Zane’s enthusiasm visibly deflated through the screen. “Hey—Everton’s no joke. The profits are insane, but the connections here are a nightmare. You’ll need to help smooth things over.”
On his last run to Northern Spiritual Town, Zane had run straight into a beast tide. Thanks to Axel, he’d survived—and even helped the military rack up rit points. He’d walked away with a hefty payout and a legitimate trade route. The mont he heard Everton was an option, he dropped everything else.
“Your quarantine permits are all sorted?” Axel asked.
“Everything’s clean. But without backing, nothing moves in this city.”
“Fine. Let know if there’s trouble.”
Zane laughed in relief. “Good. I’ll dress exactly like the beautiful woman you requested.”
Axel’s mouth twitched. “…Don’t push it.”
He hesitated after hanging up. His official records no longer listed him as Whisper Syndicate. Military status aside, he didn’t actually know many people in Everton.
“I’ll ask anyway.”
Axel imdiately called Sergio and explained the situation.
“Is it difficult?” Axel asked.
“Not at all,” Sergio replied. “I’ll handle it.”
......
On the highway from Dune to Everton, seven or eight massive refrigerated trucks rolled forward in formation, hauling frozen mutated beast at—so whole carcasses, so neatly packed. A black sedan led the convoy.
Inside the sedan sat Zane, alongside a stylish, sexy young woman.
“That’s a huge shipnt,” she said, uneasily. “And you moved it with just one call. Who is this Axel?”
Zane smiled and patted her hair. “My benefactor.”
Wren—once his subordinate, now his girlfriend—had joined his operation late. She didn’t know much about Axel.
“A lot of our capital is tied up in this run,” she said quietly.
Zane just smiled. “Relax.”
Still, he couldn’t help wondering. Axel never calls for normal shit. What does he want this ti?
......
Just as Axel was setting his phone down, another ssage ca in.
“Brother, I’m ho in Dune. Plenty of food. Don’t worry. How are you?”
It was Annabelle.
Axel knew Vince had already brought her back. With Riley around, he avoided any unnecessary contact with Annabelle. There were too many similarities between her and the Saints—and Riley was far stronger than him. One careless call and she might overhear everything.
He typed back quickly:
“I’m fine. I’ll have Zane bring you so good food.”
Other than Axel and Annabelle, no one could see the Life Crystal. He’d pack it discreetly and have Zane hand it off.
“Okay.”
Annabelle ended the conversation shortly after.
......
In Axel’s old house, Annabelle set her phone down. The gentleness in her eyes vanished.
She placed the blood bag into the refrigerator, then turned toward the man sitting across from her—the one wearing a bronze mask.
“My brother is trapped in Everton,” she said coldly.
The bronze-masked man tapped his fingers against the table. “Sharp girl. How did you figure that out?”
Annabelle’s pupils slowly flooded with violet. “I’m going to help him.”
The man shook his head. “You’re too weak.”
She didn’t move—but the pressure in the room surged. Faint purple lines crept from her eyes across her face, perfectly symtrical, eerily beautiful.
She knew he wouldn’t let anyone have the Life Crystal easily. Not even allies.
Feeling the rising power, the bronze-masked man sighed. “Perfect… truly perfect. But your brother isn’t trapped. He’s under protection. Stand down.”
Instead, her killing intent intensified.
“Sit.”
The word landed like a hamr.
Annabelle groaned. The purple markings vanished instantly, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.
“I have no reason to lie,” the man said calmly. “Your brother is safe in Everton.”
He placed a disk beside her. “This contains basic and advanced combat techniques, plus answers to problems you’ll encounter during training. It’s designed for Awakened Ones, but it should cover everything you need.”
Annabelle wiped the blood from her mouth, her composure returning. She stared at him, conflicted.
“Who are you?” she asked. “Why help ?”
The man was silent for a long ti.
“You’ll find out,” he said at last.
Then he vanished.
Annabelle didn’t notice that the tissue she’d used to wipe her mouth disappeared with him.
