"It's simple. Let's write up a contract."
Flap!
"...What?"
Sir Giolexius confusedly stared at the document Lloyd took out. The hell's knight couldn't help but think this wasn't a normal piece of paper.
"Contract...?"
"Yeah. Your employment contract."
Flap! Lloyd took out another employment contract from his inner pocket and placed it next to the one he previously did, right on the floor between himself and the hell's knight.
"These two are actually identical. One copy is for me and the other for you to keep, in order to prevent one party from changing the already established terms and conditions behind the other party's back."
"What is even an employment contract...?"
"You mean you don't know?"
"I do have an idea. Does this mean I will be in your service after signing this?"
"Yeah."
“...”
"Do you not like the idea?"
Sir Giolexius remained silent, causing Lloyd to shake his head.
"Tsk, tsk. Don't you wish to work while being compensated properly? I thought you were upset because you were being mistreated the whole time."
"Th-that's true."
"Allow me to rectify your situation."
Tap. Tap. Lloyd tapped the employment contract on the floor with his palm twice, while looking straight into the hell's knight's face.
"I won't say much to persuade you. Just read the content of this document, and sign it if you like it."
"And if I don't like it?"
"Then tell me which part you are not very comfortable with, so we can compromise and come to an agreement in that particular area prior to signing the contract. Both parties must be satisfied."
“...”
Sir Giolexius was speechless. He was astounded by the fact that the terms and conditions could be revised and that he could point out areas he didn't like. The hell's knight then proceeded to read the contract draft and skimmed through.
"Dude, read it in detail. Don't just skim through and sign it without understanding everything on the contract, because I hate guys that complain later about the terms and conditions after signing it," Lloyd grumbled.
"Uh, o-okay," Sir Giolexius replied and began to thoroughly read through the draft. It was even more astounding to see it in detail.
What...? I'll be given a private room to stay...? And I can request a new place if I don't like it?
Sir Giolexius was visibly shaken. There was no such thing as a tent, let alone a private room in hell. He had spent each night there by digging up a hole to lie down where lava wasn't flowing at best.
What about the compensation?
The salary was suggested in human currency, which the hell's knight had no idea about, but it was supposedly three times that of a regular knight according to Lloyd, with the promise of incentives in the event of excellent performance that contribute to the prosperity of the estate. Furthermore, participation in certain projects within the estate could earn him extra pay for overtime and inclement weather conditions.
This is... so meticulous. And he's willing to pay for all medical expenses should I get injured while working?
These were only some of the benefits guaranteed in the contract, not to mention the actual work hours, after which the knight could go home and do whatever he wished to do. And that wasn't all.
"What's this?" Sir Giolexius pointed at another clause stated on the draft and began focusing on it. "I don't think I understand this part. The contract can be renewed every five years...? What does this mean?"
"Oh, that," Lloyd replied with a huge smile on his face, explaining the obvious. "It is as it says. The contract you sign today will be effective for five years."
"And what happens after that?"
"The contract is renewed."
"Why the hassle?"
"Because changes could be made to the contract."
"Are terms and conditions going to get worse?"
"That depends on how you do, but those normally get better for the employee. And if you don't like the new terms and conditions, you can always decline to sign."
"Really...?"
"Yeah," Lloyd nodded. In fact, the draft Lloyd showed the hell's knight wasn't for a permanent position.
I can't offer him a permanent position just yet. I'm only trying to win over his heart in order to hear what the king of hell is scheming behind everyone's back.
Lloyd didn't have too much information about the knight's personality, lifestyle, or tendency to cause trouble when working with others in the estate yet. He was reluctant to offer something more substantial.
"Think of the first five years as a time to get to know each other better. You may or may not like working for me. Don't you think so?"
"Hmm. I think you make a fair point."
"See?"
"Yeah."
Sir Giolexius nodded his skull. He now understood what the contract length was referring to after Lloyd's thorough explanation. It was actually touching for him, because nobody has ever treated him this well.
And here I thought all I can offer was to fight, kill, and die as I am ordered around without receiving anything in exchange.
The hell's knight had thought that was how everyone lived, but it turned out that wasn't the case. He realized he certainly did not have to do that, and that he could be rewarded for his efforts and time. He was supposed to, in fact. He had been cheated. As soon as he came to that realization, the hell's knight made a decision.
"Fine," said Sir Giolexius, nodding his skull again. "I will sign the contract."
The hell's knight took the pose he was so comfortable with, by kneeling on one knee to swear fealty. But Lloyd stopped him with a confused look on his face.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"Huh?"
"You use the pen to put your signature on the document to seal the contract, not prostrate."
"Signature?"
"Yeah. I explained to you before. You sign the contract."
Lloyd put another smile on his face and took out his pen, which the hell knight stared at blankly. He took the pen and gripped on it rather awkwardly.
"Wh-where do I put that?"
"Do you see the empty space on the bottom?"
"Yeah."
"There."
"How...?"
"Write down your name."
"Like this?"
"Well done. Sign on this copy the same way."
"Hmm. It's not easy, because I haven't written anything in a while."
"It's okay, you're doing great. Are you done? Then lay one copy halfway over the other so as to slightly overlap them, and put your name on it once again. Just like that. Good."
Scribble! Hell's knight Sir Giolexius completed putting his signatures on the documents under Lloyd's encouragement.
"Great. I will keep this copy, and you hold on to that one. Huh? Wait. I didn't know your name was this long."
"Giolexius. Is it too difficult for you to pronounce?"
"Hmm. I think it would be great if you had a nickname that was shorter."
