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"Sign a contract? How did you know? Through magic?"
Makima was very curious how Ancient One knew she could sign contracts with her. After coming to this World, she had only demonstrated her contract-signing ability in front of Lionel, and he wouldn't spread it everywhere.
Ancient One said nonchalantly, "It's not difficult. I have a lot of experience with signing contracts. Although your method of signing contracts is peculiar, it can still be discerned with careful observation."
Lionel, however, looked strange. He glanced at the [Ungrateful] Entry above Ancient One's head. Ancient One wanting to sign a contract with Makima was an unexpected development for him. And if her character setting was normal, Ancient One should be a deadbeat, right?
As everyone knows, the Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj and the wizards from Harry Potter are two completely different systems. The Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj should be more accurately called mystic Sorcerers. They cannot generate magic themselves and can only obtain magic by signing various contracts with other powerful magical entities.
Typically, the Sorcerers of Kamar-Taj would sign contracts with the Vishanti, the triune White magic gods, to obtain magic. After all, they are the gods of White magic and were involved with the first Sorcerer Supreme, making them one of the relatively friendly magical entities. In desperate situations, Sorcerers would also sign contracts with other Dimensional Demon Gods to obtain magic, but the outcome of that is usually not very good.
But Ancient One was impressive. She had signed contracts to borrow power from more than just one Dimensional Demon God. Perhaps even Ancient One herself couldn't remember how many Dimensional Demon Gods she had signed contracts with.
If you sign a contract with one Dimensional Demon God, you might worry about the cost of the contract. If you sign contracts with two Dimensional Demon Gods, you might be so anxious you can't eat or sleep. But if you sign contracts with a whole group of Dimensional Demon Gods, then they are the ones who should be worried.
As the saying goes, those who owe money are the bosses. What was Ancient One's method for dealing with those creditors? It was simple: if the creditors were gone, there would be no debt.
The corpses of Ancient One's creditors could probably stretch from the Earth to the Sun, as those Dimensional Demon Gods were each larger than the last, every one comparable to, or even exceeding, a Planet.
Ancient One wouldn't be trying to use the same trick on Makima, would she? Become the boss directly after signing the contract.
Lionel inevitably thought of these things, after all, Ancient One had a record.
"You have quite a few strange powers on you. Signing a contract with me wouldn't be of much help to you, would it?"
Makima immediately saw the magic within Ancient One that didn't belong to her. Based on what Lionel had previously told her about the Sorcerer Supreme, she also understood how Ancient One had obtained the power within her.
"Having an extra ability opens up another path. The World is becoming increasingly complex, and I need more power to protect this World, and your power is exactly what I need," Ancient One stated her view.
Makima said, "You are a great Guardian, but everything comes with a price. I won't give you preferential treatment because of your identity. I think you, Sorcerer Supreme, should understand that."
"Of course, equivalent exchange applies everywhere."
"My condition is that every time you borrow power from me, you must first make a sacrifice. It can be your miraculous magic spells, or some powerful energy entities, but I don't accept just any trash."
"The level of magic cannot be too far below Cyttorak's Crimson Bands. If you're sacrificing those sentient energy beings, this level isn't acceptable."
Makima pointed to the black cat in her arms.
"Meow?" The Kuro cat meowed in confusion. It turned out to be an insignificant pet.
Ancient One glanced at the Kuro cat, and the corner of her mouth twitched. Even if this black cat was insignificant, it was still a genuine Dimensional Demon God with considerable power. You're asking for a Dimensional Demon God right off the bat.
"No, Cyttorak's Crimson Bands are not some common vegetable. They are already a top-tier binding spell. And while this cat is a bit weak, it's still a Dimensional Demon God. That's not how a transaction works."
"The conditions cannot change."
"Nothing is unchangeable."
...Lionel quietly watched the two women haggle. Honestly, it was quite interesting.
Finally, the two also agreed: an energy entity the size of the Kuro cat could exchange for Makima's power up to three times. The more power used, the more energy required.
"There's one more condition," Makima said.
"Another condition?" Ancient One asked, puzzled.
"Let's play rock-paper-scissors," Makima said, giving Lionel a subtle hint.
Lionel immediately understood. They had already experimented before: if Makima "defeated" someone, Lionel could also extract an Entry from that person.
"Did she notice my earlier glance at Ancient One's Entry? Makima is truly reliable."
"Alright," Ancient One said, unconcerned.
Makima then added, "I really like to win. We need to play rock-paper-scissors until I win."
..."Okay," Ancient One didn't know what else to say. Was she always so direct?
Master Daniel, who had been listening in, was already dizzy. Was this some new and novel way of making friends? But the Sorcerer Supreme was much older than him, wasn't she? Was she really that trendy?
In Master Daniel's memory, from when he was young and met Ancient One, over fifty years had passed, and Ancient One still looked the same, not changing at all.
The first round of rock-paper-scissors began.
Makima played paper.
Ancient One played rock.
Makima won in one round.
Ancient One withdrew her hand. "You win."
Makima nodded and looked at Lionel.
Lionel immediately understood, stood up, and said:
"We need to resolve the loop problem now. Master Ancient One, could you please tell us when the next restart will be?"
Ancient One closed her eyes, then opened them again, and said:
"If you don't interfere, the next restart will happen in one hour and thirteen minutes."
Lionel thanked her:
"Thank you for your help, Master Ancient One."
Lionel extended his right hand, and Ancient One likewise extended her right hand to shake Lionel's.
"Let's talk again when you have time."
Lionel and Makima left.
Lionel and Makima left the New York Sanctum. Oh, and the unit of measurement, Kuro cat, also left the New York Sanctum.
"Sorcerer Supreme, this guy Lionel is very special. You're very patient with him," Master Daniel asked.
"He is a person whose destiny does not exist, capable of breaking many fated events. He is worth my attention."
"Not within destiny? Are there really such people?"
"Hasn't he already proven it?"
Leaving the New York Sanctum, Makima asked Lionel, "Did you get the Entry?"
Lionel's face showed an irrepressible smile:
"I absolutely love you, Makima!"
"I'm very happy to be able to help you, Lionel."
"Summoning you was the luckiest moment for me. Without your help, I don't know when I would have obtained this Entry, and this Entry is truly very useful."
[Entry] — [Ungrateful]: You can sign contracts with others, but you will not suffer negative effects from the contract, and after killing the contractor, you can selectively inherit everything from the other party.