Chapter 7: Contract

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"What is this underground fighting?" Arnold crossed his arm.

"Heh, so that's all you wanna know? I expected a better question." Finch slid the glasses on his shirt.

"How about you come with me and I'll show it to you. Once you've seen it, you can choose to participate or leave. Sounds fair?"

Arnold turned toward Yi and he nodded.

"Fine, we'll go."

"That's what I wanna hear. Let's ride!"

…..

"Fasten your safety belt, boys. We're gonna hover!"

Both clicked together their belts as the thrusters blasted the roads till they reached the air.

Finch's steering wheel contracted into a yoke. He stepped on the gas and pushed buttons on the edges of his yoke.

The car burst forward, leaving an ear shattering wave behind, triggering sirens from other vehicles.

"What the hell! How is a supersonic tuned car legal!" Arnold said.

"I don't abide by the rules, blondie." Finch grinned.

His eyes faced the windshield and a screen on his yoke, breezing past cars and trucks. "Woohoo!"

…..

"We're here."

They drove on top of a vast building with vehicles driving inside the entrance. A circle formed, descending Finch's car.

"A car wash? Yi said.

"Yep, this is our "clean" source of income."

"The dirty part is here."

In front of them is a metal arena covered in an energy field. Wild cheers surrounded it after an explosion from inside caused by fists clashing.

Finch's face lit up and said, "Oof! Lucky day! Two Bio Soldiers are fighting right now."

"Those are… Bio Soldiers?"

"In the flesh, boy. This is the strongest role in W.A.R.P. You don't wanna mess with them."

"Hmph, only to get bullied by a Frontliner." Arnold crossed his arms.

"Why? Are Frontliners stronger?" Yi said.

"Well… I'd say they're important." Arnold said.

"Important and boring tanks, you mean," Finch smirked.

Arnold glared at him. "Each person has a different playstyle, and without them, most roles will struggle in raids."

"Oho, you sure know your game. Are you an expert?" Finch said.

"Only experienced. I've done my research."

"Not bad, blondie. You might have a chance in this arena."

"We'll see," Arnold said.

The fight continues with a guy overpowering the other, thrusting punches to the head, blood spurting out of the losing side's mouth and nostrils, crushed inside his helmet.

"Stop him!" Yi said.

"He's gonna kill him!" Arnold said.

Blackout, the losing man was still getting punched but each hit added more power.

The attacker paused, his arm was imbued with green flashing light.

"Stop it!" Both said.

Crowds cheered even louder. The head was blown into pieces, spreading on the arena as an announcer shouted. "The winner is Toxiccc!"

The crowds jumped, throwing money into the air, and whistled at the winner.

The energy field streamed down as Toxiccc raised his arms and burst out a roar.

"Seen enough?" Finch said.

"You know I did. Send us back!" Arnold said.

"...I'm staying," Yi said.

"What? Didn't you see what happened back there? You can get yourself killed!"

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"So, is it possible I can get enough money for my mother's treatment within a day?"

"Yi!"

"...You can. But only if you sign a death contract."

"Which means… One must die."

"I'm in," Yi said.

Arnold grabbed Yi's shoulders to face him in the eye. "Listen, Yi. Let's go back. I still have another place to request a medical loan. We don't have to do this."

"...Do it, then. Request the loan here." Yi said.

"If they decline, I'll sign the contract…"

Arnold slumped with his eyes dropped.

"What are you waiting for? Request the loan!"

Arnold clenched his teeth and pulled out his phone. "Can you give us an hour?"

"Sure, I'll park this car first."

Finch pressed a button on his yoke left wing, it converted back into a steering wheel and thrusters were replaced with tires. When they stopped descending, he stepped on the gas and turned toward a row of vehicles.

They parked in an empty spot. Finch pulled out a plastic box and bit out the contents in a gap and pinched another one out toward the two. "Cigarettes?"

"No," Arnold said.

Yi's hand raised as he shook his head.

