Chapter 180: The Styx

For the rest of the night, Li Mochen spent signing various employment contracts with the help of Zhang Wei and Sampson Blut.

At Xuri Company, a single contract sufficed, but for the combat forces, an additional 'Hell Contract' had to be signed.

Most of the thugs and illegal immigrants Li Mochen hired through the Red Sparrow Club had questionable reputations, so precautions were necessary.

The trio's progress was slow; by nine in the evening, only a quarter of the contracts were signed, and most of those were with former comrades of Zhang Wei and Sampson Blut.

At this point, Li Mochen had to call it a day, knowing they couldn't finish all the work tonight.

Fortunately, although the Red Sparrow Club only opened on Fridays, its various departments operated on other days. The club could help complete the recruitment in the following days.

By then, Li Mochen felt his soul undergoing a leap in fusion, and the 'Divine Fortune Purple-Gold Pagoda' in his sword bag trembled incessantly.

Li Mochen guessed the pagoda had undergone some changes, but he was too busy to examine it.

At half past nine, Li Mochen finally understood why Sampson Blut had looked down on the equipment he offered.

When Sampson appeared with his twelve comrades, they were all clad in exceptionally luxurious gun-armor.

Li Mochen's knowledge of equipment was still rudimentary, but just by the immense spiritual energy swirling around Sampson's armor, he knew it was worth at least six million gold shields—definitely 15S-grade or above!

Li Mochen thought, no wonder Sampson wore clothes bought from a street stall; he guessed most of Sampson's assets were invested in this set of equipment.

The other twelve were in similar straits, their gear all top-tier and high-end. With his limited knowledge, Li Mochen recognized over a dozen pieces, all 15A-grade, priced at hundreds of thousands of gold shields in the Red Sparrow second-hand equipment store.

Even Carl Holton swallowed a mouthful of saliva after seeing them: "Wow, is this a top-tier dragon-hunting squad? Amo, it's hard to say whether you're gaining or losing now."

Though Sampson's twelve men were only level-10 magic professionals, with this equipment, they could hold their own even against Outlaws.

Li Mochen himself smiled bitterly: "Sampson, you should have asked for higher pay for them. I think they deserve it."

He estimated the total value of their equipment exceeded twenty million, and with their Red Scorpion unit background, at least two 10S-level combat ratings, and various special skills, they were entitled to three times the salary of ordinary level-10 professionals.

"We'll talk about that later."

Sampson Blut shook his head: "Boss, I've roughly understood your situation. You're already in a lot of debt, right? I don't want to add to your burden, but as long as you can fulfill your promise to fight the Blood Hand Gang to the death, my comrades and I will always be your loyal subordinates."

"Of course."

Carl couldn't help but taunt: "If the Blood Hand Gang is really destroyed by Amo, then the Dragon Witch Cult will hate him to the bone. You'll have a chance for revenge."

"I admit, I did have the idea of dragging the boss into this. The boss has a bright future. I've seen his match with James Lanster; he has extraordinary fighting talent. I think being a fighting star is not the boss's end. His future should be legendary, even demigod—"

Sampson Blut admitted frankly: "The boss is a straw we grabbed at the lowest point of our lives, so we are full of hope. We believe this is fate's arrangement, and we are ready to offer our loyalty. I think the boss won't refuse now?"

Seeing Carl had nothing more to say, Sampson Blut turned to Li Mochen with a puzzled look: "I just don't understand, Boss, why have you gathered us? Do you have some action planned? I think you should wait another two days to let me assemble the combat force you need. No, I only need thirty-six hours!"

Zhang Wei also interjected: "I want to know too, Boss, are we going somewhere?"

Beside him stood several comrades, also gathered urgently after signing contracts under Li Mochen's orders.

But unlike the cold indifference of Sampson's group, these men showed hesitation on their faces.

Li Mochen understood; it was human nature. No one would risk their lives for an employer they'd known for less than three hours, doing something possibly illegal.

Not everyone, like Sampson Blut's comrades, had a deep hatred for the Dragon Witch Cult.

So he simply pointed behind him and said calmly: "Let's talk in the car. I guarantee no laws will be broken. If there's any combat operation, I'll notify you in advance. First, carry those things onto the car. Be careful, especially the red sealed box. What's inside is worth ten million gold shields."

—That was his last acquisition at the Red Sparrow Club, funded by savings on equipment and personnel. It would allow him to expand his plan slightly.

"OK, you're the boss!"

Zhang Wei shrugged and walked toward the red sealed box.

Zhang Wei still didn't understand Li Mochen's intentions, but he wasn't overly curious. Since Li Mochen guaranteed no laws would be broken and it wasn't a combat operation, he was happy to comply.

Blut's men, all military veterans, acted swiftly. Within seconds, they were seated in an armored bus arranged by Carl.

It was then that Li Mochen took out dozens of pre-written 'Styx Contracts' and distributed them to everyone present except the driver and Carl.

—This was also a type of soul contract, also called 'Yellow Spring Contract'. Unlike the Hell Contract, it had stronger binding force and fewer loopholes.

Once violated, even a demigod could not survive the scouring of the Styx's power.

"What's this?"

Zhang Wei examined the contract under a tactical flashlight: "Party B must keep everything that happens from 10 PM tonight to 12 PM tomorrow strictly confidential, never revealing the details under any circumstances. Boss, may I ask?"

"Sorry, I can't explain the details now. Beyond my previous guarantee, I can only reveal that it involves a secret technique of my family, so secrecy is required. However, everything that happens from now until noon tomorrow will benefit everyone here."

Li Mochen chose his words carefully: "Of course, if you're unwilling, you can withdraw."

"So these magical materials are for this secret technique?"

Zhang Wei glanced thoughtfully at the boxes in the back of the bus, then decisively signed his name on the Styx document.

"I agree, Boss. Although the contract is broad and mysterious, it has no unreasonable demands, and you've guaranteed our right to withdraw at any time. Now you've made me curious—what kind of secret technique requires you to be so cautious as to use dozens of Styx Contracts worth ten thousand gold each to enforce secrecy?"

"You'll understand in at most two hours. I think it won't disappoint you."

Seeing no one on the bus resisted the contract, Li Mochen gazed fervently at the windshield ahead.

—This was the first time since coming to this world that he had resolved to use a top-tier secret technique bordering on evil.

Li Mochen anticipated that his actions today might bring risks and hidden dangers in the future, but he was equally eager for the effects of this technique.

After all, the magical energy in this world was ten times stronger than in the Original Dome Realm!