Michael was a tad bit surprised after hearing her proposition. It wasn't just a few minutes ago where she refused to tell him anything about their secret organization.
"What will I get if I join?"
In his perspective, there wasn't really any benefit in joining a super secretive organization with a vendetta against another super secretive organization. It was the same reason why he didn't join the Guild of Arcana when Seberus invited him some time ago. He valued his freedom too much. And seeing as how it took him besieging an entire stronghold for Katarina to finally tell him the truth, he had a feeling that his freedom of speech would be more than curtailed in this organization.
"Let me guess, I'll have to swear by some oath never to tell anyone about it?"
Katarina's silence was an implicit admission. He'd be doing more than just keep his mouth shut about the things in the Eternitus Consortium. He'd also have to go on missions mandated by their authority, either spying on a potential stronghold, or sieging one with their army.
Of course, there were a lot of benefits in joining the Consortium. For example, all of his cultivation resources would be paid and accommodated for by the organization. He'd be lavishly given all the GodForge pieces he needed if he showed himself as a worthy talent.
Not only that, but the Eternitus Consortium had a vast connection of people all around the globe. If he were to join, he would get access to everything they had, including the forbidden knowledge, esoteric texts, and everything else in between.
If he needed to get inside an impenetrable or restricted room, there was always an agent on standby that would allow them that access if needed be.
Unfortunately, those connections couldn't be used to live an opulent life. They couldn't sumptuously use organization funds to purchase something that didn't directly correlate to their goal of defeating the Ersatz.
Because of that, the Eternitus Consortium was best for people with an inexorable zeal to protect the world.
This was the reason why Professor Lichtenstein was attracted to the organization in the first place. They had a mutual enthusiasm to protect the Ancient Era from those who wish to destroy it from the history books.
In short, if one didn't have an ardent or fervent loyalty to their cause, then they weren't the right fit to become a part of Eternitus.
Keo didn't seem like the type.
"I feel like we'll need you more than you need us," Katarina confessed.
She still remembered the strange, flying metal saucer that seemed to disappear and reappear at will, and how it could fly faster than even the fastest eagles.
Then, she remembered the Compound Bow. He seemed to imply that he had more of those mythical weapons on hand, which was unbelievable in and of itself.
That alone would have made Keo a point of interest to the Eternitus Consortium below only that of the professor himself.
And add in to the fact that he defeated a Platinum-level Maugnetic and a Nascent Spirit Piece all by himself… well, suffice it to say, they'd be the one doing the begging to have him join.
"But perhaps you don't have to join," she added. "What do you mean?"
"What I mean is that you'll be a secret, honorary member of the Eterinitus Consortium mandated on my behalf."
Michael leaned in, interested.
"This means that you'll be able to participate in our organization's missions in a less direct approach—from the shadows. No one, not even those in our organization will know of your existence except for me.
This would allow you to keep your freedom and your safety while we're engaged in a war against the Ersatz."
Michael rubbed his chin, deep thoughts running through his head.
"So you want me to help you fight for free?"
She was basically treating him as an intern!
"That's the only way for you to keep your identity a secret. If you were to receive the benefits, then I'll have to officially log you into the records. You'll have to swear an oath at that point," she argued.
But still, she was cognizant of the fact that this wasn't really all that fair to him.
"What do you want?"
A smile curved up on his mouth. "I know that you can't give me any GodForge pieces, but… how about that?"
He gestured towards the dead hooded figures lying bloodless on the ground.
"Their Artifice… give it to me," he demanded.
This time, she was surprised. After a second of thought, a concerned and slightly wary expression flashed on her face.
"What are you going to do with them?"
He waved off her concern. "Don't worry. I'm not going to use them on any humans. I just want to experiment on them."
Katarina inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. Then, with a little bit of thought, acquiesced at his request.
"Alright, that can be arranged. Our organization is not above in getting our hands dirty to find out the enigmatic secrets of the Artifice. Maybe you'll be able to make some headway where our scientists haven't.
I can't give you the Artifice from those I killed, but you can take the ones you've killed on your own. These ten pawns and that Platinum are your possession now."
Katarina extended her hands, emanating a shockwave of tangible Aubility Power.
Then, she wrenched something from the air.
Immediately, the dark, glassy, anthracite icebergs burst out of the Ersatz guards' chests, sending chunks of bone and frosty viscera flying into the air.
As soon as these Artifices felt the presence of oxygen in the air, a predetermined set of reactions were suddenly activated.
A reddish hue glowed from their core, pulsating with an increasing frequency.
The black, tenebrous gas gathering at its edges became more and more solid as it showed signs of an eruption.
But with a single snap of Katarina's hands, an even more powerful Aubility Power seemingly cut the tension like a knife, dispersing the tenebrous black gas into nothingness.
The Artifice turned benign, just like that.