the ingredients, and put the pot on to boil.

Soon, waves of fragrant aroma drifted out. Lily Hart followed the scent over and eagerly began to eat.

Everyone was famished. They dug in, shoveling down the food with rice. Everything tastes amazing when you’re starving.

Once their stomachs were full, they finally had a chance to talk. Lily Hart wondered aloud, "I have no idea where that mutated plant came from. It was so powerful."

Based on his limited experience, Roman Rowe said, "Felt like a Tenth Rank mutated plant to me."