After helping Anna and giving her at least an anchor that would support her for at least some time, Eric quickly left the place and started to find other targets.
"Now, it will depend on how she walks forward. If she shows courage, she will have a fulfilling life, but if she spirals into self-pity again, then she will only find herself again at the same bridge, with only darkness as her final stop."
Eric put his left hand in his suit's left pocket and took out a copper coin. The copper coin was comparatively smaller than a normal coin and didn't look anything extraordinary. But in fact, it was a rank 5 relic of the Overseeing Pathway.
This relic had been teleported to his house at midnight by Voyage, completing his agreement of sending a rank 5 relic of the Overseeing Pathway on Saturday.
Its ability was to help in divinations—that was it. Its negative effect was that every once in a while, the user would forget his sense of direction. But since it was just rank 5, its negative effect wasn't anything that could cause harm to a Lysi Nova. The negative effect would also be closer to taking effect the more it was used. Till now, Eric had just used it once to find someone who was close to death and needed help, thus getting some directions, which allowed him to reach Anna before she jumped, saving her.
This complimented his goal as Mike Jackson—impersonating someone from the Goodness Pathway and filling up the good deeds in the Imperator's Cross.
After helping Anna, Eric had walked quite the distance from the bridge. He stepped into a narrow alley as he closed his eyes and sent some of his consciousness into the Imperator's Cross. He saw the Imperator's Cross in the darkness. Slowly, the solid form of the cross became transparent, and inside was like a vial with white-silver liquid filled in. At this point it was filled only twenty percent, but upon seeing this, Eric's body became excited and happy as he tightly clenched his fists.
"Yes! Ten whole percent just from helping one person! On top of this, I have also figured out some ways to increase the rate of accumulating good deeds in the Imperator's Cross!"
Eric was very happy. All his efforts earlier were paid back.
"I have gained a lot of insights from helping Anna. First, my emotions. Though me doing bad deeds or crimes do not affect the good deeds I have already collected and accumulated, however, if my emotions in helping the person are sincere and real, then that act will make me accumulate more good deeds." For example, like earlier with Anna. His feelings, care, and worry for her were genuine. He put all his heart into helping her and easing her pain.
"So, I can cause trouble and then help the ones who got in trouble due to me, still being able to accumulate good deeds, but it will not be as efficient and will take a lot of effort. It is not worth it to take that approach."
Before, when Eric found out that committing crimes or doing bad deeds doesn't affect the good deeds he has accumulated, Eric got the idea of causing troubles and then resolving it himself. He had thought it would be the fastest and most efficient method, but after figuring out this point, he immediately left this approach as the effort and time put in far outweigh the benefits.
"Helping a lot of people at the same time or helping a single person with all your heart—this is the fastest way to accumulate good deeds. Earlier, I have donated a lot of money to various charities, increasing the good deeds by eight percent."
Eric has a lot of money but he never reveals it to Ruby or Zoe. Only Max knows this. He has invested a lot in stocks and made banks. His deduction abilities with some luck and patience allow him to have ample money. He just chooses to live a humble life. This money he makes is for emergencies and for experiments with relics like he had just done with the charity and Anna. He was very glad that he had saved this money as he can farm good deeds much more easily and effectively.
When Eric had first gained the Imperator's Cross from Father Irenaeus, the good deeds in the cross were zero. The reason was that since the father can't go out of the church, how can he collect good deeds? When he does need to use the Imperator's Cross, he would directly use it by borrowing the power of the Church of Serenity.
After getting the cross, he had helped a lot of beggars and people with small problems, but even after helping dozens of people, only two percent of good deeds was filled up. To test another approach, he decided to donate to charity, which reaped him great results. Now helping Anna gave him even higher results!
"The Church of Serenity is really mysterious and mystical. It is too bad I can't yet comprehend what it is. No, even if I could, I would not have dared to. It is too dangerous. If the father can help me with such a powerful relic without any problem then he can kill me as easily too."
Eric had never felt at ease while using the Imperator's Cross. He also had no trust in Uriel, Pixie, or any other angel that was living in the Imperator's Cross. He has always been wary of them. Not only that, an angel there had even searched his memory, but for some reason, he feels that the voice in his head wasn't exposed. It is not that he isn't certain, but he got no premonition. Maybe the church stopped his premonition?
These were all possibilities he was afraid of. He had never cared about the voice but he has always been worried that if the voice were found out, it won't be good for him.
