Kayla's eyes kept shifting from the contract to Leo, and then back to the contract.
"Isn't this a little too good for us?" She still found it hard to believe. Just what was this man thinking while wanting a contract like this. She couldn't understand.
Most of the basic conditions were the same. Leo had only made a few small changes in the contract. But those small changes completely changed the entire essence of the contract.
The first change that Leo made was to remove the payment entirely. According to the contract, he wouldn't charge a single credit for his elixirs if he entered this contract.
Not only would he not charge a remuneration, but he wouldn't even charge for the raw materials used in the elixir.
Kayla knew just how rare and expensive the materials for such miraculous elixirs could be. Some might even be imported from other planets, or bargained from the demons.
He was willing to pay for them out of his own pocket?
The places had been switched. First, it was Leo wondering what this woman wanted. But now that he had a rough grasp of the situation, it was Kayla's turn to ask that question.
If he didn't charge for the materials, wouldn't he run in loss instead of gaining anything?
The other changes he made to the contract were also just as unique. Leo had added a condition that his elixirs would never be sold outside the Guild without his permission. And if someone tried to research his elixirs in the Guild, the Contract would be instantly terminated.
It was a normal condition in Kayla's eyes since many alchemists placed such conditions. They were very sensitive about their recipes after all.
Unfortunately, there was one thing that she didn't tell Leo. The Guild had already tried to reverse engineer the Elixirs out of curiosity.
....
"Strange. Even with our highest grade equipment, we can't find anything. We only see two ingredients. Water and citrus limon? Whoever made this must be a real genius."
In the Hero Union's lab, the entire lab was in a mess. Many Alchemists were gathered together to see the miraculous elixirs.
They had run many tests, but the outcome was always the same. The results always showed only two ingredients.
"To think that he achieved a synergy with his ingredients that completely masks any trace of them, making it look like ordinary lemon juice."
"Could it really be lemon juice? Could we be overthinking this?" Another alchemist suggested, but his voice was quickly pushed down.
"There's no way such a common ingredient could achieve something so miraculous! Stop insulting our intelligence!"
"That..." The younger alchemist stopped speaking, but his eyes didn't give up.
What was more shocking? Ordinary ingredients achieving something impossible? Or achieving a perfect synergy with all ingredients to hide even the slightest of traces?
If the unknown alchemist was really so talented to the point of achieving the latter, why would he be unknown until now.
He had a feeling that there was a big misunderstanding. Could ordinary lemons have such properties that they didn't know about?
He had to test it himself! He had to expose this fraud who got lucky out of nowhere!
After he exposed that fraud, wouldn't he prove himself superior to the other alchemists who couldn't see such basic things?
"Hah, this might be an opportunity," Weiss thought to himself as he left with a smirk in his lab.
....
Unaware of the looming threat, Leo was still waiting for Kayla's answer.
Meanwhile, Kayla remained immersed in the contract details. She didn't have to tell Leo they had already tried to check the elixir, right? After all, the terms of the contract applied from the moment it was signed, not before?
Still, she sneakily sent a message to the higher ups about the contract terms.
Most of the other terms were still the same, including the fact that Leo would stay at the Hero Guild's Headquarter, and that he would be protected by an S-Rank Hero whenever he had to leave the Headquarters.
Another condition was that Leo couldn't be forced to make Elixirs. He would only make a limited number of elixirs a month. As for the number, it depended on his mood.
This was the hardest condition to accept, since the Guild wanted as many as possible.
"Sir, can we negotiate the third paragraph of the contract?" Kayla tried to get the condition changed, but Leo simply stepped back.
"You can leave if you don't want to accept that contract." He grabbed the door and slowly started closing it.
"Wait, I accept!" Kayla hastily stopped Leo, blocking the door. "We will accept the terms!"
Although that condition was troublesome, didn't it yet mean they had to keep Leo in a good mood to get more from him?
Once he went to the Headquarters, he would realize how good they could be to him. It was only a matter of time before he would start considering the Guild as family, and try to contribute more.
There were a few more conditions like allowing Leo to go out of the Headquarters anytime he wanted, without any questions being asked.
There were also conditions to maintain his privacy and freedom, especially the one stating that he wasn't joining the guild, but only staying with them as a consultant.
For the most part, the conditions were acceptable. Anything was worth it since Leo wasn't charging them any money. The money that guild saved on the Elixirs through this contract was worth more than what the Guild was giving in exchange.
"Give me a moment. I'll get a new contract with all your mentioned conditions, signed by the Guild Master."
She quickly rushed back in excitement, having received Leo's agreement.
After discussing for a few more minutes on the call with someone, she returned just as fast. However, this time, she had a completely legal document that had the digital signature from the Guild Master.
Leo also signed the contract, albeit still looking a little hesitant considering his future.
The contract was finally signed, and it became official. A copy of the contract was even delivered to Leo's device. He was finally the Chief Consultant of the Hero Guild, an honorary position created just for him.
"Shall we return to your new home?" Kayla said, as she made a gesture towards the window at the end of the hallway.