Two flowers bloom, each expressing itself.
While Adanis was plotting how to intercept Angel and the others, on the other side, the Wise Sovereign had already explained the issues omitted in the contract from the True Words Tome.
The entire contract is relatively lenient, except for the rather severe punishments. However, these punishments only appear stringent; in fact, they are a way for the Wise Sovereign to indirectly amplify rewards.
The reason is quite clear. The first two contract terms relate to the Wood Spirit, mainly to protect the Wood Spirit and respect its wishes. There is significant ambiguity in these terms, with many expressions lacking clarity, allowing Angel numerous ways to exploit loopholes. Even if he violates the contract, he can avoid punishment.
The third contract term prohibits revealing information about Naraku City to outsiders, excluding matters related to the Wood Spirit.
If only the first half of the sentence existed, there would be limited ambiguity. But the Wise Sovereign supplemented with the latter half without specifying the scope, leading to interpretation freedom.
As long as there is interpretation freedom, whether one is subject to punishment no longer depends on the "contract’s power," but on your own thoughts.
If you feel you haven’t done well and deserve punishment, then the contract’s power will take effect. If you are thick-skinned and devious, thinking you’ve done nothing wrong, then the contract’s power won’t affect you.
It can be said that the restrictions of these three contracts are quite lenient, and each term has methods for dodging them. Because of this, even severe punishments are ultimately empty threats.
In Jon’s words, this is a typical "gentleman’s agreement."
It only binds honorable people, not scoundrels and rogues.
On the surface, the Wise Sovereign gives Angel ample respect, but the deeper reason is the Wise Sovereign’s concern for the Wood Spirit.
...
Returning to the issue of the contract, the Wise Sovereign explained it clearly.
The scope of the third term is that Angel must not disclose matters about the "Legacy Grounds" to outsiders, except for Wood Spirit matters, which Angel may judge himself.
Undoubtedly, the scope is broad.
Another issue is why there are punishments but no rewards in the contract terms?
The Wise Sovereign’s answer was simple and direct: "You can specify whatever rewards you want when you sign the contract."
These words astonished Angel, and others were also surprised.
Previously, everyone thought the Wise Sovereign deliberately left blanks in the reward column to throw a big surprise, but they didn’t expect it to be so astounding.
"The contract rewards directly proposed by Lord Chaowei, without even mentioning a limit, it’s just..." Vay was so amazed that he covered his slightly open mouth.
Everyone understood Vay’s unfinished words and nodded, feeling similarly.
However, at this moment, the Black Earl poured cold water on the enthusiastic Vay through the Mind Ribbon: "Rewards indeed have no stated upper limit, but the limit itself already exists. Think carefully, and you’ll know where that limit lies."
After the Black Earl’s reminder, Vay pondered for a moment, nodding thoughtfully.
Indeed, it seems there is no set upper limit. But realistically, when proposing rewards, many personal considerations come into play.
Vay, putting himself in Angel’s shoes, would certainly worry about whether his demands are too excessive or might anger the counterpart... Yet too few, and the counterpart might feel happy while he himself feels at a loss.
Just these considerations made Vay feel quite conflicted. Of course, the main issue is that they are currently in the Wise Sovereign’s domain, where even an overlord must tread cautiously.
If it were at the Noah Manor, Vay wouldn’t bother with such concerns, as he has backing.
Vay thinks this way because he has a background. For wizards without such backing, they are even less daring to make excessive demands.
Apart from these reasons, the blank rewards actually harbor hidden limits.
One cannot propose to the Wise Sovereign requirements that are unachievable, such as Angel demanding: Ensure I become a Legendary Wizard, gift me Naraku City, kill a true Abyssal Demon God, ensure to give me a clearly lost treasure, or make you Wise Sovereign destroy your own life... and so forth.
These examples are extreme cases, but if one seeks something lesser, the Wise Sovereign might still fail to fulfill them. Like Angel demanding: Forget about a Legendary Wizard, I know it’s hard to realize, but make sure I become a True Knowledge Wizard.
This demand isn’t overly excessive, because in the Wise Sovereign’s eyes, it’s clear that Angel is already standing at the threshold of True Knowledge’s path, only a matter of time and accumulation away.
Does it sound like it’s guaranteed to happen? Not necessarily.
Because "time" and "accumulation" inherently encapsulate unknown "processes." And once "processes" are involved, variables arise, such as Angel being suddenly slain during his "foundation accumulation" or Angel getting lost in thoughts one day, resulting in an energy backlash, causing chaos in his Mind Space.
Hence, he may not eventually become a True Knowledge Wizard.
Such variable-filled requests, even if within reach, remain dreams susceptible to shattering anytime.
Dreams, being hard to realize, reveal the upper limit.
Firstly, one must avoid excessive demands that the Wise Sovereign cannot fulfil; Secondly, the requests mustn’t be too vague, needing grounding in reality; Lastly, proposed demands should abide by equality and fairness—how much cost you incur equates to how much reward you should receive.
This is the restriction behind the Wise Sovereign’s blank reward setup.
Not only Vay analyzed this, but Angel, being directly involved, could naturally deduce it.
All the perceived benefits are actually costs in another form. Every single "gift" you receive is tagged with a price; excessive demands will only make your costs, albeit invisible, more significant.
For instance, in this contract, if Angel makes excessive demands, the Wise Sovereign will inevitably agree, perhaps even delighted to see Angel propose such excessive requests.
This is because Angel will pay a larger cost, making previously vague contract terms increasingly clear.
Originally, the Wise Sovereign merely hopes for Angel to form bonds with the Wood Spirit, ensuring the utmost safety for the Wood Spirit through emotional ties.
"Hope" is not "certainty," Angel may completely dismiss it with a laugh. But once he makes excessive demands, shrugging it off might become impossible.
This is akin to a bump on the road ahead—a normal, equal contract represents a modest curve, causing little effect.
But pursuing unfair contracts transforms this curve into a pit you can’t escape. The more excessive your demands, the deeper the pit, eventually potentially trapping you eternally.
Understanding this, Angel clearly recognizes the purpose behind the Wise Sovereign’s intentional blanks.
Seeing Angel remain silent for a while, the Wise Sovereign spoke up: "How about it, if you’ve decided, let’s sign the contract."