The bard fantasized again.

Chapter 153 Even Kobolds Have a Spirit of Contract (5k1w)

Now that it's been confirmed that there's more than one 'eye' lurking in the shadows, the next step might be to identify the figures these eyes represent.

For example, could you meet with the Duchess and ask her why she did this, and what her plans are?

After all, I've already recorded these things in my log, and they're stories that the log has approved.

If you can finish it off, you should be able to get a generous reward.

"Then I can't just run away."

Tang Qi changed his strategy, putting the log back into his dimensional bag.

"Little White Pig seems to have mentioned that the [Duchess] doesn't usually appear in the public eye, and even that construct eyeball was obtained indirectly."

So what should I do to take the initiative to approach her...?

Seeing that Tang Qi seemed to have sorted out his thoughts, he then fell into a new state of deep thought.

After a brief hesitation, Black Panther suddenly asked:

"Hey, you just said 'deliver the magical item to you,' right?"

"Any questions?"

“Although I don’t know what you’re thinking about there, if it’s related to the magical items that Little Payton acquired, I might be able to help you find some clues.”

Tang Qi became somewhat interested:

"By what method?"

"Our Red Scarf Gang doesn't just randomly pick a target in the dungeon and attack it—before we rob someone, we investigate their background, strength, and even what they've gained from the dungeon."

After a successful robbery, we will register all the seized items and overall information in the gang's "archive".

Since you encountered Little Peyton on the surface, it means he must have completed the raid registration. So, if we just look for the raid report from that day, we can at least pinpoint the basic information of that 'fat sheep'..."

"Wait, you robbers have to write reports?"

Tang Qi smelled the scent of working class.

This is very strange and odd.

At least in his stereotype, this gang of robbers should have robbed and looted, then shed their disguises and returned to the surface, eating meat and drinking wine like adventurers.

But recalling their coordinated actions since encountering the Red Scarf Gang, their specially made 'flying squirrel suits,' and even this cave with a gravity array...

Now there are even mission reports!

No matter how you look at it, it shouldn't be associated with 'underground robbers' at all.
When talking about his work, Black Panther's face revealed an air of superiority that was difficult for outsiders to discern:

"Do you think we're 'goblins who robbed caravans in the forest'? The kind of goblins that suddenly jump out of the jungle and yell at you to put down your goods when a caravan is walking along the Three Pigs Trail?"

"There's a hierarchy of contempt even within the robbery circle?"

Black Panther grunted twice and looked at Tang Qi:
“Of course we were organized and premeditated.”

"..."

After a brief silence, Tang Qi frowned and said:
"Go on."

"It's an organizational secret, I can't tell you."

Seeing Tang Qi slap the curved sword in his palm and walk towards him with a gloomy expression, as if he were about to snatch his life away if he wasn't careful.

Black Panther hurriedly explained:
"No, I really can't bring myself to say this—everyone who officially joins the Red Scarf Gang has signed a Fair Contract, which includes a clause prohibiting the disclosure of internal gang matters."

Whenever I try to do this, it feels like something is stuck in my throat, preventing me from saying a word!

Realizing that Tang Qi showed no sign of stopping, he could only shout:
"But I can take you inside and show you what a gang looks like!"

He pointed to the depths of the dark cave.

"You have to keep me here, because only official members can crack the traps ahead and know the password to enter the bunker!"

"It's not very safe."

Tang Qi rejected the proposal.
"That's like going into your den alone, where we're like 'mice groping in the dark'."

This is underground. Once we're discovered and surrounded, even if we had wings, we couldn't escape.

He is keen on adventure, but not on dying.

"I also want to know the truth about that day. I can't possibly lie to you!" Black Panther tried to move Tang Qi with his sincere eyes.

"Are you trying to make me believe the promise of a villain?"

"I--"

"How about this, you two sign an agreement?" Hope suggested.

Tang Qi expressed his doubts:

"If contracts are effective, what's the point of having lawyers?"

A written agreement without any guarantees has no credibility whatsoever.

It's like a dwarf writing on a piece of paper that he will grow to 1.5 meters tall.

Will they really grow taller?

"I have this."

Hope took a scroll from her pouch and spread it out in front of Tang Qi, showing off its ancient and heavy parchment texture.

The edges of the paper are outlined with gilded ink to create square corners, making its considerable value immediately apparent.

"Ta-da! [Fair Contract]"

It can be used for agreements between two parties or for requests from multiple parties.

Once you write down the contents of your contract on paper, sign your name, and press your fingerprint, you will be bound by the contract and unable to take any actions that violate its contents.

Only by burning the scroll can the contract be nullified; this 'black cat' should know that quite well.

Black Panther nodded repeatedly: "That's why I can't say a word. It's because I signed this."

Tang Qi looked at Hope with some suspicion:
"How do you have such a thing?"

"I'm a guide who frequently enters and exits the dungeons—isn't it normal to sign a non-aggression pact with someone if I find that they have ulterior motives?"

Don't look at me with such suspicion. Although this contract is quite expensive, you can buy it on the black market in Longjin City.

"100 gold coins per note, this debt will definitely be charged to you."

