The Ancient Genes

"Will you speak?" Wilson glared at Axel.

"Stop imagining things with that dumb head of yours. I was there because Max sent me to get some information." Axel calmly replied while looking at him.

Wilson immediately turned his head towards Max, and he nodded. It was only then that he let it go.

The group just talked for a while, and then they began to move towards their own room.

Most of the people were part of the team after all.

Max went with Axel into his room while Mr. Cool went with Mark. And, his two girlfriends just went with Lisa into her room.

"I thought we were having a party or something.." Terry looked confused. It was a bit odd that everyone went separate ways like this after talking for a while.

"There is still an event tomorrow. Do you think people have the time to party?" Eren snorted. "Just go and sleep early. You are part of the team, be in the best shape."

Terry nodded, a bit disappointed.

…

"Shall we go then?" Mr. Cool asked with a smile as he looked at Mark.

Mark nodded, looking at him.

The next second, everyone who had returned to their rooms suddenly disappeared from there.

….

"This place never ceases to surprise.." Tia muttered as she looked around.

They were standing in Mr. Cool's spirit world.

When everyone calmed down a bit, their gaze slowly turned towards Max. He was the one who had called them here after all.

"So, what is this about?" Axel asked him.

Max looked at them and sighed. He first explained to them about Lear's condition and everything he had found about it. And, also the one possible thing which could treat him.

After listening to Max, a frown appeared on everyone's face.

"How are we going to find the Demon's base?" Mark asked as he looked at Max.

"Could you get something out of him?" Max looked at Mr. Cool. He was obviously inquiring about Werner. But, unfortunately, there was nothing from his side.

"Even if we did find it, it is too dangerous," Axel muttered with a grim look on his face.

Everyone knew about it.

"So, what? Are we going to let him die like this?" Wilson stared at Axel. There was a serious look on his face. He wouldn't be happy if Axel replied with a yes for sure.

"I understand everyone's feelings. But, don't you realize that in the face of saving one, we might end up sacrificing more?" Axel had to tell them the facts. If not, they might end up in a disastrous situation.

"Are you being serious right now?" Wilson asked, glaring at Axel.

"Would you like us to risk our lives if you were in that situation?" Axle questioned him instead of answering.

This immediately made him frown heavily.

"You know we won't be abandoning anyone here. At least not me. And, I won't force anyone to do anything. I can guarantee you that." Max knew it was a tough and a wrong decision if he considered himself as a leader. But, this was just him.

Lear was his first follower as well. There was no way he was going to sit back and do nothing just because it was too dangerous.

"You obviously can't go on this mission. You have an ongoing task and it's too important to be dropped mid way." Axel was right here. Max definitely couldn't leave. This mission to destroy the Dark Society was definitely going to take his time. And, time was one thing that Lear didn't have.

"I will go." Wilson immediately volunteered. "I am sure my injuries will all be healed by the time we manage to find their bases."

"How can a noisy guy like you do something like infiltration? I bet you will have your head slice half the way. You won't even make it till there." Axel mocked him.

"After Max, I am the one with the best disguising skills. Not, to mention. I am in a better position as a Formation Master for this job." He volunteered himself.

This really left people speechless. He was the one who was stopping people earlier. But, now he was volunteering himself.

"You need to lead the team, I will go," Mark calmly chimed in.

"We will decide on that when we find their location." Max stopped the useless argument for now.

"There is another important thing to be discussed.." He further spoked while scanning everyone around.

Max then began to explain everything that had happened. He obviously didn't take Naze's name. That guy had promised that he would come in front of Axel before leaving Trinity. So, he would wait until then.

He also didn't mention anything about Beli here. She was probably going to return for the competition. It might lead to unnecessary tension between them. Not to mention, he had already warned them to be on guard with her.

Lastly, he avoided taking Von family's name as well.

After Max was done, everyone had their eyes wide open.

"I can't help but agree with the reasoning.." August was the first to speak, and he agreed with it. The Von family seemed to ingrain this principle in the children from the very beginning.

"I don't feel good about it." Lisa suddenly spoke. "I don't think they can be trusted."

She had always felt an unknown kind of fear from the Demons. She would want to kill them if possible. It was very unlike her, but she couldn't understand it herself as well. This hatred seemed to be coming from somewhere deep inside of her.

'Is this because of the incident with her mother in the past?' Max muttered inwardly. After all, he was aware of Lisa's nature and this wasn't like her at all. But he couldn't be sure of course.

"I don't deny the possibility of their side having innocent people as well. But, I don't think it is worth the risk." Mark shook his head.

"I will look at my own people before caring about others. I am sure they will follow this policy too," Venice calmly said as she turned her gaze towards Max.

"I don't care as long as it works in our favour." Axel gave his opinion as well.

"But, how can we trust them? Are you sure they won't backstab us?" Tia asked before continuing, "I mean if they betrayed us, then it would surely be our doom."

Everyone spoke something or the other, only Wilson remained quiet. It seemed he was busy thinking about something.

A minute later, he finally spoke, "Can they take us to their base?"

His words immediately made everyone pause.

"If they can take me to their base, and help me in retrieving the thing we want for Lear, then I will trust them," He further added.

"That isn't a bad idea." Axel muttered in surprise. "Even if we don't plan on cooperating for real, I think we can use this to test them."

"That certainly is a good idea." Max nodded as well.

"Yes, we will be able to gather information on their turf as well." Mark nodded.

"True, it will be much easier and safer this way. If we take that they keep their words, and provide us support." Mr. Cool seemed to be up with it as well.

"I am sure I can get them to agree to this condition of ours." Max nodded. He was sure that he could do that. They were desperate for help, Max knew it. And, they wanted to build trust and friendship. Not just a brittle relationship of benefits which would end up after the war.

After all, there were chances if them being wiped out as well after the beneficial relationship was over.

"I think this Princess has provided us with some major information. If all of this is true, I think she is serious about this. Once we are there we can confirm the facts with our own eyes, and also decide for ourselves if what she said is true or not." Axel calmly looked at Max. He seemed to be hoping that it was. That would really be a good thing for them in that situation.

"I guess our next course of action is decided then." Max calmly looked at everyone and no one seemed to object anymore.

They would first observe everything themselves and would evaluate if these people were worth their trust or not.

Max to be honest had placed more importance on Belly after knowing the fact that she had the Artifact.

But, that didn't mean he would blindly trust her. It was just that he was hoping that she meant her words, if not he would have to kill her and get that Artifact.

That would certainly be a pity.

Max wasn't even sure if another spirit would come to inhibit the artifact or not.

Anywas, the discussion was complete. As they had decided their next move. So, with that, things ended for now.

…

Everyone soon left, and Max was the last one left. He spent a bit more time discussing things with Axel, and as he was passing through the hallway, a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder and pulled him inside in the nearby room.

"What are you doing?" Max looked at Lisa in surprise as she locked the door behind.

"I didn't have enough to spend with you these days. Don't you think you are being unfair?" Lisa asked as she walked up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Well, then what can I do to make it up?" Max asked her with an apologetic smile

"Hug me.." Lisa replied, "Until I ask you to let go.."

She wrapped her arms around Max, and then fell on the bed with him.

Max looked at her, and then just wrapped his arms around her like that with a smile on his face.

It was calming.

These days had been stressful, and he slowly felt his eyes closing.

Lisa looked at him, and then just smiled with a loving gaze. She then moved her head an kissed him on the forehead before snuggling up to him.. She then closed her eyes as well.