Chapter 2705: Chapter 2706: Contract Clauses

According to common sense, the departure of the Wood Spirit was suggested by Angel, so to a certain extent, he has an obligation to protect the Wood Spirit.

From this perspective, the contract signed with a blank reward column is acceptable.

However, the contract drafted by the Wise Sovereign is different.

He added contract clauses and punishments for violating these clauses, and the punishments are severe, involving the Spirit Sea and the Land of the Soul.

The three transcendent capabilities possessed by a Wizard, only the Mind Space has not been mentioned. However, this does not mean the Mind Space is unaffected; any injury to these three capabilities will more or less affect the others.

For instance, the punishment suggested by the Wise Sovereign includes—violating the clauses, and the Spirit Sea will suffer backlash, with the level of backlash provided by the power of the contract.

The power of the contract clearly states that it is a Second Level backlash given by the World Will. This level of backlash is already very high, equivalent to Angel’s Spirit Tentacles breaking in half simultaneously, causing severe trauma to the Spirit Sea.

Once the Spirit Sea is severely injured, Angel’s situation will be similar to "Tainted Blood Shadow Stab" Eulica, with mental disorders and magic power loss of control, and the extent of the loss of control depends on the stability of the Magic Vortex in the Mind Space. If it’s unstable, the backlash of the Magic Vortex will also harm the Mind Space.

As for damage to the Land of the Soul, it goes without saying that the soul is the most subtle existence, whether it’s injured or polluted, it will trigger a series of sequelae, and it’s comprehensive damage from the flesh to the spirit.

However, Angel’s soul is unique, and maybe it can ward off some extent of the power of the contract, but this is still an unknown result. Even if the Land of the Soul can indeed ward off the power of the contract, the backlash without the protection of the Spirit Sea is enough to severely injure Angel.

Therefore, this punishment is quite severe, exceeding most contracts. Once violated, it won’t lead to death, but it will at least result in a long period of suffering worse than death.

And such severe punishment, if there is no matching logical chain of benefits, it becomes a joke.

In such unilateral exploitation, why would Angel sign the contract?

Even if the Wise Sovereign threatens with power and forces Angel to sign the contract, how can he ensure that Angel won’t bear the cost and violate the contract after leaving?

Moreover, Angel has already revealed his identity and background; unless the Wise Sovereign kills him here, once Angel is allowed to leave, the exploitative contract will inevitably bring disaster to Naraku City.

Therefore, such a contract that unilaterally exploits Angel has no value in existence from the beginning.

However, since the Wise Sovereign dares to write such severe punishments, he must understand the key.

Angel pondered for a while, did not immediately raise objections, but first looked at the specific contract clauses.

He believes the Wise Sovereign should have an explanation later.

If there is no explanation, it is equivalent to showing the knife and flipping the table.

And the Wood Spirit is still in Angel’s hands, given the existence of the Wise Sovereign’s attitude towards it, it shouldn’t lead to a fierce confrontation at this time.

Angel temporarily set aside doubts and looked up at the contract clauses.

The contract clauses are not too many, totaling three items.

Angel looked at them one by one, and his eyes gradually calmed down.

"First, ensure no intention to harm the Wood Spirit, and no deliberate actions to harm the Wood Spirit."

This item actually echoes Angel’s previous thoughts; the Wise Sovereign cares greatly about the Wood Spirit. Since the Wood Spirit has decided to leave and is already in Angel’s hands, if the Wise Sovereign releases an exploitative contract, it will only backfire.

Moreover, the Wise Sovereign’s wording in drafting the clauses is not completely biased toward the Wood Spirit.

For example, the clause "no deliberate actions to harm the Wood Spirit," actually has obvious loopholes. "No deliberate harm," but what about "unintentional harm"? How is the scope of "unintentional harm" defined? If affected by spell techniques, causing uncontrolled behavior to harm, is it considered deliberate harm?

These loopholes are very obvious and exploitable, and the Wise Sovereign certainly understands this; he did this deliberately.

The Wise Sovereign evidently understands that the more restrictions, the more rebellion. Giving excessive restrictions will only bind Angel’s hands and feet, causing more alienation towards the Wood Spirit. To let Angel sincerely protect the Wood Spirit, like an eaglet growing up, letting go is the best way.