"I do have one, but it sounds too terrifying and fearsome, befitting my character. Even the demons in hell were afraid to call me this."
"What is it?"
"Lexi."
“...”
Lloyd genuinely wondered if the demons in the underworld found this nickname too cringeworthy to even bring up. And the hell's knight Sir Giolexius knelt down on one knee and stretched out his hands before Lloyd could even respond in the meantime, holding one of Lloyd's hands and slowly leading it towards his helm. "Since I signed the contract, I shall serve you as my master from today," said Lexi, despite the fact that the contract was set to expire five years later. Lexi had decided to serve Lloyd as his lord and liege until the contract was over. Even though the form was different, it wasn't too far from the swearing fealty to the king. He strengthened his resolve internally, to offer loyalty and faith for the next five years.
A new message popped up.
Ding Dong!
[Approval Rating Unlocked]
[Hell's Knight Sir Giolexius, Commander of the 1st Corp of Hell's Army, was deeply touched by the employment contract.]
[Hell's Knight Sir Giolexius was genuinely astounded by the fair and reasonable working conditions and employment terms that he had never experienced before, and strengthened his resolve to serve you faithfully.] [Hell's Knight Sir Giolexius is now in your service.]
[You are now able to increase Approval Rating with Hell's Knight Sir Giolexius and obtain RP.]
[You have earned 50 RP as a bonus for unlocking a new character Approval Rating.]
[Current RP: 7,121]
[Hell's Knight Sir Giolexius's Approval Rating of you increased by 77.]
[Current Approval Rating with Hell's Knight Sir Giolexius: +37]
[You have earned 847 RP thanks to a huge increase in the Approval Rating.]
[Current RP: 7,968]
Holy.
Bombarded with messages that popped up in front of his eyes, Lloyd nearly lost his composure and burst out in laughter. He couldn't believe that the approval rating with the hell's knight was unlocked, and he could gain RP by increasing it.
I can't believe I can now become friends with the hell's knight.
He was dumbfounded but felt great, as he was taking steps to reach his ultimate goal for the day.
Since he swore fealty to me, he won't lie to me about the king of hell and what he's up to. But I should set things straight before moving on.
Lloyd looked down at hell's knight Sir Giolexius, who was still prostrating like a faithful knight in service of the king. He was going to even lick his boots at this rate.
Ugh. This is so uncomfortable.
Lloyd shook off the awkward atmosphere and spoke.
"Hello? Sir Lexi?"
"I am at your service, my lord and liege."
"You're making me feel uncomfortable."
"I beg your pardon?" said Sir Giolexius, looking up to Lloyd in awe.
"It's too early for you to offer your blind loyalty yet," said Lloyd with a bitter smile on his face. "We're not there yet. You're not a permanent employee right now."
"Huh?"
"Start offering me your lovalty after you get a permanent position. Understood?"
"Permanent position...?"
"Yeah. Let's do our best for the next five years to make the next contract a permanent one. Okay?"
"As you wish, my lord," said Sir Giolexius, bowing down before Lloyd with the hopes that the next contract could be a permanent one. It was like a single ray of light shining down on him in darkness. It was strange and unfamiliar, but certainly heartwarming and encouraging.
"There is something I must speak of, my lord," added the hell's knight.
"What is it?" Lloyd replied.
"It's about what you asked before."
"Okay, please go into detail."
"I will, my lord," Sir Giolexius bowed, putting a satisfactory smile on Lloyd's face. But the estate developer's heart pouted at the same time; he felt anxious and concerned.
Just what the hell is he planning to accomplish?
The schemes by the king of hell were particularly difficult to predict, and that gave Lloyd a massive disadvantage in making appropriate preparations. Perhaps Sir Giolexius understood his new lord's feelings, as he carefully and cautiously opened his lips.
"In order to explain in detail, I must refresh your memory about a certain event. Do you by any chance remember the sorcerer by the name of Lupellan?"
"Huh?" Lloyd was stunned.
Lupellan? Who was that?
Lloyd swam through the sea of his memory for a time and barely managed to remember someone by that name. "Isn't that the name of an evil sorcerer I slew back in the eastern mountains?"
Lloyd took a quick glance at Javier, who just remembered the incident that transpired way earlier. Lloyd continued.
"I got rid of that guy with the help of Javier before. I think that was when I created ice storehouses for the orc villages. A few of my guys in the engineering corps were kidnapped by that mage, so I attacked his base, killed that bastard, and saved my guys. But what about him, though? Is he related to what's going to happen in any way?"
"That is correct, my lord," nodded Sir Giolexius, before he proceeded to ask another question in a more solemn voice. "Do you also remember someone by the name of Neumann?"
"I definitely do," Lloyd replied right away, without trying to remember this time. "He was a traitor that worked together with fraudsters. He got caught red-handed by me when he was selling off information about our estate."
Sir Neumann, the traitor, was the senior knight in Lord of Frontera's estate when he was still a baron. He commanded a group of knights including Javier, before being exposed.
"He lost to me and got squashed by Ppodong, before getting exiled from the estate covered in injuries. What about him, though?"
Lloyd frowned in confusion. Something wasn't right. Something was amiss. Both Lupellan and Sir Neumann were people that were long lost in his memories. They were minor villains that caused trouble not long after he found himself in the body of Lloyd Frontera. They were defeated in the end and since then completely removed from the picture.
Why were they even mentioned just now, though? I don't think they were related in any way.
Something was definitely up. Sir Giolexius opened his lips again as Lloyd was lost in thoughts.
