Modern Weapons Cheat in Fantasy World-Chapter 21: Request from the Guild

"Now," the guildmaster leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "As a C-rank adventurer and with your magic being able to kill a wyvern, we have a special request for you."

Marcus knew where this was going. He got a promotion and now it carries a favor to those who had promoted him, which would make him feel obliged to do what they wanted him to do. Of course, everything was optional so he was eager to hear it.

"What is it?"

"Given the wyvern situation yesterday, we find it imperative that we locate and destroy the nest of the wyvern. And your son is the perfect candidate to do that."

There it goes.

"Of course you can refuse as it is your right as an adventurer. But we have no other qualified adventurers near the city to hire them. You are the only one here. And we are going to pay you handsomely for your service. We don’t want the destruction yesterday to happen again so as a guildmaster of the Adventurer’s Guild of Berm. Please, consider taking this request."

"How much?" he asked.

The Guildmaster’s fingers tapped lightly against each other for a second before he answered.

"For the nest," he said, "we are prepared to offer one million kinah."

Marcus’s eyes narrowed slightly.

That was already higher.

But the Guildmaster continued.

"That includes confirmation of the nest’s location, elimination of all adult wyverns present, and destruction of any eggs or hatchlings."

Marcus leaned forward a little.

"One million flat?"

The Guildmaster shook his head once.

"No."

He reached for another sheet and slid it across.

"Base payment is one million kinah. Additional two hundred thousand per adult wyvern confirmed within the nest."

Marcus looked at the sheet.

"If there are more than five, that number climbs quickly."

"Yes," the Guildmaster said. "And we expect there will be more."

Marcus tapped the edge of the paper once with his finger.

"Any support?"

"You can form a party for this expedition quest but I don’t think there are adventurers here that would be helpful for you."

"Well it’s fine, so long that I have an information of the potential whereabouts of the nest, I can go solo. I have a lot of arsenal up my sleeves anyway."

The guildmaster laughed upon hearing that. "I like you, son. That confidence is what I need from you."

Marcus didn’t react.

The Guildmaster gave a short nod, the hint of amusement still on his face before it faded back to business.

"Good. Then listen carefully."

He turned the map around and pressed a finger onto a marked section east of Berm.

"Forest ridge. About two hours from the eastern gate if you keep a steady pace. Elevation rises as you move deeper. There are cliffs and narrow paths. Good terrain for flying creatures to nest."

Marcus stepped closer to the desk, eyes scanning the map.

"Sightings?"

"Farmers first," the Guildmaster said. "Then a merchant caravan reported shadows overhead three days ago. Yesterday confirmed it."

"Number?"

"Unclear," he replied. "At least the ones you saw in the city. Likely more at the nest."

Marcus nodded once.

"Any ground threats?"

"Minimal," the Guildmaster said. "Some forest beasts. Nothing that should concern you compared to wyverns."

"I want a map with what you just said written on it."

"You will have the necessary intel for this quest. You’ll have it in the afternoon and you can set out the moment you receive it."

Marcus nodded. "And what about the completion proof? Do I have to pluck a scale from a wyvern or something?"

The Guildmaster shook his head.

"No need for trophies," he said. "We don’t rely on items for something like this."

Marcus paused.

"Then how do you confirm it?"

"We send our own people," the Guildmaster answered. "Once you report the job is done, a verification team will head out to the location."

He tapped the marked area on the map again.

"They’ll check the nest, count remains, and confirm that no active wyverns are left in the area."

Marcus watched his finger on the map.

"So I just clear it and come back."

"Yes."

"Okay, that seems good. I don’t have to carry a carcass or anything as a proof of completion. Very well, now we need to secure this agreement. Usually for this job I believe there is a contract similar to the posting right? You know, I want to make sure that I’ll get that money."

"Don’t worry, we already have the paper drawn up. We intend to hire you for this extermination quest after all."

He pulled out a parchment from a stack on the side of the desk and laid it flat between them.

The paper was thicker than the usual quest slips. The guild crest was already stamped at the top in dark wax. Lines of text filled the page, written in tight, formal script.

Marcus stepped closer and read.

Contract type. Extermination.

Target. Wyvern nest, forest ridge east of Berm.

Conditions. Full elimination of adult wyverns. Destruction of nest and eggs.

Compensation. Base one million kinah. Additional two hundred thousand per adult wyvern confirmed.

Verification. Guild-appointed team.

Advance. Two hundred thousand kinah upon signing.

Marcus read it once.

Then again.

No vague wording. No hidden clauses from what he could see. Payment terms were clear. Scope was defined.

He looked up.

"No penalty clauses?"

The Guildmaster shook his head.

"Only that the job remains incomplete if the nest is not fully cleared."

Marcus gave a small nod.

Fair.

"Okay where do I sign?"

The Guildmaster didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he reached into the drawer again and pulled out a small metal needle.

He placed it beside the parchment.

"For this type of document," he said, "you don’t sign."

Marcus’s eyes shifted to the needle.

"You press your thumb on the paper with your blood. This is a contract magic parchment. Once accepted through blood, both parties are bound to its terms."

Marcus looked back down at the page.

"Bound how?"

The Guildmaster leaned back slightly.

"If either side fails to meet the agreed conditions," he said, "the contract enforces a penalty."

Marcus’s gaze narrowed.

"What kind of penalty?"

"A curse."

Marcus didn’t react outwardly, but his eyes stayed on the parchment.

"What does it do?"

"You don’t even want to know," he said.

"Well, that sounds serious. I didn’t know such a paper existed. But okay, I agree."

With that, he picked up the needle.

He didn’t hesitate.

The tip pressed into the pad of his thumb. A small sting. A bead of blood formed almost immediately.

He turned his hand and brought it down onto the marked space at the bottom of the parchment.

His thumb pressed flat against the paper.

For a brief second, nothing happened.

Then the parchment reacted.

A faint glow spread outward from the point of contact. Thin lines of light traced through the written text, running along every word as if something beneath the surface had awakened.

The blood mark darkened and sank slightly into the parchment.

Marcus lifted his hand.

The glow faded just as quickly as it appeared.

The Guildmaster reached forward and pressed his own thumb onto the opposite side of the contract.

Another faint pulse passed through the parchment.

Then it went still.

"Contract sealed," the Guildmaster said.

He lifted the document and gave it a quick glance before setting it aside with the others.

Marcus flexed his hand once. The cut had already closed.

"No backing out now," Marcus said.

"No," the Guildmaster replied. "From either side."