"Lady Victoria!" The nearby soldiers imdiately dropped what they were doing and saluted when they saw their general return safe and sound.
She simply nodded, acknowledging their existence, and continued on her way with Michael and Ava following closely behind.
"Do you feel better?" Ava whispered, seeing that Michael’s eyes had regained a part of their vigor.
"Yes, the nap was a godsend." He answered with a smile.
A large grin was plastered all over Ava’s face, seemingly proud of herself.
The news that the general had returned traveled fast, and soon two familiar figures showed up.
"Lady Victoria, please, have rcy on the old fool’s heart. If you had remained beyond our reach for much longer, I just might have gotten a heart attack." Bryce laughed joyfully while stroking his overgrown beard.
Next to him was Oliver. He had been debating what he should tell her, yet the mont he saw her, his mind went blank.
Instinctively his eyes swept up her athletic figure, wide hips, and chest area. As well as her peerless face.
’Her suit has been damaged. From the looks of it, she must have used spirit energy to nd it.’ He guessed a second later.
"Welco back, general!" He saluted in hopes of making a good impression. "I have made a full report of the things that have happened in your absence."
Victoria’s eyes naturally didn’t miss the way Oliver would ogle her figure in lust. But with him being a mber of a rivaling faction, she couldn’t speak against him, since that could cause trouble for her grandfather. The best she could do was outright deny his feelings and hope that he eventually gets a clue.
"The journey was long, and I am tired. I will leave the paperwork to you, Sir Bryce. Sorry for the trouble."
The old man laughed joyfully once more. "Don’t worry, Lady Victoria. With my old bones, the least I can do is deal with the tedious paperwork."
"If that is the case, I would trouble you for one more thing." Victoria pointed to the two following her.
"Due to their contribution and their assistance with putting down the Elite tier alien, I would like to reward them."
’What are they doing here?!’ Oliver felt like screaming, yet he couldn’t do that in front of his idol.
’The little devil that dared to curse at and the lowly barbarian that dared to go against my order!’
A vein began to bulge on his forehead. In his wildest dreams he couldn’t imagine that the two that had dared to disrespect him the most would be personally rewarded by Victoria!
’When I sent Carlos to rough up Cadet Michael a little, it was purely for my own amusent. If I had known that he would catch Victoria’s attention, then I would have put a hit on his head!’
Sadly, no matter how much Oliver cursed himself, he couldn’t change the past.
"I see. In that case, how about you two join my faction?" Bryce offered not beating around the bush. "I can guarantee you that you will receive vast amounts of resources."
Victoria’s eyes narrowed. ’This geezer beat to the punch! I was about to suggest the sa thing... It seems that I will have to beco more aggressive if I want to keep him!’
"Cadet Michael, I also request that you join my faction. With my grandfather as its leader, I can guarantee you that you won’t find a more powerful faction on Triton."
Ava’s eyes bead. Being offered to join the faction Victoria was a part of was an unheard-of occurrence. This was a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity!
"I am sorry, but I will have to decline." With the offer being so juicy, it was exactly why Michael’s blunt answer stunned everyone nearby.
"M—May I ask for your reason, young man?"
Michael didn’t hesitate to answer. "Even if joining a faction will give so resources in the short term. In the long term it will beco a hindrance and hold back. Since I am planning to create my own faction, it will be better if I remain unaffiliated with any of the existing ones. Since that might cause a misunderstanding."
He had reached the peak, and he could do so again. If he were to be tied on a leash, that would only slow down his growth.
Stunning the people nearby with his answer once more, he smiled warmly before adding. "As for the reward, even if I dare sound greedy, I need money. As much as possible, since I have to support my family as well as my bedridden father, I will be happy as long as I get paid."
"..."
"I see... Sorry if you just felt pressured now." Victoria sighed. "Tell how much you need."
"Since I want the best possible treatnt for my father, the least I will need is 5 million—"
Before he could continue, Victoria interrupted. "Okay, then I will send you and Ava 7 million. The transactions should take less than 48 hours, but there could be delays since we still have to deal with the portals on the moon."
"Thank you, Lady Victoria. I appreciate the gesture." He bowed slightly. This one transaction will save the ones he holds most dear. There is no way he won’t feel grateful.
"Drop the honorifics." Victoria called out with pale Oliver following behind her like a puppy.
"You can just call by my na."
Ava and Bryce watched the exchange in silence, both in deep thought.
"If you encounter problems with the creation of your faction, you can just ntion my na." Bryce said with a wide grin before leaving as well.
’In one day I did what I never achieved in my prior life. I gave my family a stable life...’ Michael felt a great pressure from his heart disappearing.
Ava couldn’t contain her curiosity anymore and asked.
"Why did you refuse Victoria’s offer? Do you know how powerful her faction is? We are not talking about the moon or the area around Neptune. Their influence covers the whole solar system! Second only to the Emperor himself! Knowing this, do you still think that they will hold you back?"
"Of course, I know about their influence. Who doesn’t?"
Ava remained speechless for a while, wondering if the person she was talking to had been insane all this ti.
"Then!" She gripped his hand, stopping him in place.
"I want to be with you! I want to join your faction!"
Ava had made her choice.
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