Strange net?

It had to be said, Xu Qianqian met Su Ming's needs in every aspect.

To avoid drawing attention, Su Ming couldn't simply pull out the numerous extraordinary items from his backpack, lest someone with ill intent take notice.

But if these items appeared in the hands of the eldest daughter of the Xu Family in Longyao City, it would undoubtedly seem far more reasonable.

As long as Su Ming was careful not to bring out anything too precious, given Xu Qianqian's family background, no one would find it strange if she produced even a large number of extraordinary items.

Moreover, with her status, Xu Qianqian could conveniently use the Xu Family's channels to handle these extraordinary items, and might even find better avenues to sell them at higher prices.

If it were Su Ming, even if he didn't care about being spied on, handling a large volume of extraordinary items would still pose safety and channel issues, making the whole affair far more troublesome.

Now, it was fine.

With Xu Qianqian, the eldest daughter of the Xu Family, around, he could fully leverage her background to deal with these items and play the role of a merchant buying and selling.

Under these circumstances, Su Ming didn't mind giving Xu Qianqian a hand.

After all, it was just an investigation—not a direct confrontation with a suspicious group, nor would it drag him into the power struggles of the Base City's upper echelons. Why not go along with it?

If it meant Su Ming had to take action himself and expose his strength, he certainly wouldn't have agreed so easily.

But an investigation? Su Ming actually had a few little tricks up his sleeve that would let him complete the task without any risk.

Having considered this, Su Ming agreed.

Of course, he still needed the agreement of this eldest daughter of the Xu Family.

Xu Qianqian would likely agree.

After all, the conditions Su Ming proposed wouldn't cause her any loss.

Sure enough.

"I agree."

Xu Qianqian accepted Su Ming's three conditions.

However, a verbal promise still left some room for unease.

So, Su Ming took out a scroll that looked like parchment.

"This is a Contract Scroll." Su Ming looked at Xu Qianqian and said, "Let's sign the contract."

This parchment-like scroll was made from the skin of a type of Phantom Demon called the Blackheart Demon.

The Blackheart Demon was a cursed creature; any life that touched its skin would suffer a curse, causing various abnormalities in both body and mind.

Some alchemists who specialized in using Phantom Demons from the Spirit Fiend Abyss and special materials to create various extraordinary items could use unique methods to tan the skin of the Blackheart Demon and combine it with other materials to produce a document.

By writing the corresponding content on this document and signing their name, if the signer failed to fulfill what was written, the curse of the Blackheart Demon would take effect.

At that point, the one who broke the agreement would taste the curse's pain, suffering unbearably.

This was the Contract Scroll—an extraordinary tool that had become widespread and commonly used in this world.

This tool was far more useful than a literal contract.

Especially in a world where humanity's dominant position was challenged, sometimes people's hearts were more terrifying than Phantom Demons. A mere written agreement or treaty couldn't restrain many people.

Whether they were Hunters, Warlocks, or ordinary people, they all trusted the effects of a Contract Scroll more than a written contract.

Some specially made Contract Scrolls carried curses so powerful they could even kill the highest-level Hunters and Warlocks, or even directly curse every life in an entire Base City to death—a staggering thought.

It was said that when different Base Cities sat at the negotiating table to draft treaties, they would use such specially made Contract Scrolls to ensure the contract took effect and was guaranteed to the greatest extent.

The Contract Scroll in Su Ming's hand wasn't that powerful, but judging by the Demonic Power emanating from it, Xu Qianqian had reason to believe that with her current strength, if she violated the contract, she would either die or be severely injured.

"I didn't expect you to carry something like this."

Xu Qianqian took the Contract Scroll while looking at Su Ming with a strange expression.

"Don't look at me like that; I'll get shy."

Su Ming scratched his head with an embarrassed look, leaving Xu Qianqian somewhat speechless.

But Xu Qianqian didn't object to signing the contract.

After all, the two of them were merely passing acquaintances, not even nodding friends. Unlike Xu Qianqian, who had a mystical way of distinguishing good from evil, Su Ming had no reason to feel at ease with her—that was perfectly normal.

Xu Qianqian was quite reasonable. After discussing it with Su Ming, they quickly decided on the content of the Contract Scroll.

The content was roughly this: before the unknown suspicious group achieved its goal, Su Ming was required to thoroughly investigate the group's objective and actions, and report them to Xu Qianqian, who was the client of the mission.

Once the mission was completed, Xu Qianqian had to fulfill the three conditions Su Ming had proposed. Anyone who violated this would suffer the curse brought on by the contract's breach.

After finalizing this Contract Scroll, Su Ming and Xu Qianqian each signed their names.

The next moment, the Contract Scroll automatically split in two—one part fell into Su Ming's hands, the other into Xu Qianqian's.

