Michael had never heard of Soultraits of a similar nature creating a connecting link, but that was only natural. Awakened rarely had more than one Soultrait, and even if they ever awakened two Soultraits, they were rarely of the sa kind. Furthermore, even if they were of the sa nature, creating a link between each other, nobody would share this find with the outside world. It would be kept a secret until the end of ti.
Therefore, he was more curious about the effect of the link and how much it influenced the two 4-Star Soultraits.
Testing the power of Eagle Eyes and Spirit Gaze after the link between them had been established, Michael spent only a few minutes to realize that he struck the Jackpot. The two 4-Star Soultraits felt even stronger than an ordinary 5-Star Soultrait when used simultaneously. To test the potency and energy consumption of the Soultraits, Michael used it on Tiara, Lilica, and the other Forest Elves.
They told him how they felt after the Spirit Gaze struck them, providing crucial information that Michael could use later on.
Satisfied with the power of his Soultraits, Michael watched Tiara bind Spirit Whip as well. She smiled from ear to ear and rushed toward Michael to hug him tightly.
"Thank you so much, Master!!" She exclaid in excitent.
Tiara kept bobbing on her heels while continuing to embrace Michael firmly. Her hug was tight and warm, causing a small smile to blossom on Michael's face.
Tiara thanked him profusely, but Michael's attention moved to the Forest Elves after the third ti Tiara expressed her gratitude.
'What am I supposed to do with you guys?'
Michael's expression stiffened a little while staring at the Forest Elves. He was not sure what to do with them.
If he kept the SoulStar Fragnts and Soultrait Symbols to himself, he could upgrade one of his Soultraits. If he was lucky enough, Michael might even receive enough SoulStar Fragnts to upgrade a second Soultrait to 5-Star. That was if he crushed the remaining Soultrait Symbols.
The Soultraits harvested from the Kitsun Awakened were not that powerful, either way. Nonetheless, the Forest Elves might take a liking to so of them. Upgrading them could elevate the prowess of certain Soultraits drastically, after all. Last but not least, upgrading Soultraits from 1-Star to 4-Star was rather cheap for the Forest Elves. They didn't have the Sphere of Light that increased the cost of upgrading Soultraits, after all.
With the amount of SS Fragnts and Soultraits in his possession, Michael could give the Forest Elves one or two new 4-Star Soultraits…but was that really what Michael wanted to do right now?
Michael kept looking at the Forest Elves for a while before he cleared his throat.
"I want to be honest with you. In fact, it shouldn't co as a surprise, but I cannot give the EraldLeaf Adventurer team anymore Soultraits without adding a few clauses to the Links of Loyalty established between us. To be entirely honest with the lot of you, I am not comfortable trusting a re Link of Loyalty if I keep handing out more Soultraits to you. I can upgrade your Soultraits as well in the future, after all," Michael revealed slowly, trying to make sure the Forest Elves wouldn't misunderstand him.
"At this point, the Link of Loyalty won't be enough for . Providing you the second Soultrait in the past was to gain your favor, and to make sure that you guys won't run away from the danger of the Jungle Expedition. I needed you when they attacked, and your task was to ensure my survival. I am putting in a lot more than I receive. After all, finding out about my powers could change your lives, and the livelihood of the Forest Elven Tribe entirely.
I understand that you weren't completely business-minded when you helped against the Jungle Expedition, but my powers should have played a role in your decision-making process, whether it was a major one or a minor role."
He took a pause to read their expressions and continued,
"But now I cannot keep investing in the EraldLeaf Adventurer team if I cannot even be certain that you guys will stay with and my territory. I don't want to invest in the entire team just to be abandoned when the Zentika Empire attacks or sothing similar happens. To be fair, it was already very foolish of to give you Soultraits and enhance them, yet to never consider that you could leave once the dangers in and around the Untad Jungle increase considerably. I shouldn't be that naive, and I hope you guys can understand my point of view."
Michael tried to be completely honest with the Forest Elves. He didn't want to lie to them or lead them around with a carrot and a stick. That was not how he acted.
