Just call me Thor - Chapter 457

Chapter 457: Instructor Michael
Inside his private space, Mike glanced at Vladimir. “Nice hat. Very… stylish.”

He then walked towards his Money Tree.

Vladimir, shoving the rest of a chicken leg into his mouth, hurried after him.

“Stop! Don’t touch that!” Mike’s voice boomed before he even arrived.

Master Fool was about to shake the Money Tree.

Mike intervened!

“Thor, we had a deal!” Master Fool protested indignantly. “I get to shake this tree once a day, and whatever falls off is mine!”

“I never said I was breaking our agreement!” Mike retorted. “I just want to shake it first!”

“You’re so stingy.” Master Fool scoffed. “I’ve never met such a cheap Supreme Being!”

“Well, today’s your lucky day!” Mike was always ready with a witty comeback when it came to Master Fool.

Actually fighting her? No way. Not in this lifetime.

Master Fool was clearly powerful. Mike wasn’t an idiot. Why pick a fight he couldn’t win?

Before shaking the tree, Mike decided to share some breaking news.

“Abyssal front lines report: the Seventh and Eighth Demon Gods are dead.”

Master Fool was unfazed. “Demon Gods dying? Doesn’t affect my bottom line.”

As long as humanity needed SSS-rank weapons, her job as the number one forger was secure.

“Shake it, then!” Master Fool sat back in her chair, a aature elf diligently massaging her shoulders. “Let’s see what treasures you can conjure, you cheapskate!”

The Money Tree, once a mere half-meter sapling, had grown to two meters, its quality significantly enhanced.

Its power of money had increased accordingly.

Mike took a deep breath, focusing his mind, and gently shook the Money Tree.

*Rustle*

A pile of golden maple leaves fell before him. He instinctively focused, trying to examine them.

[Quiet! The Strongest Eye is sleeping!]

Wow, his talent was getting sassy after its triple awakening.

Mike wondered, if he continued awakening his talent, would he eventually be no match for the Eye of Truth itself by the time he reached the ninety-fifth floor?

Nah, impossible!

He discreetly stored the leaves in his inventory and gestured towards Master Fool.

“Something’s not right.” Master Fool eyed Mike suspiciously. “With your usual greed, you should be jumping for joy at the sight of these.”

Thor was acting strangely today.

“That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think?” Mike rolled his eyes, ignoring her comment.

“Wait a minute—” Master Fool’s eyes widened. “Your talent… you’ve awakened it three times! No, wait, there wasn’t enough time… you forced the awakening?!”

Mike nodded. “So what?”

“You’re screwed.” A smug grin spread across Master Fool’s face. “Before entering instances above the ninetieth floor, your talent…”

She stopped mid-sentence, noticing that Thor seemed… relieved?

It was a subtle shift in his demeanor, imperceptible to most.

But Master Fool, who knew Thor well, caught it.

“You’ve been to a floor above the ninetieth?!” she shrieked, pointing at Mike incredulously. “Oh my god, you…”

With Thor’s current strength, reaching a floor above the ninetieth through normal means was impossible.

That left only one possibility:

Thor had visited the ninety-ninth floor with Apollo’s help!

“Keep your voice down!” Mike hissed. “Even if it’s true, you can’t go blabbing about it!”

He raised his voice, adding, “Thor’s visit to the ninety-ninth floor is classified information!”

Dracula and Vladimir: “…”

If he yelled any louder, even Apollo might hear it.

Master Fool’s reaction made Mike realize that forcing the third awakening had come at a price.

One way to resolve the side effects was to visit a floor above the ninetieth.

It dawned on him that Apollo had subtly helped him without him even realizing it.

Of course, Apollo wouldn’t consider it a big deal, not worth mentioning.

Relieved, Mike looked at Master Fool, then at the Money Tree.

Master Fool stepped forward, giving it a casual shake.

A pile of Truth Gold Coins fell from her pockets, landing at the base of the tree and being absorbed.

Master Fool: ???

Mike burst into laughter.

“I thought half a copper coin was bad! But losing money by shaking the Money Tree? That’s a new one!”

“Thor, you just wait!” Master Fool fumed.

…

With nothing pressing left to do in his private space, Mike returned to Florida.

Since Apollo had warned him against visiting the Tower of Truth, he skipped the Wolf’s Den as well.

After midnight, while everyone else was challenging the Tower of Truth, he went to bed.

He woke up refreshed, ready for another day of summer camp… monotony.

In Sector C, in the multimedia classroom…

“Good morning, students!” A bright-eyed, bushy-tailed new instructor introduced himself. “From today onwards, I’ll be your instructor. You can call me Instructor Michael…”

Mike: ???

Michael’s gaze met his.

Michael nodded subtly, his expression carefully neutral.

Even without the Eye of Truth, Mike understood what Michael was trying to convey.

Michael: Yep, you guessed it!

He was a mole, sent by the Fifth Demon God.

…

“Today’s lesson is about cherishing life and staying far, far away from Demon Cults.”

On stage, Michael delivered a passionate lecture on the dangers of Demon Cults. He even managed to tear up, his voice choked with emotion.

“Demon Cultists are Scum! Animals! Parasites!” He spat the words with venom.

To illustrate the depths of their depravity, he offered a prime example.

