FA Chapter 4 Death Contract
Bosingwa was taken back by the question. He wondered whether there was going to be some sort of tournament to decide who gets to be given the serum. If that were the case, then he had no doubt that he would forfeit.
There is a fundamental difference between the virtual and the real world. He had honed his combat within the virtual world by putting in hours of training, but in reality, his body wasn't suited for strenuous exercise. The reason for that was simple, work. Work had taken over everything within his life, preventing him from the minimum of exercise. That short walk from his home to the workplace didn't count.
With a sigh, he prepared himself to make his exit, while taking in the people around him, who were on the verge of erupting, but stopping themselves because of a Forger's presence. Most were skinny scrawly looking fellows like him. He could understand them. Even those with great bodies had expressions that were a few shades paler.
"Could you stop with the theatrics and elaborate on what you just said. The pathetically weak minded idiots' reactions are wasting my valuable time." Someone's voice pierced through the din of the room.
Bosingwa's gaze was blocked from capturing the speaker but after muscling his way through, he found the youth that had spoken. Most of the people had stood up from their seats in a bid to make for the exit. But the voice slowed some down, while most simply stopped.
He was clad in a black suit that fit him to a tee, and had chocolate colored skin, just like himself. Those eyes of his didn't hold fear even when directly staring at the Forger, instead there was confidence. Bosingwa was reminded of those youths who had just graduated from universities, thinking that there was nothing that could stop their rise now that they were about to enter society. It invoked some nostalgia within him.
"Oh! It looks like we have a cocky one in our midst!"
"Before the serum is administered, a binding contract that places your life in my mistress' hands must be signed."
Every single sound within the room halted at that moment. Even breathing itself stopped for a moment at those words. It was only for a moment though, before faces morphed, gaining lines, eyes widening, mouths opening into a cacophony of words that caused even the two women to take a step back. No one verbally insulted the women as earning the ire of a forger was unacceptable. But subtler means were used, with some even showing their rage vividly, like it had been painted across their faces.
Bosingwa himself was quite shocked. His mouth was agape, and his body had ceased all movement, like he had been frozen in place. He had heard about such contracts within the dark side of the metaverse. They were commonly referred to as death contracts! Those were nasty things he had thought he would never have any contact with! Yet here he was! Being offered-no, ordered to sign one if he wanted to achieve his dream!
For a moment, even the confident-looking guy had his face turn a shade of white, only to revert back near instantly. Bosingwa, whose gaze had never left the youth for even a moment due to his shocked gaze found the transition weird. Such a reaction was weird! Did it mean he had given up on this? No, his body language suggested that the youth wasn't going anywhere. So, what gave him the courage to accept this? Bosingwa was very very curious!
"What? Could it be that you think becoming a Forger means there is no risk. Let me tell you this! 20% of newly awakened Forgers die before even reaching the liquid stage! A death contract? That's just a minor thing in this world, where with just a whim, a Forger can have someone killed! Only those who have the resolve to die can eke out a survival in this world!"
Bosingwa was jolted out of his thoughts by a spiritual pulse. He didn't feel it directly because of his unawakened status, only speculating due to the slight tremble of his brain. The words had resonated with him, firming his previously wavering resolve.
Even with those words, many hightailed out of the place as if their butts had caught fire.
Bosingwa stayed in place, having made up his mind. Choosing to stay would place his very life in the hands of another, while leaving would leave him with plenty of regrets. What if this was the one chance he was going to get in a whole while? A million saved credits were not much in this economy. They could barely support him for a year.
"Is there anyone else who wants to leave?" The Forger woman asked. Her face had once again taken on an aloof expression, with the vividness having vanished.
Instead, her gaze roamed all those who were left, taking in all the various expressions, from the torn ones, resolved ones, to the terrified ones. Those who were terrified yet decided to stay earned some approval within her, more so than those resolved.
From the seething crowd, only a minor seven had stayed behind, a small number.
Bosingwa wasn't surprised to see the suit clad young man within the same hall as him. His instincts had already told him that there had to be something he knew about all this that he and the others didn't know.