However, a wise man submits to circumstances. Eric currently is just a lone force. He only has Max as his fully trusted companion. He is just allied with two great bodies and nothing much more than that. He has no doubt that once whatever value they had—may it be in this mysterious, hidden, and grand Paris operation or any point in the future—they would be used as cannon fodder for sure. To avoid that, Eric has to take every step carefully and increase his strength as fast as he can.
To raise one's rank takes too much time, effort, opportunities, resources, planning, and luck. It is much better to have high-ranking relics to boost one's strength in a short time. However, then negative effects become a pain in the ass.
Eric was very lucky to be able to get both a rank 0 relic and also not have to suffer from its negative effects. A rank 0 relic's negative effects is not something a low rank like him can handle.
But this just increases his wariness. Eric shook his head and stopped thinking about this stuff. The more he thinks, the more he worries and the more it will lead him to lose control.
Eric then rolled his right sleeve and looked that the silver skin had formed even more on his skin. He decided to be careful. Taking out a knife from his pocket, he cut it off, causing pain and blood to flow. He quickly took out his golden liquid from his forearms which entered the wounds and healed his wounds, making his wrists as good as new. He cleaned the blood with a handkerchief and adjusted his clothing.
He had chosen to wear this black tailored clothes which covered his entire body for this reason—to hide the silver skin that forms on his body.
Otherwise, how would people react when they see silver forming on his skin?
Eric had taken leave from work today after calling in sick. Max had already seen his new persona and shown his support and agreement on this. He would tell everyone at work that he was indeed sick. He had long woken Ruby before going out. He had told her that he is not going to work today and has some work to do.
Eric used one of the many angels in the Imperator's Cross to alter her memory a little, causing her to remember that she went to sleep early the night before and even forgot to cook dinner. She apologized but Eric just told her to go back to sleep as it was still very early—with a heavy heart.
Not just this, a note has been sent by Edward in which there was a mission and some very important information, especially to Eric it was something very crucial.
There was information on the identity and details of the person whom they call the first one!!
This was in no doubt a very good thing for Eric. He was someone smart. He immediately realised that this mission's payment was none other than this information that he gained. It also showed Edward's sincerity. Edward mentioned that the Divine Karma had also known this information but had hidden it from them.
"This guy either really hates the Divine Karma or is just trying really hard to sow discord between us as allies. I think the former has more chances of being true." Eric thought in his mind as he read the note again.
This note was not a simple paper, but a rank 6 relic that was mass-produced especially by the Blackknight family in order to send messages, information, and communicate with the world and outside helpers like Eric. It was in a way their symbol. Anyone who is knowledgeable even a little will recognize these notes, not to mention Eric.
The note looks like any other plain green-coloured note but when he injects his golden liquid and rubs the note with his fingers, a paper will appear in his mind with words written in Lumanioan language. Eric was very fluent in this language and could easily read this.
It starts with Edward greeting him, addressing him as the third one as always, then giving him the mission to meet and help and guide a sixteen-year-old teenage boy Adrian Blackbell who studies in the high school that Eric passes by every time he and Max have to walk to the police station.
When Eric first read this, he had doubts about why to help and guide this teenage boy to awaken. Maybe because Lumenia saw his talent and wants to recruit him? This was the first thought that Eric had, but when he moved to the last section, his eyes widened as he realised. Though, he was still a little shocked while reading the note again.
This Adrian Blackbell was the first one! This one line was the most important part of the letter. It mentioned all the information regarding Adrian—his age, height, personality, likes and dislikes, family members, routine, places he often visits, and many other things. There were just no friends of his mentioned, it made Eric feel a little confused.
"I guess this Adrian kid has not a single friend. According to his personality, it is nothing shocking. But still, a highschooler having no friends? It is the first I have heard this. Even I, with my cold and unfriendly vibes, still had friends in high school… or is this intentional? Well it doesn't matter much, does it? Why am I jinxing it?"
Eric read the letter again three more times before taking out his phone and writing down the contents of the letter in three different files, saving them, putting passwords, also remembering all the contents in his mind again before he started writing his replies. The process was simple. He just willed and the paper in his mind became blank. He then willed and words started to form on the paper. After he wrote a reply.
He tightly grabbed the note and threw it forward. A small dimensional rift formed in the air, taking in the note. The letter will be sent to Edward in no time.
