Michael had expected the crystal to work. He simply hadn't expected it to work this well.
The ghost's reaction had been far more intense than anything he anticipated, but no matter how excessive her reaction had been, it had given Michael exactly what he needed.
A chance.
Michael stared at the ghost hovering a hundred metres away.
"Tens of thousands is impossible."
Michael continued before she could react.
"I can't give you that many, but if you're willing to e with me, I can continue giving you those crystals."
The ghost tilted her head.
"How many?"
Michael's eyelid twitched.
Straight to the important question.
He appreciated that, at least.
"Not tens of thousands."
The ghost frowned.
Michael raised a hand.
"Listen first."
She became quiet.
Michael carefully organized his thoughts.
"I won't ask you to constantly work for me."
The ghost's silver eyes remained fixed on him.
"You can go where you want inside the places I allow you to stay."
"You can explore the outside world."
"You won't need to fight every day."
Michael paused.
"But occasionally, I'll need your help."
The ghost immediately seemed less interested.
Michael continued before she could reject him.
"And whenever I ask for your help…"
He raised one finger.
"…I'll pay you."
The ghost froze.
"Pay?"
"With those crystals."
Her silver eyes brightened instantly.
Michael smiled faintly.
"You do something for me, and I give you a corresponding amount of those crystals."
The ghost drifted slightly closer before remembering herself and stopping.
"What things?"
"Different things."
Michael began counting on his fingers.
"If I ask you to protect someone, you'll be paid."
"If I ask you to fight someone, you'll be paid."
"If I need you to acpany me somewhere dangerous, you'll be paid."
"If I ask you to guard a place for some time, you'll be paid."
"The harder the task…"
Michael's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…the more crystals you receive."
The ghost stared at him. For once, she didn't immediately respond.
Michael could feel her thoughts moving through the faint connection between their wills. Knowing she was seriously considering it, he didn't interrupt. There was no reason to pressure her. Michael had already presented the offer. Now she needed to convince herself.
Isabella remained beside him, silent throughout the exchange. Her violet soul flames occasionally shifted between Michael and the Demigod ghost. Michael could only imagine what she thought of the situation.
A Rank Four living being was negotiating employment terms with a Demigod undead using strange crystals as payment. Even to Michael, the situation sounded ridiculous when phrased that way.
Oh wait, he wasn't actually Rank Four yet.
Tsk.
The ghost finally looked down at her hands. Then toward the direction of the ravine where the Nether Soul Tree remained. Then back toward Michael.
"If I don't want to do something?"
Michael had expected that question.
"You can refuse."
The ghost's eyes immediately brightened.
Michael raised another finger.
"But then you won't get paid for it."
She became still again.
Michael almost laughed. He could practically see the internal calculation happening.
Freedom, or crystals.
The ghost remained silent.
Michael added calmly, "I'm not asking you to bee my slave."
That wasn't entirely what he wanted, but telling a Demigod that would be idiotic.
"I want cooperation."
"You help me when I need it."
"I give you something you want."
"Both sides benefit."
The ghost slowly floated in a small circle. Michael continued watching without interfering.
Several seconds passed. Then nearly a minute. For someone who had answered most questions immediately until now, the amount of thought she was putting into this told Michael she was genuinely interested.
Eventually, her silver eyes returned to him.
"How many for fighting?"
Michael nearly smiled. That was not a rejection. Far from it.
"Depends on who you're fighting."
"Someone like you?"
Michael's expression stiffened.
"…Why is that your first example?"
The ghost looked confused.
"You said fighting."
"Right."
Michael rubbed his forehead.
"For someone around my strength, very few."
The ghost frowned.
"How few?"
Michael thought for a moment.
"One."
Her silver eyes widened.
"One?"
Michael smiled.
"There's barely anybody on my level in the universe I can't beat."
He wasn't lying. He was someone who ranked high on a leaderboard meant for the rank above him. If there was any Rank Three being who could defeat him, he would eat grass with Lucky.
The ghost's attention shifted.
"What about someone like me?"
Michael's expression became serious. That was a much better question.
Michael considered the cost. Then he answered.
"A lot."
The ghost leaned forward.
"How much?"
Michael smiled.
"We'll negotiate when that happens."
She frowned again. Michael didn't budge. There was no chance he was establishing a fixed price for Demigod bat before understanding how difficult producing enough crystals for her would actually bee. He still had thousands of undead he had to evolve, and so many more things to do.
The ghost studied him for several seconds. Then nodded.
"Okay."
"…Okay?"
"I'll go."
His heart jumped.
That easy?
Michael didn't allow the excitement to show. He immediately continued.
"There are conditions."
Michael almost felt guilty. Almost.
"One: you cannot harm anyone I specifically tell you not to harm."
She stared at him.
"You cannot destroy things simply because they annoy you."
Her head tilted.
"And if you're uncertain whether something is allowed…"
Michael pointed toward himself.
"Ask me."
The ghost thought about this. Then nodded.
Michael added another condition.
"You also cannot leave the place I bring you to without telling me first."
That received a longer pause.
"Why?"
"Because the outside world is different from here."
Michael gestured toward Isabella.
"Most beings there are far weaker than you."
"If you release your aura like you did earlier in the middle of a city…"
He paused.
"A lot of people could die."
The ghost's silver eyes shifted toward Isabella's damaged body.
"…Oh."
"Exactly."
Michael's voice became firmer.
"If you want to explore, I'll take you."
"But until you understand the outside world properly, you should stay where I tell you."
The ghost became quiet again.
Michael waited. This condition mattered more than everything else. He wasn't bringing an uncontrolled Demigod into Aurora simply because she promised to fight for crystals.
Eventually, the ghost nodded.
"Okay."
Michael's expression finally softened.
"Good."
His heart was pounding again. Not from fear this time.
Two Demigods.
The thought surfaced once more. One he would revive. And another he had somehow hired with Evolution Essence Crystals.
Michael almost laughed. His talent was being increasingly absurd.
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