Contract before God

Ye Wei'an's words were like a knife, precisely cutting open the truth that she had been desperately trying to cover up.

Those old memories that she had deliberately forgotten flooded back into her mind like a tidal wave.

She recalled that day fifteen years ago, a rainy day in Susar.

She still remembers that day when she was wearing an expensive lace dress, standing in her father's study like a lamb to the slaughter.

Her father, the powerful Duke of Malcaste, casually pronounced her fate as he flipped through the trade list:

"Serena, go and marry Baron Harlandil Xiaxing."

"Although Baron Xiaxing is a bit old, the Xiaxing family's Firefall Valley is a crucial point on the trade route between Cormir and the Valley. Aimarisk needs the right of way to that place. Serena, you are the daughter of the family, this is your duty."

How did she resist at that time?

She cried and shouted that he was just a mere baron who was not worthy of her family's status. She said that he was nearly forty years old, twenty-two years older than her, and even had a one-year-old illegitimate child.

But her heartless father just sneered:

"He is indeed only a baron, but a baron whose territory occupies a crucial position!"

"He's just an illegitimate child with no legitimate claim to the Xia Xing family. He has no chance of inheriting the family business. Once you give birth to a legitimate son, you will be the future master of the Xia Xing family."

Seeing that she still wanted to cry, Malcaster frowned:

"If you don't want to get married, go to the temple and serve the goddess for the rest of your life in front of those cold stone statues."

On her wedding day, the desolation of the border made her feel a despair she had never experienced before.

Looking at the man, who was two rounds older than her and reeked of alcohol, and then at the illegitimate child in the cradle, she told herself at that moment: in this world, only power and money are what she can rely on.

That's why she so frantically seized territory assets and so actively helped her family with smuggling through "Grey Raven" Finn; she just wanted to prove that she still had value and hadn't been abandoned by Susar.

But Ye Wei'an's words just now shattered her illusions completely.

Duke Marcaster Amareske had twelve daughters, but she was the most unremarkable of them all. Her mother was just a maid, and if she had been a man, she might not have had the chance to join the family.

So-called family affection is utter nonsense.

She was merely a tool for Amarisk to control Firefall.

The Amareske family doesn't need a tool that messes things up.

If the tool breaks, just throw it away.

"In Amarisque, I was just a daughter no one cared about..." Serena repeated softly, giving a self-deprecating laugh, tears welling in her eyes, unsure whether they were for the girl she was back then or for herself now.

Ye Wei'an watched him silently.

"You're right, Ye Wei'an. After all these years, I still don't see things as clearly as you do." She took a deep breath and forcefully wiped away her tears. "Those old guys just sit high up in the Susar Manor, talking big at banquets and parties. They don't have to do anything, yet they can rightfully take a share of the profits I've painstakingly built up, and they still have the nerve to criticize my life."

"So, sign it, madam, this is your destiny."

Ye Wei'an pushed the parchment forward. "As long as you sign this contract, I will keep these secrets to myself, and everything in Firefall Valley will return to normal—you will still be the Lady of Xiaxing Territory, and Lucas will still be the future lord. You won't lose out on this deal."

Serena raised her head again.

Although his face was still pale, his eyes held a gambler's determination.

"You're right, what you get in your hands is what you truly own."

She grabbed the quill pen and wrote swiftly: "Since you want to go to those ruthless, cannibalistic places to be a pioneering lord, then go. I'll give you money and supplies, and I'll use my connections with Amarisk to smooth things over with the kingdom's documents. As long as you stay far away from Firefall Valley, far away from me and Lucas... whatever you want, I'll give you."

At this point, she paused, her hand still holding the pen. "However, I can't come up with 20,000 gold coins in cash."

Seeing that Ye Wei'an was still skeptical, she explained with a wry smile, "Just like you said, I'm just a tool of Amarisk. The lion's share of the money I've made from smuggling over the years has to be handed over to the family, and the rest has to cover the expenses of the territory, my own reputation, and Lucas's extravagance. I'm not as rich as you think."

Ye Wei'an could tell that the other party was telling the truth.

"So, how much can you give?"

"I can only give you ten thousand in cash at most," Serena said through gritted teeth. "The remaining ten thousand can be converted into the armor, weapons, and farm tools you need."

"Deal." Ye Wei'an didn't dwell on the small price difference.

Whether it's money or resources, as long as they can be used for territory expansion, that's fine.

