Gong takes a moment to look over the room. Seemingly, choosing her words to fit the situation.

I find myself looking around at the group, seeing a variety of expressions within the different clusters of people.

It is at this point that I’m really looking at the variety of groups that seem to have an interest in joining us.

Some people seemed more anxious after reading, while others seem comforted.

In particular, the groups that know Gong and came here for her, which is the majority of the group, seem to understand the need for the restrictions. Luckily, I can sense the same from the fox family that I had saved earlier.

However, anyone outside of those groups is a little panicked. Including the tiger woman and kid. They’re not only nervous, but seem to be worried about their safety at this point as well.

Everyone’s eyes turn to her as Gong raises her voice authoritatively.

“I’m glad to see that many of you have read the contract and are satisfied with what’s inside. For those of you who are a little worried, my partner, The Alchemist, has noticed your discomfort. He’s opted to show you a little bit of what you’ll be able to get access to when you join our group.”

She raises a hand and streaming up from one of the tunnels, is spiders. Collectively, the spiders are carrying baskets of poiyos and jugs of water. These are brought to each person here. Including the children. Not only that, but tiny web pouches are given to each person.

The first person to open the pouches is one of the bird Demi humans. Particularly, a songbird like one. Mostly human, but with cut off wings at the edges of their wrists.

She gasps as she exclaims, “Two Silver coins?!”

Everyone’s eyes snap over to her, and then down at their own pouches. They each open it up confirming with their own eyes that the same is there for them as well.

As everyone is still reeling from this revelation, Gong presses on. Once again, it’s thanks to The Alchemist that you can have this at this time. He would like to make some adjustments to the contract, because of how much he values your support in the future.

Everyone’s eyes turn over to me, looking at me intently. It takes everything I have inside me to not move and just do a sage nod. It’s even more embarrassing, as I see the Fox child looking at me with bright eyes. Apparently recognizing me from our earlier interaction.

While we go over to discuss the updates to the contract, please enjoy this while we do so.

She turns around dramatically, placing a hand on my shoulder as we walk away into one of the nearby caverns. Many of the children have already started diving into the food that’s been presented to them.

As we get to a different area, I turned to Gong and inquired to her, “Why did you place the decision on me? Wouldn’t have been better to take credit for the benefits?”

“Not really. In case this actually turns out to be a bad idea, it’s better for the main person to have not advocated for this. That way I could just say that it was I was mistaken in my judgment of your decision. Of course, I hope that’s not the case, but if it is but it still allows us a way out that keeps the trust and confidence of our allies.”

Ah, that makes sense. it does hurt a bit that she’s already making preparations for this to fail and not be a good idea. Though, I’d probably have to do something similar, if I was in her position and disagreed with the actions being taken.

Once we reach an area where we can speak freely, she directly turns to me.

“So, what did you want to change?”

“Mainly, what I want to change in this is the penalty system in the benefits section of the contract.”

She squints at me.

“Just to check, you do understand that the penalty for breaking the contract is being paralyzed and death, right?”

“Yes, I understand that. To be more specific, what I want to do is have the timing of it be variable and the severity of them to be scaled, according to the transgression.”

“… You’ll have to explain that one.”

“Obviously, the kid is intending to betray us from the start. Now normally he’d be paralyzed and then die shortly after. The time between being paralyzed and death, is where we could forgive the Transgression.

“Still got it? Good. What I’m proposing, is that we have the contract take those same steps but in different stages.

“If in some way, they are about to communicate or betray via an action, they’ll be hit with instant paralyzing and then death. But, if they simply have the intent to do so, they’ll just be paralyzed with a limited ability to communicate. The reason for this is so that we can have a chance to rehabilitate them. To get the reason for the betrayal and potentially not waste possible talent.

“Which leads me to my next point; assuring people we are able and willing to provide for them.

“I understand the standard way things are done for sects, gangs, and other groups, is to demand loyalty, while promising benefits. Which comes from a position of power. Even then, it is only if you are capable, can you reach the top of those benefits. Only in more equal relationships is there an exchange of benefits in a contract.

“I propose we put the promises that we verbally said into the contract.”

Before Gong can argue against that, I add a note regarding that change.

“Of course, we will not put ourselves under the death or paralyzing charge. All it should be, is a written promise that they can point back to if we don’t uphold it.

“Ultimately, it won’t make a difference, but will show our true intentions by giving us the opportunity to lose face if we cannot complete those noted items. Though, just to be sure… We can actually keep our promises, right? Other than the food and water promise, which I already know the answer to.”

Gong nods her head, almost as if it’s obvious. Which is good enough for me.

Great to hear.

For a little while after that, Gong and I go back and forth, discussing the merits and demerits of this approach. Somehow, I do manage to convince her that because of the close nature of these requests, and getting people into the door first, we should put these stipulations in here.

We basically agree that each and every person who we can have working with us on this is simultaneously a liability, but also the chance for to grow into an enormous asset. Especially considering that eventually, we want to break the curse cycle that demi humans are in. It’s very likely that the group that’s coming in now will be the ones to fight that cultivation battle. That’s not even mentioning the kids, who by starting at a young age, will be the foundation for future demi humans.

We also come to the agreement, that anyone who fails the contract first, we’ll first give them things to think about. Like how they can leverage the benefits we lay upon them, including the healing. Giving them an opportunity to understand how bad of a tradeoff it is to betray us, instead of just automatically getting rid of them, can show them that ultimately it will be in their best interest to work with us.

Thus, the final contract ends up with a non-binding agreement to provide a reasonable amount of food and water every day, a new and somewhat safer place to live, a weekly stipend of a silver coin (which I confirmed would be sustainable for her), cross training in skills, literacy education (over time), and a specific action for them which is unnamed.

Vetted family members will be able to live in the village, though they may only occasionally be able to visit those family members. It also clearly states that they will be unable to leave the caverns due to security reasons.

Outside the contract, before we have them signed, since they are already waiting, we will bring any children they have here to make choice (after vetting) to make the contract. We will grab the child on behalf of the person, using a code (which is apparently a normal thing). Once they get back, everyone will do the contract together.

Lastly, the contract has the cascading effects built in, which Gong was unsure about, but I had confirmed with my scan would work. Same protections, more flexibility.

With that taken care of, we head back to the group to communicate the changes.