After the introductions, Marissa immediately asked a direct question that they had been waiting for.
"Mr. James, may we know if you're affiliated with any faction? The reason we came here is simple—to invite you. With your awakening, remaining without backing would be a waste of your potential."
All eyes instantly turned toward him as there was a chance that James might be from a sect or big family because Lan Yaolei called him as her young master.
James shook his head with a smile. "I'm not affiliated with any faction. And as for joining…" He paused for a moment as he leaned back slightly in his seat. "I don't have that intention at the moment, nor anytime soon. Instead, I think I'll make my own faction in the near future."
When they heard it, they exchanged glances and raised their eyebrows. Some smirked with interest while the others frowned slightly at what they considered arrogance.
The greatsword wielder chuckled. "Your own faction, huh? Such ambition… I like that."
James only responded with a smile, then asked as he glanced at everyone. "May I ask something? Let's say that if I want to recruit Awakeners for simple things like bodyguards or even to join factions, where do I go, or what do I need to do?"
This time, Shen Wuya spoke seriously. "For recruitment, the proper channel is obviously the Awakener Association. They manage everything related to Awakeners in general. If you want to recruit people, you'll find them there. Of course, quality depends on what you can offer."
The others nodded in agreement, and Marissa added with a meaningful look, "Forming a faction is no small feat, especially if you want to make it on your own."
She paused for a second, then looked at Lan Yaolei with a smile. "But if she helps you, I don't think it would be a problem, and the association will definitely help you with it."
"I see. Thanks for the information." James nodded.
…
After small talk, they excused themselves since they couldn't bring James to their own factions.
James and Lan Yaolei then came back to the master's suite, as the current problem had been solved and he needed to reassure his younger siblings so that they wouldn't be worried.
The moment he opened the door, a little girl ran toward him and jumped on him, hanging onto his body like a koala cutely.
"Is everything okay?" Kai asked with a worried expression.
"Don't worry, it's all good now." James replied with a smile, his right hand caressing the little princess hanging onto his body.
Kai sighed in relief, then looked at the bathroom. "What should we do about this mess now?"
"Selene, can I leave this to you?" James looked at Selene, maintaining his smile.
"Of course, leave it to me. As for the payment—"
Before Selene could reply, James cut her off. "Just give me your bank account number, and I'll transfer the money to you instead of doing such a hassle."
Selene gave James her bank account number, thinking that James truly didn't want to do such a hassle after becoming rich.
Without batting an eye, James transferred $100,000 to her bank account, surprising her since she was certain that James wouldn't be so ignorant to the point of thinking that the cost of repair would be that much.
"This…" She paused for a second, then immediately continued. "It's too much! Let me return—"
"It's fine, keep the rest." James cut her off again as he waved his hand. "Just take it since you have helped me a lot back in the day and today."
"But—"
"No but! It's nothing for the current me anyway, so just take it." James cut her off once again and looked at Kai. "Let's go!"
James immediately started to walk away as he picked Liora up in his arms and pinched her cheek with a faint smile. "You're already this big, stop acting like a 5 year-old kid."
In response, Liora poked her cheek below the eye with a finger and pulled it down as she stuck her tongue out cutely. "Wlee!"
"You little brat!" James pinched her small nose with a smile.
The moment everyone was out of Selene's sight, she clenched her phone tightly, and tears started to flow in her eyes, dripping down on her phone.
Even though she truly wanted to return the money to James, deep down in her heart she also needed the money because with it, she would finally gather more than two-thirds of her mom's hospital bills.
A moment later, she realized something and ran out of the room, looking for James, but nothing was to be seen.
Then she immediately ran outside, and fortunately, James and the others hadn't left yet as they just reached the car.
"James!" Selene shouted and bowed deeply, genuinely expressing her gratitude since it truly meant so much to her. "Thank you, truly!"
"Just consider it a payment for the meals you've given me over the years when we were in high school before." James chuckled lightly as he opened the door.
"Anyway, please take care of the mess as soon as possible and don't forget to update me. I have to go somewhere now." James waved his hand with a smile and went inside the car, sitting at the front with Liora on his lap.
"Don't worry, you definitely won't be dissatisfied with the result." Selene waved back while wiping her eyes with a wide smile.
Inside the car, Liora looked up at James and asked curiously. "What do you mean by the meals that she has given you over the years?"
"It's nothing, you only need to know that she was extremely nice to me when I was in high school, okay?" James replied, patting her head softly with a smile.
"Mhhmm–Mhmmm." Liora nodded her head cutely in understanding.
James sighed softly, thinking about the kindness Selene had shown to him after the death of his parents that happened five years ago when he was in the 2nd grade of high school.
Because the financial situation at that time wasn't good, James decided to not eat lunch at school, as it could save money in the long term, and always eat in small portions so that his younger siblings could eat comfortably, at least in terms of portions.
However, after a few days of doing that, there was a time when his stomach growled, and Selene just happened to notice that. At that time when everyone was out for the break time, leaving only James and Selene in the class, she offered him her packed lunch meal that she brought from her home.
At first James refused her, but Selene kept insisting that he should eat it, as she was on a diet anyway. James finally gave in under the pressure and reassurance from Selene.
From then on, Selene had always given her meal to him, and he always took it shamelessly since he couldn't care less about his image anymore, only his belly matters. Not only that, when she noticed that he always put aside some particular food like steak, chicken, etc and only ate the rice and fries—she started to give more portions of them.
Needless to say, James always brought the food back home to share with his siblings so that they could eat good food and he could save money at the same time.
Only after a month did he discover Selene actually had been eating at the cafeteria because she gave her meal to him.
After that, he tried to refuse the meal given to him from then on, but Selene was being so adamant about it for some reason. Then, James finally gave in again as he was not at a loss even though he could only remember this kindness in his heart and would repay her if he had the chance to do so.
That was precisely why he truly wanted to help her to the point that he wouldn't even bat an eye even if he needed to spend $1,000,000 or more because of it.