"As much as I'd like to help the Federation, what's in it for me?" Il Ji respectfully replied.
The old man sighed. "To preface, my name is Orio Santers. I am the head of the Creation Master research lab in Chao City and the surrounding region. Such was the reason for your longer walk."
"New contract marks are highly enviable for the community. Not just because of their unknown nature, but because of their possible effects."
"Some contract marks restrict behavior. Others promote certain actions. There are also a few rarer, secretly kept types that are restricted to various family lines and royalty."
"These marks that have been kept private have effects such as higher cultivation speeds, talent boosting, and more."
"As all contract marks are considered to have been previously found and made public other than the clan marks made by Royal Families and the like, the Federation government saw fit to close the bounty for obtaining new marks."
"As such, any reward I could give you would come from my own pocket." Orio looked up at Il Ji. "If you would grant me my professional curiosity, I'm certain we could come to an arrangement."
Il Ji looked into space for a few moments before turning to face the prestigious elder. "Region Research Head Orio Sanders. As much as I would love to keep this secret: I also do find that such an experience, in widening the knowledge of a prestigious man such as yourself, could greatly help the foundation of this, our Federation."
"Therefore, I am willing to give this much in trade: I can show you the contract mark in a space of my choosing. Secondarily, you will sign an NDA and copy the NDA as a fated promise."
"Thirdly, if anyone else comes to know of the contract through you or by your actions, you will swear to both immediately notify me, contain and destroy their knowledge, the same to anyone they share it with, and keep the knowledge of my contract mark from spreading."
Orio looked at him happily. "That seems doable."
After a moment, he added, "Seeing as you are currently at Copper Rank, in return for the sight I can offer you the end result of one of our research projects."
"Once creating the patriarch or matriarch of a new line, the final step in any of our projects is to create a stable flow of beasts that share the same bloodline."
"The first of such offspring would belong to you."
"Alternatively, I can offer you items from the flow of materials that pass through here."
"I see." Il Ji replied. "Would you mind creating me a list? …If you're willing, I'd also love to look around your labs. I originally desired to become a Creation Master; however, as I was unable to form a contract, such an opportunity was never open to me…"
"Interesting. You just formed your contract?"
"Haha, no, actually, I formed it before I was six months old. My contract beast was used as a crib. Since it was a formation stage legendary-level spirit tool, the contract only just now succeeded and threw me into the Copper Rank. Aaaaand…. I never knew about it."
"How interesting! Do you know how it was formed?"
"No, but based on the shape of the contract mark, I doubt it was blood from my fingers or nose. The only passable solution I have found is a state of really, really bad diarrhea."
"Oh. Dear."
"Yes indeed."
"A-CH-CAHEM!!! Well then, I shall certainly endeavor to create a list for you. If you stop by the front desk, I'll have a level A visitor badge created for you."
"You can visit the labs, and the list should be done by the time you return to the front. You can come back tomorrow or whenever it suits you to finalize the deal."
Il Ji gave a short bow. "Thank you for this opportunity, Master Orio."
The man nodded and opened the door to his office. "The pleasure is all mine, Il Ji."
Orio walked Il Ji back to the front counter. "Agnes, I need a Class A Visitor Badge for this young man here."
The old woman spoke into her phone. "One minute Marge, the cranky boss man is calling for me."
Putting her phone to her elbow, she gave Orio a rude stare. "Check the bin on the far end of the counter."
"Always a pleasure, Agnes." The upbeat Creation Master replied.
Il Ji couldn't tell which of them had the upper hand. They seemed pretty equally- well, both annoyed and… happy?
'So this is his type…'
Orio picked up one of the cards from the bin and handed it to Il Ji.
"Yeah, Marge, so the book can be found AT the library, but that doesn't mean it WILL be at the library…"
"The elevator is right there." Orio added. "The research labs are from B5-B11. The beasts at legendary rank and above start at floor B9."
"Thank you again, Master Orio."
"No, no, I'm more than happy to see you walk through these doors. Please."
The man gestured to the elevator.
"Let me send a message to my sister, and I'll go right down."
"Yes, yes, take your time. I'll be in my office if you need anything."
Once the man left, Il Ji opened his phone.
"Laila, I'm currently visiting the Chao City Research Labs. I have some snacks for you in the fridge, you can have one once you get home. If you get your homework done before 5PM, you can eat the leftovers from last night while you watch a movie. Otherwise, you'll have more homework to do."
"If you need anything, call me. I'll be in a basment area, so if I don't pick up, leave a message and call Adele. Love you, sis."
It was time. Stepping through the doors, Il Ji made his way towards his future- a long-standing destiny.