Michael's eyes were locked onto the spaceship and the docking bay behind the other students and teachers. His eyes shone brightly, revealing his excitement.
The spaceship loomed before him majestically. Its sleek, elongated form exuded grace and power. It resembled a robust, silvery dart with wings that curved gracefully on its side. His imagination was running wild, making him visualize it as a combination of a bullet and an airplane, designed for both speed and maneuverability. He chuckled at that and kept admiring the stunning piece of craftsmanship.
The surface of the silver spaceship was smooth and reflective, almost like polished metal. The back of the spaceship had powerful engines that emitted a soft, glowing light that originated from origin energy.
Just staring at the spaceship was enough to make Michael's heart beat faster. It was a Tuar-Type spaceship that was smaller than the Dekaloss-class spaceship, but several times faster.
The Tuar-type spaceship required only three days to fly them through most parts of the Lumina Stellar System to get to Meku where they would meet the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs for the first time.
Flying through space and encountering other races outside the Origin Expanse were both exciting thoughts. Unfortunately, Michael didn't have enough time to keep daydreaming. He saw Kaleb approaching him from the corner of his eye and turned to his friend.
"Hey Michael, you're just on time. Let's en–..." Kaleb began but stopped talking abruptly. His eyes widened ever so slightly and he looked at something – or rather someone – behind Michael, "Who…is that behind you?"
Kaleb's voice was quiet but both Michael and Kraft heard him clearly. They also heard the uncertainty and confusion in Kaleb's voice. The young Zenovia hadn't even seen Kraft until he was directly in front of Michael.
"His name is Kraft Viton. You can consider him a shadow sent to accompany me by the Bartholomew Corporation," Michael explained before he shrugged lightly.
Just before they arrived at the spaceship harbor, Kraft Viton told him that he should ignore his presence. That was not really difficult, because Michael could barely sense the old man's presence, in the first place. He had to look back every now and then to reassure himself that he wasn't hallucinating and that the old man was still there.
"Why would the Bartholomew Corporation send someone with you to the Battle Exchange?" Kaleb asked, his gaze lingering on Kraft Viton for a few seconds before he added, "And why does the name 'Viton' ring a bell?"
Michael was not really surprised that Kaleb knew the family name 'Viton'. He could already tell that the old man was not an ordinary Awakened. No human capable of advancing to the 4th Tier and beyond was ordinary. But there was more to that. Michael had paid some attention to the few words Helen Ascaln, and Kraft Viton exchanged during his video call with the executive director of the Bartholomew Corporation.
Their exchange was not obvious, but given his high perception and the permanent enhancement Eagle Eyes provided to strengthen his eyes, Michael detected a few odd points.
Helen Ascaln was the Bartholomew Corporation's executive director, but she eyed Kraft Viton with vigilance. She was not afraid of him, but Michael could tell that she was uncomfortable talking to Kraft Viton as if he was her subordinate – which he was supposed to be the case. That was just one of the few points he figured out, but it was the most apparent reason Michael was certain that Kraft Viton was far from ordinary.
"You really didn't listen to what I told you this morning," Michael sighed. He shook his head but didn't repeat himself. Kaleb would find out about his investment in the Bartholomew Corporation's Agriculture Project soon enough.
"Who are you talking to, Kaleb?" A voice resounded from behind Kaleb.
"Is he your friend?" Someone else added, a trace of curiosity intertwining his words.
Kaleb turned around with a faint smile on his lips.
"That's Michael Fang. And yes, he is my friend," Kaleb introduced Michael, who stepped next to him.
Michael smiled at the small group before he greeted them with a polite nod.
"Let me introduce everyone to you," Kaleb said as Michael used Eagle Eyes to take a proper look at the small group of seven people.
He pointed at the young man who spoke to him first, "This is Killian Zeus. He is in the 4th year and is at the Peak of the 3rd Tier. He would probably be at the 4th Tier if he didn't restrain his War Rune's advancement to participate in the Flag War."
Killian Zeus nodded imperceptibly in Michael's direction. His attention was more focused on Kraft Viton, whose presence he noticed only after he looked at Michael for the first time.
Killian's expression changed slightly, a trace of confusion spreading across his face for a second or two before he regained his composure. He cleared his throat and turned to Michael once again.
"Nice meeting you. I saw your fight against Mr. Klein. Your powers are very interesting. I hope I'll be seeing your full strength soon," He said, his voice a notch colder than before.
Michael was a little bit confused about the subtle change in Killian Zeus' attitude toward him. He sensed a trace of energy circulating around him, and the old man's voice reached his ears in the next moment, almost like it came out of the trace of energy.
