The Tianmeng Ice Worm's gaze landed on this human youth, whose depth it couldn't quite discern.
It couldn't figure out the current situation at all, but after a slight pause, it still tried to sound tough: "W-who are you? Why did you capture me?"
Kong Mingan did not answer immediately.
He glanced at the Ice Empress behind him. Their eyes met briefly, and then Kong Mingan retracted his gaze and gently raised his hand.
Immediately, a golden, sparkling contract scroll with clear clauses unfolded out of thin air, floating before the Tianmeng Ice Worm's eyes.
The Tianmeng Ice Worm's consciousness swept over it, quickly reviewing the contents, and soon understood the contract.
This was a long-term labor contract with limited freedom, requiring it to contribute its Soul Skill Module and cooperate with various research projects.
The benefits were minimal; the greatest advantage highlighted was being allowed to live.
At this moment, Kong Mingan's calm voice finally sounded: "Sign the contract."
The Tianmeng Ice Worm's expression was momentarily conflicted. It tried to struggle a bit more: "Are there any other options?"
Under the Tianmeng Ice Worm's slightly expectant gaze, Kong Mingan nodded and said softly, "There are."
Immediately after,
"Buzz—!"
The Energy chains restraining the Tianmeng Ice Worm instantly contracted. A fierce pain that penetrated its Soul and marrow struck, causing its massive body to tremble violently and emit a silent wail.
Struggle was futile, but after only one or two seconds, Kong Mingan's clenched hand relaxed, and the Tianmeng Ice Worm's pain receded like a tide.
The Tianmeng Ice Worm's body trembled. Kong Mingan's eyes were calm, and his tone remained peaceful: "The second option is to erase your consciousness and become research material."
The massive body of the Tianmeng Ice Worm shivered.
Then, in the next second,
It used its remaining weak mental force to unhesitatingly imprint its Soul mark at the end of the contract:
"Hello, Boss! Tianmeng reports for duty! Do you have any instructions for me!"
Its voice was loud and loyal, and it sounded eager to improve.
Kong Mingan paused for a rare moment.
This swift, decisive, and no-nonsense speed of submission...
Kong Mingan couldn't help but turn his head to look at the Ice Empress beside him. "Has this guy always been like this?"
The Ice Empress had a hint of indifference in her eyes, but her hand naturally grabbed Kong Mingan and leaned against him:
"What kind of backbone do you expect from a piece of trash that is useless except for its age?"
Kong Mingan offered no comment, merely nodding, then turned back to the Tianmeng Ice Worm and showed a benevolent smile:
"In that case, welcome aboard."
"Thank you, Boss!"
The Tianmeng Ice Worm was streaming with tears.
Never mind everything else for now; surviving was more important than anything!
... A moment later, after having the Tianmeng Ice Worm leave behind the few Soul Skill Modules it possessed, Kong Mingan had Elder Yi take it away.
Kong Mingan admitted that he couldn't fully control such high-level research material yet.
After all, the Tianmeng Ice Worm was not the Snow Empress. The Snow Empress would cooperate wholeheartedly with his tests and maintain absolute trust in him, while the Tianmeng Ice Worm... it would be good enough if it didn't interfere with him.
It was better to hand it over to Elder Yi for research. It might be possible to study how to forge a million-year spirit ring.
With Elder Yi's strength, he might even be able to produce something like a "Divine Ring."
After sending Elder Yi off, only Kong Mingan and the Ice Empress remained in the laboratory.
With no one else around, Kong Mingan was about to speak, but the Ice Empress released his hand, slightly increasing the distance between them. Her delicate little face was turned away, looking like she didn't want to talk to him.
"What's wrong?" Kong Mingan asked, sounding slightly puzzled.
"Nothing. Let's go back first." The Ice Empress shook her head.
Kong Mingan looked at the Ice Empress but ultimately didn't press the matter.
The two stepped through the doorway and returned to the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce's base in Shrek City.
Kong Mingan would be residing permanently in Shrek City for the foreseeable future.
