Chapter 319. Confounding Contracts.
I felt anxious in a way I hadn’t felt since my first few summoning’s. This whole process was old hat now, but it was also possible that something big would change for me on this summoning series. Information on my current summoning appeared as I stepped through the portal.
Your summoning parameters are as follows:
1. You are being summoned via a contract with the shopkeeper Clayton Yon.
2. Summoning tier, 2.
3. Summoning rank, 9.
4. Rewards level, moderate.
5. This summons is for defensive purposes. Combat is likely, prepare accordingly.
6. Forced compliance is active.
7. Your armory loadout has been equipped.
I stepped out of the portal and into Clayton Yon’s shop in Somhagen. It was odd being summoned to a city I’d been to several times already. My summoner link led to Clayton Yon and his wife Eleanor who stood there, both with intense fear etched into their faces. Remembering that he had lost his son when a summoned being had slacked on the job, I steeled myself to do all I could for this couple.
“You came, not that I doubted you, but well, yes, I suppose I did doubt you’d come to help us,” Clayton stammered.
“What can I help you two with, are you in danger?” I said, summoning my team as I looked around the shop. It was dark out and the store was closed. A few lamps remained lit, giving me enough light to see most of the place. It was quiet, and other the older couple in front of me, I didn’t detect anyone else around.
“We are, it’s a mistake we made, and I’m sorry I had my husband drag you into this,” Eleanor said.
“See, Eleanor, look at all the minions that Rico has at his disposal. I know we’ll be safe from that thing now,” Clayton said, trying to comfort his wife as the last of my minions, Blieek, appeared.
“What exactly is the threat you’re both so worried about?” I said with confidence. I had my minions, full mana, and excellent gear that should prove more than enough for whoever, or whatever was threatening these people.
“It’s a creature, we can’t say its name. We made a bargain with it, a bargain that allowed our shop to prosper. Now, the creature is coming to claim the price for our success,” Eleanor warned.
“I’m still not getting any details here. What were the terms of the deal, and what is this creature coming to collect. Even more important, what kind of threat is this thing?” I asked, getting a bit impatient with the pair, but trying to calm myself and realize that they weren’t exactly experts at dealing with deadly threats.
“Let me, Eleanor,” Clayton said, his wife nodding in reply. “A creature, he seemed harmless enough, came to our shop not long ago. He offered a contract to have a guaranteed stream of customers shop here. He’d give us prosperity, and, I have to say, he at least followed through on his end of the bargain,” Clayton said.
“So, this creature offered you a contract but didn’t tell you what was required of you? Come on, Clayton, you’re a businessman, there’s no way you’d fall for something like that, you’re not that dumb,” I said.
“My Clayton is not that dumb, I am,” Eleanor said, tears cutting trails across the wrinkled face of the distraught woman.
“You didn’t know any better, honey, you just wanted us to be financially secure. Rico, when you first met me, I wasn’t doing well. There was a good chance we’d lose the shop and our place in Somhagen. We’re too old to start over new somewhere else, and my failure was slowly eating away at me. My wife knew this and accepted the contract behind my back,” he paused for a minute, reaching out and holding his wife’s hand.
“We didn’t know the true extent of what he was demanding of her until it came back recently and told Eleanor what was required of her, and that he’d be here tonight to collect on the debt,” Clayton said.
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“I just didn’t want to see you beaten down and sad all the time. I figured if the shop did well, I could provide whatever help that thing required, then return to your side,” Eleanor said.
“I know you meant well, honey, you just didn’t know what you were dealing with. Don’t worry, Rico’s here and he’ll protect us from that thing,” Clayton said.
“Do you have a copy of the contract? I’m no lawyer, but I have one I can summon if we need to,” I said, thinking that Tzes’zod’s services might be required here more than those of my minions.
