Chapter 457: Variable

[Frederik Kolbenheim(Barbaric Couple): Well...I think with enough strength everything will be okay...I guess. I have no idea, Michael. I don't know anything. Maybe, I will never be able to return to the Origin Expanse...and maybe, the Elders of the Orlando family won't ever accept me if I were to ask Jacqueline to create a Link of Loyalty with me. In fact, that would aggravate them even more if I were to be daring enough to accept Jacqueline's help. The Elders would always think that I am beneath her and not worthy of her...not that I am worthy of her right now...]

"This guy is nuts. Consider yourself lucky, Frederik. The next time I'm near you while you act like this, I will drag you to Silverean's hellish training. I will make sure you cannot cry like a little child because you will be too tired, or unconscious after we're done!" Michael cursed Frederik quietly.

He wanted to distract Frederik, but that was hardly possible given the distance between them. Therefore, he had to listen to his self-loathing, and nonsense on repeat.

Michael thought a lot about Frederik and his situation. He had a few ways to help him but he hesitated. For now, Michael couldn't really do much to offer Frederik a helping hand. Frederik was quite far away...but if he traveled to Piloq, would that be worthwhile?

'I wanted to build my own army either way. But do I already want to invite humans? Am I willing to share my secrets with humans, or would that be too dangerous? If I invite Frederik to my territory and upgrade his Soultrait he would obtain a sudden increase in strength. But that would attract unwanted attention...'

Michael shook his head. He wanted to help Frederik, but he was not willing to take the risk just yet. It was not as if Michael needed any more attention. He had been under the spotlight for quite a while.

'Maybe after the Flag War is over, I can start searching for some targets.'

With that in mind, Michael decided to leave the room. He was about to meet up with Alice to talk about the Flag War and their future training program when he received a notification from the official account of the Tritan Alliance.

[Tritan Alliance(Official Account): Dear participants of the Interdimensional Flag War. After overcoming the recent events the officials decided to tweak the training program until the start of the Interdimensional Flag War. Lia, our AI, analyzed the combat prowess, personality, and compatibility of every participant to create Combat Teams with five to ten members each. The teams will meet up with their designated Instructor and work on their teamwork for the next six weeks. For further information don't hesitate to contact your designated Instructor.]

A file was attached to the notification. Michael opened the file to see which team he had been assigned to.

What he didn't expect was to find his name nowhere on the list.

"Did they forget me?" Michael murmured to himself as he entered Alice's office. He looked up and realized that Alice was not alone. Oliver Zeus was right next to her, his expression overflowing with seriousness.

"My timing seems a little bit off. Sorry for disturbing you two. I will wait outside," Michael said hurriedly, pedaling backward to leave the room.

However, Oliver pointed at Michael and gestured to him to stop.

"I understand that Killian has been appointed as a variable because of his Soultraits, and his nasty personality. But what is with this kid? How can he be given a spot as a variable? This kid is quite literally a Tier-2 Lord. How could you deem him fit to be a variable? Do you want to see him dead that much?" Oliver accused Alice, whose expression turned colder by the second.

Oliver noticed too late that he blurted the last sentence aloud, but he didn't take back what he said. Alice's decision didn't make sense, after all!

"What exactly does that mean? Is that why I can't find my name on the team list?" Michael asked upon realizing that Oliver and Alice were talking about the team list for the Flag War.

Alice averted her eyes from Oliver. She looked at Michael intently and explained the situation, "You are not in a team because I got you a spot as a variable. That means you can freely roam around the isolated dimension where the Flag War is held. Most variables are Peak Tier-3 Lords like Killian Zeus. His Soultrait is highly destructive, and his mastery of the Zeus family's Inheritance technique allows him to fight the Tekur head-on. He can help other teams when they're in danger or fight on his own against the Tekur."

Oliver then turned to Michael, "His Soultrait and personality make it quite difficult to team up with others. He is adamant about being the man in charge even though he fights at the frontlines. Killian cannot even see the entire battlefield, yet he wants to have the final say in everything rather than guide the supporters, who can oversee and control the battlefield much easier."

"But that's not the point. I understand that Killian Zeus and the others have been picked as variables but..." Oliver continued to look at Michael and sighed, "I really don't understand why you've been picked as a variable. I mean no harm, it's the opposite actually. I am worried that you will be in danger if you encounter some Tekur without a team. I saw your battles and know that you're strong, a treasure in the making even. But you don't have an Inheritance technique and your Tier is simply too low. I want to see you blossom to prove it to the High Society that someone without family backing can make it big. I would hate to see you die right now!"

Michael was not too sure what to think of Oliver Zeus. The Zeus family sounded rather problematic given that they had Killian Zeus. The Zeus family was also the founding family of the Olympus. But then again, Oliver sounded sincere. It didn't look like Oliver had a specific reason why he hated that Michael had been picked as a variable.

"I just want you to use your communication crystals to team up with those who need your help. Of course, it would be best if you stay with some teams for a while, but I think you will do a better job running around without anyone holding you back," Alice merely said. She didn't shy away from Michael and stared straight into his eyes.

He trusted Alice, and he actually liked that she chose to reserve a spot as a variable for him. That was pretty neat.

'I can hunt the Tekur, extract them in secret, and help the others in that case.'

"Sounds good to me. But what kind of training do I have to undergo then? I can adapt pretty fast to other teams, but I am not sure if our teamwork will be great if I come to help other teams," Michael pointed out, "Do you want me to focus on growing stronger with the resources I've obtained, or is there some special training regime planned for variables?"

As his last words left his mouth, Michael noticed a faint change in Oliver's expression.

'So that's it?'

"The Tritan Alliance decided to give the variables a few additional resources. Everyone was allowed to recommend one Variable. I recommended you since I believe that Kaleb will do better in the team I created around him. Two officials had to approve my pick - which happened. Therefore, you are now officially the variable. You will be given additional resources soon. After that, we can talk about your training plan. I will give you a helping hand," Alice explained, the corners of her lips curling upward, "But I wonder how you convinced the War Priestess and the Chieftain to approve of you. They didn't hesitate to agree when I recommended you as a variable. Everyone was surprised because they didn't agree with any variable we picked before."

Alice watched Michael curiously. Oliver Zeus noticed that and frowned, but he didn't throw a tantrum - which Michael expected him to do. Instead, Oliver began to smile as he turned back to Michael.

"It is true that you will be given additional resources. However, the danger you will have to face in the isolated dimension is not to be taken lightly. You will have to grow stronger much faster, otherwise, you will die miserably."

"Either way, you did a good job collecting information. You deserve the additional resources whether you are a variable or not."

Micheal listened, but it had been quite obvious that his earlier assumption of Oliver had been wrong. He was not sincere, at all. Thus, he turned to Alice.

"I heard that more war criminals possess been caught. If you need any more help, I could spend a week or two to interrogate them. Killing them would provide an intense energy influx, so I wouldn't fall behind in training too much either way," He proposed his help once again.

"No!" Alice exclaimed near-instantaneously, taking the two men by surprise.

"You are not allowed to help any further! The Inspector has already returned from the Origin Expanse, and he will be in Piloq within a week or two. You will be busy training and as far from the war criminals as possible!"

Michael raised an eyebrow. He'd hardly ever seen Alice lose her cool composure.

"The War Priestess and the Chieftain told everyone to deny you if you ever proposed your aid to Interrogate some disgusting bastards. That's what they said," Oliver explained, "They told us concerning the downside of your interrogation Soultrait, about the fact that their memories are engraved onto your mind."

Michael nodded in understanding, but he frowned inwardly. This had been not going according to his plan.

'Well...that's a bummer...'