The Ancient Genes

Barnes Mansion, Capital…. 

30 minutes earlier….

Lear had just arrived here. He was planning to talk to his father about Max. He had to get him to take Max's side.

"Stop!"

Lear raised his head to see the guard blocking his path.

"Do you have the permission to step in this place?'' 

Lear stared at the guard wondering if he really didn't knew about him or was just playing dumb trying to make him realise just how much 'well known' he actually was within the House.

"Is this enough?" Lear said as he pointed at his face.

The guard frowned thinking that it was another idiot on the street with nothing good to do, "Do you know to whom this mansion belongs?"

"My dad…" Lear said with a calm look.

The guard's face twitched facing Lear who looked like a liar to him. The guard was always provided with the list of people who would be visiting the mansion. This was an important place after all and not anyone could just take a stroll in there. He clearly knew that there wasn't anyone with Lear's face on the list.

"Look, I don't have time for this…just go away, if it was anyone else, you would have been beaten blue and black by now…" the guard said as he waved his hand.

Lear really felt a headache. He had lost his token during the hijack, even when they were caught by Aria during their first encounter, they had to depend on the Headmaster to verify their identities.

"Just get the butler of the mansion that my dad appointed, I am sure he would recognise me…" Lear said with a sigh.

The guard suddenly noticed a familiar car coming their way and immediately tried to make Lear leave….

"Come back later, the Head Butler is not here at the moment..…." He spoke as he slightly pushed Lear trying to make him move.

"No problem, I can wait…" Lear resisted not intending to leave.

The guard finally lost it and anger covered vi face....

"Look brat if this mansion belongs to your dad, then I am your-"

"Lear?" 

Suddenly, a voice interrupted their conversation.

Lear turned his head to see the windshield of the car slide below and a familiar face appear inside.

"Elder Olf…" Lear spoke as he made a slight bow. This old man was one of the senior members in the family with high authority and had a good relationship with his grandfather.

"What are you doing here?" He asked in surprise. He wasn't informed about the 3rd Young Master visiting the capital.

"Ah...a lot of things happened...I am sure father knows about it…." Lear carefully avoided any further discussion on the matter by bringing his father, the Lord of the house up. "Today, I came here to contact father….''

"I see….come inside then…" Edler Old said, not intending to ask any further questions.

"You can proceed ahead, Elder…. I will catch in a bit…."

The Elder looked at Lear and noticed the guard beside sweating. It seemed that the guard had offended him and with the trash personality of his, it was obvious he wasn't going to let it go that easily…

"Let's go…" He said and the driver pulled the car ahead. It wasn't his position to teach another's child.

As the vehicles entered through the main gate, Lear turned around and looked at the guard who was extremely terrified.

"What were you saying? 'I am your?' what…''

"I-I..'' The guard began to stutter. How could he dare to say it now? He obviously recognised the name 'Lear'. If he said it, it was equivalent to cursing the Lord and his family.

"Say it!'' Lear was angered. He was understanding about the fact that he didn't recognize him, even though it was his duty to remember the important figure of the House who can come at any moment and Lear too was at fault for not having the House Crest….But his behavior…

"I...I.. AM YOUR DOG!!!" the guard full to Lear's knees and as he was about to lick his shoe, Lear moved aside.

"Enough, don't treat people like that from next time…." Lear said as he walked away while the guard looked at him with grateful eyes. If it was anyone else....he wouldn't let off this easy...

….

Current time….

Max still was battling with the Mage King who still seemed to be in a dilemma about what to do with Max.

"I know I did wrong today…." Max suddenly spoke deciding to take the risk. He knew that this man was crazy and the way he was releasing his aura, he really couldn't be sure that he wouldn't kill him. After all, to him Max wasn't worth anything, especially in front of his daughter.

Mage King reacted to Max's word and seemed to have taken the bait….

"I thought that if I proved my strength….If I could become stronger ....than...I might be able to be reach a position where my friendship won't be a disgrace to her...but it seems I was wrong….even though I won following each and every rule, giving everything I had...this is where I end up….it seemed it was always about being a noble and a commoner…." Max said with a sigh and a gloomy look on his face. His eyes glistening under the light of the cell.

Max was indeed risking it. If this man discriminated between noble and commoner, there was no hope for Max on the day of the trial….he might as well check it now….and if possible, break out of here in case this man turned out be be one of the creeps of the upper society...

