Chapter340 – Me? Beg him?
“So where does this advantage actually lie?” Axel asked.
“General Jerome comes from a minor aristocratic family in the northwest,” Riley said. Her gaze drifted toward the window, unconsciously turning north. “Based on everything he’s done over the past two years, we suspect his real concern lies outside the walls.”
Axel frowned slightly. “But hasn’t Krythos already launched a counteroffensive? We’ve built forty-eight new cities beyond the walls.”
Those cities had dramatically expanded Krythos’s population capacity. Resources from the wilderness were easier to obtain than ever, and the military—though busier—was stronger for it.
“Yes,” Riley said. “The new cities triggered a population boom, and that’s accelerating the growth of Awakened across the board.”
“Every reform so far has strengthened Krythos. Which means there are probably still a lot of secrets about mutated beasts that we don’t understand yet.”
She paused.
“The only uncertainty is Jerome’s stance on the Infected.”
Axel’s brows knit together. “There’s no way Jerome doesn’t know what we’re doing. If he’s deliberately staying ambiguous… then this gets dangerous.”
“Exactly. The organization’s position is clear,” Riley said calmly. “Once the drug is finalized, we’ll send him a copy. Anyone willing to openly challenge the Upper House at least has the capacity to act.”
“But in the end,” Axel said quietly, “you still need to capture a Saint.”
“Yes—but probably not you anymore.” Riley nodded toward the screen. “Check the second pinned post on the forum.”
Axel’s eyes narrowed.
Joint Military–Criminal Justice Directive: Capture of Saints
“What?” Axel frowned. “The Saints are public knowledge now?”
Wasn’t that inviting chaos among the Infected?
The post continued:
> Saints are a special category of Awakened beings. They can freely transform into Infected-like forms. Their combat strength typically peaks at upper Tier Five.
> Saints preferentially target geniuses. Tier Four peak Awakeners with Force exceeding 2000, and Tier Five lower-grade Awakeners with Force exceeding 2500, are strongly advised not to act alone—especially not in the wilderness.
> All qualified Awakened individuals are encouraged to cooperate with the military and Criminal Justice in capturing Saints.
Reward:
• One Grade-A Original Instrument
—or—
• Six Grade-B Original Instruments
A final note was pinned at the bottom:
> Saints are Awakened, not Infected. The public is advised not to spread unverified rumors.
“In this situation,” Riley said softly, “the Saints will become far more cautious. Every Awakened in Krythos is now hunting them.”
Axel leaned back, silent for a long time.
“There’s a problem,” he finally said. “If Saints are captured this way, will they even reach your hands? And if they do… won’t that put you directly in danger?”
Once captured, there was no way their bodies—or blood—would legally end up with Riley.
“That depends on how Aurelion moves,” Riley said. She stood, clearly done with the discussion, and left the room.
Axel clasped his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling.
“Can this really work?” he muttered. “Can Saints be caught this way?”
He glanced at his phone again.
“Right… I should at least find out who’s been calling me.”
Beep. Beep. Beep.
No answer.
He tried again. Still nothing.
With a quiet sigh, Axel set the phone aside.
The Saint Sea Twig still had plenty of energy left. He’d only absorbed a fraction of it. He needed to see which Awakening Skill would be pushed to the third tier next.
The absorption process was strangely soothing—almost like taking a sleeping pill. Before he realized it, Axel slipped back into his inner vision.
......
Meanwhile, in a high-end restaurant in Everton—
Vesper, dressed fashionably and wearing dark sunglasses, stared at her phone with a scowl.
“He’s not fighting anymore?” she muttered.
“He probably thinks you’ll have to beg him,” said the man seated beside her.
He was handsome, around twenty-five, impeccably dressed. A dark green luxury watch gleamed at his wrist. The man chuckled. “Geniuses are always arrogant.”
His name was Warren—a Tier Five Awakener Vesper had recently met on the forum.
“Me? Beg him?” Vesper scoffed. “He’s dreaming.”
“Mr. Zayden can be overly gentle at times,” Warren added casually.
Vesper nodded vigorously.
“That sparring match in the Havoc Division was symbolic at best. Axel’s participation was already a favor from the Starcrest family. But he doesn’t know his own limits.”
