Chapter 279: Chapter 247: Do You Want to Exchange Your Soul for This Stainless Steel Basin?
The radiance of the third layer of the labyrinth had already lost the dazzling brightness it possessed at the beginning.
A layer of gloomy shadow was cast upon the gold and jewels that seemed to be everywhere, emitting an ominous aura.
This vast space no longer resembled a glittering treasure cave but rather a dark and icy tomb.
In the Spirit Vision, mists wound around mountains of gold and silver, yet they were filled with a sticky, bloody scent.
This made Byron and his companions immediately sense that something was amiss.
At first, First Mate Thomas, the macaw, swore that it would find Captain Flint—who dared slander it—dig up his corpse, and kick his rear end fiercely.
But now, it only dared to cower under the brim of Byron’s tricorne hat.
It then kicked the gold-digging rat also hiding there, sending it tumbling. Disregarding the rat’s "SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK" protests, Thomas stole its spot. "Hey, buddy," Thomas squawked, "make some room for First Mate Thomas! I’ll introduce you to the docile goat sisters on the island someday; I guarantee you’ll be satisfied."
At this time, the six maids also grabbed Byron and Violet’s hands.
Without allowing them to refuse, by the time they snapped back to their senses, they were each seated before a golden desk.
Didn’t Thomas say Flint’s task for it was to select an artist with an elegant temperament to find and inherit the ’Faustian Contract’? Byron wondered. Why did it suddenly present itself? Moreover, it seems the actual contract isn’t here; instead, a copy has been directly projected into our spiritual worlds.
No one could answer his doubts.
The [Nautical Logbook] could glean only limited information from the projection:
"The ’Faustian Contract’ can use the Greed in people’s hearts as a beacon, easily projecting its power into anyone’s inner world.
The golden desk and chairs, pen and paper, tinderbox, and the six maids are all abilities that come with the contract.
They can manifest in the spiritual world as well as in the Material World to assist with the signing and execution of the contract.
Warning: The current number of contractors has exceeded double digits; the Sacred Relics are in an abnormal state, degenerating into a Cursed Object.
To inherit the contract, one might try to find a breakthrough via the contract’s previous owner."
Seeing the information presented in the logbook, Byron furrowed his brows deeply.
Contractors in double digits? Could it be that all treasure hunters who meet the criteria were pulled into the third layer of the labyrinth at once? Isn’t Flint the previous owner of the contract? Does that mean to have the contract recognize a new owner, we need to find him? Could it be that this Great Pirate is still alive?
Soon after, just like [Silver-arm] Marion before him, Byron saw the clause on the "Faustian Contract" about using all loyal crew members as a sacrifice in exchange for Wealth.
Especially when the contract emphasized that the exchange items could include any property and the Alchemy of Transmutation, a shiver immediately ran down his spine.
Removing the weight constraint is nothing special, but being able to choose any one item is incredible. If one chose Aztec’s Cursed Coin, a Second Order Pirate could instantly ascend to Third Order and acquire tremendous power. If one chose the Alchemy of Transmutation, it was akin to ’teaching someone to fish rather than giving them a fish’—tantamount to bringing all of Silvergold Island home. There are countless selfish and ruthless ruffians on this sea, with too few good people who stay true to their hearts. Most would probably find such temptation difficult to resist. But...
To me, Byron mused, this paper is filled with the distinct impression of being asked, "Child, would you like to trade your soul for this stainless steel basin?" Signing it for real would be a huge loss.
Violet had long since analyzed it for him.
The spiritual core and Mandate of Heaven of the "Faustian Contract" is this: one must wrest ’self’ and ’freedom’ from the clutches of the ’id’ and ’superego’—two tyrants acting in collusion.
If you submit to either side, you will only become a slave to the contract!
To become its master, one must possess an independent ’self.’ They must never cease their pursuit of knowledge and must spend their life chasing ’freedom’ and ’Truth.’
Consequently, a voice within Byron’s heart spoke up:
Aztec’s Cursed Coin is adorable, and the Alchemy of Transmutation is seductive. But oh, ’Faustian Contract,’ my true love is for you, darling!
This was also Byron’s true inner voice, emerging after he had shielded himself from the influences of morality and Desire.
He was greedier than anyone. If he obtained the "Faustian Contract," would he even need to worry about missing out on other benefits?
After weighing the options, he immediately made his choice according to his true desires.
Moreover, both Thomas the Parrot and Andrew Lancaster had said that before the third rainbow light faded, the life-threatening chirping would begin.
To dance on a knife’s edge, reap the greatest benefits, and protect one’s own life and those of one’s companions, seizing the "Faustian Contract" was paramount.
"I refuse."
Thus, Byron and Violet unanimously voiced their choice.
The already dim Radiance of the third layer of the labyrinth suddenly brightened again, prompting many on this layer to subconsciously look up at the Sky.
The most surprised, however, was the "Faustian Contract" before them.
But it did not get discouraged.
It just paused for a moment; the formulaic contract terms suddenly dissipated, and a new line of writing appeared:
"How about this one then?"
In front of the golden desk, two ethereal figures suddenly appeared, one male and one female, one fiery and one cold, seeming to be complete opposites.