Chapter 140: Temporary Contract

Chapter 140: Temporary Contract

Hearing Amyrius Leavitt’s words, which were statements rather than questions, Bilt instantly broke out in a dense layer of cold sweat across his forehead.

He opened his mouth as if to explain himself, but in the end, he dropped to one knee with a thud. Trembling under that indescribable pressure, he said, “Your—Your Excellency, the vagrant from before suddenly fell ill and died. I had no choice but to find an adventurer who could change his appearance.”

At that moment, Klein was not overly nervous.

After all, Admiral Amyrius Leavitt had already noticed him in the banquet hall. There was no reason for him to only now identify him as a Beyonder. Since he was still willing to meet him rather than avoid the risk outright, it meant he did not especially mind who Bilt had found.

He isn’t worried at all? Is this the confidence of a demigod, or can his Beyonder pathway eliminate hidden dangers in advance… Klein raised his head with difficulty and looked at the naval admiral, who had already turned around.

“Not bad,” Amyrius Leavitt evaluated without expression.

Still looking at Bilt, who was kneeling on one knee, he said, “Do not attempt to play such petty tricks before me.

“Ordinary people and Beyonders occupy different positions in this world. And as one who enforces order, I can clearly confirm that.”

Indeed, just as the materials described, this admiral has a tendency to lecture others. I have to remember that firmly. It’s completely different from my own style and from Gehrman Sparrow’s… Klein thoughtfully withdrew his gaze and looked at the floor, as though he could not bear that pressure.

Amyrius Leavitt took a step forward.

“Deception was the first mistake you made. Lack of caution was the second.

“The vagrant on whom you had spent a great deal of effort suddenly died, and immediately afterward an adventurer capable of changing his appearance appeared before you. Don’t you think that is far too coincidental?”

That’s right. It is a little coincidental… Klein nearly repeated the question after him.

If he had not confirmed it above the gray fog, even he would have suspected that he had once again been arranged by some mythical creature or Grade 0 Sealed Artifact.

As for Bilt, his pupils contracted as realization struck him.

He discovered that, because of fear and dread, he had only wanted to seize that final lifeline. He had completely lost the caution that experience should have given him, and he had not once considered whether Gehrman Sparrow’s appearance had been too much of a coincidence.

The very first time he went to the Sweet Lemon Bar, that vagrant had suddenly fallen ill and died! The more Bilt thought about it, the more he felt he had fallen into an intricately planned trap.

Seeing Bilt’s expression change again and again—now enlightened, now remorseful—Amyrius Leavitt gave a slight nod.

“My father, the late Old Earl Leavitt, once taught me something.

“He said: forgive the first mistake committed by those under you.

“Bilt, you should be grateful for his mercy.”

Bilt’s tense nerves loosened at once, and, for some inexplicable reason, intense emotion welled up inside him.

He had believed that Admiral Amyrius Leavitt, who was closer to a god than a human, would execute him on the spot as a warning to all adventurers secretly serving him. He had never imagined that the admiral would choose forgiveness.

“Your Excellency, I—I…” For a moment, Bilt could not form a complete sentence.

Amyrius maintained his stern attitude and said in a deep voice, “What I just said has a second half: severely punish them for the second mistake.

“Bilt, you know what to do from now on?”

Still kneeling on one knee, Bilt immediately straightened his back, clenched his right fist, and pressed it to his left breast.

“My loyalty belongs only to Your Excellency!”

Amyrius nodded and turned to Klein.

“What is your name?”

That depends on which identity you’re asking about… Klein grumbled inwardly, but calmly answered, “Gehrman Sparrow.”

Amyrius Leavitt suddenly fell silent for two seconds. The atmosphere inside the storeroom seemed to solidify.

Just as a trace of unease was about to rise in Klein’s heart, Amyrius finally spoke.

“So it is you.”

Your Excellency, the way you said that makes it sound as if you know me. I’m just an ordinary military informant. I only collected bounties through you people and haven’t even had the chance to submit any reimbursement claims… Klein muttered inwardly. The more he thought about it, the less guilty he felt.

Amyrius gave a nod and said to Bilt and Klein, “The plan will proceed as usual.

“But a contract must be signed.”

A contract? Klein resisted that aura of authority with difficulty and looked up at Amyrius.

Naval Admiral Amyrius did not explain. He picked up the paper and pen that had long since been prepared on the windowsill and began writing swiftly.

Each stroke of his pen seemed to burst with golden light. The scene was solemn and sacred, as if he were drafting a law.

Klein’s eyes gradually narrowed. His vision began to blur, and he could not help lowering his head again.

After some unknown length of time, Amyrius stopped his fountain pen, picked up the sheet of paper, and said to Klein, “Sign your name at the end.

“If you are dissatisfied with the terms, you may refuse to sign.”

