The contracted soldiers under Payne’s employment marched by. Each of them were in somewhat of an orderly ranking. Every so often a tank purchased from the Hearth Crystal’s shop rolled by, barely making a sound.

None of them were aware of a creature hiding in the woods, watching them with a pair of human eyes. It’s red fur did little to camouflage it, but it was just close enough to brown that the average person wouldn’t see the unmoving animal.

A few minutes later, it scampered off, seemingly as if told to by an inaudible voice. It continued to run away until it came to a human sitting in a hollow trunk of a fallen tree. The human sat up and rubbed at his head with a groan.

“It’s better than the wisps. Good job Jeffrey. You left a little early, but I saw enough.” Mathew said.

This was the first true use of his single ability: [Share Sense]. Using it on Jeffrey was a little disorienting. His hearing and sense of smell were heightened to a painful level, and it took a long while for him to be able to bear it. The sense of sight was the most interesting.

Turns out, Infernal Wolves don’t see in shades of grey. They see in shades of red. Mathew compared it to how Humans can see more shades of green than any other color. The red wolf just simply turned that comparison to an eleven on the scale. He could still diffreinate other colors, but it was difficult to tell the difference between the green leaves on trees.

Mathew patted Jeffrey and fed him a piece of meat as a reward. The beast was useful sometimes, and responded to offers of food the easiest. Mathew knew it could understand a basic command from him. Complex commands it could not, and a lot of trial and error proved that.

The concept of time was a loose topic Jeffrey understood, and Mathew didn’t have the patience to teach him. However, the phrase ‘until you are hungry’ was something it understood very well. Mathew used that as a timer for now. Hopefully a future upgrade could give it a slightly better intelligence. For now, it was the only Summon Mathew had to use the ability on. He noted the skill [Share Sense] jumped up 2 levels from the prolonged use.

“I need to figure out how stuff levels up. I’m almost to Level 19, yet my highest skill is Beginner 4.” Mathew filed that away as something to figure out after the Infernal threat was dealt with. After getting his fears off his chest with Leo, he felt clearer in the mind. There was something about Payne that just irked him to react negatively toward his friend.

Yet, he still was serious about his plan. Today was the perfect time to pull it off. Payne would be leaving tomorrow, and his plan then would more than likely be useless after that.

Mathew used Jeffrey as his eyes and ears because he couldn’t get within eyesight of the convoy. Everytime he did, he had a sense of unease as if doing so would break the orders set by General Payne, and thus violate the Contract.

However, Payne never said his summons could do anything. It was a perfect loophole, one that even he almost didn’t consider until Jeffrey walked away from him toward the small army. After a short panic and some scolding, Mathew realized he didn’t have the same sense of unease.

Jeffrey finished his reward and was looking at Mathew, waiting for more. His fur had streaks of silver in it, as Mathew finally used his staff as the foci to summoning the beast. The other addition was the wolf was visually larger. Mathew knew Jeffrey could take on a bear on all its own without the risk of injury now.

“No more, we are heading back. You are going to stay in my room. People give you way too many looks even when you are with me. I can’t risk losing you at the cost of nearly half my mana.”

Jeffrey didn’t respond, but once Mathew started to walk away, he sooned followed his Summoner. Mathew deeply wished he could go and clear out the Infernal Dungeon. He could bathe in the rewards and become more powerful. However, he knew he couldn’t. Not yet.

First things first, he needed to set up a tea party with Payne. The best way to do it? Put on his acting face. He informed Mr. Melton that he needed to set a meeting with both Jerry and Payne. He put forth the notion he wanted to discuss the contract.

He knew Payne would deny it if that was all there was, however Mathew mentioned he would change it in both their favors, not to try and nullify it. It was all he could dangle to try and get the man in a room alone with him. Including Jerry only helped. If he asked for them to be alone, it would look suspicious. As if he had ulterior motives, like killing him.

Putting Mathew in a room where he was outnumbered would be beneficial to Payne. After all, he planned on harming him in a non-direct way. Mathew had to sell this perfectly, if not then he was screwed.

Once he walked through the gates, Mathew ordered Jeffrey away. He just had to hope he wouldn’t be needed until he ran back there to retrieve him. A heavy weight sat in Mathew’s stomach. “I can’t fuck this up.”

He walked to the large windowless building. His staff was out of sight, safe in his magically enlarged bag. His entire personal stock was in the bag. He already considered making a second one for extra supplies in case this one was damaged or stolen.

Mathew walked up to his office room and started to boil a pot of water. He reached into a nearby cabinet and pulled out three tea cups and started to set up. He put the precious few last of his tea bags in each one, taking a glance to see only two remained. “This better work, I am almost out of fucking tea.”

