Chapter 43: The Contract Written in Darkness

“Didn’t you say you can bring even the dead back to life?”

“I can’t bring back the dead… maybe someone on the verge of dying, but not the dead.”

I lowered my head and answered gloomily.

Perhaps he liked how quick-witted I was, because Jo Juncheol broke into a bright smile.

It was such an innocent, wide grin that I momentarily blanked out just looking at it.

“Seems like Shin Dongho wants your friend dead. Do you want me to save him?”

“Huh? You can do that?”

My eyes lit up as I looked at him.

Jo Juncheol shrugged like it was nothing.

“Shin Dongho used to be quite useful, but now that the backup power plant is almost fully restored, he’s not that necessary anymore.”

It seemed Shin Dongho had been useful when electricity was scarce.

But now that he wasn’t needed, he didn’t mind discarding him.

“So, what will you do?”

Jo Juncheol placed a blank sheet of paper and a walkie-talkie in front of me.

Unable to figure out what they were for, I tilted my head, and he turned on the radio.

[—Arrived at Garak Market entrance—twenty ability users deployed—five minutes before hotel entry—]

A tense situation report flowed through the radio.

It sounded like they were moments away from attacking Hanjun.

The distance from the National Assembly to Garak Market is over 20 km—would a radio even work?

Or was this all just a performance to threaten me?

I glanced at Jo Juncheol.

He sat leisurely with his legs crossed, chin raised, looking down at me.

Still suspecting it was fake, I pretended to be shocked and worried.

“W-what is this? Hanjun is really a good guy. He’s never killed anyone and always helps people. Shin Dongho is the bad one! He hurts innocent people.”

“Shh. I get it, your friend is a good guy, so calm down. But if we discard Shin Dongho, we incur a loss. There should be something to compensate for that loss. It depends on your choice, Dohoon. Whether your friend lives or dies.”

Dark energy seeped from his hand into the blank paper.

“And honestly, I’m more interested in you than your friend. That doesn’t mean I’ll exploit you. I’m not a bad employer—I always sign contracts with my workers. This isn’t a threat, it’s a contract.”

Holding my friend’s life hostage and calling it a contract?

He smiled as if it were completely fair.

There was no way a psychopath like him would make a fair deal.

I didn’t believe a word he said.

What was his ability? A curse? Contracts? Control?

I stared at the blank sheet with trembling eyes.

I was afraid of what would happen if I signed it.

“Uh… there’s nothing written here?”

“We’ll write it now. Contracts are made through mutual agreement.”

“Do we have to write it now…? Maybe tomorrow…”

“Dohoon, I’m not that free. I’m busy restoring this ruined city.”

As I hesitated, his expression hardened instantly.

The man standing behind him stepped forward and forced a pen into my hand.

It looked like they intended to make me sign the blank paper if needed.

His grip was so strong my hand turned pale.

“Ugh! O-okay! I’ll write it. I’ll write it.”

If I resisted, they might force my hand.

Panicking, I nodded quickly.

Jo Juncheol relaxed and gestured to the man.

“Alright then, let’s write the contract.”

“I… I can decide the terms too, right?”

Better to at least negotiate than sign blindly.

“Of course.”

He began writing what looked like a normal employment contract.

Salary, vacation, leave—everything seemed ordinary.

Then he added: ‘Party B (Kim Dohoon) is responsible for treating Party A (Jo Juncheol) if injured.’

And at the bottom: ‘If Party B resigns without notice, compensation must be paid to Party A.’

Compensation… how would I even pay that?

Was I going to play along with this act, or refuse and let my friend die?

I glanced at the man behind him.

His presence was overwhelmingly oppressive.

They could force me. Torture me. Or throw me out as monster bait.

In the end, I only had one choice.

The longer I delayed, the more I would suffer.

“Any additional clauses you want?”

“Then… um… can working hours be flexible? Like a freelancer…”

“Sure, that’s fine.”

He added it easily.

But then he smirked.

“Freelancers can work at night too, you know?”

Damn. That might’ve been a mistake.

“What about workplace injuries?”

“In this world, accidents happen often.”

So he planned to overwork me openly.

“Then at least… sick leave…”

“I’ve never given such good conditions before. I’m doing this because I like you.”

I didn’t want to be liked by him.

Still, he accepted.

Another clause was added: sick leave until full recovery.

“Oh, I almost forgot the confidentiality clause.”

He added: ‘Any disclosure of this contract must be compensated.’

He pressed a dot at the end as if it mattered deeply.

“….”

Had all ability users signed contracts like this?

Maybe they were lured with power and forced into silence.

What would happen if I broke it?

“Now, sign. Time’s up. Oh dear, it’s been more than five minutes. Your friend might already be dead.”

He checked his watch, hiding a faint smile.

No way Hanjun would go down that easily.

This was clearly a staged bluff.

The paper was now filled, black energy swirling over it.

Once I signed, I’d be bound.

But I had no way out.

Unlike others, I had no power to escape.

So I signed.

The moment I did, the black energy crawled up my hand.

“Ugh!”

It felt like dozens of leeches wriggling upward.

I tried to resist, but it reached my heart.

At least it didn’t reach my head like the man behind him.

What would happen if I broke the contract?

“Why? Do you see something?”

I quickly forced a smile.

“No… my heart just feels ticklish.”

“I see. Anyway, as promised, I’ll spare your friend.”

“Th… thank you.”

Even though it was all a lie.

He offered a handshake, saying we should work well together.

I suppressed my irritation and played along.

“Let’s introduce our new friend. You’ll be staying by my side.”

He slung an arm over my shoulder.

Not liking the height difference, he glanced at me.

I lowered myself instinctively.

What am I, his armrest?

He tilted his head.

“You remind me of a trainee I once liked. Have we met before?”

“…No. Haha. That’s strange.”

Like hell I’d want to meet you.

“He died years ago. Suicide. I saw the body myself.”

“….”

I almost said, you killed him.

“Seeing someone similar brings back memories.”

His hand brushing my shoulder made my skin crawl.

Was I going to be okay?

I felt suffocated.

Later, I greeted a few of his close aides.

All ability users.

All carrying that same black energy.

Different positions—eyes, heart, neck.

It depended on the contract.

He only introduced me to a few.

When I asked about Hanjun, he said his subordinates were bringing him.

“Though your friend doesn’t seem very nice.”

“He’s just shy. He’s kind once you get to know him.”

“Really? Then I should try. It’d be nice if he were as polite as you.”

“Haha…”

Just wait till I meet Hanjun.

We’re getting out of here.