Chapter 84: The Contract Backfires, and the Bloodline is Wiped Out Overnight!
The night wind swept through, rustling a few dried leaves that spun across the empty courtyard.
The Goode Family manor was terrifyingly silent.
There was no chirping of crickets, no sound of wind, not even a hint of living presence.
The air was thick with a dense aura of death, mixed with the lingering scent of wine and expensive food, forming a bizarre and nauseating smell.
Edward and Jennifer walked along the cobblestone path leading to the main house, their footsteps remarkably clear in the dead silence.
On the lawns beside the path, the fountains still tirelessly gushed water, but the koi in the ornamental ponds had already turned belly-up, floating on the surface.
Everything exuded a morbid eeriness.
The grand front door of the mansion, crafted from expensive mahogany, was ajar, and warm lamplight seeped through the gap, as if inviting guests inside.
The lives of everyone in this mansion had been forcibly drained by an irresistible power in an extremely short time.
"It's the backlash from the contract."
Edward's expression remained calm, as if he'd long anticipated the scene before him.
Demons were never charitable.
Solomon Goode had mortgaged his family's bloodline in exchange for three hundred years of power and wealth.
When he, the last executor of the contract, died and the pact was forcibly terminated, the demon would naturally come to collect its rightful "principal" and "interest."
And all those in the Goode Family who carried that cursed bloodline were the perfect payment.
Edward pushed open the door and stepped inside.
The scene before him confirmed his suspicions.
This was an extremely luxurious banquet hall, with expensive Persian carpets on the floor, a massive crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and a long dining table laden with all sorts of gourmet dishes and vintage wines.
However, what should have been a lively party filled with champagne toasts and laughter had now become a silent exhibition of death.
Dozens of elegantly dressed men and women, dripping with designer jewelry, lay on the floor, leaned against chairs, or slumped over the dining table in various poses.
Their expressions were forever frozen at the moment before death.
Some still wore elegant smiles, their raised wine glasses not yet lowered.
Others were mid-conversation with companions, mouths slightly open, as if their words were unfinished.
There was even a young woman in a provocative cocktail dress attempting to flirt with a silver-haired old man, her posture still full of seduction.
They looked like lifelike wax figures frozen in time.
But their skin had an unnatural, grayish pallor and withering, as if all the moisture and vitality within their bodies had instantly evaporated.
Their eyes were wide open, their pupils retaining extreme terror and confusion, as if they couldn't understand why, during a family celebration, death had suddenly arrived.
"Damn, thorough job." Jennifer circled one corpse, lightly touching its skin with her fingertip. The body immediately crumbled into a pile of ash, like a mummy dried for centuries, scattering onto the carpet.
"Their souls, along with every trace of life essence, have been completely drained. The collectors from Hell are truly efficient."
Jennifer's tone held a hint of professional admiration, as well as a trace of wariness among predators.
Edward paid no attention to these "art installations"; his gaze quickly swept across the hall, searching for his target.
He felt no sympathy for these souls who'd self-destructed due to greed.
Passing through the silent banquet hall, they arrived at a corridor adorned with portraits of successive Goode Family patriarchs.
From Solomon Goode, the first generation who made a deal with the demon, each patriarch's face bore the same arrogance and greed.
Edward's footsteps stopped at the entrance of a study at the end of the corridor.
He could sense that the concentration of wealth and power in this house emanated from here.
Pushing open the door, the study was elegantly and formally furnished, with huge floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with various leather-bound volumes.
On the mahogany desk, a thick family ledger lay open, meticulously documenting the Goode Family's "glorious achievements" of eliminating rivals and accumulating wealth using demonic power, all in pretentious calligraphy.
Edward didn't even bother to glance at it, walking directly to the study's brick fireplace.
He reached out and tapped certain bricks on the fireplace a few times in a specific sequence.
CLICK—
A faint mechanical whirring echoed.
The entire fireplace, along with the wall behind it, slowly slid to one side, revealing a circular door cast from heavy steel.
A hidden vault.
For Edward, with his photographic memory, this was child's play.
At the mall, Solomon Goode, desperate to save his own ass, had revealed almost all of his secrets, including the location and combination to this family vault.
On the vault door was an extremely complex mechanical lock.
Edward placed his hands on the door, telekinesis silently activating.
RUMBLE... The vault door, weighing over ten tons, was slowly pulled open by invisible force.
A scent mixed with paper, metal, and decades of accumulation wafted from within the vault.
When the vault door was fully open and they saw what was inside, even Jennifer couldn't help but let out a small gasp.
Inside, there were no antiques, no jewelry collections.
Only two things.
Cash, and gold.
Stacks of crisp hundred-dollar bills, neatly bundled with bank bands, piled into small mountains, occupying nearly half of the vault's space.
On the other side were standard gold bars, stacked like a fortress wall, reflecting dazzling golden light under the vault's LED lighting.
"I'M RICH!!!" Edward's smile stretched ear to ear.
