Apocalypse: I Have A Multiplier System - Chapter 176

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Cursed Contract

[Zzz…Initializing the conversation…]

Xi Ping was scared by the sudden sound in her ears. She jumped back and took a defensive pose, looking around with a narrowed gaze. She tried to find where the sound was originating yet she found nothing.

[Hello…I am Boss Su’s assistant, and I am trying to communicate with you through electrical signals.]

Xi Ping was at a loss for words.

“Who? Who is Boss Su?”

[Boss Su is the leader of the base located 100 km away from your base Crystal Cove.]

“So? Does that give you the right to suddenly send electrical signals to a person who is at a distance of 100 km from you?” Xi Ping asked in a cold voice.

[Miss Xi I don’t mean to offend you.]

Xi Ping chuckled,

“I can’t sense any goodwill from you.”

There was a hint of mockery on her end. In her view, every base leader is a leech who leeches off federal coins, resources, and food from their citizen.

[I have a deal for you.]

“I am not interested.” Xi Ping said and turned to leave.

The system ignored Xi Ping’s words and continued,

[I can tell you the description of your fourth superpower. If you don’t listen to my explanation, you will never be able to use the 4th superpower.]

“It’s alright.” Xi Ping waved her hand. “I have three superpowers and I am happy with that. Not to mention I don’t trust strangers.”

On finishing her words, Xi Ping walked toward the Crystal Cove.

She expected the voice to continue, but the voice went completely silent. It was as if the sound never existed.

Xi Ping cleared up her throat and said,

“If you can give me some deposit, I can consider the offer.”

The system agreed instantly.

[Sure.]

The next second a bag suddenly dropped at her feet, a soft thud breaking the eerie silence of the clearing.

She eyed it warily, her instincts on high alert.

Cautiously, she knelt and opened the bag, peering inside. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the ten neatly stacked cup noodles.

Each cup was brightly colored, promising warmth.

Xi Ping’s heart raced.

This was no ordinary gesture.

In an apocalypse where food was a currency more precious than gold, who could afford to just give away ten cup noodles?

“Was Boss Su a rich tycoon?” she murmured to herself.

She had always associated base leaders with greed and exploitation, but this was different. The temptation of a hearty meal was too great to ignore.

“What does she want from me?”

As if summoned by her thoughts, the voice returned, its tone more insistent than before.

[Miss Xi, if you’re interested in the noodles, I urge you to listen to what I have to offer.]

“Fine, I’m listening,” she relented, sitting back on her heels.

A contract materialized in the air before her, shimmering faintly with an ethereal glow. Xi Ping squinted at it, half-expecting it to vanish, but it held steady.

The voice continued,

[Please read the contract. It details what you would be required to do for Boss Su.]

She reached out hesitantly, her fingers brushing the surface of the contract. It felt cool and smooth, like polished stone.

As she began to read, her brow furrowed.

The terms were simple: perform a favor for Boss Su that would not involve killing or committing a crime, and in return, she would receive assistance from Boss Su, tailored to her needs.

As she scanned through the terms, her heart sank slightly when she noted the stipulation: this contract is cursed. Should you attempt to break it, you will be bound by its magic until the task is complete.

A chill crept down her spine.

What kind of curse?

What would it entail?

“I don’t like the sound of that,” she muttered.

But then she recalled the ten-cup noodles and the promise of something more.

This power, whatever it was, might just be worth the risk.

After all, she could handle herself. She had tri-powers—super strength, super speed, and teleportation.

A mere contract shouldn’t scare her.

“What guarantees do I have that you’ll honor this agreement?” she asked.

[Boss Su will agree to any conditions you propose, provided they do not contravene the contract’s terms.]

Xi Ping raised an eyebrow.

“Alright, let’s see if you’re telling the truth.” She leaned back slightly, thinking through her options.

After a moment’s consideration, she declared,

“I want 500 kilograms of rice and another 500 cup noodles.”

The silence that followed felt deafening, and she held her breath, anticipating a rejection or some clever loophole to dismiss her request.

But then the voice responded,

[That condition is acceptable.]

Her eyes widened. “Really? Just like that?”

Doubt flickered in her mind.

Was this too good to be true?

But the contract’s simplicity reassured her that there were no hidden traps.

“Sign now!” the voice urged.

“Not so fast,” she replied defiantly. “I want my payment first. I won’t sign without it.” She crossed her arms, standing firm.

For a moment, the voice hesitated, as if weighing her demand. Xi Ping felt a rush of satisfaction.

She had the upper hand.

“And if you don’t agree?”

[…I will agree,] it said finally.

For some reason, Xi Ping felt that the voice was in some urgent need of assistance.

Before she could fully process the response, five enormous bags appeared in front of her, their weighty presence causing the ground to shift slightly underfoot.

She stared, slack-jawed, unable to find her voice.

“What the hell?” she exclaimed, stepping forward to examine them.

Each bag was filled to the brim with rice and noodles, more than she had ever dared to hope for.

The assistant urged her again,

[Please sign the contract!]

“Wait, I need a pen,” she said, scrambling for something to write with.

[You don’t need a pen. Just a few drops of blood will suffice to activate it.]

“Blood? You want me to spill my blood for this?”