"I'll agree then."
Dan Heng speechlessly pulled out his phone.
Sure enough.
As soon as he unlocked the screen, in the group chat, March 7th had already sent him an electronic contract invitation.
"…"
Dan Heng's mouth twitched. He squatted on the ground, narrowed his eyes, and began reading the contract carefully.
It wasn't that he disagreed with withdrawing—he was worried those two births had left traps in the contract.
"Oh my god, Mr. Dan Heng is reading the contract so seriously—are they really teammates?!"
The Silvermane Guards all around were stunned by the scene.
A contract from a companion still required this level of caution?
"Is Mr. Dan Heng being too petty? Is it really necessary?" someone said.
"Bullshit! You don't know the Executive Officer and Miss March 7th's true nature—can those two be trusted?!"
"Pit-teammate stuff—they're fully capable of it."
"But… can Mr. Dan Heng really spot the loopholes in the contract? Does he even have experience in this area?"
"…"
At this moment, Dan Heng squatted in the center of the crowd, brows tightly furrowed.
When he reached a certain section, he immediately opened a small window and sent a message to the Astral Express big-three group chat.
[Cold Dragon Young: Why does the contract still require me to pay four months of credits as a penalty for breach?]
Soon, Dan Heng received a reply.
It was from Zeig.
[Ultimate Slacker: Oops, sorry sorry~ This contract was modified from another one we had—there might be some oversights, haha. I'll send you another copy.]
[Ultimate Slacker: (Inviting you to co-sign electronic contract)]
[Cold Dragon Young: …]
Dan Heng opened the new contract.
Sure enough, the part he had pointed out had already been deleted.
At that moment, Zeig urged again in the group:
[Ultimate Slacker: Come on, Dan Heng—sign it quick! Once you sign, I'll immediately go pick up the Guards and merchants. The situation is so dangerous right now—don't hesitate anymore!]
Dan Heng glanced at Zeig's message from the small window. Below it, March 7th chimed in as well.
[Ultimate Beautiful Girl: Yeah yeah—stop reading already. This contract is just for show—sign it and be done! Hurry hurry hurry!]
"…"
Dan Heng pursed his lips amid the encirclement of Silvermane Guards, continued squatting on the ground, and meticulously read through the contract once more.
He completely ignored the two demons' devilish mutterings.
A cold wind blew.
Everyone on the snow plains couldn't help shrinking back.
One of the caravan members looked around and said:
"Um… counting the time we've already been here, it's been quite a while, right? Why hasn't that Stellaron Hunter shown up yet?"
A nearby Silvermane Guard agreed:
"Is it possible the enemy already left? How about we talk to the Captain and just walk back? Whoever wants to stay and fight can remain here on guard."
"No way!"
An officer immediately scolded:
"That's exactly why we're afraid the enemy will pick us off one by one—we need the Executive Officer's high-speed movement capability! If during the return trip the enemy doesn't confront Mr. Dan Heng head-on but instead bypasses them to attack us—that's when we're truly finished!"
"But… I feel like besides us, there's really no one nearby." The Silvermane Guard said weakly.
"Arrogance—pure arrogance!"
The officer stepped closer and continued scolding:
"Even a lion uses full strength to catch a rabbit. Moreover, this is an enemy Mr. Dan Heng takes extremely seriously—we must be even more cautious!"
"It's very likely this is the enemy's smokescreen. He's deliberately delaying his appearance just to wait for us to lower our guard!"
The questioning Silvermane Guard scratched his helmet nervously:
"I-Is that so?"
The officer said seriously: "Mm-hmm!"
"…"
Across the vast snow plains, the entire solemn Silvermane Guard army rested in place.
Among them were some playful ones who had already climbed onto certain statues.
"Wow, last time I came I thought this toilet base looked so realistic—I didn't expect it to still be so perfectly preserved now!"
"Right?"
Below, a Silvermane Guard stood with hands on hips, proudly declaring:
"Back then, the Executive Officer and Miss March painstakingly selected only the finest white remnants from the Voidrangers to build this toilet base—they really went all out!"
"Mr. Dan Heng still not done?"
"Oh, he just found another 13 traps in the contract."
"?"
"There are demands for breach penalties, ones to sell himself into slavery, even ones to hand over child custody rights—anyway, a whole bunch…"
"O.o?"
Seele stood beside Dan Heng, eyes wide.
The phone screen in his hand was packed with dense black text—Seele's head hurt just looking at it.
"Oh my god—are you guys waging corporate war? How can such a tiny contract have so many pitfalls?"
Dan Heng squatted on the ground hugging his phone and murmured:
"Some obvious traps are just to mislead me. Their main purpose is to cover up the real intentions."
He pointed to a section of text and held the screen toward Seele:
"For example here—it requires me to buy breakfast for March 7th and Zeig every single day."
"…"
Seele's mouth twitched a few times as she complained:
"Compared to stuff like selling yourself or child custody, that's nothing at all—just sign it already."
Dan Heng shook his head, gaze calm:
"No—this is their true objective. All those exaggerated parts are just to distract from these."
"But if we keep dragging like this—what if that Stellaron Hunter suddenly jumps out?"
"No problem." Dan Heng's gaze remained calm:
"During that time just now, Zeig already marked every Silvermane Guard and caravan member. The moment the enemy appears, they'll all be instantly teleported to Belobog Administrative District plaza."
"Huh?"
Seele's mouth fell open as she asked:
"So many people? All marked? And he can pull them all away instantly?"
Dan Heng nodded: "Mm."
Seele's eyes widened:
"No way—isn't this efficiency a bit too high? Fighting a corporate war with you while simultaneously rescuing people here—what level is this?!"
Dan Heng pointed upward.
Seele followed his finger and saw a drone circling overhead, silently overlooking the entire scene.
"This is the Express crew's internal war. You're still too naive."
"…"
Kiana walked over to the two, holding a cup of hot tea and smiling:
"Um, Dan Heng—have some hot tea. You've been squatting on the ground for so long."
Dan Heng refused directly:
"Thanks, but no."
"Hey hey hey—if you won't drink, I will."
Seele took the hot tea from Kiana. Just holding it in her hands brought incomparable warmth in this frozen wasteland.
"Seriously—such cold weather, how can you not cherish hot tea?"
Seele parted her lips, about to take a light sip—when Dan Heng, still squatting, suddenly stood up and slapped the cup out of Seele's hand: "Careful!"
"Huh?"
The warm tea splashed onto a nearby rock, rising in a wisp of red vapor.
"?!!! What the hell—why is the vapor red?!" Seele exclaimed in shock.
Dan Heng said calmly:
"It's some kind of short-term sleeping tea… or a beverage that interferes with the mind. Those two have already started using methods beyond the contract."
"!!!"
…