Mixed Blessing System

Seeing the person who had just invaded his workplace yelling at him, Philip recognized Cedric's uncle, readily understanding what this was all about.

"Dennis, what are you talking about? Your nephew Cedric bet with a young man taking the test for 1-star formation masters and lost. What does this have to do with me?" He opened his arms wide as he looked into that individual's eyes.

"What do you have to do with it? I think a lot. No? How else would you invite him to the council after only one test?" He made a strange expression, indicating his doubts about some plot behind it all.

Philip closed his eyes and sighed. "I imagine your nephew has come to you to ask for justice, right?"

"Of course! When the little ones suffer, it's only natural that the bigger ones come out to demand justice!" The fellow gestured with his fists, swinging his arms so fast that the sound of air moving could be heard in that instant.

"Your nephew told you what?"

"That he was tricked by a thief who wanted to take his flag set!"

Philip shook his head and then explained. "You shouldn't believe everything your nephew says. He was the one who wanted to bet with that fellow, and he was the one who suggested what would be at stake in the bet. So how could the other side have any guilt?"

"Or are you telling me that your nephew had his mind controlled by a young man who just became a 1-star formation master?"

"Tsk!" This newcomer made a noise of displeasure.

He already figured that his nephew was hiding part of the truth, but as a council member, he could not simply accept a newcomer to the association to impose defeats on his nephew.

He had to show his position of respect and at least punish Lothur so that the members of this organization would know how to respect its hierarchy.

He then said. "It doesn't matter what happened. This young man is not good for our organization, so give me his file. I will expel him for being someone uncontrollable, unable to act for the good of the association."

Upon hearing that, Philip's eyebrows opened while a strange smile slowly formed on his lips. "It's not going to happen. You can't expel a council member on your own."

"What, council member?" This uncle of Cedric's asked as he opened his eyes in surprise.

Cedric had told him that Philip had invited Lothur to the council. But from what he had heard, the silver-haired fellow had refused. So he could not help but be surprised to hear such great information from his colleague.

"What are you talking about? Didn't he refuse the proposal you made? How can he be a fellow council member?" He made a doubtful expression, not understanding if this individual was trying to deceive him.

Philip laughed and said. "He refused the first offer. But after one of my superiors authorized me to give him some benefits he demanded, I made a new offer, and he joined us."

"What? Benefits?" This man's jaw nearly dropped to the floor, shocked that a junior formations master had gained council member status and benefits without ever having done anything for the association. "How is that possible? Who gave this authorization to you?"

"Joshua Hartmann," Philip replied as he looked into that person's eyes, waiting to see what he would do.

Joshua was one of the three most senior formation masters in this province. Thus, his position in the Peters City post was not low, and this uncle of Cedric's would have difficulty trying to move such an individual!

"Joshua?" This man's fists clenched, noticing that there was nothing to be done in this situation. He would have to lose some face because of Lothur!

'Damn it!'

'This Philip was quick to bring such a brat here! But what's the point here? Does he value a young formation master that much?' He pondered since he did not know the full results of Lothur's tests.

Cedric had not told him the whole truth. Instead, this fellow had subtly diminished Lothur's results to make it seem that, although talented, this enemy of his was not a genius. Hence, this man in front of Philip had no idea that Lothur had had perfect results in that day's exam.

'Well, I can't do anything from within the association, but disputes between formation masters are not prohibited...' He looked away from Philip's eyes, thinking about sending one of his underlings to cause some trouble for Lothur.

'I'll teach that junior his place! Even if he is already a council member, he can never think he is an equal of mine!'

...

After a few hours, it was already night in Peters City, and Lothur had checked the points of the Mouse Company in this city.

Lothur used the system and his visual Skull Soul Bone skill to check the number of individuals in each location. And, of course, he also analyzed the strength of most of them, noting how problematic his plans would be.

Thus, he was already working out a strategy in his mind to deal with that place as he walked to the Becker family estate.

Now Lothur was not only going to fulfill his responsibility as a man with Elke. He was going to meet with her parents to sign the agreement about his glove.

With the new project in hand, he could ensure the feasibility of the agreement and hand the project over to that organization to begin large-scale production as soon as possible.

As he was in dire need of coins at this time when he needed to find a home and pay for resources for his projects, Lothur could not delay in seeking sources of income!

Thus, he soon identified himself at the entrance of that estate and then proceeded directly to Elke's family home.

...

"Lothur, it is good to see you again." Gomeric tapped one of the silver-haired young man's shoulders just after seeing this fellow standing next to his wife, who had brought him to the office they were currently in.

Hilda then asked Lothur. "Are you here to see our daughter? Elke is quite worried about you on account of the Province Conference."

He nodded to his mother-in-law and explained. "Yes, but today before I go to see Elke so we can have a little combat training, I want to talk to you..." He took the glove. "I've finished the new version of it. So, I am ready to sign that agreement."

As those two looked surprised at the gray glove in Lothur's hand, this young man saw its features through the system.

[Adhering Glove] [Rating: Iron]

[Feature: increases grip between surfaces by 70%, increases protection around hands by 20%, increases the Strength of the wearer by 10%.]

[Reminder 1: this glove has a 'half-life' of 200 years.]

[Reminder 2: its characteristics will decrease by half each time its 'half-life' is reached. It completely loses its effects after the 3rd 'half-life'.]

'All the glove characteristics have improved after my advancement in Intelligence, as well as the use of more suitable materials...' He pondered this as he noted the values displayed by the system.

...