The night grew deeper, and the rain fell harder.
Outside the window, the sound of water hitting the pavement continued to ring out like firecrackers popping...
Inside the room, Tristan Mariana sat at his desk, continuing to study his special ability.
He pulled out a notebook and began organizing the information in his mind.
"Regarding 'buying time' and 'selling time.'"
"This seems to originate from some mysterious rule in the universe, a transaction conducted under the witness of a contract..."
"In this transaction, I play the role of the merchant."
On the white writing paper, Tristan Mariana gripped his pen and wrote these words.
From the information Tristan Mariana had received, he understood that whether buying or selling 'time,' he needed to draft a certificate in advance—in modern terms, a 'contract.'
This contract was called a 'time contract.'
The 'time contract' would be drafted by Tristan Mariana, and once both parties signed it, the contents of the contract would be witnessed by the universe itself. No one could violate it, not even him as the instigator.
Tristan Mariana turned to a new page.
At the top center of this page, he wrote: 'Time Purchase Contract Template.'
He paused, showing signs of contemplation, then began to continue writing point by point.
Contract Number:
Party A, Time Seller:
Party B, Purchaser:
Specific Terms:
Following mutual agreement, both parties have reached the following agreement:
Article One: Neither party may disclose this transaction to anyone.
Article Two: Neither party may investigate Party B's information or data in any way.
Article Three: Neither party may engage in any behavior that damages Party B's interests.
Article Four: Neither party may falsely report their personal annual income level.
Article Five: After signing this contract, it shall be deemed that both parties have reached an agreement, and the transaction cannot be stopped.
Article Six: In case of violation, depending on the severity of the breach, the violator's remaining 'time' shall be reduced accordingly. Serious violators shall have their remaining 'time' reduced to zero!
Article Seven: Payment method.
After both parties sign, they may choose one of the following methods for the transaction.
Tristan Mariana stopped writing.
He looked at the extremely crude 'time purchase' contract in his notebook.
According to the information in his mind, while he as the instigator couldn't violate the contract, he did have the authority to draft it.
So during the drafting process, Tristan Mariana naturally prioritized protecting his own interests, essentially turning this contract into a completely one-sided 'predatory contract'!
Tristan Mariana wasn't worried that this contract would affect his future business. After all, he controlled the most essential resource—'time.'
Tristan Mariana turned to a new page.
In the center of the first line, he wrote again: 'Time Sales Contract Template.'
Following that, the rest of the content was basically the same as the 'Purchase Contract Template.'
After roughly establishing the first version of these contracts, Tristan Mariana turned on his computer and printed out a stack of each contract.
...
After organizing the two contracts into separate folders and putting them in a drawer, Tristan Mariana turned to a new page in his notebook.
After thinking for a moment, at the beginning of the first line, he wrote down the next topic he wanted to consider:
"Regarding the valuation definition of 'time' - Purchase."
Although some say that time is the fairest thing, equal for everyone...
The value each person creates in the same amount of time is different.
For some people, every day, every year of time is highly meaningful; but for others, every day, every year is tedious and dull.
So when it comes to buying or selling, can the same price be used?
Tristan Mariana didn't want to disrupt social order, so setting it too high or too low wouldn't work.
He put down his pen and fell into deep thought.
After a long while, Tristan Mariana continued writing.
Regarding the pricing of 'time purchase.'
Using ordinary people as an example (scientists, educators, military personnel, doctors with high medical ethics, and other professions calculated separately):
For those with annual income below one hundred thousand dollars, purchase at a price of three hundred thousand dollars per year, non-negotiable.
For those with annual income above one hundred thousand dollars, purchase at triple their annual income, non-negotiable.
Addendum: If the seller has other behaviors that increase the value of their time, the purchase price may be raised.
Tristan Mariana turned to a new page.
He picked up his pen and wrote in the first line: "Regarding the valuation definition of 'time' - Sales."
"Must strictly control time sales..."
"The amount of time a single person can purchase must also be controlled."
He thought, then wrote:
Using wealthy merchants as an example (scientists, educators, military personnel, doctors with high medical ethics, and other professions calculated separately):
For those with assets over ten million dollars, one-fifth of their annual value creation shall serve as the price for one year of time (Addendum: 1. First purchase conditions; 2. Second purchase price can only increase, not decrease)...
As he wrote this, Tristan Mariana's pen suddenly paused.
A new idea appeared in his mind.
This was the prototype of a massive 'organizational framework'!
"The Longevity Club!"
Tristan Mariana turned to a new page in his notebook and wrote these words in the center of the first line.
"The club encompasses everything, gathering and assembling the most elite ordinary people, talented individuals, and wealthy merchants from all walks of life on Earth..."
"Club membership should be divided into 9 levels..."
"Based solely on monetary expenditure as a measure:"
"Level 1 members are at the ten-million level; Level 2 members are at the hundred-million level; Level 3 members are at the billion level; Level 4 members are at the ten-billion level; Level 5 members are at the hundred-billion level; Level 6 members are at the trillion level..."
"Level 1 members can exchange for at most one year of life; Level 2 members can exchange for three years of life; Level 3 members can exchange for five years of life; Level 4 members can exchange for ten years of life; Level 5 members can exchange for eighteen years of life; Level 6 members can exchange for twenty-six years of life..."
Before long, the world's most terrifying and mysterious organization gradually appeared under Tristan Mariana's pen.