Chapter 212-1: Am I Playing the Game, or Is the Game Playing Me? (Part 1)

Stanley's sharp eyes were fixed on the three of them, his tone heavy.

"The appearance of the Lost Planes will bring massive consequences to this world. To combat that influence, I need the Dark Pact to have Undying of its own."

His face grew extremely solemn after saying that.

"I hope you will truly join the Dark Pact and become one of us, not simply treat the Dark Pact as a stepping stone.

HunYuan, you're the smartest of the three. I believe you know what I mean.

The best way to fight the Undying... is with the Undying. For the Dark Pact to survive the coming turmoil, we must possess our own Undying.

If you agree, you will help me take control of the Dark Pact's Undying and follow Majestic Iro toward glory."

This NPC's strategic foresight and perspective were just too goddamn impressive.

The three players glanced at each other in awe. Was this NPC cheating? The players had only been around for a few days, yet he was already deducing the future world trends based solely on their actions.

This level of intelligence was absurd.

HunYuan could barely keep up, his intelligence was enough to follow Stanley's thinking.

But Thunderhands and Cheng Kun were dealt a heavy blow.

Damn it, why the hell was this damn NPC so smart?

If all NPCs had this level of intelligence, what was the point of playing the game?

Now all their secrets had been deduced by this NPC, and he'd even figured out how to counter the opposing players. The key was, his ideas actually worked.

Thunderhands and Cheng Kun were both utterly shaken.

Because they felt like their intelligence had just been crushed by that of an NPC.

If they had stood in Stanley's place, there was no way they could have deduced so much information, let alone made such a far-sighted decision.

Right now, they really wanted to shout. We kneel before the boss!

"Lord Stanley, how can you be so sure that we aren't sincerely joining the Dark Pact right now?

Aren't we already part of the Dark Pact? In every battle, we've always been drawing enemy fire to protect our teammates behind us!"

HunYuan didn't answer directly instead, he tossed a question back at Stanley.

Stanley shook his head, the deep look in his eyes tinged with complexity.

"Because you remind me of myself when I was young. I was once a spellcaster with extraordinary talent, proud and arrogant.

Until one day, I lost my wife, lost my child, lost everything... all because of my pride and arrogance.

So... do you understand now?"

"Lord Stanley, I—"

HunYuan tried to speak, but Stanley quickly pulled back the emotions in his eyes and decisively raised a hand to stop him.

"No need to say more." The Vice President of the Dark Pact's tone gradually turned forceful. "Right now, I am the one choosing you, not the other way around.

Although your talents make me envious, you still need a long time to grow.

And you are not my only option. But the Dark Pact is your only choice!

Believe me, beyond the Dark Pact, you will not find another opportunity like this.

But I'm different. I can always find other Udying. You are not the only ones.

HunYuan, you're a smart man. I need smart people as partners in the Dark Pact."

As he finished speaking, he deliberately cast a glance at Thunderhands and Cheng Kun. The two were instantly infuriated, but calmed down in the next breath.

Damn it, this damn NPC really did have the qualifications to look down on them.

And that realization made them even more uncomfortable.

You might not believe this, but we actually got looked down upon by an NPC's intelligence!

HunYuan took a deep breath. He felt like he was completely in this NPC's grasp, and the worst part was, there was nothing he could say in response.

This goddamn game... was utterly absurd. He, a dignified player, was actually being toyed with by an NPC and so blatantly at that.

"Lord Stanley, we're willing to join the Dark Pact and become one of its members," HunYuan said solemnly after a deep breath. "I believe we will bring new opportunities to the Dark Pact."

"But how can you be sure that we're truly joining you?" He asked with a hint of mischief in his eyes. He wanted to see what this NPC could come up with to really tie them to the Dark Pact.

If it was just some oath or pledge, then it would be laughable.

Stanley let out a hearty laugh and pulled out three yellowed magic scrolls, aged by time, from his robe.

"These are Rule Contracts I once obtained from the hands of deities. Once signed, you will be forever bound to the Dark Pact and can never betray it.

Likewise, the Dark Pact can never betray you. Otherwise, the contract becomes void."

He then handed the scrolls to the three of them.

After receiving it, HunYuan stared deeply at the scroll that emitted an energy so powerful it made him feel fear.

He could faintly sense that this contract was a product of the rules themselves, something above the gods.

It was a message passed directly to the soul by the contract, independent of power level.

And he could feel that the contract's function was exactly as Stanley had described.

It was a mutual loyalty pact, with no room for betrayal.

"What if we don't sign it?"

Stanley's expression didn't change. "Even if you don't sign, you'll still be considered friends of the Dark Pact.

Don't worry, the Dark Pact won't turn on you or suppress you because of it.

What I want are partners, not enemies. Even if we cannot be partners, I hope we won't become enemies either."

If someone else had heard those words, they would surely be shocked, since when had the domineering Lord Stanley become so reasonable?

But Stanley knew that despite his calm appearance, the resurrection ability was simply too broken. 

Unless he found a way to counteract resurrection, he could already faintly see the rise of these Undying in the near future.