Liu Wei was kneeling on the ground in a cold, dark cell, bound with chains. Or rather, he was hanging from those chains, as his hands were secured just above his head. He had no strength left. After being captured, he was given another strong dose of the ability-disabling drug, leaving him completely powerless.
He still had difficulty processing what has happened. It was not the first time he was mistreated by people, but this time was different. Why would Chen Rumin… He just didn't understand.
He had always known that it would have been better for Chen Rumin to leave his side and return to the city. He was young and talented, and had no scars or well-known past that would hinder him. He could easily get a great job, and live a happy, comfortable life, surrounded by people who respected and admired him.
It would be understandable if he decided to leave. But why did he have to betray Liu Wei? Liu Wei has never stopped him. Quite the opposite, he even encouraged him to do so. It was Chen Rumin who wanted to stay.
Was it because Liu Wei wanted to destroy the city? But Chuxi City was not the only place Chen Rumin could live in. There were plenty of other cities in the country, two of them even more prosperous than Chuxi. It's not like Chen Rumin had any attachment to it, and it was the only one Liu Wei had a grudge against. He wasn't planning to destroy any more cities.
If they had to part ways, it could have been done peacefully.
Suddenly, the doors opened and one of the prison guards walked in. He put a bowl in front of Liu Wei, and lowered the chains. "Eat."
Liu Wei raised his head with difficulty. "I… want to talk to Chen Rumin," he muttered in a hoarse voice.
The guard looked at him with contempt. "Eat."
Liu Wei was hungry, but he didn't want to eat the food placed in front of him. Not because it was too disgusting, he had worse meals when he was a kid trying to survive on his own, but because it likely contained another dose of the drug.
Seeing him unmoving, the guard clicked his tongue. "Eat. Then we'll talk."
Having no other option, Liu Wei lowered his head, and ate from the bowl like a dog. It was utterly humiliating, but he still finished all the food. Once done, he lifted his head, looking at the guard once again.
The guard picked up the bowl with disgust on his face, raised the chains back up, and was about to leave without a word.
"Wait… I…"
The guard clicked his tongue again, annoyed, and glared at Liu Wei. "Chen Rumin is dead," he said and shut the door.
Liu Wei's eyes widened.
Dead…? But why?
Did the military kill him? Despite the fact that it was only thanks to him that Liu Wei was captured?
A hysterical chuckle escaped his mouth. What did he expect? All those people were trash, after all…
A few tears started slowly dripping on the ground from his dark, tired eyes. Even after what happened, he still cared about Chen Rumin. He was like a younger brother to him. A bond like that couldn't be severed so easily.
He had no idea about the passing time, as there was no window in the cell. He was just kneeling alone in the darkness, left to his own thoughts, interrupted only by the guards' visits from time to time.
After what felt like forever, when Liu Wei was completely numb, with his consciousness constantly slipping away, a shining screen appeared in front of him.
Liu Wei blinked several times. What was that supposed to be? Hallucinations? Some technology? Somebody else's ability? He squinted his eyes, trying to read the text, but he couldn't comprehend it at all. He only managed to recognize a few characters, one of them being [ACCEPT] at the bottom.
Without thinking, he read it out loud, his voice barely audible.
Once he did, an unfamiliar voice rang in his head.
[Welcome, host! I am your assigned system, 748! Would you like to hear the detailed terms of the contract?]
Liu Wei frowned. 'Contract? What contract?'
[The transmigration contract, of course. As you have just read, you have been offered a contract, requiring you to transmigrate to different worlds to complete missions. Once the requirements are fulfilled, the time will be reversed and you will get another chance at life!]
'Transmigration? What the hell is that? Did I finally completely lose my mind?' Liu Wei's frown deepened, as he tried to focus on the words he heard.
[I will not comment on your current mental state. However, the contract is real.]
[As for transmigration, it is simply traveling to different worlds. You have met another transmigrator already. A host with the system 520 left this world not long ago, and based on my calculations, he must have occupied the body of a person called Chen Rumin.]
Liu Wei didn't react for a while. It all just seemed too unbelievable.
'Are you telling me that Chen Rumin was not from this world?' he finally asked.
[Correction. A soul occupying Chen Rumin recently has been from a different world. Original Chen Rumin was born and lived in this one. However, he has been replaced around a month ago.]
Liu Wei's eyes darkened. Replaced around a month ago? Then maybe… it wasn't Chen Rumin who betrayed him after all?
This information woke him right up, his mind sharp once again. 'Who was it?'
[Unfortunately, all the information about hosts and their missions is confidential and cannot be accessed by other systems. Only the whereabouts of every system are public.]
Liu Wei's head dropped in disappointment. But 748 was not done yet.
[However, you will get to meet the host of 520 again once you start your missions.]
'Oh? Continue.' Liu Wei's dark eyes burned with the raising anger.
[The contract you have received requires you to follow the host of 520 to every world he transmigrates to. You will need to discover his identity and goal, and ensure he fails to complete the mission. Once he fails three times in a row, his contract will be terminated, and you will fulfill your requirements. If you cannot stop him, you can try to lower his score. If he fails to accumulate enough points by the end of his contract, your requirements also will be met. However, if you fail to stop him three times in a row, your contract will be terminated instead, and you will return to this moment.]
[Is everything clear?]
Liu Wei was thinking carefully about what he's just heard. 'Will I get anything to help me on the missions?'
[I, the system 748, will support you for the duration of your contract, providing you with all the necessary information, abilities, and advice.]
Liu Wei nodded, quickly analyzing it all in his head. He still didn't think it was real. And if there was, there might be a catch hidden somewhere.
But what did he have to lose? He was just stuck here, waiting for death anyway.
He smiled lightly. 'I accept. Take me to that 520.'
[The contract has been accepted! Please wait a moment, your next body is being prepared and you will be transmigrated shortly.]