"On my head?" Tang Qi pointed to himself.

"Your desire to 'see the bunker' is written all over your face."

Hope waved her finger at him, about to put the Fair Contract back into her pocket.
"Of course, if I'm just being presumptuous, then pretend I didn't say anything. After all, I just wanted to help you out and get back to the surface sooner."

"Bring it here."

Tang Qi had to admit that the guide had a very accurate eye for people.

He did indeed want to use the Red Scarf Gang's files to get close to the "Duchess."

At the same time, Tang Qi was also very curious about the Red Scarf Gang, which was hiding deep in the underground city and disguised itself through large-scale illusions and the Fair Contract.

Recording this information might be helpful in calculating rewards after leaving the dungeon.

Especially after the 'behind-the-scenes manipulation'—

Tang Qi took the scroll and pulled Kulu aside:
"Release the [Psychedelic Manuscript] to the contract."

"Rua?"

Kuru shook his head at him.

"Contracts and fairness!"

Clearly, even a lawful kobold understands the concept of contractual spirit better than Tang Qi.

"Stop talking nonsense, I'll buy you books when we get back to the surface."

"10 copies!"

The spirit of contract also has its limits.

Tang Qi recalled that even in Longjin City, books were relatively expensive, ranging from 1 to 10 gold coins.

So he decided to buy the cheapest one:
"make a deal."

So he turned around and looked at the black panther:
"I'll write the regulations; please wait a little longer."

As a ritualistic spell, casting [Psychedelic Manuscript] does not require consuming a spell slot, but in return, it has a relatively long preparation time—10 minutes.

So after Kuru altered the 'appearance' presented by the scroll by contacting the magic net on the contract, Tang Qi also wrote down the terms:

[1. Before leaving the dungeon, those who sign the treaty are not allowed to harm each other in any way.]

Second, ...we are not allowed to reveal each other's identities to anyone.

Third, ...the signatories to the treaty must conceal each other's identities under all circumstances.

Fourth, ...when their identities are exposed, they must cover for each other.

Fifth, after leaving the dungeon, those who signed the contract are not allowed to reveal their identity or any details of the contract to anyone.

It seems to be a style that originated from the devil.

This leads people to frequently play word games in contracts.

To avoid future disputes, Tang Qi wrote a rather detailed account.

However, this is only what is displayed under the influence of the [Psychedelic Manuscript].

In the real treaty beneath the illusion, Don Qi added a clause at the end of each clause: "Except for Don Qi Weinberger." But clearly, only the "real vision," capable of seeing through invisibility and illusion, can perceive the true content of the contract.

So, when the terms of the contract were presented to Black Panther and Hope,

He only heard Hope's questioning:
"Finally, after leaving the dungeon, 'Donkey Weinberg' must pay 'Hope Valentina' 100 gold coins."

Tang Qi sighed: "So you actually found out?"

“I’m an expert on contracts,” Hope snorted twice.

After Tang Qi added the last line of text, wrote his name, and pressed his handprint with blood, Hope, Black Panther, and even Dawn and Kulu followed suit.

Since Chenxi had no fresh blood, she used Tang Qi's blood instead.

After looking at the words 'two camel legs' written by the black panther, Tang Qi and Hope looked at the bewildered spotted cat-man with strange expressions and said in unison:

"Fine, I'll just call you Black Panther then."

"Damn it, what can I do? This is how we Spotted Cats name our animals!" Black Panther argued.

But Tang Qi eventually managed to untie the ropes binding him.

While Black Panther was dreaming, Dawn had already thrown the bodies of his other accomplices into the rushing water outside the cave.

Now, they are all dressed in standard flying squirrel suits and wearing masks to conceal their identities.

Among the robbers was a short, half-human, who allowed Kuru to finally have a set of clothes of his own, saving him a lot of trouble.

"Very well, lead the way."

This time, Tang Qi had Black Panther walk at the front, so that if they encountered any traps, he could act as a human shield.

Incidentally, he also wrote down his experiences along the way in the draft of "The Guide to Longjin City".

He believed that if he could uncover some secrets about the Red Turban Gang, his reputation would undoubtedly rise to a new level.

Clearly, as a seasoned robber, Black Cat (he used an alias to avoid being hunted down by the gang) was well aware of all the traps set up in the tunnel.

This meant that, thanks to prior warnings, we were able to easily avoid the various traps we encountered along the way, such as poisonous gas, spikes, rolling stones, and even combined traps.

But this 'gap area' standing between the underground cities seems to be much deeper and wider than I expected.

As I ventured deeper, I spotted several other groups of robbers, which meant that there was more than just the cave in the cliff face as an entrance to the gang's hideout.

I suspect that it may have set up similar entrances in every hidden corner of the dungeon, using illusions to cover them up—so that an easy evacuation could be guaranteed if the mission failed.

Finally, we arrived at the [reckless steps].

This is a fairly simple puzzle trap.

It consists of a room where each floorboard is a square of equal size, marked with all the characters of the Common Language, which are randomly rearranged every so often.