He knew the wonderful tea maker down by the Workshop had plenty, but he enjoyed making it himself. It was a calming activity.

Mathew pulled out some papers and writing materials and had everything set up. All that was left was to-. A knock on the door followed by it being loudly opened by one of Payne’s soldiers. His gun was out and instantly aimed at Mathew.

His reaction was real, and he put both his hands up and took a step back at the sudden hostility. “What’s going on!” Mathew shouted.

Payne walked in with two more soldiers and Jerry shortly behind that. Payne was dressed head to toe in his battle gear. Mathew then realized he had never seen Payne in his full combat outfit. It was a mix of modern military armor and metal plates. Chain surrounding his joints and a medieval helmet rested on his head. His own gun was primed and a purple energy filled the barrel as if it was ready to be blasted at a moments notice. “Mathew, for once I am glad to see you making tea.”

Jerry carried a wand in his hand, and had it pointed at Mathew, the tip burned with a green flame. Mathew hadn’t moved at all, his hands still raised, “Thanks?” He said. “What’s with the boom sticks and apparent literal boom sticks?” He referred to Jerry’s wand.

“Precautions. I wouldn’t want you to try and get out of the contract too soon now would we?” He smiled and put down his own gun. “Stand down, nothing to worry about here.” The guards stopped aiming at Mathew. A moment later Jerry put away his own wand, sending a glare of curiousness at Mathew.

“Can I put my arms down? I rather not die before I drink my tea.” Mathew nodded back to the pot that was steaming, but not yet boiling.

Payne waved a hand, “Sure. Stand guard outside boys, this shouldn’t take long.” The three guards moved out, not giving Mathew a second glance. The last one closed the door behind him, leaving all three of them alone in the room.

Tense silenced filled until Payne sat down in a chair on the other side of Mathew’s desk. “I hope your contract idea is something good. Just know I won’t be changing any of my previous orders. You are still going to remain safe here until I say otherwise.”

Mathew nodded, “I wouldn't’ ask anything different. I am curious, what do you think I have to offer? I only half expected you to show.” Mathew truthfully said. He was actually surprised Payne showed.

Jerry soon sat down as well. “Well we thought you would give up your game and fully come over to work with us.”

Mathew raised an eyebrow, “That’s an option?”

Payne nodded. “You are a smart man, sure you are a bit temperamental, but Jerry said you were smart. The right kind of smart. You always played to win. If you join us fully, that means no bullshit games and no loopholed contracts or even demands that I already said no to. You can have the safe life of luxury still, we can’t force you to write more contracts than you can currently. Plus your contract is four years long.”

Jerry pulled out a document from his robes, just as the tea started to whistle. Mathew pulled the pot off and started to pour the tea. “That sounds interesting, but I’m curious as to what your own demands are now, and what I get out of it in writing. Jerry should know I hate vague and open limits.”

“For starters, a proper payment and access to resources such as Mana Cores.”

Mathew froze as he was pouring the water. He almost filled a cup too much and stopped just before it overfilled. “Mana Cores?” Mathew asked.

“Being the owner of a Dungeon core has its perks. Including the ability to grow them. The Goblin Dungeon Core is weak, probably one of the weakest of them all. However it still can produce them over time. Most will go to the Hearth Crystal to fuel a few of its capabilities, but you can have some. Maybe one or two a month? That’s just with that Dungeon, with the Infernal one, it could be even more. I have no clue how many a Beginner ranked dungeon can produce”

Mathew seeped the bags and pulled out a small vial from his sleeve. His back was turned toward the two men, so they couldn’t see what he was doing.

“That is a pleasant idea.” Mathew poured the poison into the far left cup. He turned around once he was done, and left the tea to seep with the bags.

“We thought you would agree, do you mind looking it over?” Jerry asked.

Mathew nodded and started to read it. He barely focused on the words. His mind was purely focused on not giving either of them an inkling of an idea that that cup was different. Every action needed to be carefully carried out, even more now. Yet, he couldn't help but wonder why the wording looked familiar.

“I see you included similar terms to our old one. But removed the punishments. What happens if I don’t follow through with this?” Mathew asked looking up.

“Well, that’s covered at the end this time. Simply put, there isn’t a real punishment. This is a contract that will last till you die, there is no way out.” Jerry classified.

Mathew kept a cool and collected expression while his mind raged. “Of fucking course, a slave contract, that’s where this came from.”

In his time as a lawyer, there was a case he wished to forget the most. It involved so much yellow tape and police involvement that he didn’t want it in the first place. However, a friend pulled out an IOU against him. One of the reasons why he refused to have them now.