“Students, the former Fourth Demon Cult Leader murdered his own savior to join the cult!”

The classroom erupted in outrage, the students’ hatred for Demon Cults palpable. Mission accomplished.

Kaelum, sitting next to Mike, whispered, “This Instructor Michael… he’s got something.”

Instructor Michael had more than just “something.” If he revealed his full resume, half the class would probably faint from shock.

Not only was he the acting leader of four Demon Cults, but he was also the first-ever acting leader of the Fifth Demon Cult!

“What do you mean?” Mike asked, feigning curiosity.

“His background is shrouded in mystery. His file only contains a single, short sentence.” The information Kaelum had access to wasn’t highly classified. Mike had clearance to view it as well.

Following Kaelum’s instructions, Mike opened Michael’s file.

“I’m a good person! Absolutely loyal!”

Mike snorted, nodding slowly. “Interesting.”

Loyal to whom? That was the million-dollar question.

Michael was a slippery character.

But Mike wasn’t worried about him defecting.

Michael’s only goal in life was to survive.

If he betrayed humanity, Terenas would kill him before Mike even had to lift a finger.

Terenas, at level 994, was a sword of Damocles hanging over Michael’s head, a constant reminder to stay on the straight and narrow.

Having a ruthless Ultimate Lord breathing down your neck was a powerful motivator.

*Ring, ring, ring*

“That’s all for today!” Michael ended the class right on time, glancing towards the back of the room. “Mike, come to my office after class.”

All eyes turned to Mike, curious about what Instructor Michael wanted.

“Mike, something good’s coming your way.” Kaelum winked, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “I’ll fill you in when you get back!”

“Can’t you just tell me now?” Mike rolled his eyes, getting up and heading out of the classroom.

…

In Michael’s office…

“Coffee?” Before Mike could even sit down, a cup of coffee was offered to him. Michael was being unusually attentive.

Mike didn’t take the cup. His shadow stretched across the floor, distorting as the Guardian Shadow sealed the surrounding space. A gruff voice echoed, “Fourth Bro, we’re secure.”

“Good work, Shadow Two.” Mike nodded, turning his attention back to Michael. “What are you doing back on Earth?”

Michael chuckled nervously. “My leader sent me on an errand.”

“Be more specific.” Mike was very interested in the Fifth Demon God’s plans.

Of all the Demon Gods, the Fifth was the most… unique.

And, of course, there was the Shadow Two connection.

As a double agent, Michael had his own code of ethics!

He couldn’t just reveal the Fifth Demon Cult’s secrets!

“Mike, I can’t divulge confidential information about the Fifth Demon Cult to outsiders!” Michael lowered his voice. “But… would you be interested in a consulting position with the Fifth Demon Cult? A thousand Lord merits a month?”

“Ahem…”

A thousand Lord merits sounded tempting.

But Mike refused.

A thousand Lord merits to be a mole?

No way!

“However…” Mike smiled. “Just because *I* can’t take the job doesn’t mean someone else can’t.”

He waved his hand. “I have a level 989 candidate in mind. Bad Woman, come out and meet Instructor Michael.”

A stunningly beautiful woman appeared before Michael.

“Wow, you’re gorgeous! You’re the most elegant, most captivating, most unforgettable woman I’ve ever…” Michael began, his eyes wide with admiration.

“Fourth Bro, a thousand is an insult!” Bad Woman interrupted, her voice a deep, booming baritone.

Michael froze, his soul momentarily leaving his body.

Everyone who met Bad Woman had the same thought:

*If only she didn’t talk. If only she were mute.*

After some haggling between Mike and Michael, Shadow Two became a member of the Fifth Demon Cult with a monthly salary of 48,000 Lord merits.

“A member? He’s practically royalty at that price…” Michael wiped his brow, relieved. “I have three missions on Earth. First, find the prince. Check.”

Mike nodded. It was understandable that the Fifth Demon God wanted to contact Shadow Two.

He must be so proud of how well Thor had raised his son.

“Second, rebuild the Fifth Demon Cult. Monthly budget: 50,000 Lord merits…” Michael’s voice cracked.

With a budget of 50,000 and a salary of 48,000 for the “prince,” what was he supposed to do with the remaining 2,000?

“I have a suggestion regarding the Fifth Demon Cult’s reconstruction,” Mike said thoughtfully. “The ultimate goal is to kill the Fifth Demon God, right?”

Michael nodded vigorously.

Everyone’s mission was to facilitate the Fifth Demon God’s demise.

“Your previous strategy involved sabotage, assassination, increasing the threat to humanity, hoping to provoke a human powerhouse into dealing with the Fifth Demon God, right?”

“Exactly!” Michael looked confused. “Is there something wrong with that approach?”

“It’s completely wrong.” Mike’s voice was firm. “Instead of causing trouble for humanity, why not… support the enemy?”

He grew more animated as he spoke. “The Fifth Demon God wants to die, right? So, sponsor a group of loyal, high-potential human geniuses! Once they’re strong enough, they’ll naturally go after him! Sabotaging humanity only delays his death. Supporting the enemy is the fastest way to get him killed!”

Michael stared at Mike, dumbfounded. “That… actually makes sense!”

Bad Man, hiding in the shadows, shook his head. “He fell for it again.”