But letting go doesn’t mean completely disregarding it.

In such a premise, the first clause was formed.

"Second, once the Wood Spirit returns to its original owner, do your utmost to maintain the relationship between the Wood Spirit and its original owner. If due to maladaptation, the Wood Spirit chooses to return, you must assist its return to Naraku City."

This item is also a protection for the Wood Spirit. However, more concerns Sanders’ attitude.

What Angel needs to do is mediate, and the difficulty is not too great.

Nevertheless, the Wise Sovereign still deliberately left some ambiguous space in the clauses.

The so-called "maladaptation" condition is very broad. Also, only when alive is there maladaptation. If dead, what maladaptation is there to talk about?

Therefore, the Wise Sovereign also has the intention for Angel to ensure the safety of the Wood Spirit during its stay with its original owner.

It’s just that this condition was not written out.

Because it wasn’t written out, if any issues occur, the judgment of violating the contract by the World Will becomes ambiguous. This situation is common in contracts, where free conscience is the criterion.

If Angel has no guilty conscience and tries to protect as much as possible, but in the end, the Wood Spirit still dies, it doesn’t count as violating the contract.

But if Angel could keep the Wood Spirit alive and assist its return to Naraku City but stood by coldly watching, then that would count as violating the contract.

Of course, as long as it relies on free conscience, it becomes a test of humanity.

If Angel’s character is slightly poor, even coldly watching can keep his conscience at peace, then it doesn’t count as violating the contract.

So this item also leans toward Angel.

The Wise Sovereign uses this method to subtly tell Angel: I trust in your morals and character.

The real situation, whether the Wise Sovereign truly trusts Angel’s morals, is actually hard to say. However, with such a statement on the contract, at least Angel’s pressure within the contract won’t be so heavy.

"Third, by no means, including explicit or implicit ways, mention the events that occurred in Naraku City to the Barbarian Cave or stakeholders. Except for the situation of the Wood Spirit."

This item is not entirely related to the Wood Spirit; Angel guesses the Wise Sovereign proposed this more to maintain the secrecy of Naraku City?

It’s best not to let anyone, especially a behemoth like the Barbarian Cave, become interested in Naraku City?

If that’s truly the case, Angel thinks... maybe the Wise Sovereign has miscalculated.

The high-levels of the Barbarian Cave are overwhelmed with their own affairs; why would they have spare time to become interested in Naraku City? Even if they knew there was some secret in Naraku City, they might just send out missions in the Task Hall, letting those available try their luck. Besides that, there wouldn’t be any big moves.

But although Angel knows the thoughts of the high-levels of the Barbarian Cave, he certainly wouldn’t tell the Wise Sovereign.

It is obvious that among the three covenant clauses of the Wise Sovereign, the last one is the most stringent.

To truly make the Wise Sovereign willingly offer benefits to seal the deal, it depends on this clause.

...

As for what Angel thinks about this covenant, no one knows; however, from the perspective of an outsider like the Black Earl, this clause is quite broad.

The intentions of the Wise Sovereign are clearly revealed.

He doesn’t aim to force Angel to protect the Wood Spirit through the terms, but rather wants to use emotional bonds to make Angel willingly protect the Wood Spirit.

If such a covenant were to be signed with the Black Earl, it would certainly not succeed. Making the Black Earl form emotional bonds is exceedingly difficult.

Having lived so long and seen so much, the defenses of the heart become increasingly strong.

Without experiencing life and death together or extreme joy and sorrow, breaking down this mental defense is very, very challenging.

But young people are different.

The younger they are, the more easily they are moved. This kind of emotional stirring is not limited to love but includes various emotions. Once these emotions are connected and as long as there is no betrayal, they will endure and grow stronger over time.

Just like Vay and Dox, they met in their youth, had some minor shared experiences, and became close friends.

Their personalities are actually two extremes. Vay is a homebody, while Dox is carefree. If they didn’t meet when they were young, forming a close bond would be very difficult.

Once a bond is formed, many of the rules of reality are erased. For example, even if Dox progresses to an Official Wizard, Vay still does not show him respect, acting casually and ordering him around. Dox might tell Vay to address him formally, but Vay tires of it after one or two times, and Dox never takes it to heart.

