Chapter 2: Reaching an Agreement

Originally, Hilmeth was in a state of chaos. His thoughts were muddled, and he had no sensation in his body.

He had been wounded in his spiritual core by an unknown rune from the Sila race in his effort to lead the Canglan Star Region to victory in the star region rune war. His soul had been weakened, and he was unlikely to survive much longer.

Hilmeth was not afraid of death.

From the day he resolved to join the military, he had already decided to fight to the bitter end and die on the battlefield.

He felt a sense of frustration. The victory, won at the cost of his severe injury, might not last long enough to ensure lasting peace in the Canglan Star Region.

If he died, what would become of the Canglan Star Region?

Hilmeth didn’t want to die this way, but he also knew that his injuries were beyond the Canglan Star Region’s medical capabilities.

His time was running out.

Hilmeth waited for the end of his life in the vast chaos, but suddenly, a dawn broke through the gray space.

It was a beautiful red-golden light, as bright as a flame and as warm as sunlight.

Hilmeth was then drawn into the light, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a strange place.

His body felt weightless, an odd sensation.

Hilmeth instinctively tensed up but relaxed his guard when he met a pair of smiling eyes.

He won’t harm you.

Hilmeth’s instincts reassured him.

“Can I touch your horns?”

That was the question from the other person.

"If the horns don’t work, then touching the tail is also fine," the other added.

Even Hilmeth, who had witnessed many great events, was momentarily astonished by this sudden turn of events.

He lowered his eyes.

His gaze lingered briefly on his long black hair and the black, furry tail curled near his feet, his brow furrowed even deeper as he took in the sight.

He had transformed into the appearance of another race.

And the other... wasn’t afraid of his non-human form?

Cang Cheng observed the scholar, guardian, and friend of humanity that the Gate of Truth had sent him, without pressing for a response.

Through the Gate of Truth, he had established an equal contract with the summoned spirit.

By providing the spirit with magic, he facilitated equivalent exchanges for the spirit.

In return, the spirit would assist him in fulfilling his wishes.

Under the operation of the Gate of Truth, the spirit could not betray him, but similarly, he could not force the spirit to do things it hated.

If either of them violated these rules, they would face punishment, possibly even annihilation.

Cang Cheng placed more trust in this "guide" selected by the Gate of Truth than the Canglan Star Region's star network or anyone else.

Cang Cheng hadn’t anticipated that the Gate of Truth would understand his preferences so well, and it had immediately summoned a being of another race.

He loved creatures of different races, especially those with furry tails.

"Hello, I was just about to introduce myself," he began, but his vision darkened, making him sway unsteadily as if he might fall over at any moment.

The activation of the summoning array had drained much of his blood, and his frail body was struggling with insufficient blood flow.

As Cang Cheng was on the verge of collapsing to the ground, Hilmeth instinctively reached out to support him, but Cang Cheng's body passed through his arm, and he fell to the floor anyway.

Hilmeth examined his semi-transparent hand, thoroughly perplexed.

Was he dead and turned into a ghost?

No… probably not.

The light and the mutual contract…

The Gate of Truth provided Hilmeth with a basic explanation, helping him grasp his situation.

He had been transported here magically, existing in a form that couldn’t yet be explained, and had formed a contract with the person before him.

The cause of all this was likely the person who wanted to touch his horns and tail.

Hilmeth walked up to Cang Cheng and crouched down.

His tail quietly rose and touched the hem of Cang Cheng’s clothes, but like his arm earlier, it passed through the fabric.

He was currently incorporeal.

Hilmeth coiled his tail around his thigh.

He wasn’t used to having a tail and struggled to control it; if he didn’t wrap it around his leg, it would move aimlessly.

He scrutinized Cang Cheng closely.

Cang Cheng looked young, slender, and his overly pale skin gave a sickly appearance. He seemed to be in poor health.

Although Hilmeth wasn’t particularly concerned with appearances, he couldn’t deny that the seemingly fragile person lying on the ground was very handsome.

But… could this person be the fifth prince, Cang Cheng?

Hilmeth had seen the fifth prince, Cang Cheng, a few times.

The prince always kept his head down, hunched in a corner, looking extremely timid and weak.

But… based on the bold and proactive behavior of the person who had just asked to touch his horns or tail, it was clear that this person was different.

He was nothing like the fifth prince, Cang Cheng.

So… who was this person?

