Extra's Revenge: Reincarnated As A Slave-Chapter 84: Betrayal (Part 1)

The Deep Vault lived up to its reputation.

Unlike the main treasury’s organized efficiency, this chamber felt like stepping into a dragon’s hoard.

Treasures were stacked without apparent order, glowing with power that made the air itself feel thick and charged. The darkness Rey had seen from outside was actually dense Ether, so concentrated it appeared as a physical shadow.

As they ventured deeper, Rey’s mind cataloged everything with mechanical precision.

More Technique Scrolls lined specially constructed shelves, each one sealed in individual cases. These weren’t the standard training materials from the main treasury—these were at least mid-Sequence and even some high Sequence Techniques.

His hands moved almost of their own accord, claiming scrolls that aligned with his capabilities and goals.

The contract stipulated he would receive thirty percent of the Deep Vault’s contents—a generous share that Serena and Logan had agreed to in exchange for his automatons’ protection and his assistance breaching the vault.

But it was the specialized scrolls that truly captured his attention.

In a reinforced section near the back, Rey discovered something interesting: Slave Binding Scrolls.

There were several dozens of them, each one containing a complete Slave Contract Curse Art already prepared and ready for activation.

These weren’t like the crude slave contracts used on common Cursed Ones. These were sophisticated curse bindings that could enslave even powerful practitioners, overriding their will and making them utterly subservient.

’So this is how the Desgarrons maintained their control,’ Rey thought, carefully examining the intricate Curse Art formulas inscribed on the scrolls. ’I could use this to develop my own force....’

He took every single one.

The contract said nothing about limiting specific types of items, only total percentage. If Serena or Logan objected, he could simply point to the agreement they’d all signed.

Neither said anything.

Perhaps they were too focused on their own discoveries, or perhaps they simply didn’t understand what those scrolls represented.

Either way, Rey secured them in his enchanted bag without comment.

Then he realized something even more valuable.

Each of these Scrolls he saw contained a specific Art Technique, and using Ether Stones, one could activate them without leaving any kind of signature behind.

This was different from normal Ancient MajiK Techniques that required the user to have the corresponding Art affinity and use their own Ether.

What did this mean?

A person with no Spirit Art affinity could use Inferno Technique to unleash devastating flames. Someone lacking Soul Art affinity could perform Enslavement Techniques.

All without needing years of training or natural talent in those Arts.

The best part was that they would leave no trace of themselves if they used Ether Stones as an external energy source.

The catch, of course, was that each scroll was single-use. Once activated, it would burn out, the Technique lost forever.

But for someone like Rey—who possessed only Chaos Art affinity—these scrolls represented access to the entire spectrum of Ancient MajiK.

He found Spirit Art scrolls, Soul Art scrolls, even several Null and Chaos Art scrolls that would allow him to use powers he never would have dreamed of.

’With these, I’m no longer limited by my affinities. I can surprise any enemy with Techniques they’d never expect me to possess.’

These were great gains!

Rey’s mental inventory continued to grow.

Grade 4 and Grade 5 Artifacts that the main treasury hadn’t contained. Ancient texts describing lost rituals and forgotten magical theories. Crystallized Essence from creatures so rare they might be extinct. Alchemical ingredients worth more than most organization’s annual budgets.

The Desgarron Family had accumulated wealth over centuries, and all of it was here, hidden away where only the family head and their most trusted advisors knew it existed.

And now it belonged to him. Well, thirty percent of it, at least.

’No,’ Rey corrected himself internally. ’Soon it will all belong to me.’

Logan and Serena worked efficiently, sorting items according to their agreement.

The automatons helped with the heavy lifting, their mechanical strength allowing them to move objects that would have required a dozen men.

Rey noticed Logan glancing at him occasionally, expression unreadable. Serena seemed focused entirely on the intelligence documents and magical texts, her eyes gleaming with the fervor of someone who believed in their bright future.

’Fools...’ Rey thought dispassionately.

Hours passed.

The enchanted bags filled to capacity. They began using the automatons themselves as pack animals, strapping containers of treasure to their metal frames.

Finally, they reached the end.

The Deep Vault had been stripped of everything valuable. Between the main treasury and this hidden chamber, they’d secured enough wealth to fund a small war—or a revolution, depending on one’s perspective.

"This is it," Serena said, surveying their haul with satisfaction. "We’ve done it. The Desgarron Household is finished, and we have the resources to ensure the Sunlit Order can experience full prosperity."

"Indeed," Logan agreed, his voice carrying a strange note that made Rey’s senses sharpen.

They stood at the vault’s entrance, ready to begin the journey back to the surface.

The automatons were positioned between Rey and the exit, their cargo making them slower and less maneuverable than usual.

Then Logan smiled.

It wasn’t the cautious, calculating smile Rey had seen before. This was something different—triumphant, predatory.

"Before we go," Logan said casually, "there’s one more matter to address."

Serena moved, and suddenly she was no longer standing beside Logan but had circled around to Rey’s other side.

Not threatening, not yet, but definitely positioning herself.

"What matter?" Rey asked calmly, though he already knew.

"The matter of our arrangement," Logan replied. "You see, Rey, you’ve been very useful. Your automatons, your strength, your willingness to kill Augustus when we needed it done. But usefulness has a limit."

Serena’s whip uncoiled, though she didn’t raise it. "We can’t let you leave here with those treasures. Thirty percent is too much for an outsider who doesn’t share our vision."

"The contract—" Rey began.

"Will be honored," Logan interrupted smoothly. "In a manner of speaking. You’ll receive exactly what you’re owed. It just won’t be in the form you expected."

More Sunlit Order members emerged from the shadows—they must have been following at a distance, waiting for this moment. Rey counted eight of them, all armed, all moving to surround him.

"The automatons won’t help you," Serena said. "They’re registered as allied to us through the contract. They can’t attack alliance members."

"And even if you wanted to fight," Logan added, "the Curse Art binding prevents any hostile action between us. You’re trapped, Rey. Bound by the very agreement you thought protected you."

Rey stood perfectly still, his expression neutral. "So this was always the plan? Betray me once the hard work was done? Did you forget that the agreement binds you too?"

"This is not betrayal," Logan corrected. "It’s acquisition. You’re too valuable to simply let go. So we’re going to ensure you stay with the Sunlit Order as insurance."

"Insurance?" Rey echoed.

"Do you remember when I visited you in that prison after you were wrongfully accused?" Logan asked, stepping closer. "When I tried to recruit you to our cause?"

Rey said nothing.

But—

’Go on...’

—The gears in his head were already turning.

The time had finally come!