"So, you are here because of the research facility," Severin said at last.
"...he said his House is partnered with them, and for him to come here means that the information provided for him by the Academy was not sufficient and yet enough that he knew he should come to me..."
Aluxor nodded. "I want to know what really happens."
"Don’t you have more authority than me to find out?"
"Apparently, it was classified higher than my House authority can reach. Now then, will you tell me?"
Severin leaned forward. The information that was provided was sufficient but not enough. "Give me equipment for free, and I’ll tell you everything."
Aluxor’s eyes tightened. "We had a deal."
"We do. But the information you provided isn’t something I can’t get with my powers. Give me equipment that you think will complement me."
Aluxor stared him down, but Severin met his gaze without any hesitation. "Will you tell me about the artifact in your pocket? The invitation one?"
Blessed by the system, part of Aluxor’s ability let him identify almost anything once he gazed at it, but apparently, it couldn’t see the true nature of the invitation to the Pandora Box. Or maybe the two artifacts are different.
It was then that it hit him. Aluxor works in the research facility, and with his abilities, did he know that Severin took the artifact from the facility?
Fuck.
Severin shrugged and did his best to make his heart continue to beat steadily. "I don’t know what it is as well. I’m just going to hold on to it for now."
Aluxor blinked. "Alright."
Then he reached into his pockets and brought out two blue cards that were etched with different runes. "This is single-use equipment. It’ll let you teleport a short distance, but be careful and make sure you hold the place tightly in your mind. Also, there should be no obstruction between you and your destination."
Severin took the blue cards and stared at them in amazement. He couldn’t believe that Aluxor was giving him something that valuable, and immediately he thought about the price and the amount he could make from it.
But.
It was too valuable to sell. Something that could save his life?
It was too much. Why did Aluxor give him something like this?
He looked up at the man and found him rubbing his watch. "I would have invited you to my House if you had not a leader already. Now, tell me what you know."
Severin did. Since Aluxor already gave him those teleportation cards, he didn’t hold back and narrated the incident well for him, including the box he found.
Aluxor flinched. "So they were after the k... box."
Severin made his eyes sharpen. "Aluxor, do you know what is in the box?"
Aluxor stood, sighed, and nodded. "Of course. I helped craft it. But I won’t be telling you. So we were betrayed and then infiltrated. I will have to carry out my revenge one of these days if I’m not too buried in work."
That was exactly like Aluxor. His work, his craft, took priority over anything.
Severin stood as well.
But Aluxor didn’t say anything again until he reached the door. He raised a blue card, but a different shade, a very deep blue. "Be careful, Severin. My watch artifact points at you as a great change-maker, just like the researcher who betrayed us. I thought he would help us reach even greater heights."
"Oh well. See you."
Then blue lightning covered him like a shroud, and he was gone.
Severin stared at the place where he was. "Change-maker. Just like the researcher that almost made away with the Key. This guy must have many useful artifacts."
☆☆☆ ▪︎▪︎ ☆☆☆
"Why should I join your House?"
Severin had little sleep during the night, but he was up and ready at the House already.
Serena was already waiting for him.
Severin wasn’t that surprised. The girl had been stalking him, spying on him for months. She likely wanted to know how he was getting stronger.
A weak person, just like her. After all, she’s just less weaker.
"Because I can give you what you want."
Her mouth tightened before she laughed bitterly. "What, you’ll just make me the leader of my family and somehow make us strong?"
"Yes," Severin said flatly. "But those would have to wait. For now, you have to focus on making yourself stronger, and I can give you that.
"You know it, don’t you?"
Serena looked away. "How did you make Derrick strong? He was an E-rank, but his attack power now is almost above that of a D-rank."
Severin slid some documents over. "Everything is only for House members."
She gritted her teeth, but she had already made up her mind.
She signed it.
A new House member.
Severin smiled like a cat and took the papers from her, then he explained everything to her.
Her eyes got wider and wider still.
But they nearly popped off when he did a demonstration for her.
Then her eyes shone, and she bowed her head. "Please, give me power."
That was the kind of desperation that Severin was waiting for, the type that he liked to see. Something that Derrick and Celia have. The type of desperation that led to blind loyalty.
"Of course. You are now my House member and one of our strongest fighters."
Severin then activated his powers and set it on her. "You can go to the training center and look for a room already paid for under the House. You need to get used to your powers. Later, I will introduce you to the others."
She didn’t ask how he knew she would accept before she stopped and bolted out the door, nearly knocking Julius down in the process.
"Congratulations, House Leader. We now have a new member! You actually made the strongest in Class Four your subordinate," Julius said, adjusting his glasses. "And yes, I registered a new room in the training center for her."
Severin stood. "Alright then, let’s see what the Head Instructor wants."