Chapter 31: The Self-Righteous Queen Ant and the Lowest-Tier Slave Contract!

Clang.

The Queen led Su Mu to the Ant tribe’s underground warehouse and pushed open the heavy iron door with a forceful shove. To Su Mu’s surprise, the vast warehouse contained only a few dozen spirit stones; the rest was packed with dense, black chitin. It filled the entire space, roughly over 3,000 cubic meters.

"The Golden Ant tribe is surprisingly poor. Only this many spirit stones?" Su Mu couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

Noticing the strange expression on Su Mu’s face, the Queen explained with some embarrassment, "The taxes in Zone D3 are heavy. The Golden Ant tribe hands over all the spirit stones we collect to cover the tax, which is why we have so little left. This is also why I am in such urgent need of spirit stones; the next tax deadline is almost upon us."

Su Mu paused, then asked with curiosity, "Wait, you pay taxes in the Dark World, too? I thought that was only a human thing. Who do you pay your taxes to? Grand Commander Natasha? How much do you pay annually?"

At the mention of this, the Queen began to pour out her grievances: "Of course we pay. The Dark World requires so many weapons to be manufactured and maintained; how could we sustain that without enough spirit stones? But our taxes aren't paid to Grand Commander Natasha; they go to the ruler of Zone D3, the Fallen Knight Wang Yu. It’s 200,000 spirit stones a month, 2.4 million a year. If we fail to pay, our Golden Ant tribe will likely be wiped out."

Taxes?

Hearing this, a subtle, imperceptible smile appeared on Su Mu’s face. This was a perfect opportunity to win hearts and minds—and if played correctly, it might save him a significant amount of money.

"If your Golden Ant tribe is truly willing to pledge allegiance to me, you would only need to pay 200 spirit stones a month. However, the condition is that we must first sign a soul contract." Su Mu said this with a smile, looking like a benevolent angel, utterly harmless.

"Are you serious?" A charming smile appeared on the Queen’s face, as if she had been moved by his words, but inwardly, she was roaring, *Stupid human, do you really think a few sweet words and 100 million spirit stones will make our Ant tribe betray the Dark World? When the Dark Tide arrives, you foolish human lord will be slaughtered by the three Commanders until not even your bones remain, and your 100 million spirit stones will naturally fall into my pockets.*

Seeing the flicker in the Queen's eyes, Su Mu frowned slightly, feeling she wasn't particularly trustworthy. Nevertheless, he decided to proceed with his original plan.

"Of course, you can choose to refuse. In that case, the 100 million employment contract we discussed will be void, and before I leave, I will slaughter every one of your Golden Warriors. Furthermore, you are welcome to seek revenge; my territory is in the Watchtower Plains, Zone C1. You’ll find me easily enough."

After saying this, Su Mu turned and walked away, counting silently in his heart: one, two, three... He wasn't sure if this would work, but he hoped it would.

Fortunately, by the time Su Mu reached six, the Queen suddenly shouted, "Human Lord, please stay! I accept your terms. I believe this is the only chance my Golden Ant tribe has to break free from the control of the Fallen Knight Wang Yu."

"Are you sure you aren't being forced?" Su Mu turned back, asking with a concerned, angelic smile.

"No, I am truly willing to submit to you, my Lord. Let us sign the soul contract now." The Queen’s smile grew even more charming, and she deliberately swayed her body, ensuring Su Mu noticed her proud figure.

*Women only slow down the speed at which I draw my blade, and besides, she is merely a dark creature.* When Su Mu felt a momentary stir, he immediately warned himself.

Seeing Su Mu remain unmoved, the Queen looked slightly disappointed and cursed the "damned human lord" under her breath. She then reluctantly produced a black soul contract and handed it over. "Human Lord, I, the Queen White Frost, am willing to lead the entire Golden Ant tribe to submit to you. Let us sign the soul contract."

With that, she took out a small silver knife, lightly cut her finger, and let a drop of blood fall onto the contract.

Boom!

The contract ignited with black flames, and the face of a Demon King emerged, swallowing the drop of blood in one gulp. Then, the face stared at Su Mu, seemingly waiting for him to offer his blood as well.

"Heh, a soul contract."

Signing a contract with a dark creature for the first time, Su Mu wouldn't be careless. He secretly used his Holographic Eye to verify the authenticity of the document. A flash of imperceptible killing intent crossed his eyes.

*Damned thing! This contract is fake! If I sign this, I’ll become the Queen’s slave. If I violate it, my soul will fall into eternal darkness. As expected, none of these dark creatures can be trusted. Let’s use a human contract instead.*

Su Mu sneered, suddenly reaching out to crush the phantom of the Demon King. With a bang, the contract shattered into fragments before his eyes.

"What are you doing!" Seeing her plan exposed, the Queen drew a dagger from her belt and lunged at Su Mu.

"I’m simply signing one of our sacred human contracts with you instead." Su Mu smiled slightly, his longsword flicking out to effortlessly knock the dagger from her hand. His blade then swept downward, drawing a line across the back of the Queen's hand, causing a drop of blood to fall.

A golden contract flew from Su Mu, and the blood landed squarely upon it.

Bang! The contract erupted with golden light, and a line of text appeared:

"In the name of the Gods."

"Dark creature, Golden Ant Queen White Frost voluntarily enters into a Level 5 slave contract with the human lord Su Mu."

"From this moment on, everything White Frost possesses, including her life, belongs to Su Mu."

"Su Mu has the right to inflict any punishment upon White Frost, exempt from the judgment of the Gods."

"The duration of the contract is from the beginning of White Frost’s life until its end."

"Except for Su Mu himself, not even a God King can dissolve this contract."

"No!" The Queen let out a heart-wrenching scream, reaching out to grab the contract floating in the air. She wanted to tear it to pieces. It was too cruel. How could she, a dignified Golden Ant Queen, sign a Level 5 slave contract? Even in the Dark World, this was the most base form of slavery; no dark creature would ever sign such a thing.

*This damned human! This liar! Why did you come to my territory? Why did you tempt me with 100 million spirit stones?*

"Too late!" Su Mu’s cold voice rang in her ears.

He reclaimed the contract, bit his own finger, and let a drop of his blood fall onto it.

"No!" The Queen screamed again, clawing at him, but after taking only a single step, she vomited blood and collapsed, writhing in agony at his feet.

The contract had taken effect. As a Level 5 slave, any act of disrespect toward her master would cause the power of the contract to make her wish for death.

"Don't bring this upon yourself. I can take your life whenever I please. Now, follow me to the main hall; I require accurate intelligence on the Dark World."

Su Mu glanced coldly at the Queen and headed toward the Great Hall.