Holding hands?
Walking alone together?
Isn't that supposed to be magical?
Axel scoffed. **Not at all.**
The warmth of Trisha's hand in his didn't feel comforting or romantic—it felt like a tether... Amother problem grabbing him tightly, how tiresome. He tightened his grip, lost in thought over what she had just revealed to him. The mess with the hoard hadn't been some cheap trick of mind control. No, it was worse than that.
It had been emotion amplification, twisting his natural instincts into something monstrous, forcing him to act without thinking.
**Damn, I got played... A trap I could never predict.** Axel's jaw clenched as he mentally kicked himself for not seeing it sooner. He had lost his cool in front of Hendricks, spouted things that weren't truly his thoughts. All because of the board. The pieces were starting to come together now, thanks to Trisha.
"Axel, I think this has been happening for a long time, across multiple meetings and dealings," Trisha's voice broke into his thoughts. "But one situation stands out—something that hasn't sat right with me for years now. The case of the kidnapped civilians."
Axel turned to her, his brow furrowed. "What about them?"
Trisha exhaled, her expression hard. "People have been going missing for years, Axel. And the reaction of the chief of security? He's ignored it, swept it under the rug like it's nothing. It's not just negligence. It's active suppression.
Witnesses silenced with hush money, media blackouts. They've been covering it all up. For what reason, I don't know."
Axel's grip on her hand tightened dangerously. His knuckles turned white, and Trisha winced, but she didn't pull away. He could feel the anger boiling inside him, threatening to explode.
"Something is seriously wrong with those bastards!" he hissed through clenched teeth, his mind racing with violent thoughts. **I could kill them. All of them. One by one.** But logic tugged at the back of his mind—if he was going to take down the board, he'd need more than just brute strength. They were likely above S-rank, maybe even beyond what he could imagine.
"I don't know how long you've been away from Kyota," Trisha continued, "but this is how it's been for years. They've been using the citizens like disposable pawns, eliminating anyone who challenges their system. I even heard rumors of an S-rank hunter who was executed just for questioning them."
"I know you need new accommodations," she said gently, "with your house destroyed and all. I was thinking you and your sister could stay with me until you sort things out. I can offer protection, support..."
Axel frowned. **Where is this coming from?** He had more than enough money to secure a place for himself and Annie. "What does your accommodation offer?" he asked, his voice laced with skepticism.
Trisha sighed, clearly frustrated by his response. **He's clueless. Completely clueless.** She thought. **He doesn't even respect me, despite my rank. Well, he doesn't respect the board members either, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.**
"I'll make sure your sister is protected by A-rank hunters," Trisha explained, trying to hide her exasperation. "I know she's a college student—I can arrange for her to return without having to repeat any classes. I'll handle all her bills, and your mother's too. That way, you can concentrate on what really matters."
Axel stared at her, confusion flickering across his face. "Concentrate? What do you mean?"
Trisha shook her head slightly. "Axel, I've been around you long enough to sense your potential. I've read your file, studied your progress. Your growth is extraordinary. In all my years, I've never seen anything like it. You're not just S-rank material—you're something more.
SS-rank, even higher. And the world keeps evolving, the hunters keep getting stronger even the kids getting their bindings are becoming special. You... you could change everything. You could change this system, this war... all of it."
Her words hung in the air between them, heavy and full of meaning. Axel felt something stir inside him. **Could I really change it? Could I make a difference? It's not my goal, but for Annie?**
Trisha lifted her gaze to the sky, a wistful look in her eyes. "I dream of a world where none of this exists. No wars, no corruption, no suffering. Just peace. A perfect world. And I want to share that dream with you."
Axel absorbed her words, feeling the weight of her hopes and expectations settle on his shoulders. **That world... it sounds like the Earth we lost.** He glanced at her, his expression softening for the first time.
"That's a nice dream, Trisha. A really nice dream."
***AuthorEriElegbede thoughts***
Me I dream of getting more traction on this book, and entertaining all of us with this adventure... Recall this is a true life story. Please support me and gift me, to boost my book's ranking.
I'm gonna mass release soon