"There is still time for Adrian's school to end. I must use this time and help as many people as I can. If I can reach even thirty percent of good deeds, it would be the best and give me more drive for the future." Eric whispered as he got out of the narrow alley and put up his act of Mike Jackson again.
Eric bent his back a little in front of a glass of a building looking at himself. He was as he wanted to look: handsome, graceful, kind, and charming. His gaze went to the black umbrella he was holding. He felt a little weird as he put the black umbrella against his right shoulder and grabbed the handle lightly with both his hands. It made him feel at ease for some time.
Even though Eric was putting himself as Mike Jackson, he reminded himself once every often to remember who he was. If he got too much in this act, he will get sucked in, remembering his sense of self and losing control.
Normally, people belonging to the Deceiver Pathway have to care about stuff like this, but now he has to do the same. However, he was not that much in worry as the others might be. Because he in fact is putting on a mask called Mike Jackson and interacting with others, allowing him to look at the world in a different perspective and creating a wall in his mind that can confuse the sub-consciousness of his liquids, allowing him to not lose control. It is to be remembered again that if he gets too much in the act, this wall will crash with his sense of self, destroying it, making him inevitably lose control.
But what he is doing different is that this mask of his is not completely fake but mixed with some lies and a different side of his. Eric is inwardly kind, caring, and likes to joke but his main characteristics dominate these characteristics. Now that he can bring them out in this new persona of his. It allows him to still make a wall in his mind. Even if this wall is small and full of cracks, it is fine by him as it also means that even if he gets too much in the act, he can still avoid losing control if he realizes it in time.
But even after all this, he still decided to not be careless.
Truth sucked in more of his golden liquid from inside his body as his skin seemed to start glowing in an illusionary invisible light. His charm increased and a lot of attention was attracted by him.
Looking at the sun that had risen fully, Eric ignored those people's gazes and took a deep sigh as he readied himself to help others.
Eric took out the copper coin again and started to do another divination.
…
A little girl with black eyes and golden eyes was lost in a market. She was crying loudly but the loud voices and the busy people around her ignored her. Even if someone tried to help her, she didn't stop crying, making the people who were already busy go away.
She was constantly screaming for her mother. Who knows where she is?
Just when she was walking around, crying, trying to find her mama through her teary eyes, she heard the gentle and sweet voice of a man in her ears. It was clearly heard by her despite the heavy and loud noises around her.
She at once stopped crying as she looked up with her big, cute, teary eyes. In her vision, she saw a man who was holding an umbrella, looking down at her with a kind smile and gentle gaze.
It was none other than Eric. Eric squatted down on his toes and covered the sunlight that was coming on her to stop, making her feel a little cold. It was very nice. Eric just chuckled and said, "Would you like to see a magic trick, little angel?"
Before she could mutter anything else, Eric took out a copper coin and showed it to her, telling her not to take her eyes off of it. He then closed his palm and opened it again. The coin wasn't there.
"Where did the coin go?" Eric said as he showed a shocked expression that was very childish, but it made her laugh. Then he put his hand in her soft hair and when he took his hand out, the coin was there!
The girl laughed at this scene. Eric then stroked her hair as he asked why she was crying. She told him that she is looking for her mama. Her mama is very forgetful and often gets lost. She was worried for her.
Eric's hands froze for a second before he continued and praised her as a good girl. He then lifted her from the ground and put her against his chest as he stood up. He looked down at her and said with a smile as he handed her a multi-flavoured lollipop, "Then let's find your forgetful mama together!"
The little girl's eyes shone as she took the lollipop and started to suck on it. Eric closed the umbrella for the time being and grabbed the handle using his left hand as he caught the little girl with his right arm. He was much stronger than a physical human. He could easily lift her and keep her there without any strain even for a long time.
As the girl started to suck on the lollipop and talk about her mother, Eric and her walked around the market, trying to find her mother. The girl didn't know her mother's name, just how she looked: yellow hair and golden eyes. Eric's brows furrowed a little as he thought that it might be who he thinks she was, but what would be the coincidence?
Finally, after walking and asking around for twenty minutes, a woman's scream entered Eric's and the little girl's ears. "Anya!!"
"Mama!" the little girl screamed from over Eric's shoulder. Eric turned behind and saw a young and beautiful lady running toward them. She had indeed yellow hair and golden eyes. Her skin was white as snow.