'Good…..he is biting it ….time to end it. with a smile…' Max thought as he could feel his gaze on himself.

"Still, if a day comes when she needs me….I will be there for her…" Max said as he gave his best possible smile showing how much of a warm-hearted guy he was.

Suddenly, the aura that the Mage King was releasing began to climb up making Max fear for the worse.

"Do you think a punny existence like you would be needed by her...you aren't strong enough to involve yourself with her…." The Mage King suddenly spoke as the scenes from years ago flashed before his eyes. Even his power wasn't enough, he let her loved one end up in a state like that. 

He seemed to be so into his thought that he didn't realise that the pressure he was releasing wasn't the same anymore.

'F*ck! He was here to kill me after all….' Max cured inwardly, the amount aura he was releasing was bought to flatten someone at Max's level.

Max immediately fell flat on the ground and kept thinking about what to do next….

'I can't run…..damn it.. If I don't do something…..he will definitely realise that I am not being affected….'

Max couldn't think of anything in that short amount of time….

'Here goes all or nothing….'

Max slowly took out his dagger carefully positioning it below his belly, hiding it from the Mage King's sight. Spirit energy couldn't be sensed by normal people after all and hence Mage King couldn't sense it as well.

Max carefully made a slice on his skin drawing the blood out before throwing the dagger back into the spirit world.

'Aeow!!!!'' A shriek rang within Max's mind.

'Sh*t! Did the dagger hit someone?' Max cursed his luck today. He should have paid more attention. Anyway, he didn't throw it that hard, the wound shouldn't be deep. Besides, beasts had greater vitality and tough skin.

'I will apologise later….for now..'

Max raised his head and bit his tongue, letting blood trickle through his mouth. He carefully rubbed his hand around the stomach and slid it up to his forehead making himself appear bloody up to his forehead.

"Even...if I am….not strong….it won't stop me….how could I not be there when a friend is in trouble…." Max said each word with a heavy voice and rushed breathing as he slowly pushed his body upward.

"You can't be by anyone's side without strength….in this place…..if you don't have enough strength, you will lose your people….they will be close yet very far from you..at an unreachable place…." The Mage King was talking about his own what about losing his wife…...something which had a great effect on him and made him what he was today.

"Strength….I will become…stronger than..I won't lose anyone...again….never….'' Max's aura suddenly transformed. He was trying to influence him but it seemed that the reverse was done. Max had related to his words in a different way…..he had lost his family because of strength…even though the situation was different, the end result wasn't.....there was still a lot to come in the future…if strength was what was needed then he would grab it with his own two make and make himself strong enough…..to never have that feeling again….never to go through something like that again….

"I am still not convinced…." The Mage King spoke as he finally eased his aura in realization.

Max too came back to his senses realising his current situation and was one again worried. 

'Did I fail?'

He just wanted him to leave. He would then contact Lisa and depending on her words, he would consider whether he should stay for the trial or break out of here….

'Can I escape from him if he attacks?' Max began to think what to do…..

But his concerns were for nothing, Mage King's next word eased Max's worry.

"I will save you the day after, but remember I am still not convinced yet…..I will be watching you….It won't be that easy….she is my daughter after all…." The Mage King turned around and left with those words.

'Did I misunderstood him? Then that….was he testing me to see how much I could endure? It's possible….if I had acted to pass out, he might have left me alone…' Max drew out a conclusion after a bit of brainstorming.

"Yeah…..What was he mumbling about? He really puts such a high security on her daughter making friends….he really is crazy …. Still Lisa did a good job….I will reward her with a special training menu when I get out..." 

Max waved his hand over his face and the water droplets were pulled out and his eyes which were glistening turned normal….

"Water element sure is useful…."

….

"What do you think about him, father?" The Mage King spoke to the old man sitting beside in the car.

"Not bad…..extraordinary will….a good heart and he cares about her…..but let's observe him for a while…." The old man said.

Kain who was acting as a driver peeking on them couldn't help but speak out, "Think about it Dad, he is an orphan….he can marry into our family….Lisa won't have to go anywhere…"

Kain obviously meant it as a joke…..he was the laughter source of their house….their were a few reasons behind that….

"Hmmn?" Kain turned around to look at them. He was expecting a smack on his head or something…..

But...when he saw the shining eyes of his father….he realised that he had made the worst possible joke today…...