The "Tang San" he had been monitoring had already set off three months early on the road to Shrek. Although he was currently still being repeatedly robbed and beaten by bandits along the way, it was clear that he would join Shrek Academy.
He was extremely, extremely excited about this; it might just be the start of his plan.
On the long corridor of the Chamber of Commerce base, Kong Mingan walked ahead, with the Ice Empress positioned slightly half a step behind him and to his side.
Unlike the Snow Empress, who habitually concealed herself completely when acting as Kong Mingan's personal guard to deal with possible emergencies—thus rarely showing her figure—
the Ice Empress was different. She preferred to stand directly by his side, appearing with him, never leaving his step, like shadow following form.
The Ice Empress slightly raised her head, looking at the side profile of Kong Mingan ahead, who was playing with the Tianmeng Ice Worm's Soul Skill Module. After a moment of hesitation, she suddenly asked, "Do you sign contracts with everyone else like you just did?"
Without turning his head, Kong Mingan answered the Ice Empress's question while examining the Soul Skill Module in his hand:
"Generally, no. The standard procedure is usually to show sincerity, and then offer a choice, seeing if the other party is willing to sign the contract. That is the conventional method.
"For some who refuse to cooperate but are highly valuable for research, such as certain Evil Soul Masters, the methods are more direct. They sign an irreversible slave contract. After all, Evil Soul Masters are not people, so there's no need to treat them as such.
"As for the Tianmeng Ice Worm, this counts as a labor contract. The value of a million-year Spirit Beast is too high; I couldn't possibly let it leave. I captured it first, and we'll see later."
The Ice Empress was silent for a moment, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt. Her voice lowered slightly, carrying a nervousness she didn't even realize:
"What about me?"
Kong Mingan's steps didn't stop, and without turning his head, he casually replied: "You? You are different from everyone else."
The Ice Empress's heart inexplicably skipped a beat, and a hint of indescribable expectation quietly arose.
However, in the next moment, Kong Mingan's voice continued:
"...After all, you were brought by the Snow Empress. If I were to pressure you, although she probably wouldn't get angry at me, she would be unhappy. I don't want her to be unhappy."
The Ice Empress: "..."
The expectation in the Ice Empress's heart vanished without a trace at that moment.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions, but the more she thought about this guy's words, the less calm she felt.
The Ice Empress's delicate little face gradually flushed red.
Not from shyness.
Purely from anger.
She truly wanted to bite this bastard to death right now! Couldn't he say something nice?! All he ever did was infuriate her! Even lying to her would have been fine!
Kong Mingan, who was observing the Tianmeng Ice Worm's Soul Skill Module with interest, suddenly felt a chilling coldness emanating from his side.
He turned his head and saw a pair of golden eyes staring fiercely at him.
"What's wrong?"
"...Go to hell, you bastard!" The Ice Empress shouted a curse, then immediately punched him in the lower back.
It wasn't too painful; she seemed to retain her rationality and pulled her strength back at the critical moment, but her resentment was practically overflowing.
Looking at the Ice Empress stomping angrily ahead, Kong Mingan fell silent for a moment.
Did I annoy her again?
When?
Kong Mingan fell into contemplation... Kong Mingan didn't dwell too much on the reason for the Ice Empress's sudden anger; after all, this was how the Ice Empress behaved.
Things were fine when they first met a few years ago, but recently, she would suddenly get angry from time to time.
When he asked, the Ice Empress wouldn't say, constantly calling him "bastard" and "go to hell" in a tone that sounded less like cursing and more like praise.
In short, it wasn't very damaging.
Returning with the Ice Empress to the laboratory he had set up within the Chamber of Commerce base, Kong Mingan placed the two Soul Skill Modules in his hand on the table, his eyes flickering slightly.
Do you remember the concept of a "sub-brain" that Kong Mingan had conceived long ago, which was eventually shelved due to various matters and ultimately abandoned?
Now, he seemed to have found a way to realize it.
(End of Chapter)
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