Chương 55: Chapter 55
"Daniel, I'm leaving."
In the Sanctuary of New York, Abel, who had just arrived from the Kamar-Taj portal, waved goodbye to the guardian of the Sanctuary. After bidding farewell, he opened the door and stepped out onto the New York streets.
He made his way to the subway station as usual. However, when Abel walked down the stairs to the platform, he suddenly noticed that it was completely empty, and the lights overhead flickered intermittently.
Then, the lights went out completely. After about three or four seconds, they flickered back on. An old man in a black trench coat, leaning on a black cane and meticulously combing his gray hair back, appeared not far in front of Abel.
Zizizi…
The overhead lights continued to flicker with a buzzing sound. Abel noticed that the old man's face alternated between a human visage and a terrifying devil's face, revealing a glimpse of something sinister.
Feeling the aura of fear emanating from the figure, Abel immediately recognized the identity of the stranger.
Lord of Hell, Mephisto!
Mephisto could not act directly on the earthly plane; he typically used threats and temptation instead. Direct interference would break the rules, drawing the ire of Heaven or other forces.
"Mephisto…"
Abel nodded slightly, and Mephisto smiled, saying, "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Abel."
"The legendary lord of Hell actually knows me? I must admit, this is quite surprising."
"Oh, Mr. Abel, you must understand that the former knight who was able to defeat me alone, even without the spirit of vengeance in his body, your power remains one of the few outstanding abilities among humans. Not to mention your relationship with Kamar-Taj is irreversible; I will naturally pay you due attention."
"You shouldn't have come to tell old stories, right?"
At Abel's words, Mephisto stopped tapping his cane, stepped forward, and said, "Mr. Abel, it appears you prefer directness. So I won't delay: you have my possession in your hands. Will you return it to me?"
"How could the belongings of the great Lord of Hell fall into the hands of a mere wizard like me?"
"Mr. Abel, no one in this world can lie in front of me, so I know very well that my Contract of San Venganza is in your possession. Please return it to me."
"Oh, you're referring to the Contract of San Venganza. But I acquired it from another person. Why do you claim it as yours?"
Mephisto regarded Abel with a knowing expression. Realizing that Abel wouldn't relinquish the item without a fight, he cut to the chase: "Alright then, what do you seek in return for the contract?
Power? Wealth? Beauty? Eternal life?
Anything you can think of, I can offer!
If you're concerned, we can also sign a contract. You should know that as long as a contract is signed, our devil will never violate it!"
"Forget the contract. I accidentally came across some information regarding Johnny's father. You did something a bit reckless. It doesn't suit your identity as the Lord of Hell."
At Abel's words, Mephisto's eyes narrowed slightly, and the flickering lights above them intensified, revealing the looming devilish visage on his face.
"Abel Shaw, you should know that, as the Lord of Hell, I have ample subordinates and believers on Earth. You are indeed not an ordinary person, and your strength is quite impressive. However, your mother, Terea Shaw, is just an ordinary human. While I can't act directly, my subordinates and believers are not bound by such restrictions!"
With a flash of understanding in his eyes, Abel smiled at Mephisto. "Don't be so angry, and don't act impulsively. The Contract of San Venganza holds no value for me.
But at this stage, you must recognize that I am closely aligned with Kamar-Taj, and it's impossible for me to trade with you in secret. You'll need to give me some time, at least until the situation with your son, Black Heart, is resolved. For now, we can downplay the matter of the Contract of San Venganza, and once things settle, I will consider making a deal with you."
"How long do I have to wait? My patience is not boundless."
"Mephisto, you can't act directly in this world, so you cannot force the issue. While you have many followers and believers here, my mother, Treya, is just an ordinary human. If I bring her to Kamar-Taj for protection, and then hand the Contract of San Venganza over to the Ancient One, I don't think you could do anything about it, right?"
Mephisto regarded Abel with an expression devoid of sadness or joy. After a long pause, he finally regained his smile, nodding in agreement. "Yes, you're right. I have an almost infinite lifespan. In my view, even if you wait until you grow old and die, it's merely a small fraction of time. I can afford to wait. But I also despise deception. I don't want you to perish, nor do I wish to have a complete falling out with you, do I?"
"Of course not. You simply need to wait a while. After I can protect myself, I'll leave Kamar-Taj, and then we can begin our negotiations."
"I hope you can safeguard the Contract of San Venganza. I want to avoid continuing discussions about the transaction with anyone else."
"Don't worry; I'm eagerly anticipating a trade with the great Lord of Hell."
"That's good, that's good…"
After saying this, Mephisto gave Abel a deep look before stepping back and vanishing into the darkness.
The overhead lights extinguished once more, then flickered back on.
At that moment, Abel heard the sounds of other pedestrians and took a deep breath. He realized that his back was soaked with sweat. Dealing with the Lord of Hell was no simple task; it felt like dancing on the edge of a knife.
Abel had long been mentally prepared for this situation. He was confident that he could secure a fair deal with Mephisto.
As long as the fairness of the transaction could be assured, and there were no hidden traps in the contract, then trading with Mephisto, the king of demons and lord of Hell, would at least guarantee that Mephisto would not regret the outcome and that the transaction would remain equitable!
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