Chapter 376: The Contract
"Don't worry," Crowley said calmly. "I'm not going to make you do anything so… distasteful. And I guarantee—the task I give you will have nothing to do with collecting human souls. It won't even harm anyone."
"I can give you a hint," he added casually. "All I need you to do is go somewhere… and bring something back for me."
Frank fell silent, carefully turning Crowley's words over in his mind.
No soul required. Just a task.
And from the way Crowley described it, it sounded almost trivial—like running an errand.
Could it really be that simple?
Was this just Crowley repaying a favor… by asking for something insignificant in return?
Like buying a house for one dollar?
But Crowley was a demon.
Demons didn't do charity.
And not just any demon—judging from his authority, from the way Abeni feared him, Crowley was something far greater. A king, perhaps.
If that was the case… what could possibly exist that he couldn't retrieve himself?
Why send a human?
"You're overthinking it," Crowley said, as if reading his thoughts. "What I need isn't something demons can easily obtain. But for a human like you—it's no problem."
"And don't worry about failing," he continued. "Even if you can't get it, it doesn't matter. Just go to the place. Think of it as checking in—showing up. That alone fulfills the contract."
He paused, then added lightly:
"And once you sign, I'll heal you immediately. Consider it an advance payment. Otherwise… you'll probably die before you even get there."
Frank frowned.
No matter how he looked at it, the deal seemed flawless.
Too flawless.
It felt like he was the one benefiting entirely.
But Frank had never believed in free lunches—especially not when the offer came from a demon.
Still… what did he even have that Crowley could want?
Money? A demon wouldn't care about that.
Blue Angel? Even less so.
"You've thought long enough," Crowley said, his tone turning impatient. "What's your decision?"
"…Give me a moment," Frank muttered. "Just a little more…"
"I'll give you five minutes," Crowley interrupted. "If you still haven't decided by then, I'm leaving. I have better things to do."
"And the next time we meet…" he smiled faintly, "…will be in Hell."
Frank's heart tightened.
If Crowley left, this opportunity would disappear with him.
Even if he later performed another summoning ritual, the demon that answered wouldn't be Crowley.
And it definitely wouldn't offer terms this… lenient.
"I accept," Frank said suddenly.
This time, he didn't hesitate.
"Good," Crowley smiled.
"Then sign."
He raised his hand—and a contract materialized out of thin air.
Frank carefully read through the contract. Everything seemed normal—nothing suspicious stood out. After a brief hesitation, he signed his name.
"Pleasure doing business," Crowley said at once, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.
"Now… let me fulfill my end of the deal."
He snapped his fingers.
"…That's it?" Frank asked, confused.
"What were you expecting?" Crowley replied. "Some grand spectacle?"
Frank didn't answer. He instinctively felt his body—and paused.
He did feel better.
Subtly, but undeniably.
"…Where do I go, and what exactly am I supposed to retrieve?" Frank asked.
"Heh, impatient as ever," Crowley chuckled.
"I don't like owing debts either," Frank said.
"Fair enough," Crowley nodded. "But before I tell you the location, I have something for you."
He reached into his coat and took out a small box, handing it over.
Frank opened it immediately.
Inside was a necklace.
It looked old—almost ancient. A dull silver chain, with an irregular, weathered metal pendant. Faint, worn patterns were etched across its surface.
"What is this?" Frank asked.
"Think of it as a charm," Crowley said after a moment. "Keep it on you. When you're in danger… it'll protect you."
Danger?
Frank frowned. Wasn't this just a simple retrieval task?
But before he could ask—
his vision blurred.
"You'll go here," Crowley's voice echoed in his ears. "As for what you're retrieving… you'll know when you arrive."
The next second—
Frank snapped back to reality.
Sunlight streamed through the window. The hospital room was completely normal again.
"…What the hell…"
He looked down.
On the bed lay a slip of paper, with an address written on it.
The necklace was still in his hand.
Proof that everything that just happened… was real.
"Dad, you're awake. Want some water?" Sammi stirred, waking up beside him.
"I'm fine," Frank said quickly. "Go get a doctor. I want a full check-up."
"What? Are you feeling worse?" Sammi's face immediately filled with worry.
She rushed out of the room.
Frank lowered his gaze to the paper.
"San Venganza…" he read quietly.
He tucked both the necklace and the note away just as the doctor and nurses hurried in.
"Strange…" the doctor muttered after a quick preliminary check.
"What's wrong?" Sammi asked anxiously. "Is his condition getting worse?"
"No—quite the opposite," the doctor said. "Something's changed. We need a full examination."
What followed was a series of tests.
And the results…
left everyone stunned.
Frank had been diagnosed with late-stage alcoholic cirrhosis—terminal. The only possible treatment had been a liver transplant.
But now?
His liver was completely healthy.
Not just recovered—
perfect.
And it wasn't just his liver.
Years of abuse—smoking, drinking, drugs, reckless living—had left countless minor issues in his body.
All of them…
gone.
Every single one.
His body was now in peak condition—healthier than many people in their thirties.
It made no sense.
None at all.
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