He had to defend the dirt bag that enslaved his wife through a marriage contract. He wrote it himself, using a version he found online. Said if she misbehaved, their children would be taken away as punishment, along with several other horrible things.

Yet, Mathew had to defend his client to the fullest of his abilities. It was the only case he wished he lost. Luckily Mathew only covered the marriage legal affairs, not the criminal ones. He worked with the husband's legal representative who was a piece of shit as well.

“Do you mind handing out the cups?” Mathew asked Payne. “I’m still reading this.”

Payne rolled his eyes but stood up to get them. “The left one is for me,” He clarified. His word choice was picked carefully. He couldn’t ask for it. That would mean he gave it to himself in a roundabout way. Or at least, he assumed it would work that way.

Payen picked up two cups, one of which was the overfilled one and accidentally spilled it. “Ow shit!” he said.

Mathew snapped to Payne, fearing that he might have ruined everything. Payne put the cups down and started to wipe away the hot tea. “This is why I don't like hot beverages. Just give me a cold beer any day.”

Mathew breathed a sigh of relief when nothing went wrong. He went back to looking over the contract. Payne picked the cups back up and put them down in front of everyone.

“Thank you,” Mathew said, but didn’t pick it up yet. His heart was beating rapidly, “Yes, I’ve won!’

“Well, what do you think?” Jerry asked as he picked up his cup to drink from it. Payne left him alone, as it was the one that spilled everywhere.

“I think it’s okay. I really am against it though.” Mathew said as he picked up his cup.

“Why is that?” Payne asked.

“That’s because-” Mathew stopped because Jerry dropped his cup of tea and grabbed at his throat. Black lines were visible under his skin as the poison soon flooded his body.

Everything started to play out in slow motion. His entire plan was ruined, why! Where did he mess up? Mathew glanced down at his cup and knew drinking it would be pointless. He glanced back to where the cups were and realized something.

Payne accidentally mixed up the cups. He gave the poisoned one to Jerry, and a normal one to himself and Mathew. His plan was ruined because of some tea that spilled. How cruel was fate to do this to him?

Mathew had to think quickly and rushed over to Jerry. “Shit! Payne, get help!”

Payne sneered down at Mathew, “Help? You tried to kill me! This was your plan, not to attack me with your weapons, but to poison me!” He pulled out his gun and aimed it at Mathew. “Give me a good fucking reason not to kill you right now. You just killed an employee of the government.”

Mathew didn't skip a beat, “Because if you do, you lose the Hearth Crystal.”

Payne hesitated then energy flooded his weapon. “I could just take it back, you would be dead.”

Mathew slowly stood up, Jerry was dead now, his gasps for air stopped. “Then everyone on the base will know you are a liar and a murderer. Questions will be asked. Tell me, will there be an alert once I claim the base then die? How will you answer that?”

He could tell Payne was thinking it out in his mind. Then slowly the energy stopped, “you are under arrest. Guards!” He shouted.

Guards flooded inside and assessed the situation. “Arrest Mathew, put him in jail.”

Before Mathew could react he was shoved to the ground. Cold metal cuffs surrounded his hands and feet. A hard bash connected with his skull, and darkness filled his vision.

Payne looked down at the unconscious body that belonged to Mathew and shook his head. “Fucking hell. Why was this his plan? Killing me would get him nothing.”

He glanced down at Jerry’s body. “Shame he was killed this way. That piece of shit was a bastard to my family. I was going to bring him with me to the battle to die. He was my ticket to counter Mathew’s powers, but that won't work anymore. I can at least thank Mathew for tying up that loose thread.”

“I’ll deal with him after the battle. Take him to the cells.” The guards nodded and hauled him away without a word.

Payne walked out of the office and headed to his own room. Inside was Mr. Melton, waiting patiently for him. “So how did it go?”

“It went horribly wrong. He tried to poison me.” Payne said. “Jerry is dead.”

Mr. Melton’s chubby face turned into a frown only slightly hidden behind his beard. “What now?”

“What we planned. We go stomp out the Infernal rats and I report back to the President of our success.” Payne opened up a safe and started to pull a few things out. Included was an orb, a small bag of pills, and a crystalline object. He put them all in various pockets, while the orb started to float over his shoulder.

“Very well. Am I still in charge while you are gone?”

“Yup, you know the drill. Keep things safe, and don’t let Mathew out. I will take his balls myself. Let him think about what he has done, the fool.”

Mr. Melton pursed his lips. “I wonder why he tried to kill you in the first place, you said doing so gets him nothing.”

“Other than out of the contract and me dead. Sure, he loses some money, but he can still claim the base afterwards.”

Payne left the building and climbed into a truck. Inside were the elite soldiers that made up his personal guard force. “Let’s go. I want to get this over with.”