He walked to the mountain of cash, extended his hand, palm down.
"System, convert all the cash here into system coins."
[Ding! Detecting large amount of convertible currency. Conversion ratio is 10:1. Confirm conversion?]
"Confirm."
As Edward's voice faded.
VWOOM—!
A soft white light emanated from his palm, instantly covering the entire pile of cash like ripples.
The next second, the mountain of bills rapidly dissolved and disintegrated in the light, turning into countless specks of light that were absorbed into Edward's palm.
The entire process took only a few seconds.
The area previously filled with cash became completely empty.
[Ding! Conversion complete. Congratulations, Host, you have received system coins: 50,000,000!]
The system's notification sounded in his mind.
Fifty million system coins meant he'd just converted a whopping five hundred million US dollars in cash.
However, Edward also knew that three hundred years of accumulated wealth must have been more than this, but he'd "dealt with" Solomon before extracting everything. If only he'd known, he would've gotten the money first before killing him. Oh well, hindsight!
Having completed this, he turned his gaze to the "wall" made of gold bars.
These gold bars would be stored temporarily and used when needed.
He walked to the golden wall, extended his hand, and touched the cold metal.
"Store all in system backpack."
With a thought, the gold bars in front of him began to disappear one by one into thin air.
This process was a bit slower than converting cash, but still lasted less than a minute.
[Ding! Item "Gold Bar" x10000 has been stored in system space.]
Looking at the now empty vault, Edward dusted off his hands, as if he'd only done something trivial.
"Let's go, nothing left here worth taking."
Edward closed the vault door, restoring the fireplace to its original state, as if nothing had happened.
He turned, taking Jennifer with him, and left the study filled with the scent of death and greed.
The two recrossed the silent banquet hall and exited the mansion.
The night breeze outside blew, dispelling the faint scent of decay clinging to them.
Edward looked up at the moon in the sky, then walked with Jennifer toward the Fenrir motorcycle waiting quietly outside the manor gates.
This mansion, which buried the Goode Family along with all its sins and wealth, would be forever forgotten in the dust of history.
As Edward and Jennifer stepped out of the heavy iron gates of the Goode manor, a refreshing night breeze blew against them.
In the air, the subtle sense of oppression was gone.
The entire town of Shadyside seemed to have shed heavy shackles it had borne for three hundred years, and even the moonlight in the sky appeared a few shades brighter than usual.
Jennifer took a deep breath, an expression of satisfaction on her face.
"Master, the air here feels cleaner."
As a succubus sensitive to supernatural energy, she could clearly perceive that the lingering resentment and malice over this land had completely dissipated.
Edward said nothing, merely standing quietly beside the Fenrir motorcycle, his gaze directed toward the scattered lights of the distant town.
Just then, a blue holographic screen, visible only to him, quietly unfolded before his eyes.
[Name: Edward Connor]
Gender: Male
Age: 18
Physique: Pure Yang Body
Main Quest: ???
Backpack: Ebony and Ivory (infinite bullets), Pure Silver Cross x2, Gourmet Tablecloth, One-Star Ball, Fenrir Motorcycle, Gold Bar x10000
Abilities: Photographic Memory, Charm Goddess's Blessing EX, Special Effect Holy Light (cosmetic only), Purification, Ox Talisman, Telekinesis EX, Demon Sealing Wave
Pets: Marquis, Jennifer
Coins: 50,050,999
[Lottery: Low-level Lottery 1000 ten-pull, Mid-level Lottery 1,000,000 ten-pull, High-level Lottery 10,000,000 ten-pull, Ultimate Lottery 100,000,000 ten-pull]
Chapter 85: Showdown, I'm a Billionaire
VROOOOM—!
The roar of the Fenrir motorcycle's engine, like a beast unleashed from its chains, tore through Shadyside's quiet night.
Edward, astride this steel beast, carried Jennifer, speeding through the deserted streets.
Without the chilling aura from the hellish contract, the entire town felt different.
The wind was refreshing, the moonlight bright, and even the rundown houses lining the streets seemed less creepy, imbued with a touch more ordinary human warmth.
Jennifer's arms were wrapped tightly around Edward's waist, her cheek pressed against his broad back.
Feeling the steady warmth emanating from his body and his mountain-like reliable presence, her heart was filled with unprecedented peace and contentment.
The only truth was the man before her.
He'd saved her from despair, granted her new life amidst the flames of her sacrifice, and he, a mortal, had performed the deeds of a god.
Back at the cheap, sparsely furnished motel, the room still smelled of industrial cleaner.
But for the two who'd just experienced a major battle, it felt like the safest and most comfortable refuge.
"Click."
The door closed softly, shutting out everything from outside.
The room was dark, with only bright moonlight from outside filtering through the thin curtains, casting a hazy glow.
As Edward turned around, a soft, fragrant body pressed tightly against him.
Jennifer looked up, and in the dim light, her already captivating eyes seemed to transform into two deep pools, shimmering with infatuation and fervent adoration.
