"The link between the two of us, huh? You mentioned earlier that the link was the first connection…"
"Yes. The world should be storing that information because the world transfers it through the link. Hence, if you make a contract to read the link or translate it, you might be able to find it.
"However, I'm not sure if it will give you the same language or not, so you might have to use more ena for the translation.
"Still, if you get the link itself, you will be able to focus on getting that one single link and gradually pull it up through a certain condition. This way, you don't have to get the world involved. You've been using a contract with the world or with what the world has.
"That's been charging you a lot, so if you make a contract with the link instead, you should be able to reduce the cost. After all, the world is like a third party for the link between you and your familiar."
Nathan nodded in understanding. "In that case, we'll proceed with that suggestion."
"Should you pay it with the ena battery?"
"That's the problem. I wonder if it's possible to do it or not. After all, this involves the change in one's skill.
"Well, I might be able to get the contract with the link using the ena from the battery, but for the unlock requirement, it will be the ena coming from me. This is what I suspect right now."
Charlotte pinched the bridge of her nose. "Well, have you tried filling up your familiar with the ena battery?"
"I did it once and didn't succeed."
"Hmm…" Charlotte contemplated. "This might be the explanation. I might have been mistaken about your Soul Contract. There is a chance that the Soul Contract is actually creating a tunnel to bypass the world's rule, but in no way to alter it.
"For example, using the contract to gain an element. You're able to bypass the rule for you not being able to have an element, and you have no way to alter it. In other words, you still can't possess that element. The bypass condition is the duration you mention in your contract.
"Hence, if you want to have an element source, I don't think it's possible. However, if you have a contract for that element source for like… 100 years, which is the current average lifespan, it's possible for you to have that.
"In addition, because you are a human, a species who is said to be good at adapting, your body might end up possessing the element source entirely.
"This will be an element source different from the lifebound familiar, where you create an element source by dividing your familiar's element source and sharing it with your body.
"If your body evolves enough, there's a high chance that your children will have an element the moment they're born."
"…" Nathan fell silent. He didn't even know whether it was a good thing or not. For people, it might be an improvement because humans might be able to pursue a different path. On the other hand, he thought it would create a complicated situation that would either make his children feel out of place.
Nathan closed his eyes for a moment. "In that case, I will also prepare an extermination condition in that contract. However, for the time being, this is the least of my worries."
Charlotte pondered. "In that case, you need to pay the ena from an external source to bypass the link's rule and use it to forcefully take it back from the world's record. By setting the next rule within the world's rules, you can decrease the cost as well."
Nathan nodded. "We can proceed with that suggestion. Should we try it? How many ena have we been wasting for all these experiments…"
"It's fine. We have a lot of money for the time being."
"Yeah. Even though you waived the fee for magic weapons and the cloud-repelling device, I have been putting a bit of pressure on them. Basically, they will think that if they don't repay you back, they will be the first one to be cut off from the supply.
"It won't be as much of the original deal, but we still get enough money to do everything else. Where do you think we get all the money and materials to build this new city?
"You and Vivian might not have excessive greed, but I do. If I don't have that greed, I won't be able to get my own research fund. That's why just leave the dirty work to me." She smirked.
"Well…" Nathan scratched the back of his head. "Don't push them too much. I don't want to get besieged by the four kingdoms after dealing with the aliens."
"I know the limit. No worries." She shrugged. "Let's try it right now. Make a couple of contracts and we'll change the terms until we find the most suitable one."
"Before that, I have one more question. Do you have any idea what kind of skills will get unlocked first? Or is it random?"
"It's not entirely random. In fact, your familiars should be able to sense it or know which skills they will get if they are to evolve right now. Just like how you know if you're strong enough to use a certain martial art with your current condition or not."
"So, the problem is that they don't know when they will get it?"
"Yes." Anubis was the one answering that question. "From what I feel, I won't be able to get this skill anytime soon. A single use of this skill probably requires about 5,000 ena. It's not something I can use easily in my current condition. So, it's probably something I will get once my ena surpasses 100,000. Still, even if I can only use this a couple of times, it will be worth it. Besides, I can use it as a bluff when interrogating someone, since this ability affects the soul as well."
"Oh!" Nathan nodded while raising his hand, forming a new contract. "If that's the case, let's try it."