Therefore, bonds are unique and rare for everyone.

Angel is in his prime youth, the time when it’s easiest to form emotional bonds, which is why the Wise Sovereign approaches Angel in this way.

It is both a clear plan and an offer of goodwill.

Thus, when the Black Earl sees this covenant, he thinks the Wise Sovereign is a wise person.

Of course, the Black Earl also notices the severe punishments and blank rewards. Unlike Angel, who analyzes everything, he almost instantly realizes that the Wise Sovereign must have other considerations.

Otherwise, the Wise Sovereign wouldn’t need to write "rewards" in this section.

However, not all parts of the covenant are clear to the Black Earl. The last term leaves him puzzled.

"Do not mention anything related to Naraku City, except for the situation of the Wood Spirit." This is quite confusing, as discussing the emotions related to the Wood Spirit requires talking about many things in the underground aqueduct.

The Wise Sovereign must have considered this, but why didn’t he explicitly write it?

A supplementary clause?

While the Black Earl is puzzled by the third clause, Angel also feels a subtle nuance in the third clause.

He doesn’t care about the situation of the Wood Spirit or talking about Naraku City; he is concerned because he has already revealed various things about Naraku City in the Wilderness of Dreams. If this counts under the clause, wouldn’t signing the covenant immediately trigger a backlash from the covenant?

This is not good.

"Do you have any doubts about this covenant?" The Wise Sovereign noticed Angel withdrew his gaze and knew he had finished reading the covenant, so he asked.

Angel showed no emotion, yet the Wise Sovereign asked if he had doubts, indicating a presupposed premise: you must have doubts.

Infected by Dox’s spirit of stubbornness, Angel was tempted to say the opposite to the Wise Sovereign, claiming he had no doubts. But... the words were swallowed back.

The reward section was still blank. If he said he had no doubts, wouldn’t that mean accepting the blank?

Angel: "Indeed, I have some doubts."

The Wise Sovereign did not speak but gestured for Angel to continue.

Angel pointed to the third covenant clause: "The first two parts, I can do my best to comply with. But this one, I find slightly inappropriate."

"What exactly is inappropriate?"

Angel: "When I came to the Garden Labyrinth, I had already reported my whereabouts to my mentor. If this counts as revealing, then I have already revealed it."

Regarding Angel’s words, whatever the Wise Sovereign’s reaction was was not addressed, but Dox and others were surprised and looked at Angel.

When did Angel report his whereabouts to Sanders? How come they didn’t know?

Although Dox and others were only confused for a moment, the Wise Sovereign captured it.

However, before the Wise Sovereign could inquire, Angel proactively said: "Mini Signal Tower, I have it."

The Mini Signal Tower seemed familiar to the Wise Sovereign; he had heard of the Signal Tower but didn’t know what a Mini Signal Tower was.

At this moment, the Black Earl provided an explanation.

The Black Earl briefly recounted the invention history of the Signal Tower and mentioned that not everyone has a Mini Signal Tower, including many Controllers of Witcher Organizations.

The reason Angel has one is because he is a member of the Research and Development Institute.

Which means, another aspect of Angel’s identity was exposed.

However, Angel himself didn’t mind. The more weighty his background, the safer he is.

The Wise Sovereign always had channels to communicate with the outside world and naturally understood the significance of the Research and Development Institute.

Although he displayed no expression on the surface, internally, as Angel assumed, he took Angel more seriously. But his old habit of being suspicious arose again... mainly because Angel’s capabilities and age didn’t match at all.

Nevertheless, the Wise Sovereign hadn’t lost his mind; the Wood Spirit still needed to rely on Angel. Moreover, the more important Angel’s identity, the safer the Wood Spirit is.

The Wise Sovereign was glad he chose the path to form a bond between the Wood Spirit and Angel rather than mutual use.

If it truly succeeds, the Wood Spirit would find solid backing. For the Wood Spirit, this can only be beneficial.

The Wise Sovereign’s mind quickly processed these thoughts, but he still kept a calm facade: "No need to worry, previously disclosed whereabouts are not within the covenant scope, with the moment the covenant is formed as the standard."

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