[This chapter is dedicated to @Mewbacca for his generous donation on Patre0n. I'm overjoyed that you enjoy the story. Thank you very much!!]
Michael was a little nervous when he returned to the ancient city. He had no idea what awaited him.
Fortunately, he was quite lucky to encounter the Zenovia siblings before anyone else. He met them in the hallway near his room.
"Michael! I didn't expect you to return this soon!" Kaleb exclaimed, and Alice joined the fray, "We thought that you wanted to stay in the Origin Expanse until the excitement about your power died down. Seems like we were wrong. And…congratulations for advancing to Tier-3!"
Michael smiled lightly and shrugged.
"I would have stayed longer in the Origin Expanse if I was not in need of more resources. My territory doesn't lack anything to survive, but I am not willing to slow down my territory's development just because I'm a tad worried about what is going to happen. Wasting time until nobody is interested in me anymore is not exactly simple. The moment I return everyone's eyes will be back on me. After all, I have Soul Techniques, Soultraits, and the means to strengthen Soultraits. Running away won't help anyone. It might actually harm me in the long run."
Alice nodded, whereas Kaleb gave him a thumbs up.
"It is good that you think like that. The Elders of the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs were already gossiping that you might not be a true warrior and that you're actually a coward," Alice mentioned, "You know how much they hate cowards. Good that you returned before anyone could spread some ill rumors about you being a coward."
"I didn't really return because I was worried that their opinion of me changed. Though, it is a good thing if the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs consider me a True Warrior. That should make everything a little bit easier."
"You must not have heard about it since you came back just now. The Warlock Centaurs and Berserkers threatened the old fogies. They're willing to trade with you. Apparently, one of their Champions is willing to join you as your subordinate. The Chieftain even ready a Token of Teleportation for the Berserker, Zeron Polik, if I remember correctly."
"Zeron Polik? Ah, that is the Berserker who led his group back to the Dimensional Pillar. I remember him. He wants to join me? That is…surprising. I hope he doesn't expect to receive a bunch of Soultraits in exchange for joining me. If that's the case, I will have to decline his offer. That would be awkward," Michael responded to Alice, whose full attention was on Michael.
"How about we go somewhere more private to have food and talk about the post Flag War meeting? I believe you will be very interested in the news I've got to share," Alice invited Michael for lunch. Meanwhile, Kaleb gave his sister a thumbs up before adding, "I will join as well. Mom told me to talk to you about something. It might annoy you a little bit, Michael, but you have to go through lots of private chats in the next few days. Probably. Maybe you'll receive some direct messages on Starnet Messenger as well."
Michael opened Starnet Messenger on the crystal watch in response. More than a hundred messages from unknown numbers were waiting for him. Most introduced themselves as merchants and representatives of Supreme Families, High Nobles, Great Clans, Guilds and so on. All of them had something in common. They extended a formal invitation to Michael to join their families and organizations officially.
Micheal ought to gain some influence by joining their families and organizations, as well as enough resources to grow stronger as quickly as possible. On the downside, he would be restrained from jumping into dangerous situations like he was used to by taking risks, and he would have to share his Soultraits and the power that reinforced Soultraits – the SoulStar Fragments provided.
He scoffed at the messages and deleted most contacts after blocking their numbers. Michael left only a few new contacts and their messages on Starnet Messenger. This included the representative of the Zeus family, who didn't talk about an invitation even once. All the representative inquired about was information regarding the Soultraits in Michael's possession and their price. There were a few more details such as the representative mentioning an additional bonus if Michael possessed Soultraits that suited the Zeus family's Soultraits.
The Zeus representative and many other representatives inquired about his Soul Techniques as well. Apparently, Kaleb had been experimenting with Soul Glacicle Bullet openly, and many had seen him. The information was forwarded to and spread like wildfire.
'Maybe I should have warned Kaleb a little bit. Everyone believes that I favor the Zenovia family now. Well, that is not exactly wrong cause I favor Kaleb and Alice, but I have nothing to do with the Zenovia family – not their higher-ups, at least.'
