Chapter #18,5 - New Member

I'm a little bored. Normally I couldn't write a chapter, so I thought I'd make a song with the AI to fit the story in between.

I suggest you listen to it while reading this chapter. 

https://youtu.be/9VBCbq5Pzvo

Of course, don't forget to comment and vote at the same time :D

***

Kizuna's face was very thoughtful as he walked back to his mansion. Right now Kizuna was scanning all the wolves one by one. Because he had to fulfill the results of his bargain with Barragan.

Barragan had asked him for a dog of war. A pawn he could use instead of his subordinates would have been more accurate. If he wanted his subordinates to find it, it would undoubtedly take time. He had already made the best and most loyal soldiers he knew his subordinates.

That was why he had made it a condition of the treaty with Kizuna, who was leading a horde that was searching everywhere. All he wanted was a powerful weapon. He wanted a weapon that he could train so that it would not turn on him.

Kizuna was going to have a hard time finding it. His thoughts began to wander as they became more and more focused. It was a somewhat dizzying and disturbing experience, constantly processing information.

Antonella helped his body as he continued to move forward with a thoughtful and blank stare. Otherwise he might even trip over a stone. When she finally arrived, someone hesitating in front of the mansion caught Antonella's attention and she immediately pinched Kizuna.

When Kizuna came to his senses and looked to see what had happened, he saw Cirucci.

"Cirucci?"

Cirucci and Kizuna looked at each other. It was clear that Cirucci was having a hard time making this decision. It felt contrary to her arrogant nature. Yet she had accepted it. That was enough for Kizuna.

Cirucci looked around at the eyes watching them and then asked Kizuna:

"Is there somewhere we can talk comfortably?"

Kizuna obviously wanted to talk to a Tier Harribel first. But it didn't seem to work out that way. He let out a light sigh.

"Let's go inside."

Inside, they entered one of the many empty rooms upstairs. They sat opposite each other. There was an awkward silence. They looked at each other. Cirucci sometimes saw Kizuna's gaze go blank. In his mind, Kizuna was looking from the perspective of different wolves while Cirucci waited for him to start the conversation.

Cirucci coughed when she realized he had no intention of starting the conversation.

"As I said, I have considered your offer, and if you really mean what you say, I see no problem in joining your fraction."

Kizuna rattled the table with his fingers. His eyes were locked on her.

"Of course I stand by my word, it always helps to have someone as smart as you on our side."

After saying this with a smile on his face, a pen and paper appeared in Kizuna's hand. He scribbled something on the paper. The scribbles shimmered with reishi and formed a neat text.

The white paper was wrapped in silver fur. The writing took on a crimson hue, as if written in blood. Then he handed it to her.

"A simple treaty with simple terms. If you accept it, you will become a member of the 'Provisional' Pack."

Cirucci read the writing on the paper as she watched in amazement at the change in front of her.

 1.The contract identified Cirucci Sanderwicci as Temporary Pack Member, Kizuna Plata Pack Leader.

 2.The Temporary Pack Member must obey the Pack Leader. 

 3.The Temporary Pack Member will benefit from the Pack Leader's power.

 4.Temporary Pack Member will be promoted to Pack Member when approved by the Pack Leader.

 5.The Pack Leader is obliged to protect the Temporary Pack Member like any other Pack Member.

It was like an employment contract. The clauses were clear and precise. When Cirucci read them, she nodded her head several times in agreement. The terms were very good. But how was he supposed to approve it?

Kizuna Plata held out his hand. His hand glowed with a silver flame.

"This is one of my abilities. If you agree to the terms, just shake my hand."

It was a technique he called Deal-Maker, derived from Wolfization. The logic was simple. Rather than permanently recruiting them to his side through wolf transformation, he made it temporary. That way, if he became an enemy, he could break the pact and take back the power he had given.

Cirucci hesitated and asked:

"How do I know that in obedience you will not make me do improper things?"

Kizuna paused and looked at her as if he was having Vietnam flashbacks.

"I won't. The last thing I want right now is sex."

He said it in such a serious and traumatized way that Cirucci wondered for a moment if she had asked the wrong question. Then, when she thought about the answer, she decided it was okay for now and shook Kizuna's hand.

Silver flame spread from Kizuna's hand to Cirucci's hand and then to her body. Cirucci was scared as the silver flame enveloped her body, but she was surprised to feel no pain afterward.

"What is this?"

Kizuna watched her. This was the first time he had used Deal-Maker. It was normal, considering he had only recently created it.

"Anyone who joins my Fraction gets a piece of my power. In return, he or she gives a piece of his or her own."

Deal was consumed by silver flames and danced around him and Cirucci. The flames were momentarily invisible to the eye as they concentrated on Cirucci. Kizuna felt a reiyoku flowing into him at that moment. 

The amount was unsatisfying. But there was nothing he could do about it. Cirucci's reiatsu increased rapidly and then stopped abruptly. When the silver flames dissipated... nothing had changed.

In appearance, Cirucci remained exactly the same. No tail, no ears. There was no difference at all. But Kizuna could feel the bond between them. A bond that was much fainter and more prone to fade than that of other changelings.

"Welcome aboard, Cirucci."

Cirucci tried to sense the growing power within her. It was... more than she had expected. It was as if she had become someone else. She had a reiatsu that was too absurd to belong to her. It was... 

When Cirucci looked at Kizuna, she felt like he was shrouded in a smokescreen. She had thought she had analyzed enough from what she had seen and heard. That's why she had agreed with him, but these new events made her think that she was far from understanding him...