I entered the room with trepidation, feeling an unusual weight pressing upon me. It was an entirely different experience from when the two individuals had initially visited me. I couldn't discern the cause, but it seemed like some sort of test, reminiscent of scenarios from anime and manga.
Seated confidently at the head of the table, the person in charge couldn't help but crack a smile as he glanced in my direction. He leaned forward and casually asked, "Hey, why the robotic movements? Is this your first time in a meeting or something?"
I was taken aback by the comment, realizing that the pressure I felt was self-imposed. Among the four people present, one had a friendly smile, another regarded me with suspicion, and the other two in front seemed to be in good spirits.
My anxiety stemmed from the impending contract discussion. I needed to relax, but the thought of them rejecting my proposal weighed heavily on my mind. Inwardly, I contemplated, "If they don't accept my contract, then I will... I will... I will cry a lot. Mummy!"
The individual in the chair appeared to be the leader of the group. He gestured for me to sit, and I thanked him politely. He proceeded to inquire about my decision.
I took a deep breath, visualized my dragon form, and bellowed with a military-like fervor, "Sir, I'm Tarun, sir! I wish to propose a contract with the government, sir. If it's acceptable, I'll explain, sir. If you don't accept, I'll... I'll... I'll cry, si... Sorry. The contract won't disappoint you, sir, please, sir, give me a chance to explain, sir."
Victor, who had accompanied me, intervened, "Relax, Tarun. You're not in the army here. No one will harm you. Just speak your mind."
His words calmed my frayed nerves, and I couldn't help but think, "Is he my dream boy? Take my dragon kiss, muah!" Collecting my composure, I proceeded to explain the contract proposal to the leader.
"As you are aware, sir, dungeons contain numerous mana stones. My proposal is simple, sir. I will single-handedly clear the dungeons, and the government's sole responsibility will be to arrange for the extraction of the mana stones. The rewards will be divided '50-50' between me and the government. If something of exceptional value is found in a dungeon and I desire it, it becomes mine. If I have no interest in the item, we will distribute it as outlined in the contract, with 70% going to the government and 30% to me. What is your response, sir?"
The leader took a moment to contemplate the proposal and responded, "You hold great value to me, Tarun. I'll need some time to secure the necessary permissions from our authorities before finalizing any agreement. Rest assured, our higher-ups are not foolish enough to overlook a talent like you. So, don't dwell on it too much, just relax for now."
He concluded, "We will contact you as soon as possible."
Leaving the office, I was a bundle of nerves, but the next day, I received a call. They provided me with a location and requested my presence within an hour. Gazing at myself in the mirror, I offered words of encouragement, "You can do it," before leaving for the meeting.