Do you think I dare, or that I don’t dare? Klein lampooned inwardly as he watched Bilt rise, take the paper and pen, and pass them to him.

The terms written on the sheet were simple, only a few clauses in total. They broadly restricted Gehrman Sparrow’s conduct while acting as Amyrius Leavitt, including, but not limited to, not actively exposing the problem; not using the admiral’s identity to do anything disadvantageous to Amyrius himself; not having excessively intimate contact with Miss Cynthia; and so on.

I thought important figures like him wouldn’t care that much about the chastity of a mistress… This admiral really is an old-fashioned man… Still, I’m not that kind of person either… Hiding his curiosity, Klein asked as if he were discussing an academic matter, “What if Miss Cynthia wishes to have intimate contact with me?”

His unspoken meaning was that acting too distant or resistant would make it easy for Cynthia to notice something was wrong, so he was asking how to judge the proper degree.

“That will not matter,” Amyrius said without expression. “During the contract’s effective period, when you face her, either you will have no desire, or your body will lack the necessary capacity.”

It can even do that? This contract is rather impressive… Aside from contracts with spirit world creatures, this is the first time I’ve seen another type of contract. The former borrows the power of the Underworld, while this one only involves the two parties to the transaction… Is this Admiral Amyrius’s demigod-level Beyonder ability? From the Arbiter pathway? Klein glanced at the term of validity and found that it was five days.

Is he confident he’ll definitely return within five days, or can his current level only make the contract last for five days? Klein read the terms again, picked up the fountain pen, and wrote the name Gehrman Sparrow.

As the final letter was completed, he saw each word on the paper emit golden light, converging into a radiant brilliance.

Wrapped in that resplendent glow, the paper rapidly faded and vanished, as though it had fused with the rules of the world.

The faint, invisible gray fog around him rippled gently, and Klein clearly sensed layer upon layer of indescribable restrictions appearing on his body.

These restrictions quickly internalized, temporarily becoming part of his spirit body and flesh.

The gray fog can ward off external misfortune and good fortune within a certain limit, but it cannot block a contract that I’ve already signed… That makes sense. If it could, then the messenger contract wouldn’t take effect either… Klein came to an understanding and looked once more at Amyrius Leavitt.

By then, the naval admiral had withdrawn his authority. Turning over his palm, he revealed a dark-gold charm.

On the charm were symbolic markings such as the “Sword of Judgment,” as well as densely packed magical signs. It was profound and restrained as a whole, giving one the impression that it was a code of law.

“This is a high-level charm I created using my own blood, an ancient code from the Fourth Epoch, and a Grade 0 Sealed Artifact of the royal family,” Amyrius said calmly. “It is called Ninth Law. By infusing it with a small amount of spirituality, it can manifest an aura of authority similar to mine. Even an ordinary person can use it for that purpose. Without it, you would find it very difficult to truly impersonate me.”

Indeed. The aura of authority I can imitate through transformation is only superficial. It’s fine for fooling people under ordinary circumstances, but the moment I need to intimidate a subordinate, it becomes useless… Klein quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

Amyrius continued, “Given your present strength, you should be able to endure using it.

“Through it, you can designate necessary restrictions for a target, forcing them to endure extremely unfavorable circumstances.

“In this way, even if a demigod truly probes you, you can frighten them away.

“If, in the end, no accident occurs and you do not need to use it, then it will belong to you afterward.

“Its effective period is one year.”

? Klein was first taken aback. Then a strong surge of delight rose within him.

Ever since he used the high-level charm made from the Mutated Sun Sacred Emblem, he finally had another one.

Although items like this had a time limit and could only be used once, their advantage lay in the fact that they had no negative effects. Of course, the demanding conditions required to make them meant that their numbers were exceedingly small.

As expected of a demigod. He’s much more generous than Bilt… Mm, the cost of buying off a vagrant and buying off an adventurer on the level of a pirate admiral is naturally different… As joy stirred inside him, Klein silently stretched out his palm and accepted the high-level charm called Ninth Law.

Then he saw Amyrius unfasten his belt.

After a brief silence, Klein suppressed his embarrassment and, without any expression, began removing his own clothes.

Before long, he and Amyrius had exchanged attire. Klein put on the crisp, deep-blue admiral’s uniform.

Watching Amyrius and Bilt leave along a secluded path in the garden, Klein fastened his buttons with meticulous care, then turned his head toward the glass window.

Against the darkness of night and the crimson moonlight, the glass window was like a mirror, faintly reflecting Klein’s current appearance:

Neatly slicked-back black hair, deep azure eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly drooping, a clean-shaven face, a stern and old-fashioned bearing, and dark-blue clothing adorned with a sash, medals, and epaulettes.

Klein moved the corners of his mouth and silently said to himself,

“From this moment on, I am the naval admiral.”