"The Zeus family is a Supreme Family, and they created the Olympus, our rival," Kraft Viton explained to Michael, whose head flicked to the old man.
"Our? You mean the Bartholomew Corporation. Why are you including me in your rivalry?" He asked, but the old man only scoffed.
"The moment you decided to become an investor in the Agriculture Project, you turned into their enemy, and our ally," Kraft Viton said, causing Michael to curse inwardly.
Kaleb didn't pay any attention to the conversation between Michael and the old man. He continued to introduce the small group.
"Cecile Marian, 6th Star of the fourth grade's ranking, Orion Darr, 9th Star of the fourth grade's ranking, Peter Gramm 3rd Star of the fourth grade's ranking …." Kaleb's introduction took quite a while, yet Michael only noticed one particular thing.
The entire group was made of Tier-3 Lords, who were part of the top 13 in the fourth grade's ranking. Simply put, most students were the Suns and Stars of their respective years.
Other than the Suns and Stars of the ranking boards, Michael could tell that most other students were powerhouses belonging to the 3rd and 4th year, but that was only given. Their War Runes had manifested much earlier than the rest, and they had had more time to strengthen their bodies, minds, and Souls to prepare for the Battle Exchange and Interdimensional Flag War as well.
Almost all 3rd and 4th-grade students were Tier-3 Lords with the necessary power to compete against the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs head-on. They were eager to participate in the Interdimensional Flag War, not only because it would bring their family honor and glory, but also because of the rewards they would obtain for participating in the Interdimensional Flag War, and for eliminating their enemies.
Not only the Saphirelake Military Academy and the government would shower them with rewards such as rare Artifacts, Saphire Points, Mythic Summoning Scrolls, and more, but all races affiliated with the Tritan Alliance created a pool of rewards for those participating in the Interdimensional Flag War.
Those rewards included Legendary Artifacts, Mythic-rank Plants, Exotic Recipes and knowledge unique to the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs.
Obtaining any of those would elevate the power of any Lord – even the descendants of High Nobles, and Supreme Families.
But that wasn't the biggest gain in the eyes of the Supreme Families and High Nobles. By participating in the Interdimensional Flag War, and achieving great feats next to the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs, the descendants of High Nobles and Supreme Families could garner the attention and respect of the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs. Once they received their respect it would be much easier to obtain the leader's permission to trade goods and knowledge, opening up the path to more wealth and prosperity.
All of those reasons combined were why everyone was a little bit tense and nervous. Most participants of the Battle Exchange were from nobility, or from influential houses. There were also Minor Nobles and merchant families that were trying to become more influential, and they hoped that the Battle Exchange and the Interdimensional Flag War would allow their breakthrough.
On the other hand, Michael didn't really need any of that. Even if he could get closer to the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs, he didn't have the means to trade with them. His exchanges with the Forest Elven Tribe and the Bartholomew Corporation required most of his attention, and it was not as if he possessed goods of interest for the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs – at least, Michael couldn't really think of anything except the products of the Relic of Draka that might interest them.
But the Relic of Draka was required to strengthen him and his army. He didn't plan to hand over the artifact-like armaments to anyone else anytime soon.
Thus, Michael was rather amused seeing how nervous some students were.
He kept Eagle Eyes activated while talking a little to Killian Zeus and his friends. Michael could tell that their little chat was more of a formality than an attempt to become friends, but that was fine with him. In fact, it was better that way, given the weird glances he received from some descendants. They weren't even trying to hide their scornful and condescending gazes.
'Even if my background is lackluster, I still made it to the Battle Exchange on my own. So keep your judgment to yourself!' Michael cursed in his heart, a little annoyed that he wasn't strong enough to challenge them and beat the shit out of them.
The presence the 4th-grade students radiated was incomparable to Mr. Klein's measly presence. It was obvious that the Sun and the Stars of the 4th year had gone through years of arduous training, and that they collected enough combat experience to solidify their presence, turning it into a weapon against weaker prey.
It didn't take long before Killian Zeus and the others departed. They entered the Tuar-type spaceship after the professors and disappeared from Michael's sight.
"Don't think too much about it. Once they see how hard-working and strong you actually are, they'll see you in a different light," Kaleb said in an attempt to lift his friend's spirits, feeling a little sad for Michael.
He clearly recalled the first time he met Michael. At that time, Kaleb had been certain that Michael was a nobody, who tried to show off his Artifact, and that he was an Awakened.
Thinking back, Kaleb realized how narrow-minded and foolish he had been.
He had grown closer to Michael, close enough for Kaleb to consider him one of his best friends – if not his only best friend.
After all, Michael was a genuine friend, something that was hard to find for a descendant of a Supreme Family.
"Even if they don't realize how good you are, it will be their loss, not yours!"
