"Excuse me, would you mind if I join you for a moment? I'd like to have a word, if that's alright."
Christian who heard this sentence, interrupting his conversation with Alpha, had a surprised expression on his face for a brief moment, before, he turned his head to the man, smiling and replying at him, "How can I help you?"
Christian said, while turning off the screen of the tablet on the table gesturing to Alpha to stand up and come to his side, and waving his hand to the man, to go and sit down.
His reaction, was quick and smooth, seemingly not all nervous that the man, he was monitoring was suddenly behind him.
And while, the man was surprised by his amble but strange attitude, he didn't dwell on that, and went and sat in front of Christian.
He sat comfortable before he moved his gaze to Alpha and said, " You have an interesting companion out there."
A gleam went past Christian's eyes at this comment, but, he didn't say anything in regard to it in the end, and just repeated himself, his tone more hardened this time, "How can I help you?"
The man didn't reply immediately. He remained seated, studying Christian silently. And Christian, in turn, did the same.
He examined the man, who appeared to be in his mid-thirties. His face was decent, nothing particularly remarkable or striking, but there was a calm, kind vibe that surrounded him, the kind that made him seem approachable.
Christian quietly evaluated him, and he couldn't help but feel… that he was weak.
Of course, not weak in the literal sense. But weak in comparison to what he expected from someone who actually was a high-ranking member of the Liberation Front.
Christian couldn't be entirely sure, as at the end of the day, this man was still stronger than himself. But the fact that his Danger Awareness skill hadn't triggered at all left him with a faint sense of growing confidence, no matter how slight it was.
While Christian was finishing up his silent assessment of the man from the Liberation Front, the man seemed to have done the same, and finally broke the silence.
"I'd like to apologize if I came off as rude at first," he said politely.
"My name is Malric Vex. I'm someone from the Liberation Front."
"I don't know if you've heard of us before?"
Malric closely watched Christian's expression as he introduced himself, and upon seeing no reaction at all, he was once again surprised.
Because if not fear or surprise, at least some confusion should have been seen in his eyes after. But, not dwelling on that, he still continued with more ease, "I'd like to extend an invitation to you, to join us, seeing how talented you are."
"You can't possibly be satisfied with your current strength, after all… right?"
Christian finally raised an eyebrow at that statement, before he replied, "So, it's not about the Liberation?"
Malric chuckled lightly at the response, before saying, "That's what we tell the ordinary members. But for someone of your talent and strength, you can understand, right? In the end, everything is about benefit."
Christian's faint smile finally faded away, as he looked at him seriously and asked, "And what can you offer me?"
As if he had been waiting for this question, Malric's face lit up with enthusiasm as he declared, "Just ask for anything… be it technique, natural treasure, or anything else you have in mind, we can provide it!"
Faced with this grand declaration, Christian remained silent for a moment, seemingly pondering what he should ask for, before he finally smiled at Malric and said, "Actually, I've long admired the Eternal Light Order. But I don't want to go there and join them. It's not in my nature to be restricted."
"So… can you help me get the technique they use? So I can have their holy power?"
Christian asked with a tone full of expectation, seeming genuinely interested in his request.
But Malric, whose expression had instantly turned sour, forced a smile on his face as he replied, "Well… even for us, that's not something we can provide. So, how about you change your request?"
Messing with the Eternal Light Order? Do you think we have many lives, and don't care about keeping them?
Malric cursed inwardly while waiting for Christian's answer.
He knew that right now, the most feared group on this planet was, without a doubt, the Eternal Light Order, after all.
How strong were they?
He didn't know either.
But during the only time he had seen their leader… someone who felt so distant, so far above, with the gap between them crystal clear, as Malric himself couldn't even be considered an ant in front of that man.
He still remembered what that existence had once told him: The Liberation Front can make enemies of anyone… but never the Eternal Light Order.
And it was for this very reason, they had never even stepped foot in the country of France.
"Unfortunately, that's the only request I have," Christian suddenly said, interrupting Malric's thoughts.
And hearing the regret in his tone, coupled with the disappointed expression on his face, Malric was nearly deceived.
But his hundred years of life… his experience, told him the young man in front of him was acting.
That's why he narrowed his eyes and scrutinized him in silence, before finally rising from his seat.
He couldn't act right now, and kill him on the spot.
But he had remembered his face.
And sooner or later… he would be dead.
With those thoughts lingering in his mind, Malric turned and took his leave without saying a word.
Leaving behind Christian, who now had a strange expression on his face, as if to say… That's it?
Christian, who had already thought up several ways he could refuse the man in front of him, couldn't help but doubt the situation a little.
But in the end, he just shrugged.
It seemed the Eternal Light Order was feared far more than he thought—especially considering how peaceful they always appeared in their conduct.
But maybe that was only right…
After all, this was the one group of people Christian didn't even try to evaluate… didn't even bother having any thoughts about, after all.