"There's also the issue of talent," Serena added, proposing another condition. "You can recruit talent from within your territory, but you can't drain all the core personnel. There must be a limit to the number of recruits, especially the artisans!"

"Of course, I only need personnel who can meet the basic needs of the territory," Ye Wei'an agreed. "I am also a member of the Xia Xing family. If the Xia Xing family declines, it will be my loss of face."

After the agreement was reached, at Serena's insistence, Yevian went with her to a small room next to the restaurant.

This is a shrine dedicated to the noble goddess Shinworth.

The room, though small, was extremely luxurious:

The walls were draped with deep red velvet curtains, and incense burned on shelves on either side. In the center of the room stood a statue of Sheenworth. The statue depicted an elderly noblewoman holding a silver chalice and a vajra scepter, with a diamond-carved crown on her forehead.

Below the statue is the goddess's emblem—a silver chalice with a golden sun motif on the side.

Ye Wei'an placed the contract in front of the statue.

Serena stepped forward, placing her hand on the holy emblem, her tone solemn: "In the name of the noble goddess Sinworth, I, Serena of the Amalrisk family, hereby swear that this covenant may be as strong as blood ties. If I break this oath, may my name be erased from the scrolls of the heraldic master."

For nobles who value family and honor, being expelled from the aristocracy is more terrifying than death.

Then, Ye Wei'an repeated the oath and imprinted the holy emblem on the contract.

"The contract is complete." Ye Wei'an withdrew his hand. "Madam, you can rest assured now."

Serena breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders.

"Now, can you hand over Finn, Grumman, and all those damn accounts from the dungeon?"

"Return it?" Upon hearing this, Ye Wei'an seemed to have heard some absurd joke: "No, Madam, you misunderstand."

"What do you mean?" Serena's expression froze instantly. "We just swore an oath before the goddess! Are you trying to go back on your word?"

"I know the contents of the oath very well." Ye Wei'an slowly brushed non-existent dust off his cuffs. "The contract stipulates that I will not expose your secrets, will not threaten Lucas's inheritance, and will not divide the family territory. But, madam, please read it again from beginning to end—which word mentions that I will return the witnesses and physical evidence to you?"

"Ye Wei'an! You tricked me!" Serena screamed.

She felt like she had fed her ten thousand gold coins and half of her family fortune to dogs.

"How could I possibly cheat you? I'm just leaving myself a safety net." Ye Wei'an smiled slightly. "After all, the contract stipulates that you have to compensate me, but it doesn't restrict you from taking action against me after you've compensated me, right? But as long as these things are in my hands, we'll never have to resort to arms against each other."

Having her little scheme exposed, Serena's face turned from pale to white, then from white to purple, finally erupting into a furious roar of embarrassment:

"Get out! Ye Wei'an, take your contract and get out of here! I curse you! May you die in this god-forsaken wasteland, carrying those damned gold coins!"

"Thank you for your blessings; I will remember your generosity."

Ye Wei'an gave an elegant bow and turned to leave under Serena's gaze.

As Ye Wei'an walked out of the restaurant, the little maid was pacing back and forth like a restless little animal.

Further down the stairs, Lina stood pretending to be serious, but the occasional glances she gave betrayed her anxiety.

As soon as Ye Wei'an came out, Ai Lian immediately rushed over and asked with concern, "Young Master! Why did it take you so long to come out?"

As she spoke, she glanced into the prayer room. "That wicked woman was yelling so loudly in there... What happened? Was she trying to harm you? If so, I'll rush in right now and smash her shrine!"

Looking at Ai Lian's loyal and devoted appearance, ready to kill and rob for him at any time, Ye Wei'an felt a warmth in his heart.

All the ruthless calculations and intrigues that had taken place at the negotiating table were instantly forgotten.

He chuckled and ruffled the little maid's hair. "Don't worry, she wouldn't dare do anything to me. I'm a powerful mage, you know!"

As he spoke, he struck a strong pose.

"So what exactly happened?" Ellen asked, even more curious.

"It's nothing, we just discussed a deal."

"Like in Firefall?" Ellen immediately thought of that night and became excited.

"Just like in Firefall Town, only this time you'll earn more." Ye Wei'an looked at Lina, who was waiting expectantly not far away, and reminded her, "You can tell Sister Lina that she's free. And starting tomorrow, she won't be the head maid of Firefall Territory anymore, but my head maid, Ye Wei'an. I have a lot of work waiting for her to do, and a lot of gold coins waiting for her to count."

"Yes, sir! I knew the young master was the best!" Ellen excitedly ran towards Lina.