The end of the world is approaching, I'm handing myself over to the country.

Lin Mo's face twitched almost imperceptibly.

Servant?

He never even considered taking on any servants.

Seemingly sensing Lin Mo's silence, Mo Fang, who was kneeling on the ground, lowered his body even further, his forehead slamming heavily against the cold, hard ground with a dull thud.

"I am willing to offer my loyalty."

Lin Mo snapped out of her thoughts and looked at him.

"I'm about your age, would you truly respect me?"

Mo Fang did not answer immediately.

He didn't look up.

The fact that the other party didn't directly refuse is a good sign.

Mo Fang's head remained buried deep in the ground, and a muffled voice came from below.

"Luck itself is part of one's ability, and has nothing to do with age, status, or anything else."

"I only trust my own judgment, so I accept it."

Having said all that, Lin Mo really didn't know what to say.

Moreover, he does need people right now.

Having a smart, decisive, and influential assistant would indeed be quite good.

I never expected that I would be so lucky as to have it delivered to my doorstep.

Lin Mo glanced at the sparrow on his shoulder.

Sparrow and Lin Mo have developed a certain understanding over the past few days.

The next second, a blinding red light appeared out of thin air in front of Mo Fang.

As the light faded, an ancient parchment contract, tinged with a dark red hue, floated silently in mid-air.

Unlike the employment contract seen in the previous beginner's guide, many of the terms in this contract are unacceptable.

You could even say it's a contract of servitude.

Lin Mo spoke calmly, as a final reminder.

"Just a friendly reminder: once you sign, there's no going back."

"At that time, your life or death will be in my hands."

Lin Mo paused, then added, "What I mean is, if I wanted to, you really would die."

Mo Fang finally raised his head.

He had made all the preparations before knocking on that door.

So he didn't even glance at a single word on the contract.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand, put his index finger in his mouth, and bit down hard.

Bright red blood beads instantly seeped out.

The next moment, the blood-stained fingerprint was pressed heavily onto the bottom of the contract.

The contract has been signed.

A cold, automated system notification sounded inside the grocery store.

The dark red contract instantly transformed into two red rays, one of which flashed into Lin Mo's brow, while the other burrowed into Mo Fang's body.

A wondrous connection, originating from the depths of their souls, was established between the two.

Mo Fang: "Master."

Lin Mo nodded.

Get up.

"You can ask me anything now, and I'll answer whatever I can."

Mo Fang slowly stood up.

He ignored the dust on his knees and the cuts on his fingertips.

The tension that had been building up seemed to find an outlet the moment the contract was established.

He stared intently at Lin Mo and asked the question that he was willing to risk everything for.

"Is the end of the world really coming?"

Lin Mo looked at him without any attempt to hide anything or make excuses.

"You guessed right."

"The end times are indeed coming soon."

This answer was like a heavy hammer, completely shattering the last glimmer of hope in Mo Fang's heart.

But the fear and despair I had anticipated did not materialize.

Instead, it brings a sense of relief that everything has settled down.

Although it is an incredibly cruel reality, at least it is no longer an endless cycle of suspicion and confusion.

Knowing the correct answer, he would know how to exert his strength.

Mo Fang's tense body finally relaxed the moment he heard the answer.

He exhaled a long breath, which turned into a cloud of white mist in the cool air.

"Can you tell me how much longer?"

"At most five years."

Lin Mo's voice was soft, yet it was like a boulder crashing onto a calm lake, stirring up a tidal wave in Mo Fang's heart.

Five years.

So there's only such a short time left.

Mo Fang nodded, lowered his head, and said nothing more.

An eerie silence fell over the entire grocery store.

Having learned the truth about the apocalypse and the exact time, he was at a loss for what to ask.

Or rather, they dared not ask anymore.

He understood the principle that the more a servant knew, the faster he would die.

Having gained access to Lin Mo and obtained definite information, he had achieved all his goals.

Don't try to achieve it deliberately.

As long as you demonstrate your usefulness, the other party will generally give you what you need.

This can be considered the first conversation between the two after they confronted each other.

so......

First impressions are extremely important!

Looking at his sensible appearance, Lin Mo felt a little uncomfortable.

"Aren't you going to ask any other questions?"

Lin Mo couldn't help but speak up.

Mo Fang shook his head, his attitude remaining respectful.

"Knowing this is enough."

Lin Mo looked at him and understood.

This is a smart person, and a smart person who knows how to be tactful.

Using someone like that is truly worry-free.

"Since you have acknowledged me as your master, I am not a petty person."

Lin Mo tapped the counter, making a crisp sound.

"Go offline and take a look. Consider those items a small gift I prepared for you."

Gift?

Mo Fang's heart skipped a beat, but he dared not show it on his face.

He simply bowed his head and thanked them.

"Furthermore," Lin Mo's voice was calm and even, "you should know what you should say and what you shouldn't say."

Mo Fang stiffened and immediately bowed.

"Understood."

Lin Mo waved his hand, indicating that he could leave.

Without any hesitation, Mo Fang respectfully stepped back two steps and left the general store.

Then he turned around and quit Wasteland Era.

Watching Mo Fang's figure disappear into the white light, Lin Mo turned to the sparrow that had been perched on his shoulder, as quiet as a chicken.

"You heard what I just said, didn't you?"

The sparrow tilted its head: [?]

Lin Mo: "I'll send him ten life potions and one basic gene potion as a gift."

Lin Mo continued explaining to himself, seemingly unsure whether he was speaking to the sparrows or to himself.

"Monsters have begun to appear in the outside world."

"Give him some means to save his life, so that my newly recruited helper won't accidentally kill himself."

The instruction has been confirmed.

[Item transfer in progress...]

[Transmission complete.]

The sparrow flapped its wings and dutifully reported its findings.

Lin Mo nodded, picked up the milk cup from the counter again, and slowly took a sip.

The warm milk slid down his throat, calming his chaotic thoughts considerably.

Having a servant doesn't seem like such a bad thing.

......

The real world.

Inside the luxurious e-sports room, Mo Fang took off his gaming helmet.

My forehead was covered in fine beads of sweat, and my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of my throat.

He was panting heavily.

The bet was won.

He won his bet!

The general store manager was indeed the key to breaking the deadlock!

Five years... the apocalypse is still five years away...

He was about to get up to get a drink of water to calm his nerves when his body suddenly froze.

On the table in front of him, where there had been nothing before, a row of things were now quietly placed.

Eleven slender test tubes with a cold, gleaming sheen.

Ten of them contained a blood-red liquid that shimmered eerily under the light.

The other one contains a liquid that is gilded gold in color.