Alvin wasn't interested in the so-called "Golden Apple" at all. He hadn't considered the thing for a single moment.
When you got right down to it, the thing was just a shrunken, inferior version of the Mind Stone...
Its only value to Alvin might be as an ingredient for crafting a piece of magic equipment, just to see how things turned out.
But Alvin's backpack still held cosmic-level powers like the "Power Stone" and the "Reality Stone." Vanaheim's locally produced "Golden Apple" didn't even come close.
At best, it was on the same level as "Mjolnir" and "Gungnir." For that matter, "Mjolnir" was still sitting in the plaza in front of the school's main building, where students could try their hand at being a "worthy king."
Still, Sloane's response had shown the sincerity of his offer. Deep down, the guy was a pragmatist.
Maybe he'd handed over the Golden Apple out of principle, but using it to draw Alvin into action had definitely been part of his plan, too.
Sloane had simply got his priorities wrong. What had drawn Alvin in wasn't the Golden Apple, but the Vanaheim survivors' affront to "freedom."
That was the true "Heavenly Law." Anyone who violated it didn't deserve to live!
Alvin reached out and shook Sloane's hand, then said with a smile, "The Assassins League isn't bad, actually. If you were founded on the 'Assassin's Creed,' I bet you're even better.
"I like this 'Assassin's Creed' you're talking about. When all this is over, come talk to me if you're willing.
"'Freedom' is humanity's most precious thing. Your fight with Vanaheim didn't really touch on the essence of 'freedom,' but I'm still happy to help you.
"I'm good at cutting people down, but overthrowing the Elder Council in the short term is impossible. The