Michael knew that he was currently not that rational and that he was affected by the loss of a large number of loyal subjects today, but all of this made him realize that he had been too naive and gullible until now. He trusted others too much.
Trust was not a bad thing. However, it was bad if you trusted everyone blindly even if there was no reason to trust.
The Forest Elves listened intently to every word Michael said, and they realized quickly that the issue was not with them. It was more about the fact that Michael realized what one of his biggest flaws was. He was too gullible. He even trusted those who caused him harm without doubting them for a second.
Starting from Blaire making a big mistake the day she was summoned, resulting in a big fight against another Lord less than two weeks after Michael beca a Lord, to the mishap caused by Mika Zels of the EraldLeaf Adventurer team...Michael had given the EraldLeaf Adventurer team several chances and favors. He had easily handed over the Gogi Lord's corpse, but they caused him harm and trouble, even though they didn't do so intentionally.
But instead of punishing Blaire, or hating Mika for what he did, Michael forgave everyone without a second thought. He continued to trust them – which could have caused various problems.
It was only today that Michael's patience and naive attitude began to change. The incident in the Elentals cave with the Elental Empress, and her nobility caused great harm to his people. Michael couldn't afford to act foolish anymore.
That was sothing Lilica and her team understood very well. Therefore, they looked at Lilica who nodded her head to agree to Michael's standpoint.
"Don't give us another Soultrait for the ti being. Focus on yourself and upgrade your Soultraits first. Once we're back in the base we can make a Blood Pact, undergo a Sacred Ritual, sign a Soul Pact, or whatever you want. I am quite certain that our Elders want us to stay with you, so we can talk about altering the Link of Loyalty, or doing one of the things I ntioned just now," Lilica said, not opposed to signing a binding Soul Pact – not anymore.
"To be honest with you, I like it in the Untad Jungle, in your territory. It's very warm and welcoming in your territory and does not only entail the temperature in the Untad Jungle. I also want to grow stronger, and I doubt that you will force us to sign the disgusting type of Soul Pacts like the Kitsun Lord did to his subordinates. So…I will be fine!"
"Sa here," Liopham added.
"Ditto!" Mika joined.
"I also agree," Phelia chid in, while Opars only nodded vigorously in agreent.
Michael was quite pleased with the EraldLeaf Adventurer team. He might have been a little bit too trusting with them at first, but they didn't betray his trust. That was a good thing and it reassured Michael quite a bit.
He nodded his head subtly as well, only to turn to the Elental Empress once Tiara released him from her tight embrace.
"Our bond allows to feel many things, and I can tell that you didn't intend to harm or my people. Unfortunately, your freedom ca at an exorbitant cost. It cost the lives of your people and my people. What are you planning to do now?" Michael asked the Elental Empress while trying to show little to no emotions.
The Elental Empress was still weak, but Michael decided to give her a few Energy Nourishing Pills to fill her with vigor and allow her to grow stronger quickly. Even if the Elental Empress ended up causing him harm indirectly, it was not actually her fault. She had been the Kitsun Lord's pawn just like the Elental nobility she'd created.
"I…can plan what I want to do? You are my master now, so there is nothing for to decide…especially not after what happened…"
The Elental Empress' voice was weak and low. She wasn't feeling well, not after her people sacrificed themselves to rescue her. And the worst was that they killed their benefactors as well. Even the Elental Empress couldn't forgive herself for that.
However, Michael's voice pulled her out of the gloomy thoughts that flashed through her mind incessantly.
"I told you that I won't treat you the sa as the Kitsun Lord did. My mind is still in a ss because my emotions are in disarray, but the bond established between us shows quite clearly how you feel and that you didn't want any of that to happen. Unfortunately, it happened and we cannot change the past so I am asking you once again. What do YOU want to do?" Michael asked, staring intently at the Elental Empress.
The Elental Empress regained her vigor slowly. She got up from the ground and looked up to Michael, her eyes filled with a tiny trace of determination.
"I…I want to take revenge. Let fight the Kitsun!"
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