Mind Demon's Path of Domination

Seven days had passed before he knew it. The past few days, he had either been training with the Boss or Minotaur, or trying to exchange Dream Wings for some amazing offensive demonic trick. He also asked for information on the Sufferings of Misfortune.

In the end, nothing special happened.

No sentient Middle Demon was willing to trade their offensive abilities for mere Dream Wings. No mere Middle Demon knew what the Sufferings of Misfortune was.

At the moment, Mark was having a charged conversation with Yuri in the Exchange, a frown on his face. Suddenly, his face sank. "It’s time!"

He pulled Yuri and Dona into his World Space and they both vanished. Soon after, Mark felt a pull on his own body. Squeeze. His whole world crushed down on him for a second before everything changed.

He was outside the Exchange.

Mark breathed in and out heavily, calming his heart. He immediately checked for Yuri’s and Dona’s well-being and heaved a sigh of relief when he saw everything was fine. They were safe in his World Space.

He looked around. He was in a bustling city with all sorts of demons walking all around. Mark mingled into the crowd easily and soon walked out of the crowdiest area.

He ambled into an empty alleyway and hid himself in its shadows.

"So, are you going to go to another world?"

Mark nodded. He was going to. As he was, he didn’t stand a chance in a Battle Royale. But the problem was, once he entered a World, he wouldn’t be able to come back before completing the Mission he would be given by the Demon World Will.

For now, he decided he would think more after reaching that world. He could at least gain a new ability once he enters a new world after using Dream Gamble there, and the mission he gets wouldn’t be completely impossible.

As far as he knew, many demons returned after entering Portals to another world.

But I have to return fast. If possible, in time to participate in the Battle Royale.

He didn’t have too much time.

Would there be other demons as competition for me?

He walked further into the alleyway, turned a corner, and repeated that a few times for a few more hours before he reached a certain alleyway. The situation was unclear, but entering a new world didn’t seem much different from a Battle Royale. He just had to win, and win fast.

Rats scattered as he walked, and Mark looked around.

A special rat walked out of the area, a sleazy smile on its face. "You seem to have come in search of me especially, special Middle Demon. Middle Demon with sentience."

Mark stared at the Rat. "What do I call you, Rat?"

He had indeed come in search of it.

He had met this Rat when he had just entered the Demon City. This was no ordinary creature—it must be an Upper Demon at the very least. In disguise as it may be. Thus, Mark didn’t try to piss it off.

"What you can call me?" The Rat smirked. "Call me the Rat Businessman. Now, tell me, what are you here in search of?"

"So, Rat Businessman, I want to know something."

"Oh, I can tell that much."

Mark squinted his eyes. "Tell me Rat, is there any way for me to get a Tier 3 demon corpse?"

The Rat squinted in return.

"A corpse?" It didn’t ask why but asked instead: "What can I get if I help you acquire one?" 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

It comes down to that in the end.

"I will pay you with a 1000 Soul Spheres."

The Rat rolled its eyes. It looked comical. "Isn’t it Middle Demon souls? You can buy noodles and clothes with it but you can’t buy my help with that pittance."

"What do you want?" Mark asked.

"Give me your True Name!"

"Absolutely not!"

"Guessed as much. You ain’t no fun, sigh. What can you even give?" The Rat acted thoughtful for a long while before it looked at him with a smile. "Here is the deal. I can help you but I want you to sign a contract with me."

Mark frowned but deep down, he was happy. He wanted to head in that direction himself. Contracts didn’t work on Mark unless he and Reol’ran agreed to it—otherwise, she could easily destroy it herself.

"What is the contract about?"

"I will help you now but you will have to repay me with a Seal of Destiny or a Portal Key in the future. Within 10 years at most, and if you fail, you have to tell me your True Name."

Mark shook his head. "No."

"Look, boy. I am doing business here and you are talented. Within ten years, you will be very strong, getting a Seal of Destiny or a Portal Key would be easy for you at that point. Considering you are so talented." It emphasized: "It’s ten years!"

Seeing he was unconvinced, the Rat added, "I will also help you while you are in this city regarding all sorts of information!"

After a lot of hesitation, Mark agreed. "But I want you to never lie to me during our businesses from now on."

Its eyes glowed strangely and it nodded.

A weird power activated and Mark felt a strangeness in the air.

"Power of Unbreakable Contract!" The Rat squeaked and suddenly, a bright paper appeared before Mark.

Mark squeezed out a smile. He thought demonic tricks didn’t work inside the Demon City—then what was this?

Reol’ran said calmly: "He is using some kind of artifact instead of a demonic trick."

Mark still felt wary.

He read through the rules written on the paper seriously and after a bit more ’hesitation,’ signed it. The Rat will help him acquire a Tier 3 corpse and would be his informant to a certain degree—it wouldn’t tell him anything that will endanger itself—and he will repay it in the far future with either a Portal Key/Seal of Destiny or eternal servitude.

Neither the Rat nor Mark could leak each other’s secrets if they found any. They couldn’t do intentional harm against each other either.

The contract burned into ash and a copy of the paper appeared in Mark’s World Space. Reol’ran flashed beside it and crushed the paper—it never established.

The Rat was bound by the contract but Mark wasn’t.

He confirmed it by briefly checking his Violet Screen.