Chapter 18: The Scroll of the Verbal Contract

At the critical moment, Su Liu focused her mind and activated the Hourglass of the Morning Hour: “Slow it down!”

The blue light of the hourglass intensified, and the mist-hidden snake lizard was slowed to a third of its speed, moving as if in slow motion.

At the same time, Su Liu enveloped herself in acceleration, regaining some mobility and forcefully twisting her body to dodge the deadly bite.

“Dango, use the ‘Empty Scar’ to strike its vital point!”

The cooldown had ended. Little Dango gathered energy, and two intersecting spatial rifts sliced toward the mist-hidden snake lizard’s weak spot.

Though its scales were tough, the spatial cuts ignored defenses, leaving wounds deep enough to see the bone beneath.

The snake lizard howled in pain and fury, breaking invisibility and sweeping its tail.

Su Liu read the trajectory of the tail sweep and plunged her dagger fiercely into the joint of the tail.

But the snake lizard opened its massive jaws, preparing to emit another poisonous mist—too close to evade!

Thinking quickly, Su Liu commanded, “Dango, use ‘Windstorm Step’ to redirect the poison mist!”

Little Dango leapt with all its might, stomping rapidly in midair toward the poison mist. The pressure of the wind created a countercurrent, blowing the poison cloud off course.

Seizing the chance, Su Liu charged forward, her sharp and resilient dagger piercing the weak point beneath the snake lizard’s jaw, while Little Dango’s claws precisely targeted its eyes.

Taking advantage, Su Liu vaulted onto the snake’s spine, stabbing the dagger into the fatal spot!

Crack!

A crisp sound of vertebrae breaking echoed as the mist-hidden snake lizard collapsed limply to the ground, motionless.

Dropped items: 1 premium beginner core, 1 sharp snake tooth, 1 mist powder.

“Liu Liu sister, you’re badly hurt...” Little Dango held the poisoned dagger it had retrieved, looking at Su Liu with worry.

Su Liu stored the items and immediately retreated with Little Dango into her space, seeking medicine and bandages to staunch the bleeding and tend her wounds.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Su Liu, the chat hall was already in uproar.

Player “Gentle Lotus Kiss” spoke up:

“Everyone, I heard rumors that @Doomsday Madman bought a lot of stuff in the ‘service area’? (sigh emoji)”

“I really envy the Madman’s strength! But it’s still early in the game, and many new players are struggling for even a sip of water or a piece of bread.”

“We’re all comrades in the same district and should help each other out. The Madman hoarding so many non-essential survival supplies—fresh vegetables, soaps, and the like—couldn’t he share some with those who need it more? Like the injured or players stuck in barren zones?”

“Why not establish a ‘Mutual Aid Resource Pool’? I’ll manage it temporarily to ensure fair distribution. Let the wealth of the strong flow a little—that’s how we strengthen the unity of our whole district!”

These words struck a nerve and took immediate effect.

Many new players joined the chorus of support—

“Storm’s End”: “Yeah, Madman, sell me a bar of soap! I’m reaping the wilderness and smell like a swamp!”

“Hate Calculus”: “Madman, I’m stuck in the desert, out of water. Can I trade some supplies for water? I won’t freeload, just please have mercy on my kid.”

“I’m Cilantro”: “Madman, could you give us some benefits? Like bandages or anti-inflammatory meds... I’m badly hurt~”

“Username Failed to Load”: “All these people, what ugly faces. So it’s not that you don’t care about supplies. You just don’t want to improve your strength, wasting energy on nonsense. A bunch of **.”

“Springwater Commander”: “Hey, everyone calm down. Since Madman is a top player, he surely takes care of us struggling players.”

“I think ‘Gentle Lotus Kiss’ made a good point—helping the weak builds goodwill. Madman will surely consider it. Maybe he’s just busy and hasn’t seen it yet.”

“Little Square”: “What shameless people. So being weak means you’re right? When others are dying, you don’t think about helping but just demand their precious supplies.”

“You’re all just trying to grab a free ride. When you have supplies, you’ll never willingly give them to some big lotus flower!”

Little Square’s words silenced many players.

If it were them, giving away their resources? That would be madness!

Yet many players remained neutral, agreeing somewhat with “Gentle Lotus Kiss” but unwilling to ask outright, staying silent.

After cleaning up and washing, Su Liu lay on her bed and opened the chat hall, instantly bombarded by private messages and public “suggestions.”

Pinching her brow, her wound throbbed faintly with irritation.

She was not stingy but keenly aware of humanity’s cruelty and loathed such moral coercion and forced generosity.

There’s no such thing as “step back to see the vast ocean.” Once you step back, you’re sure to be stripped bare.

At that moment, Su Liu suddenly recalled the scroll she had drawn from the blind box, and her brow relaxed.

This lotus player provoked me first; she can’t blame me for being ruthless.

“Doomsday Madman”: “‘Resource pool’? ‘Flowing wealth’? @Gentle Lotus Kiss, interesting idea. Since you’re so eager to ‘distribute,’ I suppose you have a plan.”

“I’m sure you’re not the type to greedily hoard others’ supplies, right? So I guess your proposal includes yourself as well.”

Su Liu’s words were cunning.

She placed the white lotus front and center, forcing her to choose between leading or backing down, stripping away her “administrator” mask.

Then she set a trap, demanding a clear public commitment—the exact trigger condition of her scroll!

The chat hall instantly froze. Most players held their breath.

“Gentle Lotus Kiss” was caught in a dilemma, stomping angrily!

After reading a “trusted insider tip” from “Springwater Commander,” she had originally planned only a little moral pressure, gaining fame and then profiting at a low cost.

She struggled, overwhelmed by bitterness and hope—maybe the other party was bluffing?

Anyway, once she spoke, secretly manipulating behind the scenes would go unnoticed.

Exactly! Doomsday Madman must be bluffing.

To maintain her image and force Doomsday Madman’s hand, she grit her teeth and declared in the district channel:

“Gentle Lotus Kiss”: “Fine! @Doomsday Madman, for the sake of the community’s survival, as the initiator, I’m willing to lead by example!”

“Yes, in such harsh conditions, it’s the responsibility of the strong to share their ‘surplus’ supplies with the weak!”

“It’s the key to uniting District 888! I call on everyone capable to voluntarily share!”

Suddenly—

[Detected player “Gentle Lotus Kiss” made a publicly binding commitment in a specific scenario.]

[Special item [Verbal Contract Scroll (owned by Doomsday Madman)] activated! Enforcing the contract’s conditions…]

“Wh-what—!” The horrified scream of Gentle Lotus Kiss was silenced before she could even broadcast it!

In the next instant, every online player in District 888 received the notification: