The room was filled with an unusual warmth, the clatter of plates and the laughter of friends echoing through the dining room. Axel sat quietly, watching the lively exchange between his sister Annie and his friends, while the fragrant aroma of his mother's cooking filled the air.
Mrs. Teras had prepared several dishes, despite everyone's insistence that she should rest. But her stubborn smile won out. "I missed cooking for my children," she said, her eyes twinkling. "And having guests makes it even better." She seed almost rejuvenated by the activity, even if her body was still recovering.
"Hey! I told you he eats like a rat!" Annie's voice cut through the clamor, pointing at Axel, who had barely touched his food.
Loki nearly choked on his drink as he burst into laughter. "No wonder he still looks a bit skinny," Hera added, her eyes gleaming with mischief. The room erupted into a fit of giggles as Axel flushed red, trying to maintain his composure.
"Respect my private space, would you?" Axel muttered, pushing his plate slightly away. "I eat just the right amount to stay alive, thank you very much."
Loki, ever the joker, leaned in with mock admiration. "Spoken like a true rat."
"Don't listen to them, Axel," Trisha chid in, offering him a supportive grin. "Even rats have big dreams. Let him dream, everyone."
Axel tried to maintain his embarrassnt, but the infectious laughter around him soon had him cackling alongside them. For the first ti in what felt like forever, everything seed normal—no missions, no looming dangers, just a simple dinner with the people he cared about.
For a brief mont, Axel allowed himself to forget the weight of the world outside the walls of his ho. He caught his mother's eye, noticing the soft smile that lingered on her face. Mrs. Teras let out a contented sigh, her hands folded neatly on her lap as she observed the scene before her.
"My boy has truly grown," she thought to herself, her heart swelling with pride. "From that timid boy, broken by the burden of being weak... he has finally found people who care about him. Friends who love him. I'm so glad."
Her words broke the lighthearted atmosphere, drawing everyone's attention as she stood up slowly from the table. "Thank you... all of you, for keeping my children safe," she said softly. Her voice trembled slightly, and the room went silent as her gratitude filled the air.
"Mum, you should rest," Annie said quickly, standing and rushing to her side. "I'll take you to Axel's room—he can sleep on the couch tonight."
Axel bit his lip, embarrassed by Annie's bluntness. But before he could protest, his mother and sister were already leaving the room, waving a gentle goodbye to the others. He watched them disappear down the hall, a lingering feeling of guilt gnawing at him. His mother had only just recovered from the brink of death, yet she still worried more about him than herself.
The mont they left, the air shifted. The laughter and warmth vanished, replaced by an oppressive tension. Axel could feel the change in the room as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing as he glanced at his friends.
"Your mom is a nice woman," Loki said, his voice now serious. "But we need to focus on the matter at hand. The mole—and the fact that Axel is a wanted criminal."
The words hit hard, the weight of the statent hanging in the air like a suffocating fog. Hera nodded, her voice low but resolute. "Most importantly, Seo. He's set to be executed in two days for a cri he might not have committed. We're running out of ti."
Axel tensed. The ntion of Seo brought back the mories of their investigations, the endless hours spent trying to untangle the web of lies and deceit. Whoever was responsible had orchestrated everything with terrifying precision, leaving no trail, no evidence. They had pulled the strings of the Hunter's Association perfectly, turning Axel and others into victims without leaving a trace.
"There's no way to track this enemy down," Loki continued, his fists clenched on the table. "The only thing we know for sure is that everyone targeted doesn't rember what happened after they were attacked ntally. You, Seo, Thor... and probably more victims. You're our only clue to getting to this murderer."
Axel absorbed Loki's words, processing the grim reality. Despite their best efforts, they had hit a wall. But his gut told him they were missing sothing. One na stuck in his mind.
"What about Hendricks?" Axel asked, his eyes scanning the faces around the table. "I don't trust him. He's slimy, and sothing about him just doesn't sit right."
The others exchanged glances, each nodding in agreent. Trisha, who had been silent until now, folded her arms, her expression cold. "He's my pri suspect too. But despite his reputation, all the evidence points to Seo being the mole. Especially after Rachael's murder."
Axel winced at the ntion of Rachael, the image of her lifeless body still fresh in his mind.
"And that's why I called in a specialist," Trisha added, her tone cryptic. Axel raised an eyebrow. Specialist?
As if on cue, a sharp knock echoed through the room, reverberating through hidden speakers built into the ceiling. Trisha stood imdiately, heading to the door without a word.
Minutes later, she returned, accompanied by two figures. One was a man Axel didn't recognize—a tall, wiry figure with glasses that glead under the dim light. The other was soone Axel wished he hadn't recognized.
Wukong.
A surge of adrenaline shot through Axel as his gaze locked with Wukong's. The board mber's eyes were filled with malice, a burning hatred barely contained beneath a calm exterior.
"You damned criminal!" Wukong hissed, raising his hand as if to summon sothing deadly. Before he could make a move, Trisha grabbed his wrist, her grip firm.
"Don't be an idiot, Lord Wukong. He's not your enemy," she said, her voice stern. "If I trust him, you should too."
Wukong glared at Axel for a mont longer before dropping his hand. A smirk spread across his face. "Fine. If you vouch for him, Trisha, I'll behave. For now."
Axel let out a slow breath, relieved that he wouldn't have to fight a board mber—at least not today. But the tension between them hadn't disappeared. Wukong was dangerous, and Axel knew it.
The other man, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward, his voice calm and asured. "I am Roman, the greatest scientist in Kyota," he announced. "I've co to help you find the mole... and to stop the invasion."
"Invasion?" Axel echoed, his eyes narrowing.
Roman nodded, adjusting his glasses. "For years now, parasitic creatures called torion have been infiltrating human society. They're like bugs—infecting humans and using them as hosts. I believe they've managed to infiltrate so of the highest ranks in society."
Axel's heart raced as Roman's words sunk in. The pieces of the puzzle were beginning to co together. The mysterious attacks, the mind control, the perfect manipulation of events—it all pointed to sothing far more sinister than they had imagined.
"And," Roman added, his voice dropping to a whisper, "I believe Hendricks is one of them."
***Author's note***
Thanks for reading the chapter. Almost new month ti, let's support as the new month really matters to as an Author, the sa goes for a new week.
Thanks for all your great support up till now. Next chapter dropped now.
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