Closing the trait panel, Tatsuma looked towards Vali, whose aura was gradually stabilizing in front of him.
"The new ability I've granted you is psychic energy. You can ask Toichiro for specific usage methods."
"Huh? Wait a minute!"
Before Vali could even speak, Toichiro, who was off to the side, couldn't sit still any longer.
"Leader, you can grant others superpowers?"
Tatsuma said, "Of course I can. Didn't you also awaken a Sealing-type ability this morning?"
Toichiro's expression became complicated. "Uh... I thought that was an ability I already had but hadn't awakened yet. I didn't think in that direction."
Awakening one's own potential abilities and granting brand new abilities.
The results of these two things seem similar, but their essence is completely different.
Inadvertently understanding the essence of Tatsuma's ability, Toichiro subconsciously thought of his wife.
"Leader, may I ask if your awakening can help ordinary people gain superpowers?"
Tatsuma said, "It can, but ordinary people's potential is very limited. If they undergo awakening, their physique and energy won't be enhanced. At most, they'll awaken a superpower."
"That's enough."
Toichiro became excited.
He had actually felt for a long time that the biggest gap between himself and his wife was strength. If his wife could become stronger, even just a little bit, perhaps she could understand his thoughts.
"Don't get too happy too soon."
As if seeing through Toichiro's thoughts, Tatsuma spoke up to remind him, "If you want your wife to gain sufficient strength, you need to pay more contribution points to purchase a high-level awakening."
Toichiro replied with confidence, "No problem. Any problem that can be solved with contribution points is not a problem."
He had read the new rules Tatsuma had formulated. They only prohibited private trading of contribution points.
The operation of using the branch chief's authority to monopolize high-level tasks, like before, was still feasible. At most, it would just be a bit tiring, which was nothing to him.
"Huh? Uncle, you have a way to quickly earn contribution points?"
On the other side, after hearing Toichiro's domineering statement, Kuroka curiously looked over.
"Teach me, will you? I want to earn some extra money too."
"Can't teach you. Only I can do this."
Toichiro ruthlessly refused, then looked at Vali next to him. "There are many ways to develop psychic energy. I can't teach you all at once. Let's add each other's contact information. You can ask me anytime if there's anything you don't understand."
"Okay."
"What's going on? You're all isolating me, nya!"
Looking to the left at Arthur, who had suddenly started practicing swordsmanship, then looking at Vali and Toichiro who were discussing how to use psychic energy, Kuroka pouted, feeling very unhappy.
Seeing this, Le Fay hesitated for a moment, walked over, and softly reminded her, "Kuroka, you can actually apply for a loan for awakening from Tatsuma too."
"Huh? Can I?"
"Of course you can. Tatsuma's loan targets are powerful potential stocks. Could it be that you aren't confident in your potential?"
"How is that possible! I'm super strong, nya!" Kuroka patted her chest, instantly regaining her confidence.
Indeed, she couldn't compare to freaks like Vali. But as a legendary Nekomata, Kuroka felt that she was no worse than Arthur and Le Fay.
Both of them could obtain awakening, so why couldn't she get a loan for awakening?
Gathering her courage again, Kuroka walked towards Tatsuma with cat-like steps.
"I want a loan, nya!"
Tatsuma said, "I temporarily won't provide this service to you."
"Not... not providing it?!"
Facing this unexpected reply, Kuroka couldn't help but be stunned for a moment.
But she quickly snapped back to her senses, a dissatisfied expression appearing on her face. "You're targeting me, nya!"
"Even Arthur can get a loan, why can't I? Nya!"
Tatsuma glanced at her and said, "Because I don't like the look of you. If you want to apply for a loan service, first come back with me to resolve Koneko's knot."
Kuroka: "..."
Kuroka, who had originally wanted to say something more, suddenly fell silent.
Of course, she knew who Tatsuma meant by Koneko.
After becoming a stray Devil and defecting, she had been secretly paying attention to her sister's situation.
However...
"Shirone has a big misunderstanding about me. Meeting her will cause problems, nya."
"It's okay. As long as I think it's okay, it is."
"But..."
"Don't forget your current identity."
Tatsuma reached out and pressed on Kuroka's head, a kind smile appearing on his face.
