The Ancient Genes

Somewhere in Trinity…

A while ago..

"I guess it's time for me to leave, it sure was nice having a chat with you." Naze got up with a smile on his face as he looked at James.

"Well, I really doubt it was. But as long as you felt it that way." James returned his smile. "Do you need me to walk you out?"

"I will help myself. I am sure you have more urgent work." Naze smiled, and the two looked at each other from a brief moment before James finally broke the contact.

"Well, I won't see you out then."

James calmly sipped his tea as the Naze turned around and left.

As soon as he was gone, a frown immediately appeared on James's face. That guy had come at an absolutely wrong time. He was supposed to be overlooking the mission today, and passing down instructions in times of need.

But, the guy just barged into the room without even knocking. There was nothing that James could have done to stop him. Not to mention, the mission was well planned. So, there shouldn't have been much of a problem.

With Naze moving out, James picked his transmitter and a frown immediately appeared on his face as he found several messages on it from Arnold,

It only took him a minute to hear all the messages and his face turned extremely dark. There were several messages and it was very obvious that they had hit a blockade and were in need of instructions to cope up with the situation.

As for the person who was responsible for cooperating everyone's movement in case of their plan failing, was busy entertaining a guest.

"That guy…" James immediately turned his head around, but Naze was long gone from the place. There was no sight of him around. "Was it intentional…."

James didn't know. But, he felt that Naze's arrival at the moment of his need definitely was not a coincidence.

But, there was nothing he could do about it now.

He had to pay attention to what he had at his hands and think how he was going to salvage the situation.

"We will be changing things, Arnold. Your fight will be in the light now, it's time for you to come out of the shadows…." He took the transmitter and passed on the message.

….

Abandoned Factory, Trinity.

Current Situation…

"Arnold!"

Ander picked Arnold up and broke the chains that he was tied up with and freed him.

"What happened here?" Ander asked with a frown. "Where is Lear and your mother?"

"I-It's all my fault father…I got mother in trouble..."

"I wouldn't have been caught by that guy if I was not so weak. He used me to force mother to surrender…" Arnold was having difficulty speaking, but still continued with it.

"Where is your mom now? And, I sense Lear's mana around as well…" Ander asked him with a worried look on his face.

"Lear took mother away with his friend after defeating that guy."

"Why are you here then?" Ander asked with a frown.

"That.." Arnold hesitated before finally speaking out as he busted in tears, "He abandoned me father. He said I was behind all of this, and that I deserved to die."

Ander's face immediately turned ugly when he heard those words. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Is it because I am not his real brother that he suspects me like this?" Arnold's question seemed to hit a sore spot on Ander's heart. And, his face immediately contorted with a complex expression.

"It's not like that, I am sure there has been some kind of misunderstanding between you guys. We will clear it after we return." Ander picked him up and got out of the place he began to move in the direction which had the trail of a chase.

"I knew it. It's all.. that guy's fault. His friend... had been the one ..riling Lear up. Ever.. since he took Lear away, he seemed... to have changed somehow. Father, we should…. get Lear back fr...." Arnold looked to be barely holding onto his consciousness and it didn't last long as his eyelids fell before he could even complete his words.

Ander's face looked extremely heavy as he flew through the sky when a message finally arrived to him.

It was from Melinda.

She informed him that there was nothing to worry and that things were almost settled. And, everyone was safe and sound.

Originally, Ander would have felt relieved. But, now even though there was a bit of relief on hearing the news. It didn't show up on his face. There was a strange sense of heaviness over his heart. And, he didn't know what to do.

Lear was on one side accusing his brother. And, it was most likely something that he had got to know about from Max. After all, Max had contacted him due to the same issue the night before as well.

But, looking at Arnold, Ander really didn't know how to believe that information.

Was Max lying?

What was the benefit in doing so?

He didn't seem that type, but in today's world you never know what was going through a person's head.

As for Arnold lying, Ander had never suspected his children.

That was the reason that it was so difficult for him to even come to terms with the idea of his own child plotting against him.

He would have continued with this belief of trusting Arnold if not for his encounter with Max last night.

Max had told him that there were chances of something bad happening and it might even have something to do with Arnold and it did.

The more Ander thought about it, the more confused he became. The fatherly side of his was being more dominant on the Lord of Barnes House. This was preventing him from thinking logically without bringing in the emotional aspect in the equation.

….

On the other side…

Max was flying towards the Academy when Roman suddenly appeared before him with a flash of lightning.

"Finally found you," He said with a smile, looking at Max. He had come here after dropping the group back at the Academy.

"You really did a great job today," Roman slapped Max's back with a laugh before continuing, "So now, let me reward you."

He smiled before grabbing Max and disappearing, "Today, I will let you experience first hand what it feels like to be the part of a battle at my level."