The next morning, Axel arrived at the Havoc Division’s training grounds.
“Axel! Over here!” Terrence waved enthusiastically. Sergio and Nigel were already waiting nearby.
Standing not far from them was a slightly overweight man with a composed, authoritative presence.
“This is Nigel’s father,” Sergio said quietly. “Nelson—Deputy General of the Treasury.”
Nelson smiled warmly. “So you’re Axel. Quite the young talent. It’s my son’s good fortune to know people like you.”
“You’re too kind,” Axel replied politely.
Nelson waved a hand. “I’m just here to watch you youngsters fight it out.”
With that, he turned and walked ahead.
Terrence leaned in, lowering his voice. “What’s going on? Why’s your dad here?”
Nigel rolled his eyes. “Co on, think about it. Our family’s not like yours. There are only three of us in my generation, so he keeps tabs on everything. Challenging the Instrunt King is the fastest route to Level Six. He’s worried we’ll screw it up over personal feelings.”
“Kenneth’s already inside,” Sergio said. “Let’s go.”
The four of them headed toward the arena.
The place resembled a massive football stadium, tens of thousands of seats encircling the field. But instead of grass, a vast circular battleground occupied the center, surrounded by dozens of towering pillars.
“Once the fight starts, those energy pillars will form a barrier,” Sergio explained. “No risk to the audience. Awakened battles are held here regularly.”
As he spoke, a middle-aged man with a calm smile approached them.
“Third Uncle?” Terrence blurted out. “You’re here too?”
The man shot him a withering look. “Watch your mouth, Terrence. I’m the president of the Everton Havoc Division.”
Axel’s pupils tightened slightly.
A Starcrest family mber… president of the Havoc Division?
Seeing his reaction, Sergio added quietly, “The Havoc Division was founded by the Starcrest family patriarch.”
“I’m Zayden,” the man said, stroking his goatee as he nodded to Axel. “No need to hold back today. Fight seriously. If things get out of hand, I’ll have soone stop the match.”
He smiled faintly. “And even if you can’t team up with them to challenge the Instrunt King, Havoc Division has no shortage of talent. Plenty of people would be willing to work with you.”
As he finished speaking, a sharp crack echoed through the arena.
A ball of electricity burst into existence near one corner.
There, a disheveled man sat crouched on the ground, tinkering with a bizarre chanical device that looked vaguely like a miniature sewing machine.
His face was blackened, eyebrows singed, hair smoking.
“Ahhhhh—” he spasd violently, staring at the sky, mouth hanging open as he let out incomprehensible sounds, eyes rolling back.
Axel raised an eyebrow. How the hell did a lunatic like this make it into an official match?
“Kenneth,” Sergio called out, “it’s ti.”
The man’s convulsions stopped instantly. The madness drained from his face, replaced by a cold, vacant numbness.
He glanced at Axel without interest and summoned the chanical device into his hands.
“…That’s Kenneth?” Axel murmured.
“Heh…” Kenneth staggered forward a few steps, then twitched again, letting out two strange, broken laughs. “Ha… ha~”
Terrence leaned closer and whispered, “Axel, he’s… ntally unstable. Not acting. Just—don’t underestimate him.”
“I know,” Axel said quietly.
He stepped into the arena.
Cloud-Chasing Boots.
Serpent King Scale Armor.
Red Fla Blade.
Fully equipped.
Sergio watched him closely. “You’re serious this ti.”
......
High in the stands, Zayden took a seat beside Nelson.
“What brings you here personally?” Zayden asked with a smile.
Nelson’s expression turned solemn. “I was worried. Afraid these kids would let personal feelings interfere and ruin everything.”
“Kenneth won’t hold back,” Zayden replied calmly. “If Axel can truly give him trouble, bringing him along won’t be a bad choice.”
“Do you think he can handle it?” Nelson asked, shaking his head.
Zayden only smiled, offering no answer.
Below them, Sergio and the others had taken their seats, eyes locked on the arena.
“I wonder,” Sergio murmured, “how Axel plans to deal with him.”
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