Chapter 521 Helping Hand

Giuliana Seraph left Michael with a few contracts and contacts if he ever felt like creating customized Soul Techniques for the Seraph family. The contracts were not only about Soul Techniques but also Soultraits and other stuff, but Michael didn't read through them properly. He skimmed through the texts and wished the mother-daughter pair a nice time together.

They left the office shortly after.

Alice stared at the door that closed behind the two women as they disappeared, her expression far from pleasant. Her mood had hit rock bottom and she felt like punching the wall. Kaleb was also frustrated.

Why was Maria transferring to the Saphirelake Military Academy? Was that really necessary?

"Now that this problem has been solved, how about we move on?" Michael asked, picking up the tome with the Soul Energy Fusion technique.

He didn't think too much about Maria transferring to the Saphirelake Military Academy. It was quite advantageous for him, and he didn't hate Maria. She was a nice girl with a great personality. Why would he have anything against her transfer?

Kaleb stared at Michael and shook his head, "I hope you stay single forever."

Michael raised an eyebrow, not sure why his friend was acting like that.

"Let us continue.." Alice said, but it was pretty obvious that her mood wouldn't improve anytime soon.

Michael decided not to mind the siblings. He had lots of work to do, and he wished to complete the Soul Energy Fusion technique as soon as possible. And that was exactly what he did.

Michael worked for the next 24 hours whereas the Zenovia siblings experimented with the different versions of his Soul Energy Fusion technique, determining which one was the most efficient for Michael.

Once he was done with the Soul Energy Fusion technique, Michael and the Zenovia siblings decided to go back to eat. Alice's mood was a little bit better than before but she was still not her usual self.

After a late afternoon lunch, it was about time for Michael to meet up with Kraft Viton. At least, that was what Michael planned to do before he received several messages on Starnet Messenger.

[Tritan Alliance(Official Account): Michael Fang, in recognition of your exceptional courage, unwavering dedication, and selfless actions, we proudly award you with the title of a True Warrior. Your commitment and efforts to the well-being of others has not gone unnoticed. Your deeds stand as a shining beacon for the entire Tritan Alliance.

The title, True Warrior, does not only symbolize your heroism but it is also a mark of distinction that reflects the noble character you embody. May it serve as a reminder of the positive impact you've had on the people around you. Let your title inspire others to follow in your footsteps.

With utmost respect and gratitude,

Tritan Alliance]

Michael frowned once he finished reading through the first half of the message from the Tritan Alliance's official account, but he was not done yet.

[Tritan Alliance(Official Account): According to the martial laws and based on the extraordinary achievements you have accomplished during the Interdimensional Flag War, you will be rewarded with 351 Military Merits. These merit points can be exchanged for invaluable treasures, unique techniques, and a wide variety of resources.]

"Are 351 Military Merits a lot?" Michael asked, unable to recall much about merit points, or the price of items in the shops that accepted military merits.

"It is a considerable amount, yes. A single Military Merit is usually enough to buy a few Inferior Energy Stones. Of course, nobody would use their Military Merits to purchase Energy Stones. You can only procure Military Merits from the Interdimensional Flag War and by completing missions related to Dark Heavens and the Supreme Human Alliance. Most members of the military try to accumulate more than 1000 Military Merits to purchase Legendary Artifacts, or Growth Type Artifacts that can be bound to your Souls to grow alongside you," Alice answered somewhat absentmindedly.

'Participating in the Flag War rewarded this many Military Merits? I didn't even show them the corpses of all the Tekur I hunted, yet they rewarded this many?' Michael wondered why they'd given him the merits without verifying with him the total number of Tekur he'd hunted and if there were other contributors to the Tekur hunts that he got the sole credit for.

It sensed a little bit unfair, but Michael let it be for the time being. He had other stuff to focus on first.

[Jacqueline Orlando(Barbaric Couple): Michael, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. The Elders are pressuring me to leave the academy, and Frederik is not saying anything. Frederik has never been this cold to me. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.. Can you talk to him please? I really don't know what is going on. Does he hate me? Is he doing fine? Please ask him, okay?]

