Null check was done previously.

src/engine/objects/NPC.java

@@ -842,7 +842,6 @@ public class NPC extends AbstractCharacter {
         else
             this.guild = Guild.getGuild(this.guildUUID);
 
-
         if (this.guild == null)
             this.guild = Guild.getErrantGuild();
 
@@ -872,27 +871,23 @@ public class NPC extends AbstractCharacter {
         if (this.building != null)
             NPCManager.slotCharacterInBuilding(this);
 
-        if (this.contract != null) {
-            this.symbol = this.contract.getIconID();
-            this.modTypeTable = this.contract.getNPCModTypeTable();
-            this.modSuffixTable = this.contract.getNpcModSuffixTable();
-            this.itemModTable = this.contract.getItemModTable();
-            int VID = this.contract.getVendorID();
-
-            if (VID != 0)
-                this.vendorID = VID;
-            else
-                this.vendorID = 1; //no vendor items
-        }
+        this.symbol = this.contract.getIconID();
+        this.modTypeTable = this.contract.getNPCModTypeTable();
+        this.modSuffixTable = this.contract.getNpcModSuffixTable();
+        this.itemModTable = this.contract.getItemModTable();
+        int VID = this.contract.getVendorID();
 
-        if (this.mobBase != null) {
-            this.healthMax = this.mobBase.getHealthMax();
-            this.manaMax = 0;
-            this.staminaMax = 0;
-            this.setHealth(this.healthMax);
-            this.mana.set(this.manaMax);
-            this.stamina.set(this.staminaMax);
-        }
+        if (VID != 0)
+            this.vendorID = VID;
+        else
+            this.vendorID = 1; //no vendor items
+
+        this.healthMax = this.mobBase.getHealthMax();
+        this.manaMax = 0;
+        this.staminaMax = 0;
+        this.setHealth(this.healthMax);
+        this.mana.set(this.manaMax);
+        this.stamina.set(this.staminaMax);
 
         if (this.parentZone.guild_zone)
             if (NPC.GetNPCProfits(this) == null)