Mixed Blessing System

"What guarantees?" Lothur asked.

"Well, aside from the most important part, the advance payment, we expect you to avoid talking about how you obtained the information we will eventually hand over to you."

Cultivators, in general, knew there was an investigative service in the Cultivation House. But that was not the only organization that did similar work in this province and city.

And since some investigations could lead to considerable trouble, it was in the interest of this institution to rid itself of any connection with such matters.

To investigate certain groups or people, this institution used members of other powers, in a way, internal agents. But these individuals could be exposed if the authorship of investigations was passed on to the Cultivation House.

So, to prevent troublesome people from going after the investigators from this group, every client had to keep the secret of how they got their information.

As for how they did that, well, that was naturally guaranteed by Blood Contracts.

"Is that okay with you?" That middle-aged woman asked again as a yellow paper full of strange symbols appeared on that table below one of her hands.

Seeing that item he had heard about, Lothur nodded in agreement since he had no intention to come out and talk about it.

Blood Contracts were a means by which the parties committed themselves to follow the rules in it, something that, if broken by one of the parties, could attract punishments of all sorts.

Some could simply be struck by lightning capable of turning cultivators' bodies into piles of dust in moments. Others could simply have their karma changed, something that would help such an individual meet their end.

In any case, Blood Contracts were powerful and difficult to break. As such, this device was often used by cultivators in this place where Lothur was.

"Well, the price to investigate those two is 200 bronze coins each. But on the other hand, investigating an official of the Morning Star Academy can be troublesome and dangerous. So, the rate is variable, but we'll start with the price of a thousand coins."

​ "That way, in addition to signing the contract, you have to pay 700 bronze coins right now and the rest when the job is done."

"Okay."

After some time...

"Very well, come back here in a week, and your service will probably be done by then." She said this as she got up from where she was, closing a large book in which she had stored the contract signed by Lothur.

After that, it did not take long for the two to leave that room and head to where they were supposed to meet the person who made the mission they got at the academy.

"Lothur, who are those two people you are looking for information from?" As they arrived in the entrance hall of the Cultivation House, Elke sat down next to Lothur on a wooden bench and asked this in a low voice.

"Enemies." He gave her no details, only saying what he was, in fact, sure of.

She found this strange and could not help but question him. "Enemies? Didn't you say you were friends with that Willi guy and were even concerned about his disappearance?"

"I said what I needed to say, Elke..." He smiled at her before finally seeing a young man who looked two years younger than Elke, walking around that area, not knowing where to go.

Realizing that such a person had the characteristics of the contractor of their mission, Lothur took one of Elke's hands and called her to meet such a client.

"Your name is Jacob? Jacob Siegel?" Lothur asked as he stopped beside that young man who still had cheeks that indicated his immaturity, dressed like an adventurer's apprentice.

Hearing someone addressing him, that person with brown hair and a round face turned to Lothur and saw this man's annoying face and the beautiful Elke.

"Uh? Oh, yes, my name is Jacob. Are you the students of the Morning Star Academy?"

"Yes, this is my companion Elke, and my name is Lothur. We are here for your service." He said this as he observed that person who seemed to have just recently reached level 1.

Elke soon greeted that customer, promptly having asked about his origin and the like, something to create a better connection between them.

It was unnecessary to make friends with clients in situations like this, but just doing the job and not talking to the other party could complicate the whole thing. And as a person who liked to talk, she had not taken the time to seek out Jacob's basics as they made their way to one of the cultivation rooms in that building.

As he did so, the young Jacob sighed in relief, feeling good that this time he had managed to hire people who were not as cold as others he had met in recent weeks.

He was the son of a wealthy merchant from one of several towns in Linn Province. He did not have enough to get into the Morning Star Academy but could hire students from that institution.

Since Jacob had only recently begun cultivating, he had been traveling to Peters City with his father's store wagon to learn from the students of that institution.

The wagon from his father's store came to this city twice a month to buy resources and then returned to their town the same day. During its arrival and departure, Jacob would take the time to learn more about the cultivation world from people who lived the cultivator's life 24 hours a day.

He told this to Lothur and Elke, so the two soon understood a little of his story and the difficulties and facilities this mission could have.

The difficulties would be more for Lothur since this man was still learning about the cultivation world and could hardly teach others. As for ease, besides Elke being fully capable of completing that weakness of her companion, the young Ritter had the strength to press his client in fights.

And so, they soon entered a cultivation room similar to the one Lothur had used before, where, without delay, Jacob prepared for a match.

Meanwhile, Lothur came close to Elke and spoke something into one of her ears, causing her face to blush.

Seeing the sparkle in the eyes of that gentle woman he was already almost falling in love with, Jacob suddenly asked. "Are you... Are you by any chance a couple?"

"What?" Elke almost jumped in surprise, not expecting a young man like that to ask such a thing.

And as she blushed with embarrassment, Lothur laughed out loud and looked at her with interest. "I guess we can say that..."

If it were on Earth, he definitely would not say such a thing since he thought exclusive relationships were a waste of time, something required by society but that it was not a good deal for men of his age.

He was the type who would stay single and make the most of the opportunities he had, using his judgment to select the best partners through multiple experiences. And as such, he always made it clear to his women on Earth that he had no interest in commitment.

But as in the cultivation world, he did not have to do that!

Since harems were not uncommon in this place, there was no reason for him not to assume the women he desired!

After hearing Lothur's answer, Elke watched him with her mouth open, feeling her heart beating faster and the heat on her face rising.

But on the other hand, Jacob had a disappointed expression on his face, as it was truly disappointing to meet a beauty like Elke, kind and friendly but already committed.

Lothur ignored the thoughts of those two and said. "Anyway, Jacob, Elke will be in charge of teaching you theoretical things, and I will train you. Is that okay with you?"

"Uh? Really? But..." He looked at Lothur with a strange expression since he could not feel the cultivation of this annoying-looking person.

Elke noticed that and smiled, feeling good for some reason. "Jacob, don't make the mistake of underestimating Lothur. He is much stronger than I am and will be able to push you to the point that I cannot."

"Oh? If that is the case, then please guide me." He said to Lothur as his fighting spirit rose considerably.

After that, they began to exchange blows...