"Karrakas would be your guide for the month you signed for, and the dungeon run." Morgana explained. "But beyond that, he would also serve as your point of contact with me and the Le Fay family."

"What do you mean?" Lukas asked.

"According to your contract, you have to fulfill one mission for us every month, which you would be paid for, and I won’t be the one handing you those missions. That would be Karrakas’ job."

"When you’re in Salaria, he’ll contact you himself, but if you’re on the Second Floor, you’ll need to head to whatever point he specifies to get your contract. Also, if you’re moving between spatial gates, do not hesitate to inform him, so that this would be taken into consideration when you’re assigned missions."

"I see."

"Of course, you’ll work through the details of all that for yourselves." Morgana glanced at Karrakas. "Introduce yourself."

Karrakas turned to them, a bright smile on his face. "Ladies and gentlemen. My name is Karrakas, and I would be serving as your guide and handler. I am at your service."

"I’m Lukas, and this is Akira and Melody." Lukas introduced them.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"The pleasure is mine."

"That’s enough for the introductions," Morgana interrupted. "We have other things on schedule, so you’ll have to continue this in three days time."

"Karrakas would meet you guys then at your new residence. For now, take those three days to rest and familiarize yourselves with the city."

She turned to the tiefling. "You’re dismissed."

Karrakas gave them a bow before leaving the room.

Once he was gone, Morgana turned to them once more. "There’s one last thing to take care of before we part ways today. I believe this is the most important thing on the contract."

She rose to her feet, and Lukas, Akira and Melody mirrored her, rising.

"The contract promised each of you an Adept ranked [Item] each, didn’t it? It’s time to choose." And with that, she turned, heading towards the door. "Follow me."

Morgana led them out of the room.

They walked down the long corridor, and Lukas kept track of the turns, though after the fourth one he gave up. The mansion had been designed to disorient, and it was doing its job well.

They arrived at a spiral staircase and began descending. He wasn’t able to count the floors, but soon, the air grew cold, as if there was air conditioning further down.

They passed one floor after another, the walls shifting from decorated plaster to bare stone.

Lukas counted the steps in his head, then stopped when he was sure they had gone well past the ground level.

They were underground.

The staircase ended at a small hall. Four guards stood there, all S-rank Adepts. Lukas frowned at that.

Even though every guard he’d seen in the mansion were Adepts, this was the first gathering of four S-ranks. Whatever they were guarding had to be valuable.

"Lady Morgana!" The guards greeted, bowing to her.

Morgana gave them a single nod. "Open it."

That was when Lukas noticed the gate. It was set into the far wall and made out of thick iron, with heavy hinges bolted directly into the stone.

"Yes, my lady." One of the guards stepped forward, produced a key, and fitted it into a small hole near the center of the door.

There were several loud clicks in sequence, then the guard pulled, and the gate swung open.

Beyond it was a narrow corridor, wide enough for one person at a time.

"Follow me," Morgana said, and stepped inside.

They went in single file with Lukas behind her, then Melody, then Akira, and Baldwin bringing up the rear.

"This is one of the Le Fay family vaults," Morgana said as they walked, her voice carrying back to them. "The [Items] inside have been set aside specifically for contracted partners of the family. You’re free to choose whichever one you take a fancy to."

"And at the end of the contract?" Lukas asked.

"They’re yours to keep. That was written into the agreement."

Of course he knew, but he had to confirm it. He knew the Le Fay family wouldn’t exactly go back on their word, but he had to make sure they knew they’d given their word in the first place.

If they broke the contract, people would be less willing to trust the Le Fays.

After almost a minute of walking, the corridor ended at another door. This one had no keyhole, handle, or any visible mechanism of any kind to open it.

All they could see was just smooth metal.

Morgana stepped up to it and pressed her palm flat against the surface. She held it there for a few seconds, then the sound of a loud clock reached their ears.

The door swung open, and she walked inside without a word.

And just like that, they followed her inside.

The vault was large, with a ceiling high enough to be shrouded in darkness above them.

The room was illuminated by torches burning along the walls, their flames burning blue.

Lukas stared around the room, eyes wide.

In all directions, sitting on their racks were different weapons.

He could see swords of different lengths and builds, hammers of differing sizes, along with axes and spears.

Armor stood on mannequins at intervals across the vault, and between them were other [Items] with strange shapes, their purposes unclear.

Baldwin stopped at the door, taking up a guard position there, while Lukas, Akira, and Melody followed Morgana inside.

"Very few contracted partners are ever brought here," Morgana said, her voice calm as she turned to face them. "Most contracts don’t reach this tier. The ones that do don’t always earn a free pick."

She gestured at the room. "Take your time. This opportunity won’t come again."

Lukas was already scanning the racks when Melody made a sound beside him.

"Is that—" She stopped, staring in wonder before speaking again. "Morgana. Is that a car?"

Lukas turned.

Sitting at the far end of the vault, between two sets of armor, was a two-seater sports car. It sat low to the ground, the paint gleaming under the blue light of the torches.

Melody was already walking towards it, eyes wide.

"Can we choose it?" she asked, turning back with barely contained excitement. "Is it an [Item] too?"

Morgana watched her with something close to amusement. "It is. If that’s your choice, it’s yours to take."