If I remember rightly, Pulp recorded "Separations", touted it around but didn't get any takers so they signed back with Fire for a 7 album deal. If we count "Separations" as the first, they have since released "His 'n' Hers", "Different Class", "This is Hardcore" and "We Love Life" for which they had to pay royalties to Fire. So that's only 5 albums.
Does this mean that Pulp still have to release another 2 albums to fulfil their side of the contract? Presumably these could be released on any label they wish. Or has the deal been fulfilled by other means? For example, "Intro" and "Hits" or the reissues.
Bands often release a 'best of' to fulfill a contract obligation with a label before moving on. I've always assumed that was the purpose of 'Hits' as I don't think they were too happy with Universal/Island by that point. I didn't know about Fire's 7 album deal but that would totally make sense.
Hits/A new album was the last contractual one with Island and presumably Fire. A pity really. If they'd moved to Rough Trade in 2000, they probably would have been more creative with We Love Life and extended the lifespan of the band instead of being tired of Universal in 2002.