"Don't tell me you don't know how to sign a contract."
"...."
"...."
Once again, we both looked into each other's faces without answering. The awkward moment lasted more than a minute when she gulped and decided to speak.
'No, are you afraid I will kill you just because I am embarrassed?'
"It's no big problem... Ha... Haha... really. I will tell you how to do it."
'Then why is your face looking like then?'
She looked like she was using her life-force to suppress her laughter.
Apparently, we can sign a mana contract using our stigmata's power. It was just like shaking a hand while sending mana to each other's body and commanding the stigmata system to sign a contract.
[Mana Contract]
Conditions:
1. Dilly Bloom shall follow all the instructions of Marcel Mistmer and never attempt to harm him directly or indirectly.
2. Marcel Mistmer shall provide a source of stable income to Dilly Bloom and never attempt to harm her directly or indirectly.
3. Dilly Bloom shall never lie to Marcel Mistmer.
4. Marcel Mistmer shall give his autograph to Dilly Bloom.
Warning: The contract term is set for five years and will be invalid after that certain period.
The contract will be invalid in case either party dies.
We just took our turns to add the conditions but what the hell was that last condition? She even looked very eager to that condition.
It was my first contract so I couldn't notice if there was a hidden flaw in terms. Needless to say, it looked quite in my favor considering their lives are in my hands right now. They had to follow my commands and not give any false information intentionally.
I thought about how to give them a stable income but then a sudden idea came to my mind.
"Do you have a paper? I need to write a letter."
"Yes"
I wrote a letter Prof. Larry that these two are my people and asked him to provide them a separate identity and a job. That bar wasn't just a place for making illegal identification cards but also a great place for information brokers. Based on her talent, I was sure Dilly would make a good fortune there.
"Take this and go to the Good Man's Bar. Ask them where you can find the night before morning and meet Prof. Larry. "
"Uhh... What was that?"
"It's a code word. Once you give this letter to Prof. Larry, he will help you give new identities and a job there. Of course, you don't need to kill anyone"
"I see, I am grateful. And this... "
"What?"
She fidgeted her fingers a little and provided me another empty page.
"Your autograph"
'This girl...'
Anyway, this was mentioned in the contract so I couldn't refuse. And well, it was embarrassing but it's not that I hated it.
'I just need to sign, right?'
I didn't know because this was my first time. I gave her the page with my sign. She hurriedly placed it inside a book and then moved it into her space ring.
"Well, now it's my turn."
"Yes, please say what you want us to do."
"It's a simple job. Gather as much information you can on this Karma. Who are the higher ups, the nobles supporting it or what are they planning. Uhh... And don't do anything extreme. If you find it dangerous even a little, withdraw your missions. Your ability is quite useful, I don't want to lose it over a single piece of information."
'Well, I can't tell you that I don't want my one and only fan to die because of me.'
I left shortly after informing them about their future jobs. Dilly looked quite happy that she can now use her ability to earn money. But, what really surprised me was that her brother Jasper was good in accounting. He had no talent in fighting even though his body suggested otherwise.
Anyway, my first contract worked great. I thought not using my real name may pose a problem but it was all good because it was one's Mana and stigmata that really mattered.
'Coming here was a really good decision but I still felt like I forgot something important.'
Just as I was about a mile away from that broker shop, I felt like a bolt of lightning suddenly hit me as I remembered what I was forgetting.
'It wasn't like I forgot 'something important', I forgot the only reason why I came here.'
I ran back as my life depended on it. I wondered if I ran like this after that Dark Wyvern incident. But it obviously helped me to reach the broker shop a lot quicker.
Bam!
I kicked the door open and both Dilly and Jasper who seemed like they were packing their things jumped up.
"W-w-what? You promised you will not kill me!"
"Huff.. Huff... How much money... do you have?"
I couldn't even get a chance to catch my breath. I had to get my money if I wanted to sleep peacefully tonight. But for some reason, Dilly's face looked like she was about to cry.
"What? You... you need my money too... Sniffle... Forty golds. I-I told you I don't have much."
"Ahhh... Not you, dumbass! This betting place, how much money does it have now."
"!!!"
