Afterward is fine, so we can more accurately calculate the true costs and the value of the results. With that said, though, you wouldn't object to signing a little something agreeing to pay when the research is completed, right?

[ this is his payment preference -- bleeding people dry once he's already performed his services for them so that they can't decide to take their business somewhere less expensive. though in this case, he doesn't have any intention of charging anything too exorbitant. bisley isn't directing him to intentionally trap anyone in debt this time, obviously, and studying the blastia aligns with his own interests enough that he doesn't want to drive away the person who can give him access to it.

anyway, who knows if a piece of paper like that would actually be considered legally binding here, but he can sure give it a try. ]

Nothing personal.