'I liked her better when she was feisty and arrogant. This gentle and docile behavior doesn't suit her, at all,' Michael thought, but his attention switched quickly to Frederik Kolbenheim, who'd also sent him a message.

[Frederik Kolbenheim(Barbaric Couple): I'm sorry for throwing all of this at you, but I really don't know who I'm supposed to speak to. As you might know, I don't really have any friends, and Jacqueline..well, I cannot talk to her right now. The Elders of her family told me that they will make sure that my father will die if I contact her. They also said that if I break up with Jacqueline in the worst possible way without leaving any loose ends behind..they will make sure that my father will be healed.. I don't want to break up with Jacqueline. I love her. But..I don't want to lose my father either. He's all I have departed of my family. I cannot lose him..]

"Ah..fuck this shit," Michael cursed under his breath. Kaleb was just about to ask what was going on when he saw the anger in Michael's glowing eyes.

"The Orlando Family will get scratched from my list of clients. They won't get a Soultrait, Soul Technique, or their Soultraits strengthened prior to their higher-ups are replaced. Fuck these bastards," Michael continued to curse before he dialed a number on the crystal watch.

["I did not think that you would miss me already. Didn't we just meet?"] Giuliana Seraph's voice rang out from the crystal watch. Alice froze in her tracks and turned around to look at Michael.

"I didn't expect to be forced to call you this early as well. Can I ask for a favor?" Michael questioned straightforwardly. He didn't hear an answer for a few seconds; seconds that sensed like an eternity so he added, "I can create a customized Soul Technique for Archangel's Grace in the next three days if you help me out."

Creating a Common Class Soul Technique for Archangel's Grace was helpful for Maria, but Michael could use it as well. He would have to create a customized technique for the Soultrait, either way. Doing it a little bit earlier than planned did not change a lot.

["What do you want?"] Giuliana Seraph asked, her teasing voice replaced with a serious, formal tone.

"Can you dispatch someone to heal the patriarch of the Kolbenheim family, please? His name is Igor Kolbenheim and he just lost his territory and is in a coma. His son..is facing some troubles and is not in a position to help him. I want to reduce at least one of his worries for him," Michael requested, knowing damn well that Frederik would feel bad if he learned that his friend requested a favor for his sake once again.

However, Michael wanted to help Frederik. It was not that he loved Frederik, or that they were best friends. Michael just hated people who threatened others with the death of their beloved and put them in a tight spot. The Elders of the Orlando family deserved to be beaten up.

["Of all the things I would have expected from you, this does not even make it to the list. Are you sure that you want to ask for such a favor?"] The matriarch asked, but Michael had already made his decision.

"I am. The Soul Technique for Archangel's Grace will be my priority once you promise to give me a helping hand," He responded.

["There is no reason for me to reject such an offer. I just hope that you know what you're doing."]historical

With that, the matriarch of the Seraph family terminated the call.

"What are you doing?" Alice asked, her frown even deeper than before.

"I'm helping my friend. What else am I supposed to do?" He responded.

"Your actions might make him feel weak and miserable," Kaleb intervened in the discussion.

Michael could only agree to that, but there was already a plan that formed in his mind.

"It will be fine. That guy might seem like an extremely rude, bad-tempered brat, but he is a stubborn bull."

He then opened Starnet Messenger and typed a short message in his chat with Frederik.

[Michael Fang: Don't worry about your father. Someone will come over to tend to his wounds. You might not want my help right now, but I do want to help you and Jacqueline. That being said, you should sign a Link of Loyalty with me. I will help you grow stronger. Of course, I won't help you without getting my investment and interest back. You will have to sign a Soul Pact so that you can't wriggle out of the task of being my subordinate until you've paid back everything you have – and will – obtain from me.]

Since his powers had already been exposed, Michael might as well start with the creation of his Army of overpowered, loyal Awakened. Tiara and the Forest Elves didn't want to obtain more Soultraits for the time being, but Frederik was in dire need of strength and confidence. While confidence was something, Frederik would have to rebuild on his own, strength was certainly something Michael could deliver, whether it was through Soul Techniques, strengthening of existing Soultraits, or by handing out new Soultraits.

It was time to get started with his project, Awakened Army!