Contract Formed

A flash of green light, and Elodie was back in the hotel's luxurious suite.

"You..." Bran stared at her blankly, his face a mask of visible shock, which quickly turned into relief and elation. "You're finally back!"

Outside the window, the neon lights of the night sky still flickered, as if she had never left.

But Elodie knew things wouldn't be that simple. "Why are you still here? How long have I been gone?"

He raised his wrist. "Four hours. It's 23:31 now."

Damn it, she had actually passed out for this long!

"Didn't I tell you to leave if I wasn't back in thirty minutes!" Elodie said irritably. "Why didn't you stick to the plan?"

"And then you'd suddenly appear in front of the police like a fairy, poof?" Bran's voice rose a few decibels. "I also said I couldn't possibly leave you alone. Or do you want to abandon everyone and run off? This team... this Skull Hand, you built it with your own hands! If even you're gone, what's the point of us being together!?"

Looking at her companion, who was more agitated than she was, Elodie found her retort suddenly stuck in her throat.

"...Sorry."

"I accept." Bran's expression immediately softened. "But who exactly are you? I mean... normal people can't just disappear into green light and reappear out of nowhere."

"Didn't I tell you long ago?" Elodie pouted.

"Wait, everything you said before... was it all true?" he stammered. "I thought--"

"You thought it was just youthful fantasy? Hysteria from watching too many anime?" Elodie jumped off the sofa. "I wouldn't lie to you about something like this."

"Okay, okay, I'm sorry... I still need a little time to adjust." Bran slapped his cheeks hard, as if trying to wake himself up. "So... are there really demons in this world? And... you caught one?"

"I..." Elodie couldn't help but pause.

She looked down at her palm, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

It was this hand that had held the pen offered by the demon and signed her name on the contract.

She never could have imagined her first experience would be like this—in her imagination, she would have used her abilities to pinpoint the demon's location. Upon reaching its vicinity, she would have immediately concealed herself, covertly observing the demon's situation and surroundings. Only after gathering enough intelligence would she decide on her next move.

However, everything had gone in the opposite direction of her plan.

She hadn't expected to arrive in a completely unfamiliar place, and more critically, the journey had been far more draining than anticipated, consuming almost all her strength. Furthermore, the demon's reaction had been unusually swift, locking onto her almost instantly, forcing her to fight back with all her might...

Elodie had prepared herself mentally for this day, memorizing the demon's "Angel Laws" to deal with them, but not a single thing had gone according to plan.

Were the decisions she made... truly the right ones?

"Elodie, are you alright?"

Her partner's pat brought her back to reality with a jolt.

She glanced at Wayne Jenster, who was still unconscious on the floor, and regained her composure. "I'm fine. Has this guy woken up at all?"

"He woke up once midway, so I hit him again."

"So you didn't call the police as planned either?"

Bran shook his head, unable to help but complain, "Why did you disappear so suddenly, boss! Although you told me to leave first, after discussing it with Hill, neither of us thought the original plan was still a good idea."

"Alright, alright. Since I'm back, let's call the police immediately. With the criminal evidence we have, it'll be enough to send him to prison!"

Bran nodded and took out his phone.

Just then, Hill's warning suddenly came through the earpiece. "Hey, Elodie isn't back yet? Things are a bit strange outside the hotel!"

"She just got back. Did something happen?"

"Thank goodness! Hurry and get her out of here. The front entrance seems to be blocked... Damn it, the back door is guarded too!"

Bran quickly moved to the window and pushed it open, looking down. He saw many figures in black surrounding the hotel. Some were blocking tourists, others were checking the parking lot. Their methods were clearly not those of the police.

"Someone has already broken into the hotel, you need to hurry!" Hill's voice grew more anxious.

At the same time, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the corridor.

"What's going on?" Elodie noticed the seriousness on her companion's face.

"We took too long. I'm afraid the police won't make it in time." Bran drew the curtains and casually picked up a steak knife. "I guess Jenster had a meeting he missed tonight, which made those people suspicious. Whether these people are after him or not, I'll create an opening for you."

Before he finished speaking, a sudden knocking sound came from the door.

Bang, bang, bang--

"Mr. Jenster, can you hear us?"

"Please open the door!"

Bran guessed correctly; these people were here for Wayne Jenster. Not only that, they seemed to know Jenster was in danger, as they started smashing the lock after only a few knocks. In thirty seconds at most, they would burst into the room!

"They're here so fast... No time to hesitate!" Bran grabbed Jenster, holding the knife to his throat. "Elodie, quickly hide in the closet. I'll use him as a hostage to attract their attention. As soon as there's an opening, you--"

Elodie didn't hear the rest of what he said.

What echoed in her mind now was the demon's whisper.

"...Your meager wish power limits your potential. Faced with true evil, you are powerless without your innate abilities, with no chance of winning."

"You need power too, don't you?"

If it were her in the past, facing such a rapidly deteriorating situation, she would indeed have done as Bran said.

But now, she was no longer the Elodie of the past.

Just a few minutes ago, she had made a pact with a demon.

Then, she watched as Chaoyang bit his own thumb.

"What are you doing?"

"An advance on your payment," the demon replied with a smile. "I don't like people working for free. Tasting something sweet first will better stimulate the contractor's initiative."

His classical and rigid wording, coupled with a smile that held a provocation she disliked, made her suppress the urge to object. With nervousness, resentment, and a hint of indescribable anticipation, she forced herself to lift her head.

Until Chaoyang flicked his hand, wiping his bloodied thumb across her lips.

A tremor ran through her soul. The blood felt like burning flames, searing her lips. But she didn't flinch. Instead, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips together. Though she hadn't swallowed anything, Elodie clearly felt that ball of flame roll down her throat and seep into her entire body.

And now, that flame resided within her heart.

Elodie took a step forward, blocking Bran.

"Step back."

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, he closed it and retreated a few steps as she instructed.

Bang!

The door was also kicked open at that moment!

Four or five burly men rushed in, all dressed in black suits and wielding club-like weapons. Clearly, firearms weren't the first choice in a bustling area, but that didn't mean the clubs weren't dangerous. Whether they wanted to take a life was merely a matter of thought.

Elodie raised her hand, and an invisible gale gathered in it!

Kiss of Wind Sword!

She whispered the name silently, then swung her arm down.

Instantly, a violent hurricane swept through the entire room, carrying all the charging men out and slamming them hard against the walls! The room's furnishings were tossed into disarray, with even the cutlery from the dining table ending up stuck in the ceiling.

Clang.

The steak knife in Bran's hand fell to the floor.

He stared blankly at the scene, his mouth agape, wide enough to fit an entire pizza.

"Let's go."

Elodie turned, grabbed his and Wayne.Jansett's wrists, and pulled them towards the balcony without another word. Then, broad wings unfurled from her back. She leaped up, soaring into the night sky devoid of stars, bathed in the neon glow of the bustling city.