This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 284: Mayfly

The symbols Rita found were advanced magical glyphs used for designing equipment requirements. These glyphs stabilize and balance the magic within equipment, allowing it to carry more attributes and possess superior stats. Regular equipment isn’t even eligible to use them—only Level 10 purple-grade items might qualify.

However, these glyphs could also serve other purposes. For example, enchanters and tailors often use them to conceal or protect valuables. By setting specific visibility thresholds, items under their protection remain hidden unless the required conditions are met.

The glyphs Rita found had the following requirements:

Divine Gift Rank: S True Strength > 80 True Intelligence > 80 True Agility > 80 True Constitution > 80

This was a trap designed just for her. It fit perfectly, like a hand in a glove.

Her [Thief God] Divine Gift alone met the S-rank requirement, and anyone with such a Gift and even a modicum of ambition would ensure their base stats exceeded 80. Without any equipment, her base stats already cleared the thresholds.

This discovery only solidified Rita’s suspicions: Soul Catcher was tainted. Her next best course of action might be investigating Miyaas’ relics and lair, as they could offer new leads.

She and Nivalis headed to The White Family estate. After disguising her identity as a staff member and activating invisibility, she Shadowstepped into the estate.

Confirming that Sanchez now had a [Crippling Stabilization] status effect, Rita observed her from above. Sanchez had been awake since 5 AM, relentlessly training. Her snowboard glided smoothly beneath her feet as she slashed the air with her blade, over and over again.

Rita asked Nivalis, "Can your specialist-grade healing lift her condition?" Her mind raced with two contradictory fears: what if Sanchez healed, and what if she ended up like Sanchez herself?

Nivalis examined Sanchez from afar. "It’s hard to say. Theoretically, I could treat her and even break Jameson’s curse temporarily. But the problem lies in the curse being imprinted on the [Bloodline Shackles]. My healing would only be temporary. The curse would slowly regenerate unless she permanently severs the Bloodline Shackles. Even temporarily breaking the shackles won’t help."

Rita: "What do you mean by ’permanently sever’?"

Nivalis: "All her blood relatives would have to die."

Rita stayed in the air, watching Sanchez for a long time. It wasn’t until the estate’s water-screen detectors sensed her presence and guards approached that she left.

Sanchez, as an enemy, was a constant threat to her peace of mind. But as a tool in her hands, Sanchez was like a rare SSR card—powerful, expendable, and free from moral obligations. Rita could use her to the fullest without guilt.

With a deep sigh, Rita made her decision.

She Shadowstepped into the White Family’s fishing vessel. Still disguised, she released Jameson from his container.

The first thing Jameson did upon waking and seeing the open sky was exhale in relief. If Rita had intended to silence him, he wouldn’t have had a chance to wake. "You’ve made your decision?"

Rita: "Yes."

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If a task arose that she couldn’t complete herself, she would have a loyal faction to delegate to. She wouldn’t have to invest resources into nurturing them or feel guilty about their casualties. They were expendable assets.

And during her visit to the White Family estate earlier, she’d even spotted traces of snake servants…

The White Family’s collaboration with Rick was something she couldn’t tolerate. If Sanchez were to die, it had to be by her hand—not drained and discarded by Rick. It wasn’t out of sympathy for Sanchez. Rick simply wasn’t worthy, whether Sanchez was a tool or a wife.

Rita opened the Contract interface and officially bound Jameson to an agreement.

The Contract:

Jameson’s Obligations:

Fulfill all promises made to Rita, including disclosing Miyaas’ relics and lair. Maintain absolute secrecy about Rita’s identity and any knowledge of her. Form a military guild under the White Family name and execute all tasks issued by Rita without refusal. Cause no harm to Rita in any form. If any terms are violated, Jameson, Ariana, Josephine, Sanchez, and any other named individuals will: Have their stats reduced to zero. Lose all memories. Be petrified for 100 years.

Rita’s Obligations:

Accept the White Family’s allegiance. Issue them at least one task monthly (Blue Star time). Fight alongside them at least once a year. If she fails to uphold these terms, she must compensate the White Family with 50,000 gold coins.

Final Clause: Upon Rita’s permanent death, Sanchez’s HP will drop to zero instantly.

The contract would last for 50 years.

This was an extremely one-sided agreement, yet Jameson agreed without hesitation.

Rita asked, "You’re not asking me to promise to lift your curse?"

Jameson almost said, A cornered dog will jump the fence, but stopped himself in time. After slapping himself, he adjusted his expression and replied earnestly, "Leaving things open-ended often leads to better results."

It was wisdom he’d gleaned from [Life Resume]—less certainty allowed for more flexibility. It was also this approach that convinced Rita to negotiate with him in the first place.

Rita: Don’t think I didn’t catch that you wanted to talk about dogs jumping fences. Who’s the desperate one here, hmm?

Guild Formation

Jameson summoned a Guild Crest and mailed it to someone. Shortly after, a new guild appeared in the rankings: .

The guild leader: Ariana.

Its three members: Ariana, Josephine, Sanchez.

Jameson, due to his current status as a sea demon, couldn’t officially join. But he named the guild in the contract to demonstrate his sincerity. He even signed the names of Ariana, Josephine, and Sanchez into the agreement, using their blood to validate their participation remotely.

To his final instructions, Jameson added: "Block their access to the other party’s name."

The contract replaced Rita’s name with [Unknown].

Golden light swept across the blood-stained names, validating the arrangement.

Rita scrutinized the contract once more, then said abruptly, "Add someone else to the penalty list: your wife, Allison."

For the first time, Jameson’s expression turned grim. In the end, he sighed and added Allison’s name to the contract.

His tale had its truths and its lies. A script could be fabricated, but emotions were not.

From the moment she met him, Jameson mentioned his wife just often enough—not too much, not too little. It was suspicious. If he didn’t care, he wouldn’t bring her up, or he’d constantly use her as bait. His restrained mentions of Allison revealed his love and longing.

Jameson completed the final step, using Allison’s blood to validate her participation.

As expected…

With the contract sealed, Rita revealed her true face for the first time.

Jameson murmured her name under his breath, committing it to memory. "They understand how serious this is. They’re also terrified. Rest assured, they won’t act out of line. They won’t even know who you are until I’m gone."

Rita’s first order was immediate:

"Don’t work with Rick. No matter what he offers, reject it. Crush him at every opportunity and make his life miserable."

She added a series of tasks for the White Family:

Investigate Yu Qingshan and Scarlett’s current situations. Locate Ezra and ensure he suffers. Gather intel on the Taylor family’s operations in B City and preemptively undermine their influence in S City. Collect any artifacts bearing the name ’God of Food.’ Identify a player using blank skill crystals to buy skills. Track a player named EasySing.

Jameson: …Did I just start a full-time job? Where did that "I don’t need anyone" attitude go?!