Her expression was one of worry, fear, and guilt. She was very scared when she saw her daughter Anya being held by a stranger, but when Eric turned around and she saw who it was, she slowed down as her eyes widened in shock. To think that they had just met a few hours ago and now, through a stroke of fate, they met again.
Eric showed a smile on his face as he handed Anya back to her mother. "It has been a while, Anna?"
Anna was staring at his face with widened eyes before she was startled back to awareness by Anya who was slapping her cheeks red and screaming at her to not get lost again.
Anna's lips curled up into a big and embarrassed smile as she blushed. She looked away and thanked Eric and also apologised. "I-I-Thank you again Mr. Mike Jackson! You had just helped me this morning and to think my carelessness caused you trouble yet again, oh… to think!"
Eric waved his hands, stopped her from speaking more, and reassured her that he doesn't mind. He was just happy that she was making good use of the money he gave them. He intentionally left the extra money so that they could buy groceries.
Hearing this, Anna heaved a sigh of relief. She still couldn't meet his gaze and was being shy. Looking at this state of her mama, Anya spoke, "Mama! Uncle Mike is a very kind and gentle person. I like him a lot. Invite him to our home!"
Anna quickly covered Anya's mouth with her hand and whispered in her ear that was clearly heard by Eric, "Hey Anya! Stop talking. Mr. Mike is a busy man. He doesn't have time to be coming at our home. Stay quiet!"
Looking at this, Eric couldn't help but laugh for real. To think that the woman that was gonna suicide was now acting like this, but it shows a reality: just because one is happy and looking fulfilled from the outside, doesn't mean that they are also happy and in peace inside. Everyone has their troubles. The old beggar with surviving, Eric with increasing his strength and advantage, Anna with her past and suicidal thoughts.
Eric bent his back a little and said to Anya, "It's okay little angel. If one day I am free, I will definitely come to your house, but not today. Just promise me you will listen to your mother and also not let her out of your sight, ok?"
"I won't!" Anya promised. Eric stood straight again as Anna finally looked up at Eric. She took a deep breath as she said with a shy voice, "I-I just want to thank you for your help Mr. Mike. Thank you for giving us this much help without wanting anything else in return. If not for you, I still would have been a shadow of my old self. I promise I will keep on and won't falter even though I am still scared. I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
Eric waved his hands as he tried to be humble. "No, no. It was my pleasure. I did it for my own too. I like helping people. It brings me peace and increases my self-worth and confidence. Helping you allowed me to do that. You living good is the biggest thank you you can give me. Well then, I have to go. May fate make us meet again."
Eric then opened his umbrella and put the umbrella against his right shoulder and put both his hands on the handle before turning around and leaving. Anna and Anya waved their hands, saying goodbye. Anna didn't stop looking at Eric till his figure vanished in the crowd. Anya looked up at her mama and said, "Do you like him?"
Anna startled and pouted as she looked at her gremlin daughter and started to attack her neck with her mouth, making her tickle and laugh.
"Only 29 percent? It seems that despite emotions and intent being there, helping the same person, even indirectly, affects the good deeds," Eric thought as he left the market.
…
An elderly woman was having trouble sitting down. Eric quickly came and helped her.
Getting praises about his looks, kindness, and some cookies from the sweet grandma.
…
He helped a grandpa negotiate with a pawn shop owner. The grandpa offered him money but he refused.
…
He educated some kids living in a shelter made by an NGO. Getting high praises and loads of love from the kids.
…
Eric gave first aid to a pet dog who was hit by a car and helped taking it to the vet, saving its life.
…
Eric stopped a teenage homeless boy's attempt at stealing a bag. He educated him and gave him some food and tips on how to build a life. He helped him get in the shelter of the NGO he had just taught an hour before.
…
Eric helped the police by acting as a witness on an attempt of rape done on a lady by a drunk, lustful, and broke man. He was gonna stop it but the police came, thus he decided to act as a witness.
…
Time flew when you are having fun at work. Eric helped over a dozen people and when he inspected the cross, the good deeds were at 39 percent. It was much higher than he expected.
"The start is slow but once you gain experience, the advantage will snowball gradually. This is why a person is able to more effectively use a relic the more time they spend on using it. I can finally feel this."
The higher a relic's rank, the more complicated it is. Eric can finally feel the difference now that he has several relics in his possession.
He was now sitting on a seat outside in front of the restaurant that Adrian comes to every day after school. This is where he will meet him.