Chapter 654 - Sacrifice

Axel reached the hospital after hurrying all along the way. He didn't dare to waste even a second after finding what it was all for.

He literally dashed his way through the entrance, and went straight towards the stairs. He was faster on his feet than the elevator for sure.

People couldn't help, but turn their heads around to look at the guy hurrying in madness. But, it wasn't a rare sight to be honest. Oftentimes, people would hurry like this in hospital to catch the last moments of their loved ones.

So, no one paid much attention to it. But, only if they knew that he was willing to happily see the last moment this 'loved one' stationed here at any time, it would surely change their opinions.

She was just a source of misfortune for Axle Not only her, but both the pair of siblings actually.

..

Erina was sitting on her bed, watching the live broadcast of the competition on her phone as she reached out her hand towards the fruit basket trying to pick the apple.

"Bang!"

The door to the room was suddenly flung open. It actually scared Erina and the apple slipped out of her hand and rolled down towards a pair of feet standing at the door.

"It wasn-" Erina raised her head with a frown, but her expression suddenly changed into a mild one when she saw it was Axel. It seemed she was expecting someone else.

"You are here to see me?" She asked with a surprised look on her face. She was definitely not expecting him. Hell, no one has visited her. He was the only one to have come.

Axel stooped below and picked the apple up while shaking his head, "The Doctors here have something wrong with their heads. Don't they know that an apple a day keeps the Doctor away?"

Erina couldn't help herself and her lips curled up into a beautiful smile.

'Well that went better than expected..' Axel muttered inwardly. He had aimed at that. He had to be careful to not spoil her mood. After all, there was every chance that she would refuse him if he was not careful and even if she didn't, he wanted to take no risk.

After all, what Max had asked for could be treated as a bit of sensitive information so she might not agree to it. And, in case, she wanted to know what it was for, Axle was sure that he couldn't tell her about it.

The data was, after all, confidential. The operations of the Ancient family wasn't something that could be given out at will of anyone. Hell, Max hadn't given full information about it to anyone. Even Axel only knew that it was something dangerous and it was a task which was assigned to Max by the Ancient Family.

"You sure performed well today." Erina looked at him with a smile. Even though she didn't want to admit it, this guy had impressive sniping skills. It sure was terrifying and to think that he was using guns which were considered as mere toys among mages.

Yet the same toys were deadly when they came into his hand.

There might only be a very few who would allow him to shoot them without any fear in their mind.

"Are your injuries all healed?" Axle asked as he took a seat near her.

Erina frowned a little while giving him a suspicious look. Something was different about this guy today. Just when did he start caring about her so much?

"Actually, I needed some help.." Axel finally let the cat out of the bag with a serious expression on her face. He had already noticed that she was about to go on the guard and that wasn't a good thing.

Erina's face twitched.

It was frustrating for some reason.

'Sigh! I had seen this coming..this jerk..'

But, there was nothing that she could do about this.

Still, she could see that serious expression on his face and realized that it was definitely not something to be joked about.

"So, what is it?" She asked him about it for starters.

"I need to contact the Patriarch of the Yule Family, is there any way for me to get to him while being anonymous? To be honest, a phone number sure will do the job.." Axel looked at her, and a frown appeared on Erina's face.

She definitely wasn't expecting to hear this.

"Why do you want that?" She asked him in confusion.

"It's something important.." Axel replied.

"W-h-y?" She sure wasn't going to give it to him without knowing the real reason.

"They tried to kill you. Is it not enough for you to not care about them?" Axel asked her with a surprised look on his face. He didn't know what she was made of to be still asking this.

"That is another matter. The Yule family is still allied with the Scarlet for now. There is a chance that it might affect my family as well. So, even if they did something, they would have it coming later when the alliance is broken, but not now." Erina was calm in her analysis at least.

And, this once again surprised Axel a bit.

He had always thought that the pair of siblings were just two dumb gorillas with brute force as a solution to any problem coded in their brains. But, this sure was different. He had to say that he was impressed.

"I am not allowing it until you tell me what it is exactly for.."

Axel frowned seeing that she wasn't allowing any free space for him to operate in.

'F*ck the secrecy..' He didn't care anymore. Hell, he himself had not much idea about what was going on, he just planned to tell her things while keeping the name of the Ancient family out. He was sure that she wouldn't be able to get much out of it in the end and even if she did...he could only lament...

Lear's life was at stake here. They didn't have time for this sh*t..

As Axel was about to speak, a voice rang in the room.

"It seemed we already had someone visiting our Young Lady here.."

A frown immediately appeared on Erina's face and Axel paused as well. The two then turned their heads to look at the person standing at the door. It was a middle aged man, and he had a smirk on his face.

He was Erina's uncle.

Well, the relationship was a bit complex.

He was actually her Stepmom's brother and also the Elder in charge of Trinity from the Oven House.

"Are we disturbing someone?" Another voice sounded as another figure entered the room.

Axel's eyes immediately turned grim and a chilling light flashed past them.

This person was someone they were familiar with.

It was James.

"I heard from aunt that you had an accident." James walked inside with a smile on his face and kept the bouquet on the table nearby. His actions seemed really noble and gentle on the outside, but Axel could only sneer at him inwardly.

This guy sure brought nasty memories to him.

"Are your injuries fine?" James asked as he looked at Erina and she nodded her head before exchanging pleasantries with him.

The two of them were technically cousins so it would be odd if they weren't at least familiar with each other. And, it was hence normal that he visited her.

"And, this person.." James finally turned his head to look at Axel, "Is this your rumored boyfriend?"

Erina's face twitched while Axle's didn't seem to pay much heed to his words. The rumors were nothing when compared to the hatred he had for this guy.

"Lady, you should be careful. I heard that your mother had been looking for possible candidates for you.." The middle aged man muttered while turning his head to glance at Axel for a second.

Erina's expression finally changed on that.

'No way..father would never agree to that..' She muttered with a frown inwardly as she clenched her fist under the blanket.

Her father had done a lot of things that she hadn't expected. So, she even though she wanted to believe in him, she was not sure anymore.

"You have got guts young man to challenge the Scarlet Lord. But are you sure about it?" The middle aged man asked as he looked at Axle with a serious look on his face.

Axel didn't faze away, and was about to clear up that he didn't give a sh*t about it. It was all just a big misunderstanding so that he could shut his f*cking mouth up. Obviously the curses were all internal remarks made in anger. He wouldn't say that to piss a person hundreds of times stronger than him.

'Hmmn?'

But before he could speak, he felt a grip on his sleeve and saw Erina pinching the sleeve of his jacket from under her blanket.

She looked at him and lightly shook her head. She then proceeded to move her finger on his palm and write a message.

Axel concentrated on trying to read all the messages.

'If..'

historical

'You..'

'Want..'

'Info..'

'Pretend..'

'Boyfriend..'

He turned his head to look at her with wide eyes, but he could only a serious look in her eyes. But, there was some fear in them as well. The fear that her father was not going to take her side. Her stepmother would get away with it as always and she would be the one to suffer all her life.

'This girl..' Axel's face twitched a bit. She sure was asking for a lot. If it wasn't for the fact that Wilson was too dumb and an exile with not much connection in his own family, Axel would have definitely seek help from him rather than her.

<<Rule: Did you do the job or not? Time is running out..>>

The message which came right at this moment forced Axel into a desperate situation.

<<You better succeed...you have no idea how much I am sacrificing for this. I will kill Lear once he wakes up for sure..>> Axel sent the message with bleeding heart and then looked at Erina.

The Act was on....