"As a low-level employee of Akatsuki, you are not qualified to refuse your leader's request."
"...You're so overbearing, nya." Kuroka couldn't help but complain.
But since things had come to this, she indeed had no right to refuse.
Accepting this result, Kuroka's mood began to become anxious.
"When are you planning to go home?"
"Later. I still have things to do."
Tatsuma waved towards Le Fay not far away.
Seeing this, Le Fay walked over immediately. "Tatsuma, is there something you need me for?"
Tatsuma said, "To ask about your next arrangements."
"Arrangements?"
"Yes, you now have two choices."
Tatsuma held up two fingers and said, "Stay at my place and focus on teaching me magic, or act together with Vali and the others to search for the Death Metropolis. Which one do you want to choose?"
"This..."
Le Fay's face showed hesitation.
To be honest, she had a certain fondness for Tatsuma. Coupled with her friend Meredith living at Tatsuma's house, she was more inclined to choose the first option in her heart.
But the problem was, if she chose that, she would have to act separately from Arthur.
On one side was family affection, on the other was friendship and love.
For Le Fay, it was a difficult choice.
However, just at this moment, Arthur's voice suddenly came from not far away. "Le Fay, stay at Tatsuma's place."
"Huh? But..."
"Don't worry about my safety."
Arthur put away Caliburn and walked over. "After gaining the awakening, Vali's and my strength are no longer what they used to be."
"More importantly, Akatsuki is not the same as the Khaos Brigade. It's essentially a legitimate force. Acting as members of the Akatsuki, we won't be hunted by other forces."
Are you sure?
Glancing at MAR, which was still covered by a barrier, Le Fay's expression became subtle.
Seeing this, Tatsuma coughed and spoke, "Le Fay, you don't need to worry about your brother's safety."
"Every member of the Akatsuki will receive an identity plate, engraved with my teleportation magic."
"Once they encounter danger, I will automatically receive a notification and go to rescue them."
"Huh? Really?"
"Of course, I have no need to lie to you."
Tatsuma took out a blank plate and handed it to Le Fay.
In fact, this rescue function was something he used to farm traits.
Most members of the Akatsuki were not weak. For them to be in danger, the enemy's strength was self-evident.
What seemed like a protective safety measure was actually a hunting operation to screen high-quality enemies. However, this reason couldn't be told to others, so the official explanation had always been to protect his subordinates.
Because of this, Tatsuma's prestige within Akatsuki had increased significantly, and he had gained a group of supporters.
At this moment, this excuse also convinced the still-hesitant Le Fay, allowing her to make a decision.
"Since brother's safety is not an issue, I will stay at Tatsuma's place."
Arthur nodded slightly in response. "Okay, you can contact me anytime if you need anything."
Then he reached out and picked up Bikou, who was still unconscious.
Bidding farewell to Tatsuma and the other two, he took Bikou to Vali, who was not far away.
Not long after, the three of them departed the barrier and began their mission to search for the Death Metropolis.
Meanwhile, Tatsuma brought Le Fay and Kuroka to the top floor of MAR.
"Ladli, how is the data sorting going?"
"It's all copied, this is all the data on Divine Iron and the Dimensional Battleship."
Ladli, who was busy in the President's office, stopped what she was doing and handed a USB drive to Tatsuma.
"Well done."
Tatsuma took the USB drive and began outlining the future development direction of MAR.
Simply put, it was two words: Mass Production.
Optimize the technology for manufacturing artificial Demonic Beasts, reduce costs, and create the strongest Demonic Beasts with the least amount of resources.
Tatsuma asked, "Can it be done?"
Ladli said, "The technology for manufacturing Demonic Beasts is already very mature. Further progress will require time."
Tatsuma asked, "About how long?"
"Six months to a year."
"If you obtain the alchemy technology belonging to the Bible faction, can you speed up the research and development?"
"This... I haven't tried it, so I'm not sure, but I should be able to gain some inspiration."
"Then let's give it a try first."
Tatsuma made the decision.
After the Three Factions Conference concluded, the Devil, Angel, and Fallen Angel factions were about to begin comprehensive cooperation. In this process, exchanging their respective technologies and jointly learning from each other was naturally unavoidable.
It was just unknown whether Sirzechs and the others could accept MAR joining the alliance.