Just as Michael thought about that, Alice raised her eyebrow. She stared at Kaleb for a few seconds.
"Mother asked you to speak with Michael? Why would she ask you to do so when I'm here as well?" Alice asked Kaleb.
Kaleb's lips parted but he was not sure what to say either.
"Maybe she thinks that I'm closer to him? I don't really know. Mom is always a little bit confusing. You know that better than everyone else." He could only respond.
"That…is true. Mother has always been peculiar," Alice decided not to think too much about it. Overthinking her mother's decision would only harm her mentality.
"I'm fine with some lunch. I don't know how many days have passed but I'm starving! All I consumed in the last few days were Apex Nutrition Serums and Lesser Energy Stones. Well, the energy within the Energy Stones," Michael responded, trying to resolve the awkward stress between the siblings.
He had no idea what kind of relationship Kaleb and Alice had with their mother, but it seemed complicated. It was not within his rights to pry into their family business either, so all he could do was change the subject. He was starving. Thus, food was the solution.
The Zenovia siblings agreed to find a nearby restaurant owned by a humongous Berserker. At first, they suspected the Berserker to be some sort of retired warrior from ancient times, and they might actually be correct about that, but his cooking was extraordinary. That was all that mattered.
Michael turned into the incarnation of Gluttony like usual and devoured plate after plate while Alice told him about the happenings in the post Flag War meeting.
He found out about the old fogies trying to turn him into an asset for the 'human race's sake' – which was something he'd expected – and also about the Chieftain, and the War Priestess turning into his impenetrable shield, and destructive spear. They protected him and threatened High Society to steer clear of him. Michael was very thankful for that.
'If only humans were as honorable as the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs, it would make everything so much easier,' Michael thought, only to recall that Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs were way too simple-minded and war-driven. Even though they were honorable, Michael considered them even more war-driven than humans. They disliked trickery, which was a little bit ignorant since using dirty tricks was much better than dying, but Michael could comprehend their traditions to a certain degree.
It was fine to dislike cowards, but Michael heard some bad rumors about how the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs treated cowards. It was not precisely 'nice'.
Michael finished his eight large plates and ordered another two before he focused on Alice and Kaleb, who'd been picking at their food without any intention finishing their meal anytime soon.
"The High Society feels a little bit troubled. They want to make use of my power, which does indeed make sense, but some want to hold me captive and abuse my power to generate as many powerful Soultraits as possible in the shortest time. Others, on the other hand, want to trade with me. They say that it is my Soultrait and that I am allowed to do with it what I want. That means if someone wants to gain something from my Soultraits and Power, they should offer some sort of equivalent trade," Michael summarized the current standpoint of High Society with a few uncomplicated sentences.
"I like the latter much better. How many members of the High Society support each side?" He asked Alice, who sighed heavily.
"Since you can create a monopoly with your Soultraits and the ability to strengthen Soultraits, most members of High Society are worried that you will ask for exorbitant prices. Some are also worried that you will betray the Tritan Alliance once the Supreme Human Alliance offers you something they can never give you. Then there is a minority that is certain you will be kidnapped soon. Your Soultrait can help the Supreme Human Alliance to push forward and progress with their plan much faster. You are far more valuable to them than Maria, Kaleb, or any other Heavenly Chosen. After all, you can probably create 7-Star Soultraits, although nobody knows how long that would take."
Alice didn't really give him an answer to his question, but Michael could make some guesses with the information at his disposal.
"It doesn't look too good, I guess. That means the stress in the Tritan Alliance is…quite high. The Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs threatened High Society to interrogate their members and both find and dispose of the traitors, and they warned everyone to not even think about touching me. What a mess."
Alice couldn't agree more. The entire situation was a big mess. It could be solved rather easily, but there were always complaints from some sides. If Michael was left alone, he could decide who to sell his Soultraits to and which Soultraits to strengthen. That meant if Michael decided to support the Zenovia family they could turn into the Rulers of the human race within a few decades.
Michael's power and distribution of Soultraits had to be regulated for the sake of the Tritan Alliance's balance.