Her eyes widened in realisation as she hurriedly looked towards Jasper. Jasper nodded and turned the pages of his bills with a shaking hand.
"Ah! Ah! W-we have a little more than 900 golds."
'Jackpot!!!'
"Yaaay! We are rich."
"What do you mean? You already have forty golds. I came here for this money in the first place and you want to take it too."
"W-what? No, no... Don't be like this Master Marcel. How about we split it? Fifty-Fifty?"
"Shut up! And stop with the Master."
Well, I had already planned to provide them a way to make money so it wouldn't hurt to give them a bonus. Plus, it would also help them to get into business and investigate this Karma group.
"You share 300 golds and the rest is mine. Think of it as a bonus."
"Come on! That's too litt-"
"What?"
Seeing a sword suddenly appear in my hands, she stopped her words and tilted her head.
"Tch! Fine. You gave me a job after all."
'Then why the hell are you pouting like that?'
"But 900 golds is not a small amount. You should know both the Nobels and Karma will investigate it" Dilly warned me.
Well, that was the reason why no one dared to take the money from here but instead chose to harass the common folk. Obviously they didn't want to get entangled with the Nobels.
"Don't worry. You guys hide well. I'll take care of myself." Ofcourse, that wasn't completely true.
I was still scared of the consequences.
But at the end of the day, I wasn't Marcel Mistmer, the Blood Legacy Competition's finalist.
I was Owen Grey, a demigod.
I always had that as my last resort.
Plus, I need to take any lead I get on Karma. If this incident today draws them out, then it's more than worth it.
After all these, Jasper told me that there was a secret basement to that small broker's shop, where they kept all the funds.
I was worried that they might provide me with bank slips and all, but I still didn't have a bank account there, so it would be quite a hassle now.
Most of the businessmen preferred banks rather than storing their money in space rings and other items.
Fortunately, they had lockers and coins here without any slips. Still, I decided to open an account after the competition in case someone provided me with a slip in the future.
'Well, I already have my unlimited capacity ring here, so I didn't really need a bank to store my money.'
After giving them 300 coins, I had 634 coins remaining with me. We completely left that place after taking the money and removing our traces.
Although what I did was not right, I didn't feel guilty at all as most of this money belonged to all those Nobles who ignored the civilians in Lumina Town. The common people here didn't even have enough to get their daily necessities so there was no way they would come and bet in a place where all those thugs settled.
'Hah! I am really missing my sleep these days'
I really felt like I was overworking myself. I decided to make tomorrow's mission my last one here as I already had enough money with me now. I need to rest well before my match.
***
Somehow I managed to get up in time. It didn't take me long enough to reach the school. It was already a little famous and since I stayed here for four months, there was no way that I wouldn't have heard about this school before.
From what I knew, Bright Day Middle School was a school for the kids where they were taught to use their mana and weapons.
'I think they graduate in their sixth year maybe. Since they start taking students once they reach eight years of age, the graduates should be around fourteen years. Of course, some may be even older than that.'
I entered inside once security let me in after seeing my quest paper. I could already see that they made some arrangements using balloons and banners on the playground for today's event. They also placed several benches which I assumed were for placing various delicacies.
Knock! Knock!
I knocked on the door to the Headmaster's room. I needed to know what exactly they needed me to do with the so-called guarding.
A lady walked outside with huge dark circles under her eyes. She looked in her late twenties at first glance but those dark circles made me look much older.
It seemed like she worked the whole night for the graduation ceremony.
'Hah! And I thought I was overworking myself.'
"How can I help you, umm...? "
She didn't know how to address me as I looked just like a kid. Well, I was a kid obviously.
"I am from the Adventurer's Guild. I came here after reading your quest."
"Ah! Well, the Headmaster is not here yet and I think that post is already filled since no one from the Guild responded till now. I-I am really sorry."
'Hmm... So they had a backup plan already. Well, not that it's a problem. I already had enough money and just wanted to do this job as a cover.'
"I see. You don't need to apologize, Miss. Anyway, I should get going."
'Her sorry face is even making me feel sorry for her. Hah!'
"Umm... Can I at least ask your name?"
"It's Marcel Mistmer."
"!!!"
Her shocked expression made me reconsider if Bella's expression was the best that I had ever seen.