"Clean eh? Welp, I'll open the window for you boys."

"Thanks," Yi said.

…..

Dead silence filled the black car.

Other than Finch's breathing, there was nothing.

Yi was gazing through the window on the left seat with only a steel roof and walls surrounding his vision.

Arnold crossed his arms with the phone in hand.

The phone vibrated. He unlocked it and tapped the notification.

"They… declined my request…"

Yi smiled and rested a hand on his friend's shoulder. "You did your best. I can take it from here now."

Arnold gripped Yi's hand. "Don't be an idiot! Didn't you see what happened back there?"

"You'll die!"

"...So be it," Yi said.

"...What?"

"This is our only hope, Arnold. My mother is the only reason why I decided to keep living."

"Which's why I won't die!" Yi tightened his grip on his friend's shoulder. His eyes are like two burning coals with his heart as the furnace.

"I am the level 10 skeleton, right?" He grinned.

Arnold raised the corner of his lips and said, "Guess I can't change your agro anymore."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"Don't, you need to take care of your gran. We can't risk that."

"Oh? If you think something's gonna happen to me, you're gravely mistaken, my man."

"I. am more experienced than you in W.A.R.P. Having me will increase our chance of survival."

Yi opened his mouth but Arnold said, "Uh uh. No objections, you're the one who said you won't die. And so do I."

Finch smirked and thought, 'Heh, I love these two.'

Yi sighed. "Fine."

"Is there a 2v2 contract?" Arnold turned to Finch.

He breathed smoke through the window. "Only a few."

"Are there any that pay above a hundred thousand?"

"Guess we'll find out. Follow me."

Finch opened the door and walked away. Yi and Arnold followed as the car locked itself.

…..

They went through a square entrance and both of the young men squeezed their faces and covered their mouths and nostrils when they whiffed the scent of cigarettes fogging their path.

When they stepped past it, muscular men with scars on their bodies squatting and laying in a line next to a wall shot a glance at them.

"Yo, Argo. Look what I found." Finch said.

A man on a counter turned his head toward them squinting through his long purple hair. "Huh…? What's this? You're taking a pair of kittens to the arena?"

Everyone except Finch's side coughed out of laughter.

"Heh. Yes, brave little kittens, actually." Finch walked closer with his hand on top of the counter.

"Got any six digit contracts for these little guys."

"What…? These guys? The best they could get is a free funeral."

"Sounds fine to me. Sign them up."

Argo sighed. "Whatever you say."

Fingers typing on the keyboard with one hand as another pulled out a round device facing them. "Stick your VR Card here…"

Yi went for it without hesitation and walked away with his card after the green flashing lights.

…..

"Done… Here's the contract. The reward is 500K. Place your thumb if you agree with the terms…" Argo placed a tablet toward them.

"FIVE HUNDRED?" Yi and Arnold said as they picked it up.

On the screen was written,

[After signing this contract, you have agreed that we won't be responsible for any casualties inflicted on you nor will we inform anyone of the incident. Leaking any information related to this place will result in us disposing of you and the person you leaked to.

Rewards will be given after one side loses their life.]

Arnold slammed his fist on the counter. "This is murder! I'm not signing it!"

"Finch…" Argo said.

Finch raised his hands and said, "Hey, nobody's forcing but that's the rule."

"I want to at least let my gran know if something happens to me."

"Sorry, if she knows, she'll die."

"Errgh!" Arnold kicked the floor.

Yi stared at the screen as his heart was constricted, then a vision of his mother bleeding to the corner of her lips appeared in his mind.

He clenched his fists, pressing his thumb on the screen.

"Yi! What are you doing!" Arnold pulled Yi's arm out as their eyes glanced at the tablet.

His portrait and full name slid out on top of the contract with a [Signed] red text popping out in the middle.

"No! Why did you sign it!" Arnold said.

"...I'm sorry, Arnold. I need to save my mother."

"I'll do whatever it takes to save her!"

"Regardless of the method!"

"I will save her!"