The other five were an old woman, not to the level of having a foot in the grave though. A casually dressed man who appeared to be caught in some intense thoughts, having lost awareness of the surroundings...
"Those mindless fools are probably the 20% who will die even if they do become a Forger one day, a pity. Their deaths would have been glorious within my hands." A woman spoke. Her body was as voluptuous as miss Purple's, except that Bosingwa didn't feel any ounce of attraction towards her. Red curly long hair framed the sides of her head. Violet eyes piercing to the extreme, as if filled with an infinite hatred and rage gazed at the now closed doors. Bosingwa could feel it in his bones. This woman wasn't one to mess with!
"Are-are you a killer?!"
Chubby had stayed, a surprise that caused Bosingwa's eyebrows to raise, but he didn't believe that the man was cut out for this world at all.
Then there was the last person, a woman. Her entire body except the head was covered within a cloak, leaving little information to be gleaned about her dimensions. Bosingwa's first impression upon seeing her was that of coldness. Interacting with her wasn't going to be possible.
"Chubby. Bees die for honey, just like scientists would die for an experiment. Soldiers would lay down their lives if that could win them the war. That's what it means to get involved with the Forgers. If you are still hesitating, I suggest you head for the door." The male youth in the suit chasitised.
"Sometimes, a single impulsive decision can change lives. I do hope that for the seven of you, guarding me makes your lives better."
Bosingwa's eyes widened at a soft but at the melodious voice entering his ears. For the first time since arriving within this hall, miss Purple had spoken.
"Madam, are you sure you are up for this?" Miss purple's question was directed towards the old woman.
"Young girl, its nice that you care... But don't underestimate these old bones of mine! I used to practice martial arts. And before I chose this path, I had studied the human anatomy very closely. Don't worry, I will be able to turn back the clock within this body the moment I get the serum." The old woman answered with a kindly smile and a sharp glint in her eyes.
"Luna, you can start the signing."
Miss Purple spoke once again and Luna, the Forger walked towards them, where a request for a link pinged on all their neural links.
After a few minutes, the contract was finalised before the woman took out a small black cloth bag. Bosingwa and the others were puzzled for a moment before eyes widened once again as a whole rack of ten tubes filled with a yellow liquid were pulled out.
Bosingwa was only marginally distracted by the weirdness of the bag before his gaze was drawn by the liquid within the tubes. It wasn't special by any means with just a cursory glance, but seeing the care with which Luna was treating the rack, this was most definitely the thing he had always wanted!
The serum capable of changing the mediocre to gems!
Pah!
A slap sounded as Luna repelled the hand of someone who had momentarily failed to contain their greed. It also served to wake Bosingwa from the daze.
He took a very deep breath to reign in the excitement that was threatening to make him dance around while shouting. The chance had finally arrived and he didn't want to ruin it. His hands, which had been hanging by the sides of his body were forcefully shoved into the pockets of his hoodie lest they try the same thing as those of the slapped person.
-----
The room was a pristine white, containing both a living room and a bedroom, coupled with bathroom facilities. It was miles better than his cramped small studio apartment.
The bed was springy, soft and large. The few carvings upon the wood had already given it away as a prized artifact, costing way more than his savings.
Not to mention the fact that the other furnishings in the room were more or equally as expensive as the bed itself. He wasn't some country hick who would waste time with exploring the room. And there was something more interesting enclosed within his sweaty palm. His heart was galloping a million miles within his chest, with impatience almost consuming him. Bosingwa was barely reigning in his desire to consume the liquid here and now.
What calmed him down were Luna's words about the serum. According to her, it worked its wonders after knocking the person unconscious. And the awakening took a minimum of five hours and a maximum of 24 hours.
A few hours had gone by since his presence in the hall. He and the others had gone their separate ways, to explore the rest of the building before meeting back in that same hall at dusk, where the serum had been administered to them.
It was a liquid with the color of dusk, capable of bringing about the illusion of a real sunset when stared at for too long.
After a bath, he popped off the cap and took the serum, after which he tucked himself into the sheets for the night.