Chapter 125: Signing the Contract

Chapter 125: Chapter 125: Signing the Contract

Seraphina Sinclair’s words were a depth charge dropped into the tense silence.

Hannah Morgan’s face instantly darkened. It was the cold, humiliated fury of someone who had been challenged and belittled.

Her narrow eyes narrowed into slits, her sharp gaze landing on Seraphina Sinclair for a moment before flicking away.

She had thought Seraphina Sinclair was a potential ally, or at least a rational, self-interested person. She never expected her to not only reject the plan, but to turn it back on her in such a humiliating fashion.

"The three of us are no different?" she repeated, almost through gritted teeth, her voice low and threatening. "Serafelle Sinclair, are you deliberately trying to sabotage this, or are you naive enough to think you can handle everything by yourself? You want to be a savior?"

Her posture was defensive and hostile, as if she were ready to attack at any moment.

The lazy amusement in Seraphina Sinclair’s eyes hadn’t yet faded. Seeing the reaction, she just smirked and asked bluntly, "Are we doing this?"

She was more than ready to oblige.

Milo Shaw, on the other hand, was stunned and incredulous. He opened his mouth, his gaze darting between Seraphina Sinclair, Hannah Morgan, and Chloe Reed before finally locking onto Seraphina, his brow furrowed in a deep knot.

"Serafelle, you... what do you mean by that?" His tone was filled with confusion and a hint of offense. "We’re a team! How can you say there’s no difference? Hannah is strong and resourceful, and Chloe... he’s weaker, after all. Isn’t that obvious? Forcing the strongest to make the sacrifice... that... that’s not logical!"

But Chloe Reed, who had been on the verge of despair, snapped out of his stupor. A complex light ignited in his eyes—the look of a man who had just been pulled back from the brink.

There was shock, and disbelief!

Even more, there was a surging gratitude that threatened to spill over.

He leaned tightly against the wall, his body trembling slightly from the intense emotional turmoil. The way he looked at Seraphina Sinclair was as if he were looking at his only lifeline.

His lips moved, wanting to say something, but he was too emotional and scared to make a clear sound, only muttering, "Se... Serafelle..."

His posture clearly leaned in Seraphina Sinclair’s direction, like a fledgling seeking shelter.

But Seraphina Sinclair detested such a helpless display.

She glanced at Hannah Morgan. Seeing that the woman, despite her sour expression, had calmed down, she finally spoke. "I said that because I’m absolutely certain I can get us through the third area safely."

Seraphina Sinclair’s words brought the tense atmosphere to a sudden halt.

Absolute certainty?

The hostility and vigilance in Hannah Morgan’s eyes gave way to suspicion. She stared intently at Seraphina Sinclair, trying to find any trace of a bluff, but all she saw was placid conviction.

Milo Shaw blurted out, "Absolute certainty? Serafelle, are you serious? Those vine monsters are no joke!"

Chloe Reed held his breath, afraid that this was just a lie Seraphina Sinclair had fabricated to temporarily quell the conflict.

"I have no interest in joking about such things." Seraphina Sinclair’s tone was flat, but it carried an undeniable weight. "I have a way to get through the third area safely and retrieve Magnus Barrett’s Sunflower. No one needs to be sacrificed."

She deliberately emphasized the word "sacrificed," her gaze sweeping over Hannah Morgan.

Hannah Morgan’s expression shifted multiple times. Finally, she took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed all her emotions, and her voice returned to its previous calm, even taking on a hint of cautious inquiry. "What’s the plan? What do you need us to do?"

’In the face of profit, personal feelings could be set aside for now.’

’If Seraphina Sinclair really could do it, then this was undoubtedly the best option.’

"You don’t need to do anything. Just wait here," Seraphina Sinclair said, shifting her grip on the Sunflower in her arms. Then, her tone suddenly changed. "However, Chloe Reed..."

The man whose name was called shuddered and immediately tensed up. He cautiously turned his head to look at Seraphina Sinclair, looking like a frightened mouse.

This trip Seraphina was making was, for all intents and purposes, on his behalf.

He wasn’t willing to die, and Seraphina wasn’t willing to waste her runes for nothing.

Her smile was radiant, making her seem gentle and approachable, but none of the others left in the area could bring themselves to smile back.

"However, Chloe Reed... you’ll leave your Sunflower here and come with me."

"M-Me... go..."

He was trembling so much his tongue felt tied, and he couldn’t get the words out clearly.

Seraphina Sinclair simply cut him off. "I’m telling you to go carry Magnus Barrett’s Sunflower, not to be a sacrifice."

"Ah... okay! Okay!" Chloe Reed cried out, finally relaxing as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Hannah Morgan’s gaze fell on Seraphina Sinclair again. After a moment of thought, she frowned and offered, "Since you’re so certain, Serafelle, why don’t we all go? We can leave all the Sunflowers here and go together."

She repeated "go together" twice.

The reason Seraphina Sinclair told Chloe Reed to come along was simple: she didn’t trust leaving her own Sunflower here.

Hannah Morgan had clearly guessed the reason. Things had gotten pretty ugly just now, so her offer was a gesture of goodwill, an attempt to mend their relationship.

But Seraphina Sinclair wasn’t buying it.

"I am absolutely certain I can get through the third area. But I never said I’d still be certain if I brought you all with me."

Her words were harsh, but true. Hannah Morgan looked as if she’d swallowed a fly—utterly disgusted, but unable to say a word.

But then Seraphina Sinclair’s tone shifted as she decided to press her advantage. "It’s not that I can’t take you, but it would be a drain on my resources. You’d certainly learn a thing or two by coming along, but..."

She raised her hand and rubbed her fingers together, a thuggish gesture that was completely at odds with her face and refined temperament.

The meaning was obvious.

If you want to go, you have to pony up.

She smiled slightly and added, "It’s fine if you don’t have anything on you now. I just discovered we can sign contracts inside the instance. We can just sign one first."

With that, she turned to Chloe Reed, her voice relaxed but leaving no room for argument. "Unlike them, you have to pay. Tell me what supplies you have. I’ll pick one."

Chloe Reed didn’t really understand how things had come to this, but this lifeline he was clinging to so tightly, Seraphina Sinclair, had asked him a question. How could he not answer?

"Right now... I have several E-level items..." Chloe Reed’s voice still trembled as he almost subconsciously listed his assets. "And some basic materials, wood, stone, cloth..."

Seraphina Sinclair cut him off. "I don’t want any of that common stuff. Do you have anything special? Or something you got from a box before, something you don’t know how to use but feels different?"𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