The Ancient Genes

"Take care then, and win the competition.." Max smiled as he looked at Axel. The guy had come to drop him off. After all, Max was leaving today. Eren was also here with him.

The rest of the guys had just bid him farewell when he got out of the Academy.

"Well, I will try my best." Axel nodded. He knew that this was an important responsibility, and he had to shoulder it.

"I heard you had a person travelling with you? Why don't I see him?" Axel suddenly asked as he looked around. Max had told him that Naze would be moving along with him for a while, but he sure couldn't see the guy around.

"I don't know." Max gave out a bitter smile. That guy sure was trying to hide from Axel. If not, he should have shown up by now.

Axel sighed, and didn't say anything to Max.

"Well, it's time," Max said as he looked at the clock on the station. He then waved his hand, and got into the express car.

'That guy still isn't here..' Max muttered inwardly as he looked at the empty seat beside him.

A few minutes later, the express car began to move and when it edged towards the border of Trinity. A guy finally came from another unit of the express car.

It was Naze.

"I guess I am safe now.." He muttered in relief before taking his seat.

"You could have said goodbye at least." Max looked at him with a calm face.

"I fulfilled our promise. Don't expect me to do anymore than that," He replied to Max.

"Well, that is true." Max couldn't retort to it. He should have been very specific about the bet. And, he sure would have been if he knew this guy would act like this.

"So, why did you decide to follow me around?" Max asked curiously, "I am sure that your job was done. I mean you guys got the alliance."

"Well, the alliance is with you. It would succeed or fail with you. So, you are an important person for us. And, I am here to make sure this important person doesn't die," Naze replied with a smile.

"Bodyguard?" Max asked with an amused look on his face. "Does that mean, I can use you at my convenience?"

"Well, I am straight so that kind of services aren't available.." Naze calmly replied.

"Well, that's reassuring.." Max only smiled at him. "At least I know that I can use you as a body double to fake my death in time of need."

Naze's face twitched.

How the hell was someone supposed to be a body double of a dead person?

Well, it was obvious. You had to die as well.

Wasn't this guy blatantly telling him that he would kill him if needed to be?

"I think we should make our employment contract in detail." Naze forced a smile on his face.

"Well, I didn't ask you to follow me. But, now that you are doing it, be ready for what is about to come." Max smiled, and then closed his eyes.

'Maybe I should have volunteered for another job..' Naze frowned. It seemed he had hopped onto the wrong boat.

….

"Did you see the match today?" Riser asked with a smile as he looked at Axel and Eren, who had just returned after dropping Max.

"Why? Did something interesting happen?" Axel asked with a calm look on his face.

"Well, it was much more than that." August, who was in the room, laughed.

"Guess what…Ethera lost to Trinity.."

Axel was definitely taken back a bit.

Mr. Cool was actually participating in the fight as a melee. So, he was surprised they lost to Trinity.

"Their ace was actually lured out by a girl, and shot down. You should see the replay. That was hilarious.."

Axle really was speechless after hearing that.

But, he wasn't surprised for some reason. It really sounded like a thing that could happen to that guy. He was an idiot after all.

'He most likely had another motive behind it..' Axel muttered inwardly when he realized that the guy had some kind of spatial ability. There was no way that he would be hit so easily.

If Axel gave it a logical thought, that guy's ability would make him one of the strongest in this type of competition.

"Anyway, we just have to wait and watch now. We have already secured ourselves a place in the finals. The team who comes as the winner from the lower bracket will face off with Trinity, and then we will have our opponent," Eren said in a carefree manner as he sat on the couch.

…

Max and Naze were calmly laid on their seats. The journey would be long and they knew it.

And, Max realized that it was better to relax as much as he could. After all, he had a bad history with express cars.

Just thinking about it made his face twitch.

'Let's hope it will be peaceful this time around..' He prayed inwardly.

"Excuse me, it's my seat in the corner.." An aged voice suddenly entered Max's ear.

This express car's seat arrangement was a bit different from the one Max previously travelled in. Instead of two, this one had three seats joined together on each side.

He immediately moved his legs creating enough space for the person to pass. His eyes were still closed.

Naze had taken the seat by the window. But, the old man didn't bicker with him, and just sat in the middle of two of them.

"Now, shall we start our discussion young man?"

A frown appeared on Max's face. He just wanted to rest, and wasn't interested in talking.

'Wait a second, why does this voice sound familiar..' Max's frown deepened, and he opened his eyes to look at the person beside.

The next instant, he froze.

It was the old man.

The Old man from the Yule Family.

"What? Surprised to see me here?" He asked with a smile.

Max's face turned a bit dark. This wasn't the place he wanted to meet him.

He suddenly turned his head a bit to look at Naze, and saw the guy sleeping soundly. His face immediately turned gloomy at the sight of that guy drooling in his sleep.

And, this guy was supposed to be his bodyguard.

Just who was supposed to guard who..

Max shook his head. He felt it was useless to talk about it. He really would have been better without a guard. He had actually eased a bit, thinking that someone had his eyes open. But, thankfully, he was early to realize it.

Now, he would make sure to not repeat this mistake.

"Have you been following me?" Max asked, looking at the old man.

"Well, kind of..I need that thing back after all," The old man replied.

"I returned it to its rightful owner.."

"Rightful owner?" The old man frowned, "There is no such person.."

"There is.." Max insisted. He actually hadn't returned it yet. But, he needed to use that lie to bring Erina into his eyes.

"Do you even know what it is?" The old man asked with a frown as he erected a small oval shaped barrier around him and Max to stop anyone from eavesdropping.

He had a feeling that Max knew what the weapon was, but it was a ridiculous thought. Even Ancient families weren't aware of the fact, so how could Max be?

"Isn't that one of the Artifact or spirit shells…use the term you prefer.." Max calmly replied.

The old man's eyes immediately widened in surprise.

"H-How? How do you know about it?"

"Why can't I?" Max asked with a smile.

"Ridiculous! Only the people who has gone through the Cemetery and gained its approval should have some knowledge about it." He sneered at Max, but maintained that cocky smile on his face.

The old man frowned before realization struck him. But, he refused to believe it.

There was no way that a guy this young had gone through an Ancient Cemetery and gained its approval.

"I don't need to prove my qualifications to you. But, I can certainly prove my claims of the Artifact's rightful owner for sure." Max crossed his arms. There was a confident look on his face, this made the old man doubtful.

Was he wrong and this kid right?

It sure was hard to believe..

But, he had tried everything possible in all of these years. So, maybe he should try and trust the kid once as well.

After all, there was no harm in it. Not to mention, he was not in a position to do anything to Max when those old monsters of the Ancient families were standing behind and protecting him.

If he tried to do something funny, he would lose more than he could probably gain.

"Fine, I will give you a chance to prove it."