“I don’t, it was all done through the system, and when I signed, I only read that it would require a year of my time as an employee for this creature, and it promised that I wouldn’t have any physical harm come to me. But the thing lied, it wants so much more than I can give,” Eleanor said. I felt an oppressive wave of energy surge behind me, like a portal gone wrong had just opened.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got a copy of the contract if you need to see it again. Heya, Rico, fancy seeing you here,” a familiar voice said from behind me as Eleanor and Clayton began to shake in fear.
“Gary?” I said turning around. His visits to Somhagen, and no longer needing to tag along with me to get here, were starting to make sense.
“In the flesh, buddy. You know these two? Clayton and Eleanor are wonderful people. Just the kind of folks I like to do business with. You know the type, kindhearted and desperate, my favorite combination,” Gary said with a smile, as he walked toward us from a red portal that snapped shut behind him with an audible pop.
“I know these two, and they summoned me to help. What kind of deal did you work out with them?” I asked Gary.
“The usual stuff. I give them financial prosperity, grow their failing business, and all for just a bit of service in return. My deal with Eleanor here was for her to become an employee of my organization for a year, and then she’d be returned home, free of any physical harm,” Gary said.
“What kind of services?” I asked, almost dreading the answer.
“Ah, just simple stuff really. I typically have new employees focus on powering my devices with their souls, and that sort of thing. I always keep my word, and she will return here hale of body and in perfect physical health, albeit without her immortal soul. See, it’s all here in the contract,” Gary said, handing over a scroll.
“Ooh, yeah, just let me cover this part, it’s my name and you wouldn’t want to accidentally see that or bad things, completely outside of my control, will happen,” Gary said, the parchment was unrolled to the correct section, and certain spots, probably where Gary had signed is name, were blurred out.
…In return for the promised business enhancements, the contracted being known as Eleanor Yon, agrees to one year of employment, the type of which is to be determined by the other contracted party. After the year of service, she will be returned in perfect physical shape and without any lasting physical wounds or ailments…
“I don’t see any mention of souls here. It looks like a typical job contract,” I said.
“It is a typical job contract, at least for my kind. I promised not to harm her physically, I said nothing about harming her spiritually. That’s the currency I deal with, as you know,” Gary said.
“Not with our deal, it was strictly a rental agreement for coins, not souls,” I replied.
“Bah, a one-off since you had what I needed at the time. Tell you what, Rico, do you want to switch with Eleanor here? I’ll give you a great rate, only three months of service, and these kind folks can go about their newly profitable lives in peace,” Gary offered.
“No deals Gary, in fact, let me call someone that might help us parse out this contract,” I said, willing my link with Tzes’zod to activate. Somehow, the system made the connection, and another portal opened behind me. The lich, Tzes’zod was covered by the wacky gnome illusion again, which, hopefully, would keep the Yon’s from freaking out even more.
“Rico, how may I be of service?” Tzes’zod asked.
“I was summoned by these folks, who have a contract with Gary. Can you review the contract and tell me if it’s valid and if Gary can try to take Eleanor away and drain her soul?” I asked.
“Woah, buddy, you may want me to cover up some bits there before you start reading,” Gary said as Tzes’zod grabbed the contract.
“I shall review the contract in its entirety,” Tzes’zod said. I tried to warn him, but the lich began to read through the entire thing at breakneck speed, and Gary’s true name seemed to have no effect on him.
“Hey, wait a minute, you’re not a gnome,” Gary said, snapping his fingers which caused Tzes’zod’s illusion to disappear. Eleanor gave a fresh gasp of fright at the sight of the lich and passed out. Thankfully, Khurr was close by and caught the woman before she slammed onto the hardwood floor.
“I should have known, you’re that lich guy that freeloads off of Rico’s generosity,” Gary said with some anger in his voice. Normally, Gary kept up a jovial demeanor and seemed unflappable, but something about Tzes’zod caused that veneer of joviality to momentarily disappear.
“Please avoid any interruptions, there are many details here that I need to investigate,” Tzes’zod said. Though a lich didn’t exactly have facial features, I got the distinct impression that he was determined to best the evil imp at his own game.