This is the only way to the Red Turban Gang's stronghold, so much so that under every paving stone lies a hidden pressure trap.

If you take the wrong turn, an alarm will sound throughout the entire stronghold, announcing your arrival to all gang members.

But please don't panic, because you won't be facing them directly.

What I mean is, you might not last until the gang members arrive.

Depending on the floor tiles beneath your feet, you may encounter various events such as 'hearing the wails of a banshee,' 'being teleported to a deep dungeon,' or 'being subjected to a suggestion spell that triggers another trap,' and so on.

To avoid triggering the trap, simply follow the specific characters and step onto the stone slabs to pass through easily.

This can be understood as entering a password.

The only difficulty lies in figuring out what the 'password' actually is.
Given that I don't know when this book will be released, I'm also unsure whether they will change the password after its release because of my revelation.

But I can tell you the answer directly: 'Equilibrium is eternal'.

It sounds like some kind of cult doctrine or code, but you can indeed interpret it that way—

You could even try saying this while being robbed by the Red Scarf Gang.

Because they will most likely see you as one of their own, and then come and go quietly.

At least, I've noticed that every gang member who encounters Black Cat exchanges a secret signal with each other when they get close.

Even when stepping through the gates of the stronghold, you must say this—

"Equilibrium is eternity."

Black Panther took out his dagger and handed it to the gang guard waiting under the steel gate, so that he could confirm his identity.

The guard who took the dagger recognized his identity—

This is more like going through the motions and formalities.

Because of the numerous traps set up previously, the stronghold has already been able to filter out most intruders.

Looking at his four 'companions' behind him, their flying squirrel suits stained with blood, they looked utterly disheveled.

"It looks like the harvest isn't very good."

"More than that. We encountered a 'cat,' and three people were killed."

Black Panther spat.
"Where the hell am I supposed to find new talent?"

"Don't be discouraged, brother. There are plenty of desperados lining up in the Deep Well District. We can always look among the adventurers."

The guard patted Black Panther on the shoulder and waved, confirming the identity represented by each short sword. When Tang Qi handed over 'Nolan's' short sword, he heard the guard exclaim in surprise:
"Nolan?"

Tang Qi's breath hitched, and a bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

The hand hidden beneath the robe began to stealthily move towards the curved sword at the waist.

If the guard raises any questions, he will instantly use [Snake Fang] to hook the back of his neck, rendering him speechless, and then retreat—

The guard's hand was closer.

He noticed his heart was beating faster.

When the palm of his hand touched his shoulder, Tang Qi instinctively reached out to strike.

But the guards' doubts arose first:
Why do you seem so much more pleasing to the eye today?

Tang Qi released the knife hilt from his hand, coughed twice, and imitated Nolan's deep voice:

"Is there any?"

"Of course, her demeanor is a bit different. She doesn't seem as arrogant as before."

"Humph."

Tang Qi realized that his "commoner hero" ability was quietly kicking in.

Unfortunately, there is no switch for him to control this kind of 'charisma' that emanates from within.

"You've become quieter too. Weren't you showing off your newly bought pendant? This isn't like you." The guard hesitated.

Fortunately, Black Panther quickly put his arm around Tang Qi's shoulder and smiled at the guard:

"This guy has a bit of a cold, just leave him be."

The guard handed the dagger back to Tang Qi and laughed loudly:
"So, injuries have finally caught up with you?"

Tang Qi had some doubts about just how unpopular that sorcerer was within the gang.

Fortunately, he managed to get away with it. He snorted and walked into the stronghold after the steel gate opened.

Before him stretched a long passageway, the bright light from crystal lamps hanging on both sides spilling onto his robes and illuminating the entire passage.

"This doesn't look like a stronghold; it's more like a fortress embedded underground."

Looking at the entire inner wall of the passage, it is almost entirely reinforced with steel.

As you walk forward, there are several forks in the road, where you can glimpse some scattered gang members.

Whether they were injured or returning with a full load, although we couldn't capture their expressions through their masks, we could still sense their mood from their heavy or light footsteps.

These people walked through the extremely spacious corridor, each seemingly with their own purpose.

In Tang Qi's view, they were somewhat like the adventurers he had glimpsed when leaving the dungeon.

The only difference is that adventurers are on the surface, while they are at the Earth's core.

Adventurers collect the treasures of the dungeon, and they collect the treasures of the adventurers.

"Dong dong!"

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the steel corridor, reaching Tang Qi's ears along with the tremors.

In his surprise and disbelief, he heard shouts from several gang members behind him:

"Make way! Make way!"

Black Panther quickly pushed Tang Qi close to the wall, and then saw several gang members rushing towards the other end of the corridor like mad yaks around a corner.

This yak doesn't resemble the common breed found in the wild.

They have ferocious faces, their pupils revealing a scarlet luster, and their bodies are much more robust than those of ordinary yaks.

But more than their species, Tang Qi was curious about:

Why are there yaks under the bunker?

"Of course, it's to drive them to the fourth floor."

Otherwise, what would those adventurers kill for?

Black Panther answered matter-of-factly.

But this overturned Tang Qi's understanding:
"what?"

(End of this chapter)