“You’re right, but…” Vesper hesitated. “I have to admit—he really is a genius. I’ll call him one more time.”
A fleeting flash of disappointment crossed Warren’s eyes, but it vanished instantly.
“You’re thinking big picture,” he said smoothly.
Beep. Beep. Beep.
No answer.
Vesper’s patience snapped. “Is he fucking with me now?”
Warren raised a finger in a calming gesture. “Vesper. Your status doesn’t justify getting angry over someone like him.”
......
After the third unanswered call, Vesper finally lost it.
“He really thinks we can’t do this without him?” she snapped. “We don’t tolerate people like that.”
“You’re right,” Warren said calmly. “We shouldn’t.”
Vesper’s irritation quickly shifted into cold resolve. “The Everton chapter is strong enough. We don’t need to throw a B-grade Original Instrument at him.”
“Then who do we send instead?” she muttered, rubbing her temple.
“There’s someone sitting right across from you,” Warren said lightly. “And honestly, that hurts a little.”
Vesper’s heart skipped. She hurried to explain, “I know—”
“Oh?” Warren leaned back, fixing her with an intent, almost predatory gaze.
“You want to represent the Everton chapter?” Vesper hesitated. Warren was a mid-tier Level Five Awakener. He’d built his reputation in the southwest as a social-type Awakened, running training programs and cultivating connections.
“Axel may be irritating,” she said cautiously, “but he’s genuinely strong. You know Kenneth, right? Are you confident you’re his match?”
Warren interlaced his fingers and met her eyes steadily.
“After all this time… you still don’t trust me?”
He stood, straightening his clothes as if the conversation were already over.
Vesper’s chest tightened. She grabbed his arm.
“Hey,” Warren chuckled. “No need to get physical just because you’re upset.”
“That’s not what I meant!” Vesper blurted. They both sat back down, her cheeks already flushed.
“…Then do it,” Vesper said at last.
Warren rose again, this time deliberately. He bowed slightly and extended his hand.
“It would be my pleasure to serve such a beautiful lady.”
Watching him walk away, Vesper frowned inwardly.
It should be fine… right?
......
At Everton’s Havoc Division headquarters, a woman sat across from Vesper.
She was plainly dressed—loose dark-blue T-shirt, cropped jeans—completely at odds with Vesper’s fashionable elegance.
“Vesper,” Ynez said carefully, “you want Warren to replace Axel. Are you sure that’s… appropriate?”
“What’s inappropriate about it?” Vesper replied dismissively. “This competition is a formality. Even without Axel, the gap still exists. Who’s going to beat Everton?”
The Havoc Division’s national tournament, held every three years, was mostly a showcase. Each chapter sent three representatives under twenty-five—prestige mattered more than outcome.
Seeing Vesper’s attitude, Ynez pressed on. “I know Warren is talented. A recognized genius. But he’s no match for Kenneth. You know that.”
Vesper’s impatience showed, but Ynez didn’t stop.
“There’s something else. Uncle wants to do Axel a favor. You know what his instructions were.”
“Enough,” Vesper snapped. “Are you done lecturing?”
Ynez looked uncomfortable. “You need to remember—now that you’ve entered the Starcrest family, you have to think from the family’s perspective.”
“I invited Axel. He refused. Are we supposed to kneel and beg?” Vesper scoffed. “Don’t suggest anything that humiliates the family.”
Ynez’s expression darkened. She took a breath.
“Vesper… you know who Warren really is, don’t you?”
“What about him?” Vesper asked, suddenly interested.
Ynez immediately realized she’d walked into a trap.
“Warren is talented,” she said slowly. “But his greatest strength isn’t cultivation—it’s leverage. Specifically… women.”
“He’s extremely good at manipulating female Awakened. Most of his resources come from them. Even after he discards them, they don’t feel cheated. I think you should be careful.”
Vesper reacted like someone whose nerves had been struck raw.
“That’s bullshit!” she snapped.
“Are you willing to take responsibility for saying that?”
“I am,” Ynez replied calmly.
Vesper exhaled, forcing herself to cool down. She pulled out her phone and dialed.