Cang Cheng lay on the floor for a few minutes before regaining his senses. The metal floor was so cold that it made Cang Cheng's back feel cold.

He got up and sat on the bed, wrapping himself in a blanket, which made him feel a bit better.

He then touched the back of his head.

Thankfully, it was only a bit swollen, nothing serious.

Wrapped in the blanket, Cang Cheng left only his head exposed, looking obedient and endearing.

He lifted his eyes, his black eyes tilting upwards at the corners with a faint smile. "I apologize if I've given you a bad impression. My health isn't the best."

"Hmm, don't touch."

Cang Cheng felt a bit discouraged, but only for a moment.

On the Siaxi Continent, other races' horns or tails were considered sensitive, and Cang Cheng had never been able to touch them.

He had thought that the other races from the Canglan Star Region would be different, but... still, no touching.

A hint of disappointment surfaced.

"I am Cang Cheng. I summoned you using a special method. During this time, I will provide you with energy... magical energy, and in exchange, I hope you can teach me."

Cang Cheng introduced himself, leaving out some strange terms.

It really was the fifth prince, Cang Cheng...

Hilmeth pondered, his golden-red pupils glinting with tiny flecks of gold.

He had many questions, yet still maintained a composed and calm demeanor.

"You can call me Mo."

Mo didn’t sound like a real name, but Cheng didn’t mind.

It was rare for an Ethereal Hero to reveal their real name to their contractor right away.

"You're very tall, and it's difficult for me to look up at you."

Hilmeth knelt on one knee, bringing himself to eye level with Cheng.

As a prince, Cheng held a higher rank, and as a high-ranking general, it was proper for Hilmeth to bow.

Cheng was momentarily surprised but quickly accepted Hilmeth's gesture.

This gesture also indicated that Hilmeth had reached a preliminary agreement with him.

"I have just turned 18 and have become the planetary governor of the border planet *Luo Ri*. I intend to build this planet into the safest and most livable place in the entire star domain. I hope you can guide me and share your knowledge."

With that, Cheng offered his hand to Hilmeth.

Hilmeth stared at Cheng for a moment, his golden-red eyes fixed unwaveringly.

His lips were set in a straight line, his expression cold, and with his sharp, deep features and striking facial contours, he radiated an intimidating aura.

Almost no one could hold Hilmeth's gaze in such a state for more than five seconds.

Yet, Cheng's gaze never wavered. His eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, bore a faint smile, but upon closer inspection, it was clear that the smile didn’t reach his gaze.

It was a smile that was both cold and confident.

Their eyes met in silence, a silent confrontation.

Ultimately, Hilmeth was the first to avert his gaze.

Though he couldn’t fathom how the supposedly incompetent fifth prince had managed to summon him here in such a strange manner, perhaps there was a reason for Cang Cheng’s survival.

So for now, he was the one who needed Cheng more.

And…

"Can I touch your horns?"

……

Cang Cheng was the only person who, after seeing his alien appearance, didn’t show any disgust, but instead looked at him with admiration.

"Very well. I'll help you."

With that, Hilmeth placed his hand over Cang Cheng's palm, not touching it but appearing to overlap.

Cang Cheng smiled and said, "Please take care of me, Mo."

*

"In your current soul state, you are invisible to others. Only I can see you.

My power is still weak, but once it grows stronger, you will be able to have a physical form."

"I understand."

Since Cang Cheng was hungry, they left the bedroom for the living room, one in human form and the other a soul.

Butler Philip greeted him with pleasant surprise, "My lord, you are finally awake."

Philip was the butler of the previous governor of Sunset Star. After Cang Cheng took over the position, lacking anyone else to rely on, he decided to keep Philip.

Philip wore a well-fitted butler uniform, had a well-proportioned physique, and exuded a dignified and righteous demeanor.

"How do you feel? Should I call a doctor to check on you again?"

At 89 years old, Philip was still in his prime, given the galactic average lifespan of 200 years.

He was once a C-rank Spirit Warrior.

Philip suffered severe psychological trauma from witnessing too many deaths on the battlefield, which made it impossible for him to continue fighting. Thus, he chose to settle on a border planet and became a butler.

Cang Cheng shook his head. "No need. I know my own condition."

Since he arrived, the original owner's body has been gradually transformed by his soul.

See a doctor? That’s out of the question.

What if things go wrong?

He certainly doesn’t want that.

Philip hesitated.

