Chapter 2: The Contract
After an indefinite length of time, she noticed that the surrounding area seemed so silent. Curious, she opened her eyes and saw the crowns of trees crowding her sight.
[Where am I? ]
She sat up, looked around trying to find some clues to where she was. Disappointed, she decided to walk around and see where the path could lead her.
The golden sunlight bathes everything in an orange hue. The path she walks seems to go on forever. Everything is tranquil and there is no one in sight. If it weren't for the sound of nature she listens to, she would have thought her existence as a whole, is imaginary. She could hear the cicadas, birds chirping, and even the crisp sound of leaves breaking as she stepped forward. The wall of trees on both sides renders her from seeing what's beyond yet allows the golden sunlight to pass through and illuminate everything in this forest. She has her doubts about what this path actually is but decided to just go with it.
The scenery, the path, and the silence give her a solemn feeling. How to put it? It makes her wanna review her life. She felt cheated and was really unreconciled. Her family didn't even know that her good sister was the one who did everything but managed to pin it all on her. If the list of grievances she had materialized into words, she's afraid it will become a book instead. But what can she do? She's dead. It's over. They continue to live while she's on her path to reincarnation. She can only lament that her life wasn't good and she was too stupid beyond hope. If she wants to have a new start, she can only let go. As they have said, forgive not because they deserve forgiveness but because you deserve peace. She thinks that made sense. She also knew that deep inside, she was desperate for that peace.
When dusk came, her guess was finally clarified. Seeing shadow-like entities gradually took shape in different parts of the forest and came to the path, she knew where she's heading. What surprised her was that she wasn't afraid. If it were before, maybe she'd freak out but realizing that these are her fellow ghosts, she calmed down. At least she is not alone. These black, smoke-like entities are actually quite behaved. Some are tall, short and some even float faster than the others. It gives her a feeling of walking in a park. With that cognition, she let her vigilance go and decided to enjoy her last "walk in the park". So when a flyer was offered to her, she accepted by reflex.
She stopped walking and looked at the card in her hand. A black card with a golden rose printed on the center immediately caught her attention.
[ Aesthetically beautiful. Simple and elegant] she thought.
Her gaze went to the person who handed it over. She saw that he is already far beyond and still randomly handing out cards.
Reading the contents on the other side, she can't help but twitch her brows. This advertisement is really harsh. She felt as though these questions were for her.
Did you die a pathetic death?
Died without dignity and full of regrets?
Was your death specially tailored to spice up the Heavenly Being's life?
Are you unreconciled and want to take revenge?
Then loathe no more!
With the newly formed Corrupt the Heavenly Being System, your vengeance is just one contract away!
Agree by simply putting a sense of consciousness in this card.
There's only one thing that really caught her attention from those lines. In fact, she thought everything was fabricated. Vengeance, contract, and corrupting heavenly being sounded like a gibberish idea straight out of a fairytale. Who would believe that? Nonetheless, one aspect sparked her curiosity.
[ You can put a part of your consciousness in a card?]
She thought that it was such a novel idea. After all, when she was still alive, no one has thought that ghosts could still do that. All she has read and heard was that ghost haunts people by simply appearing or moving things by their ghostly energy. Now this card is telling her that consciousness can be stored in inanimate objects. She found it very interesting and was eager to try.
She then stared at the card in her hand, tilted her head, and pondered seriously.
[ How do I do it?]
Gazing intently at the flyer held by her fingers, she tried to concentrate her consciousness onto the piece of paper. She shut her eyes and chanted in her mind:
(Concentrate)
(Concentrate)
"I don't feel anything though. Is it working?" She mulled over whilst her eyes closed.
" What is?" A low voice answered.
She opened her eyes and peeped onto the thing she's holding.
" This thing. The card said I can put my consciousness in it. " she absentmindedly answered.
" Oh, there's no need actually. Just need to have the desire to, and the card will be automatically activated. " The man answered.
She felt cheated. This is the first time she followed her whims without considering the consequences and turned out to be a fraud.
"I see, thanks any-"
As she raised her head to thank the person who's been answering her nonsense, she was surprised.
A man with red long hair and apathetic obsidian eyes met with hers. He seemed to be entertained as a smirk can be seen on his face. He was sitting behind a beautifully sculpted wooden table, cupping his chin with his left hand while playing a black quill pen on his right. He exudes the aura of indifference but when equipped with such a handsome face, it became another type of charm.
At least that's what she thought.
" I know I look damn good but you have to blink at least. " the man chuckled.
" I'm sorry that was rude of me. " She hurriedly turned her face and scanned the room she's currently in.
Inwardly, she can't believe she has teleported twice already. It may be the perks of being a ghost, she concluded.
Seeing the contractor looking all around, he can't help but enlighten her.
" My office." he said.
Looking back at him, she can't help but voice out her questions.
" Why am I here? and "
" Who are you? "
The man didn't directly answer her but said
" Take a seat first "
" No. I'm goo-"
Before she could finish, her bottom was seated on a padded wooden chair that magically appeared behind her. She even forgot to react. Her dazed expression remained on that handsome face, not knowing what was happening.
" You are here for the agreement to bind with the 'Corrupt the Heavenly Being System' as for who I am, just call me Mr. Huo. "
" Then let's talk about the contact." he said as he put the quill pen aside and fixed his attention on her.
" Since you are our first ever contractor, I will offer you a golden finger. Of course, it has a price but the power of your golden finger will be equivalent to how much you would pay. I guarantee that it would be powerful and will help you through your tasks." Then he continued,
"By the way, your soul will be bound to the system later after we finalize the deal. "
Seeing the contractor so well-behaved, his mood got lighter.
" So just give me the contract with your signature and I will stamp it. After that, it's done. " With a smile, he gently raised his hand towards her, clearly waiting for her to pass the form.
She blinked a couple of times and finally thickened her face to ask.
" My what?"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone