Chapter 1380: A familiar name

Michael’s eyes visibly widened once he heard that name. He didn’t think he’d hear his name so suddenly.

Professor Lichtenstein. The very man that Michael trusted to find the truth about the world. The very man who disappeared because of some kind of self-protective coma that he placed upon himself.

He’d always wondered what happened to the Professor. Unfortunately, Katarina hadn’t shown herself for a long while. If there was anyone who knew about his situation, it would be his daughter.

In fact, the Eternitus Consortium had gone silent for a very long while. They were the very organization who were fighting against the evil of the Ersatz.

Of course, Michael tried to contact them multiple times. However, since his only contact within the organization was Katarina, he couldn’t even get a meeting or a note about what happened with them.

But he understood. They were probably busy. After all, with the things that the Ersatz had been doing in the shadows, the Eternitus Consortium must have had their hands full trying to defeat whatever kind of nefarious plans they were trying to cook up.

And with the disappearance of magic, Michael could see them focusing all of their attention on returning magic.

It was truly unfortunate. If they had asked for his help, he could have given them whatever kind of aid that they wanted. He would have gone all out trying to defeat the Ersatz Strongholds all over the Royal Continent.

However, he was barely even a member of the Eternitus Consortium. He was a secret member within their midst. After all, Katarina wanted to ensure his safety, seeing as his powers were the very same thing that the Ersatz had been hunting this entire time.

It was only natural that they didn’t let his identity be known to a lot of people, even in their own organization.

And now that he thought about it, that was probably why they hadn’t been contacting him this entire time.

If such a person as Katarina showed herself during such tumultuous times, then even the Ersatz would get suspicious. They would try to find out who she was meeting and why. And eventually, his name and his face would pop up.

Michael wasn’t exactly keeping himself secret. In fact, the emergence of Reborn as a certifiable Upper Echelon company put his name at the top of the list for every organization in the world.

But they could have never guessed that he was colluding with the Eternitus Consortium. And Katarina would have liked it to stay that way.

No one as famous and as hot of a topic as Michael would be a part of the Eternitus Consortium, they probably thought. It was a good cover.

So, Michael kept it to the back of his mind throughout this entire time.

That was until Aetrox uttered the professor’s name.

Michael furrowed his brows as he stared at the Mystic Master. How did he know about the professor? Was he truly a friend, or was he a foe pretending to be one?

He had ChatJK6 do a full analysis on Aetrox’s behavior. He tried to find any kind of clue or giveaway to his true allegiance.

Was he a friend of the Eternitus Consortium?

"How do you know that name?" Michael asked.

Aetrox lowered himself down until he was standing face to face with Michael, with only a few meters away from each other.

"He’s a professor renowned for unearthing the mysteries of the Ancient Era. Who doesn’t know that name?"

[He’s keeping information,] ChatJK6. [He seems to also be wary of you. He doesn’t want to tell you the truth about Lichtenstein for fear that you’ll use it against him.]

Basically, they were doing the same thing.

"How do you know him?" Aetrox asked back. "From the expression on your face the moment that I said his name, it looks like you knew him personally."

Now that Michael finished his thoughts, he was able to compose himself and keep a straight face. "I happened upon him in New Sparta. We were acquaintances that had a similar interest in Antiques. That’s the reason why I wanted that in the first place."

Michael pointed to the wooden chest in the Mystic Master’s hands.

"I see," Aetrox replied. "Well, it’s good that I don’t have to explain. I have to get this Antique to the professor for his studies."

Michael narrowed his eyes. "That’s what I was going to do. Don’t you know? I’m the professor’s student."

The Mystic Master furrowed his brows, with his wariness increasing to the maximum. Now, he looked suspicious of Michael.

"Lichtenstein doesn’t have any students," Aetrox said, his voice low.

"You can ask around in New Sparta. They’ll tell you the same thing."

But Aetrox wasn’t convinced.

It was at this point that Michael started his trap. He was setting up a scheme to figure out of Aetrox really was a friend of the professor or not.

"The professor’s last teaching to me is about the importance of history. He told me that the Ancient Era will be the key to figuring out the past, the present, and the future. What do you think about that?"

Aetrox furrowed his brows as he looked at Michael with a controlled gaze. "I think it’s a commendable goal."

"I think so too," Michael said. "Then, he told me that there are some evil people who want to do the exact opposite. They want to destroy the past. They’re the Ersatz, he told me."

It was at this point that Aetrox became extremely worried. But still, Michael continued.

"And because of that, he and his organization are trying to fight against this deplorable evil body. The Eternitus—"

Immediately, the cloud of haze burst out of Aetrox’s body encompassing everything but him and Michael. Here, no one could hear them. No one could see them. They were separate from reality and time itself!

"Be very careful about your next words," said Aetrox. "People died protecting that name. I cannot let you throw their sacrifice in vain."

A cloud of smoke charged towards Michael, intending to silence him.

But then, a golden magic circle appeared underneath Michael’s feet, summoning his own cloud of smoke. Magic made from mana.

Aetrox gasped out loud.