From that moment on, the contract took effect.

If anyone violated the contract, the curse of the Contract Scroll would immediately activate.

"This should be fine, right?"

Xu Qianqian put away her copy of the Contract Scroll.

"Of course."

Su Ming tucked the Contract Scroll into his backpack, a look of utter satisfaction on his face.

This trip hadn't been a waste at all. Not only had he resolved the lingering worry about exposing his strength, but he'd also dealt with a problem that had been troubling him for a while.

Once he finished investigating the suspicious group's objectives, he could report back to Xu Qianqian and have her fulfill the contract's terms—helping him dispose of the items he'd pulled from his parcels.

This was a long-term deal.

From now on, Su Ming could keep using Xu Qianqian's channels to resell the items he got from opening parcels, raking in a hefty sum of money.

That money would then be used to buy all kinds of Phantom Demon materials and transcendent items, eventually converted into Crystals to open more parcels.

Anything useful from the parcels would be kept to boost his strength; anything useless would be handed off to Xu Qianqian for disposal.

With this kind of cycle—buying low, selling high, and recycling—Su Ming essentially had an endless supply of Crystals, an endless supply of parcels to open, and a chance to skyrocket his power.

Thinking of this, Su Ming's gaze toward Xu Qianqian softened and warmed considerably.

Well, this young lady wasn't entirely without merit. Let bygones be bygones with all those past grudges.

Su Ming was a practical man like that.

"Let's head back." Su Ming stood up, showing rare concern for Xu Qianqian. "By the way, running out like this—won't you risk getting targeted by some hidden ambusher again?"

"...Probably not." Xu Qianqian shook her head, her tone flat. "Seeing that I'm still alive, they're likely still in shock. In just a few days, they probably won't make a move yet."

In other words, once they regroup and come up with a new plan, Xu Qianqian might be ambushed again.

"No wonder you feel so constrained, having to hire someone else to do your investigating."

Su Ming spread his hands.

"Don't worry, I won't let them get away with it for long." Xu Qianqian's voice turned icy, as if she didn't want to dwell on the topic. She turned to Su Ming. "When we get back, I'll send you some of my investigation results on that suspicious group to your phone. Hope it helps."

"Just sending it straight to my phone?" Su Ming's cautious streak flared up again. He couldn't help asking, "Is that safe?"

"They're encrypted files. It's unlikely anything will go wrong." Xu Qianqian said. "Unless you've connected to some weird network, the chances of a leak are very slim."

Hearing this, Su Ming instinctively nodded, then suddenly caught himself.

"Weird network?"

Why did it feel like this young lady was hinting at something?

Was he imagining things?

Whether or not, he'd better clear it up.

"I never browse any shady websites!" Su Ming declared righteously to Xu Qianqian. "That's something my roommate Lei Hao does!"

"???" Xu Qianqian's head filled with question marks.

"Cough, never mind." Su Ming coughed dryly and fell silent.

After that, they exchanged a few more words before parting ways, heading back to the academy one after the other, returning to their dorms.

By then, Lei Hao and Ye Bai hadn't woken up yet. They hadn't noticed Su Ming leaving the dorm, both sound asleep in their beds.

But those two didn't seem to sleep very peacefully.

"Su Ming... letter..."

Ye Bai was still hung up on that delivery business, his undying desire to screw Su Ming over alive and well.

"Don't flirt with my goddess... ahhh, my goddess..."

Lei Hao was muttering in his sleep too, his face twisted in pain, tears streaming down—a pitiful sight hard to look at.

Su Ming changed into his pajamas and lay down, but he couldn't fall asleep no matter what.

Especially when he thought about today's events and those two worthless friends of his, a wave of irritation washed over him.

A minute later, Su Ming scrambled out of bed, lit two mosquito coils, and tossed them into Lei Hao and Ye Bai's blankets before lying back down.

"Ah! My ass!"

"So hot!"

Soon, the screams of his two friends rang out one after another.

Su Ming felt a sudden clarity of mind. He closed his eyes and finally drifted off into a comfortable sleep.

He believed tomorrow would definitely be a good day.

The next day.

When morning came, Su Ming wasn't woken by Lei Hao's loud voice, but by Ye Bai shaking him.

"Su Ming! You bastard!"

Hearing such a heart-wrenching cry, Su Ming groggily opened his eyes and saw Ye Bai, face streaked with tears, clutching his clothes.

Su Ming jolted awake.

"What are you doing?"

He quickly swatted Ye Bai's hand away, grabbing his blanket, his face wary.

But Ye Bai paid no mind, still wearing a look of anguish.

"Xu Qianqian was one thing, but you went after my goddess too?"

Ye Bai's pained voice left Su Ming confused.

What the hell was he talking about?

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