Chapter 905: Numbers

Extraction worked better on the corpses than intended. Michael might not have obtained a single proper Memory Orb, but snippets of the dead humans' memories entered Michael's mind.

He obtained some information.

"Alice and the others are still alive," Michael smiled. Many died in the last two years, but those he cared for were still alive.

"That's good, but did you procure something else? Maybe some useful information?" Selena asked, earning nods from the Curse Users around her. The Nest Leader was curt and seemed overly tense at this moment.

Her unusual behavior put Michael on guard.

"I think they're part of an organization. The Numbers, or something like that."

"Numbers?" Eren asked in surprise. He turned to the Nest Leader and looked at her seriously, "Evee heard from the Altors Union not long ago. They're struggling...against the Numbers." Michael had heard much about the Altors Union but had never been there. Until now, that hadn't been necessary. Maybe that changed.

"The Altors Union shouldn't have issues dealing with Higher Lifeforms. They're a massive Union of more than a thousand races with many Divine Lifeforms, or is that not the case? I'm thinking about a different Altors Union?!" Michael scoffed, unable to hide his mockery.

Hearing that Alice and the others were alive was nice. It was exactly what Michael had been waiting for in the last two years. But the memory snippets of the dead weren't all that pleasant. Too many snippets were filled with gruesome scenes of the Numbers' torture and how they had been manipulated. The extent and results of their brainwashing were also shown clearly in the memory snippets.

He was tense, and the memory snippets didn't solve the complexity of his emotions. If anything, he was even stiffer and prone to emotional outbursts. "The Altors Union might have many Divine Lifeforms, but they're massive like you said. Their Divine Lifeforms must care for their territories, train the younger generations, and ensure they won't get rusty. Most Divine Lifeforms have other duties as well. Some have their Clan, others have businesses, and most have families. Not everyone works for the Altors Union to protect their bodies. Even if many Divine Lifeforms are in their border control, most are deployed to borders connecting to valued assets and high-value locations. Not all borders can be protected by Divine Lifeforms at all times."

Michael didn't know the man who had explained, but he acknowledged understandingly.

He remembered the issues of the Tritan Alliance and how the Chieftain and the War Priestess' son - also their trusted allies - didn't move to help the Lesser Humans in the solar system because they were afraid to leave a gaping hole in their defenses. If they'd gone before all potential enemies in the Lumina Stellar System had been defeated, their departure would have created a vast opening to destroy the Berserkers and Warlock Centaurs.

'Why am I acting stupid again?'

[Were you ever smart?] Fenrir questioned briskly.

Michael pressed his lips together and cursed the Beast God Curse quietly.

'I liked you more when you were silent.'

[Me too] The World Serpent hissed, the amusement in the serpent's voice apparent.

[Shut it]

A huge confrontation brewed in his mind, and Michael decided to leave and ignore his Curses as they jumped at each other's throats. He digested the information and nodded.

"So, the Numbers are an organization with many Higher Lifeforms. They're part of the Supreme Human Alliance's Elite, right?" "The Numbers are said to be the youngest prospects of the Supreme Human Alliance's Elite. That is correct. However, they've been silent for a while now. The Altors Union managed to destroy them a few decades ago. Or so we thought. They're terrorizing the Altors Union's borders again." Selena explained, only to see Michael shrug.

"It looks appreciate I know where to go next."

The Nest Leader nodded, understanding what Michael was getting at, "The Nest received an official request from the Altors Union. The Numbers might not be strong enough to alter the borders, but the Supreme Human Alliance is attacking multiple borders across several stellar systems. They're also in trouble because some Primal and Beast Gods entered their borders without permission and cannot pay full attention to the Numbers."

"That's why you will move out with Hesta, Lighno'vsh, Fera, and another small team of Curse Users," Selena explained before her eyes squinted to sharp slits, "But don't ever think anyone else will spare the Numbers. I would recommend you to kill them as well, but I know you can't kill your friends and lover. However, don't expect others to do the same. They're putting their lives on the line to deal with their enemies. If you desire to protect your lover and friends, you better be strong enough to knock them out before anyone else can kill them."

Michael frowned but nodded. He could understand where Selena was coming from. It would be nice if they could rescue everyone, but Michael had seen what the Supreme Human Alliance had done to manipulate and brainwash the Numbers and how effective their brainwashing was. Michael wouldn't think about leaving any of the Numbers alive if not for Alice and his friends. He would be busy enough killing them. They were stronger than the average High Awakened, after all.

As for the part where he had to go to the borders of the Altors Union with Hesta...Michael didn't thoughts too much. His hatred toward his family transformed into light dislike over the last few years. They weren't close, but Michael chatted with Hesta twice or thrice. He didn't feel close to them anymore and couldn't care less about their whereabouts or what they were doing, but Hesta didn't deserve his hatred.

His mother was a different case. She abandoned her sons—both minors—to 'protect' her fully matured daughter. She failed as a mother of two sons but won the prize for being the most possessive and protective mother of a mature daughter several years in succession. Michael and Daniel gave up trying to understand their mother. She was a lost cause, in their opinion. That was, in all honesty, very calming. Learning that their mother was a lost cause made the brothers feel much better than finding out that she was sorry and that she never wanted to leave them. The latter would have been hypocritical and nonsense. At least their mother ceased trying to make excuses.

Their father, Peter Fang, was the most interesting among the three Fang members. He wasn't a Curse User but had been around too many powerful Curse Users for too long. He had been exposed to their Curses for decades, hoping a Curse would either form or awaken in him. However, that wasn't the case. Peter Fang was never 'blessed' with a Curse.

That was why he detested Michael. At least, Michael felt his father hated him for possessing two Curses. He wasn't given a Curse while the rest of his family, even his late father-in-law, also his master, had been a powerful Curse User. He was the only one without a Curse.

Peter overlooked Daniel's resurrection because that didn't count in his mind. Danny was also a Curse User. It didn't matter if he was reborn without a Curse. He disliked Danny as well, though not as much as Michael.

'At least I don't have to go on vacation with my parents.'