"Master…"
Her voice was slightly husky, like the finest aged whiskey, every syllable exuding fatal allure.
As a succubus, her perception of power and her worship of the strong were instincts etched deep within her soul.
And Edward tonight had undoubtedly brought the word "powerful" to its extreme.
That composure and dominance, facing Hell's will without flinching, purifying all evil with a laugh—it was a more potent aphrodisiac for her than anything else.
Edward said nothing, only looking down at her.
He could feel the succubus power within Jennifer's body boiling with excitement; her body temperature was rising, her breathing quickening, every inch of her skin conveying the most primal, most direct desire to him.
She could no longer suppress her emotions, leaning in and pressing her soft lips against his.
This kiss was no longer the tentative, grateful touch from before, but a fiery embrace filled with possession, worship, and devotion.
As if she wanted to completely merge her soul into this man's body.
A storm that had swept across Shadyside had just subsided, and in this small motel room, another storm, belonging only to two people, had just begun.
Under the moonlight, clothes silently slipped away, and two perfect bodies intertwined in the hazy light and shadow.
Jennifer displayed all her talents as a succubus; her every movement, every breath, stirred the deepest desires.
And Edward completely let go, enjoying this sweetest spoils of victory.
...The next morning.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the gap in the curtains into the room, Edward was already awake.
He glanced at Jennifer, who was sleeping soundly beside him, her face still flushed with satisfaction, and a faint smile curved his lips.
After a night of pleasure, Jennifer's succubus aura seemed to have solidified a bit more, and her skin had become even smoother and more radiant.
He quietly got out of bed and quickly showered.
When he emerged from the bathroom, Jennifer was also awake, lying lazily on her side in bed, the sheet just barely covering her vital areas, watching him with her alluring eyes.
"Good morning, Master."
"Good morning." Edward walked to the bedside, leaned down, and kissed her smooth forehead. "Time to get up. We need to get back before the school bus leaves."
"Mmm." Jennifer nodded obediently, without the slightest hesitation.
The two quickly packed everything and checked out. As they walked out of the motel, they found that the outside world had completely returned to normal.
There were scattered pedestrians on the streets; although their faces still held a trace of confusion, the long-standing numbness and despair etched on their faces had disappeared.
The air was fresh, and the sun was warm.
This small town, cursed for three hundred years, had finally welcomed its overdue new beginning.
Edward didn't summon the impressive Fenrir again; instead, he and Jennifer walked back to where they'd parked yesterday.
By the school bus, students were already gathered in small groups, their faces showing the exhaustion of surviving a nightmare and the relief of going home soon.
Frank, at this moment, no longer had yesterday's paranoia and pallor; although he still looked somewhat tired, his mental state was infinitely better.
He was holding a small notebook, discussing something with a few classmates with smiles and laughter, exuding the energy of a college nerd.
"Edward! Jennifer!" Frank spotted the two approaching immediately and waved enthusiastically.
He quickly walked up to Edward, saying with a surprised look, "Hey, man! It's incredible! I don't know why, but when I woke up this morning, I felt amazing! It's like… like a huge weight that had been pressing on my chest was suddenly lifted, and even breathing is easier! I slept like a baby last night!"
He clapped Edward's shoulder hard, genuine smile on his face: "Seriously, thanks for looking after me yesterday; I was in such terrible shape."
Edward looked at his recovered appearance and said calmly, "Maybe you were just adjusting to the local atmosphere, Frank. Good rest fixes everything."
"Maybe! But the 'atmosphere' here was seriously creepy!" Frank looked around nervously. "Anyway, at least we can finally leave this cursed place! I can't wait to get home, take a hot shower, and sleep for twelve hours straight!"
Watching Frank return to his usual chatty and animated self, the surrounding classmates smiled warmly.
Soon, everyone boarded the bus.
The school bus slowly started, carrying a group of young people away from this town that had left them with deep psychological scars.
Edward and Jennifer sat in the last row. Jennifer naturally leaned her head on his shoulder, like a lazy cat, closing her eyes as if dozing.
Edward, meanwhile, watched the rapidly receding scenery outside the window; the sign that read "Welcome to Shadyside" quickly disappeared at the end of his sight.
He quietly opened his system panel in his mind again.
"Gold Coins: 50,050,999"
"Lottery: Low-tier Lottery 1,000 for ten consecutive draws, Mid-tier Lottery 1,000,000 for ten consecutive draws, High-tier Lottery 10,000,000 for ten consecutive draws, Ultimate Lottery 100,000,000 for ten consecutive draws"
Fifty million gold coins meant five opportunities for high-tier ten consecutive draws.
This was the biggest gain from this trip to Shadyside!
He was already itching to see what good stuff this so-called high-tier lottery could produce. Would it be new powerful abilities? Or some game-changing items?
"Master," Jennifer seemed to sense his emotional fluctuations, asking softly in his ear, "What are you thinking about?"
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