Cang Cheng looked very frail, and he was said to suffer from a genetic illness, which could flare up at any moment.

We can’t ignore this!

Philip tried to persuade him further, but when he met Cang Cheng’s slightly raised black eyes, the words caught in his throat.

His dark eyes seemed to hold a smile, but Philip felt an inexplicable chill.

Even when Philip had been in the military, facing his instructors, he had never felt such a chill.

Cang Cheng seemed different from a few days ago.

And different from the rumors.

Philip collected himself and said, “I understand. If you feel any discomfort, please contact me. Don’t bear it alone.”

Cang Cheng nodded in satisfaction. “Alright.”

Philip led Cang Cheng to the dining area, where a row of variously flavored nutrient solutions was set out on the table, without any other food.

All the plants and animals on Canglan Star had mutated, containing negative energy. Before consumption, a special process converts this negative energy into positive energy. Otherwise, it would harm the human body.

The instruments used to process the negative energy were not cheap, and the conversion heads had a limited number of uses and would become obsolete after fewer than five uses. This made food in the Canglan Star Region extremely expensive.

Nutrient solutions, however, are small yet provide enough energy and vitamins for half a day.

Cang Cheng was curious about these nutrient solutions; he had never eaten something like this before.

He casually picked a grape-flavored nutrient solution and drank it. As soon as the liquid hit his tongue, his face twisted in disgust.

Disgusting.

What the hell is this?

Do people in the Canglan Star Region actually eat this stuff? Is this really not going to kill someone?

Cang Cheng forced himself to drink it down, despite feeling nauseous.

Phillip noticed Cang Cheng's expression. "Does the taste of the nutritional supplement not suit you? Or perhaps you’d prefer something that tastes like actual food?"

Cang Cheng’s voice sounded strained. "I prefer actual food."

Phillip looked uneasy. "My lord, our financial situation doesn't allow us to buy real food."

Cang Cheng replied, "Alright then... Let me see the financial statements first."

"Yes."

After taking the financial statements and giving them a quick glance, Cang Cheng gained a deeper understanding of the poverty of Luo Ri.

This year’s fiscal status: -16.9 million star credits.

Yes, Luo Ri’s finances were still in the red.

As a border planet, Luo Ri has no resources for trade, nor does it attract tourists to generate income. The only revenue comes from residents’ tax payments. However, Luo Ri’s permanent population is less than 50,000, and most are elderly, infirm, or disabled. They not only did not pay taxes but also received subsidies. This means that Luo Ri’s meager annual income is mostly spent on subsidies, leaving almost no surplus.

Cang Cheng lowered his gaze, thinking quickly.

Although he wasn't good at business, he understood the basics of making money.

Either sell local specialties and create a monopoly.

For example, magic scrolls once sold for 600 gold coins because only those above the Grand Mage rank could make them. A high-level magic Fire Dragon scroll could be sold for 600 gold coins.

To put that in perspective, the annual income of a typical three-member family in a large city was between 30 to 50 gold coins.

If there were no specialties to sell, one could always raid the homes of villainous mages.

Cang Cheng had led teams to raid the homes of many heretical mages, each time coming back with substantial loot.

Thinking of this, Cang Cheng silently asked Hilmeth using telepathy, a method only the two bonded by contract could hear.

Cang Cheng: [How about I rob star pirates? That would be the quickest way to make money, right?!]

Hilmeth, who had assumed Cang Cheng would try to earn money through legitimate means, was surprised. He then carefully considered the feasibility of the plan.

Hilmeth: [You don't have a starship, so that's out of the question.]

Cang Cheng: [Then how am I supposed to earn money? The children are going to starve. Is there really no one I can rob? Can’t someone kind-hearted just show up, please?!]

Just as Cang Cheng was feeling extremely troubled, the door to the mansion was forced open.

"Dear Fifth Prince, the newly appointed governor of the planet, what do you say? If you sell me this Central Mansion, the Lionheart Guild will give you a 10% discount on our goods. It’s a great deal, are you sure you won’t consider it?"

A man with a round belly and medium height stood at the door, grinning widely with calculating eyes. He was adorned with ornate jewelry, giving off a nouveau riche vibe. His ten chubby fingers sported 20 rings, each inlaid with pigeon-egg-sized gemstones, as if to show off his wealth.

Far from being upset by the intruder, Cang Cheng’s eyes sparkled.

[Mo, can I rob him?]

Cang Cheng’s tone grew excited.