Chapter 113: Deal with the Devil
During his time with Joseph, Frank had never noticed anything extraordinary about him. He couldn't fathom how Joseph had risen to become a billionaire.
Typically, a self-made billionaire, especially one who climbed from the slums, is an exceptional individual. Achieving such success, especially during an economic depression in a stratified society like the United States, is no small feat.
Even during China's rapid development in the late 80s and 90s, becoming a billionaire from nothing in a few short years was almost unimaginable, often involving intense and sometimes dark capitalist ventures.
Such individuals are usually prodigies, a cut above the rest, with unique talents.
But Frank saw none of these traits in Joseph, only the gaudy aura of a nouveau riche.
Moreover, self-made billionaires are usually incredibly busy, their immense wealth propelling them forward, leaving no time to rest.
Joseph, however, seemed to spend his days in leisure, attending parties and award ceremonies, basking in adulation, rather than working.
Whenever the topic of Joseph's financial success came up, he would evade the details, never elaborating on his path to wealth.
Given Joseph's personality, one would expect him to brag about his success at every opportunity.
Frank had always been skeptical, suspecting that Joseph's wealth acquisition might not be entirely legitimate, which is why he never pressed for details.
But Frank never imagined that Joseph had become a billionaire through a deal with the devil.
"When someone makes a deal with a demon, the demon signs a contract, granting a wish in exchange for the person's soul. After fulfilling the wish, typically ten years later, the demon collects the soul," John explained.
"Ten years, huh," Frank mused.
Popular lore about deals with demons often mentions trading one's soul for a wish but rarely specifies the ten-year term.
Ten years is neither too short nor too long; it's perfectly timed.
Those desperate enough to sell their souls often face dire situations, as the cost is eternal damnation.
All cultures and religions portray hell as a place of punishment, a concept perhaps most famously encapsulated in Buddhism's eighteen levels of hell.
But when faced with extreme hardship, such as poverty so dire that survival is at stake, people might overlook the afterlife to resolve their immediate struggles. A ten-year term might seem appealing in such contexts.
If the term was only three or five years, it might deter many, but ten years could entice people.
For many, ten years feels like a substantial period.
The notion of ten years, a double-digit span, often feels more tempting than, say, nine years and eleven months, much like how a $9.99 price tag feels significantly cheaper than $10—a psychological trick.
After all, how many ten-year spans does one live through? From infancy to adulthood, only two or three.
Thus, ten years seems a lengthy period.
This allure isn't just for the desperate; even ordinary people with dreams or fantasies might be tempted.
Online scenarios often ask: Would you take a pill to relive the past or gain a million dollars?
Or would you trade a year or ten years of life for money or points to gain certain abilities?
Even those with enviable salaries might find a million-dollar offer tempting.
If a button promised a million dollars for a year of life, many would press it.
Out of a hundred, ninety-eight might press it; the two who wouldn't might be billionaires like Jack Ma or those already near death.
But if offered the chance to live ten years as a billionaire without working, just enjoying life, many would accept in a world that values wealth above all.
After all, earning a million a year adds up to ten million in ten years, a hundred million in a hundred.
And demonic deals offer more than just money—they fulfill desires.
Even without money, one could become an artist, a pianist, or a genius like Darwin, Mozart, or Da Vinci.
Even hopeless romantics might wish to be with their dream partner.
For many, ten years is enough to enjoy life, living for the moment, letting the future take care of itself.
"However, the demon you're dealing with isn't normal; it broke the contract," John said.
"Broke the contract?" Frank's interest piqued.
"Yes, after a deal, the demon typically leaves, returning a decade later to collect the soul, without prolonged interaction."
"But the demon you saw remains with the dealer—Joseph, as you call him—who provides it with sacrifices, violating the contract and hell's rules."
"The key distinction of a deal-making demon is the contract's power," John briefly explained.
Through John's insights, Frank gained a clearer understanding.
Demons are rare, deal-making demons rarer, and those breaking contracts even more so—a phenomenon less likely than winning a lottery, yet Frank encountered it.
"But at least I escaped," Frank sighed.
"Don't relax yet; you might not be free from the demon's grasp," John warned.
"What do you mean?" Frank's heart sank at John's words.