Comment by Bill Kenney on Someday Will I Be the Greatest Alchemist? - Chapter 58

@Bill Kenney Well if you go off the anime then he builds a fort for them.

@aaron quinn Sure but that even more makes my point that is like a DoD contract for free, without him even owing them a life debt or so.

@Bill Kenney fair point.

@Bill Kenney good point.

@Bill Kenney as it will end up being a national project, with his adventurer team's track record ... he might get a noble title and control over that land. Thus becoming a huge defensive wall against the enemy.

@Bill Kenney

You know, not to be a contrarian for the sake of being a contrarian, but there's value in this project by itself. Being so attached to a contractual payment is some weird petiness if you really think about it. And counterintuitively that probably holds you back in many ways, in real life.

The sole connection to a person of such authority is, in itself, a so-called reward, growing it further is the cherry on top. Add to that the possibility of expanding your experience, your know-how, the little connections with many other artisans, being exposed to many other types of work and how it all works together... People these days don't take building up a resume very seriously it seems.
Not to mention how his name is bound to spread, although this is often countered by the lame dimwit authors writing their characters to be wusses afraid of fame for whatever weak reason. But in a medieval settings, it's an artisan lifeline for real.

All of that, and many other little things you'd be bored to read about, is what defines the 'opportunity' this project is. And just this opportunity to work on it is a reward that dwarfs any monetary gains. Easily.

@TotallyAbsurd @TotallyAbsurd That's a very lopsided argument to make. First off he's building what is effectively a fortress town given how dangerous the place is being described as. This is the sort of work that would take an entire construction crew months if not years to accomplish even with power tools. Then there is the danger aspect, there is a reason why hazard pay exists, because people will naturally pick work that doesn't involve risking their life without compelling reasons over work where they can die.

As for connections, he already has them with local high ranking nobles and the king. In addition to people in the crafting guilds and the adventurer community. That's like saying Elon Musk should do spaceX contracts for Nasa for the publicity, he's already a well known figure, he does them for money and fame, not so he can earn street cred with the US govt. Not sure why the idea of clarifying rewards for work strikes you as so foreign, have you not had a job before?