Chapter 33 - Contract Modification.
He had expected to receive money for their troubles since they were still civilians. Most Daywalkers do the same, rewarding their staff and subordinates with credits to keep as many crystallized seeds as possible.
It was understandable considering that crystallized seeds were traded with Solar Aegis Coins, the official worldwide coin for purchasing anything related to Daywalkers.
"You kidding? You guys might not have been Daywalkers, but I would rather have you on my team than most Daywalkers." Sergio said solemnly.
If even the cheapskate Sergio agreed to it, there was no point in asking the others.
"Don't think of us as strangers." Jamal smiled as he patted Levi's shoulder, "We have gone through hell and came back alive; nothing builds a stronger bond than surviving death together."
"They are right, you guys are now part of our squad whether you like it or not." Shia grinned.
"We would be honored."
Upon hearing this, Levi chuckled while nodding in understanding, not rejecting their offer. After fighting amidst them and seeing how they had each other's backs, he knew it was foolish to pass on such an opportunity.
Especially, when The Blood Hunters Agency was the second strongest in the entire region and just being in contact with them was a blessing everyone wished for.
"Since you guys are showing us love, I don't mind telling you the truth." Levi confessed with a smile, "I don't need a whole six Crystal Blood Flowers. Just one and the rest of the mentioned materials."
"I figured you would be trying to swindle me out of some flowers, but a whole five?" Shia was astonished, "You sure are merciless."
It was a common occurrence for Evolutionist Experts to swindle the Daywalkers of a higher required amount of materials. Since those Daywalkers, who sought after perfect and remarkable evolutions were always loaded, they seldom cared.
All they wanted was for the evolution to succeed and if the price was much higher than standard, so be it. Of course, this worked only when considering new evolutions found and not the known ones.
"As you said, we are struggling with money." Levi chuckled, "While I have no interest in selling my mother's knowledge, I don't mind earning money other ways."
"Smart, if I were in your place I would have gotten much more."
Sergio rubbed his hands shamelessly, dreaming of the day he landed on such precious knowledge.
Shia and Jamal's eyelids twitched, knowing that he would be an absolute menace.
"If it's just one Crystal Blood Flower, Obsidian Bloodvine, and the rest of the materials, I should have them ready in three days at most. The Sunstrike agency must have an overflow after clearing the nest's treasury and will sell some of them below the market price in the region." Shia smiled widely in anticipation after obtaining the necessary funds(crystallized seeds).
Although she was filthy rich, she knew it was a bad investment to trade credits for SA Coins. The exchange rate was absolutely abysmal, making it extremely easy for Daywalkers to get rich off selling SA Coins, but the opposite for the buyers.
That's why Levi wanted to swindle five crystal flowers, knowing that if he traded them for SA coins, he would have the choice of possessing both credits and coins for future necessities.
Though, he would never cheat someone who took him in and treated him as a friend. Don't even mention friends who he had fought alongside and survived to the bitter end with them.
It would take one with great evil and immorality to do this.
'Hehehe, I am about to evolve perfectly, and you guys aren't. You bums should address me with respect after three days.'
Meanwhile, Blee'der was seen making a little dance in excitement, irritating O'rro and O'thnir to no end. For nightcrawlers, evolution was everything to them.
To have a perfect evolution in this climate? Whew, some nightcrawlers and Daywalkers would actually become depressed for days from envy.
'Sergio, you useless fatty! How come Blee'der gets to have a perfect evolution while you are still struggling with a mere remarkable evolution?' O'thnir chided in frustration.
'The f*ck you want me to do? He got lucky, we didn't.' Sergio retorted.
'Levi, did you somehow hear anything related to my evolutionary path?' O'rro went ahead and requested Levi with a hopeful tone.
While Levi knew that Ash'Kral might have an idea about their evolution, he still shook his head with a wry smile.
"My apologies, I have learned only Blee'der's species' evolutionary path."
"I see..."
O'rro and O'thnir were left disappointed, but they didn't take it on Levi, knowing that such information could be obtained only through luck or trial and error.
That's why being an Evolutionist was a highly coveted and respected career.
They needed to be extremely intelligent and have great knowledge about nightcrawlers and their infinite species. Additionally, learn about natural treasures, and how they react to each other and nightcrawlers to create the best formula for their evolution.
They were mostly hired privately by lineage families and agencies, to search for the best evolutionary paths for their top Daywalkers.
After a short while, Shia and the others left Levi to rest in peace. Shia told him that she would contact him once she got her hands on the materials.
She also assured him that she was actively working on getting the recommendation letter to participate in the Assembly.
While she and the others were still on the fence about this as she knew that the assembly involved battles, they didn't want to discourage Levi anymore. If he wanted to join, let him be and he would figure it out on his own.
Also, just when she was about to leave, she told him to check their nocturnal contract details.
Levi murmured the serial number of the contract in his mind, and it manifested before him, leaving him quite fascinated.
'What a mystery...'
Levi knew that no matter how much he thought about it, he could not figure out how the Nocturnal Contracts worked. It was a mystery unsolved by even the nightcrawlers.
Thus, he could only be amazed and move on.
After reading the terms, he was left stunned at the change of the penalty applied to him. He would no longer be punished by becoming Shia's lifetime subordinate. Instead, if he failed, he would be hired for three years in their agency.
When Levi looked at the bottom and saw that Shia had already signed on the modification, he couldn't help but smile.
'She is quite kind when she wants to.'
Levi went on and removed his penalty in case she failed to help him get the recommendation letter. In his mind, there was no point for the contract to be binding and should act as a mere formality between them now that their relationship had developed beyond strangers.
If she failed to help him get the recommendation, so be it...He was already a Daywalker, and he would find out a different method to make his contract legit.
After signing his name, he sent her a message to check the contract. A few moments later, Astra Ai reported femininely, "Shia sent a thumbs-up emoji."
The new contract was signed, leaving both Levi and Shia to their own characters. If they were pieces of shit, they would take advantage of this and not fulfill their ends of the deal.
If they were true to themselves and their words meant more than a signature, then, nothing would change.
***
One hour later...
Levi and Arthur were seen stretching on the hospital's room floor, helping each other when needed. Levi had yet to tell him about Ash'Kral and his Daywalker's contract as he knew that they might be monitored.
"I missed three days of the gym now, I am already feeling like my muscles have shrunken." Arthur complained while flexing his biceps, touching them with a saddened look.
"That's just your body dysmorphia doing its thing." Levi replied calmly while stretching his legs.
"You think?" Arthur sighed, trying his best to ignore the nagging of his mind telling him that he had gotten smaller and weaker.
Just as Levi was about to assure him, he lifted his head to the sight of a small black cat floating in front of him.
"Hello kid, remember me?" Mao greeted with a smile and a paw extended forward for a handshake.