Melan left the cafeteria and Argus gave everyone a look as if warning them not to do something stupid before leaving as well.

Arthur looked at Lear and then walked towards him

''Is he coming?" Lear asked Max as he looked at the dish on the table.

"Yup, he is coming right here…" Max replied.

Arthur came forward and ignored Lear as he reached his hand out towards Max first.

"I am Arthur Barnes. Nice to meet you…I have heard you have been taking care of my brother for quite a while…" Arthur said with a smile.

"I haven't done anything great...you give me too much credit…" Max said as he shook his hand with a smile.

Arthur then looked at Lear who was avoiding his gaze, "Come with me for a second…"

"He is not going anywhere…." Wilson said as he continued to eat.

Arthur looked at him and then at Max.

"You don't expect us to send out one of our members with our competitors like this, right?" Max asked with a smile.

"Competitor?" Arthur looked at Lear in surprise. He was being treated as an outsider…

"Did you forget what family is after spending a few days away from home Lear?" Arthur asked as he looked at the guy.

Lear finally raised his head, "How could I? It's just that we are being cautious during the competition to prevent any accidents. It's not just you...even he is maintaining his distance from his sister. I will feel bad if I talk to you.."

Arthur looked at Wilson once again and finally realized, ''You are Erina's brother? No wonder you looked so familiar...that temper seems reasonable now…"

Wilson gave him a look but didn't say anything.

"I don't mind if you can talk here…" Max said as he looked at Arthur.

Arthur smiled and took a seat.

"So, why did you run away? Do you have any idea how much trouble you caused?" He asked, looking at Lear.

"I wanted a change…..anyway, how's mom?" Lear said as he changed the topic. He didn't want to say more than needed to be….he wasn't interested in explaining everything not until Arnold's truth came out…

"How do you think she is? She kept crying until the news of you being fine arrived. She has given father the ultimatum to not step in the bedroom until he brings you back…" Arthur said as he shook his head.

"What about grandfather?" Lear asked.

"He was angry at first...but now I am not sure....I don't know what father and grandfather are thinking to allow you with this sh*t…" Arthur said with a confused look.

"Besides, why did you participate in the competition? And now even took a fight with that psycho…." He frowned looking at him. "Just withdraw from the competition don't do something idiotic…''

"I won't…" Lear replied.

"Why are you being an idiot? Do you think you are strong just because you got a seat into the competition from the weakest Academy?" Arthur said as he looked at Lear. The competition was going to be really intense this time, he didn't want Lear to be a part of it.

"Weak?" Lear muttered as he raised his head and his aura burst forth without any restraint.

Arthur's eyes went wide with shock. He couldn't believe the tingling on his skin. This... wasn't possible….why was he having this feeling of danger..…

"You have been hiding it…." Arthur looked at Lear, "Why?"

"Don't tell me those old b*stards did something?'' He said as a vein bulged on his forehead.

"You don't need to worry about me. Just look after yourself….and don't let your guard down in front of anyone….don't trust anyone until the competition are over...not even me..." Lear said as he looked at him.

Max looked at Lear. Even though he didn't seem to be willing to tell him, he still couldn't help but warn him...

"What's going on Lear?" Arthur looked at him with a serious look. He would be a fool if he didn't realise something was wrong.

Lear looked at Max from the corner of his eyes.

"I am sorry...but you would have to leave now....we have people joining here…" Max intervened as he looked at the group who had just entered the cafeteria.

"Lear…" Arthur further. said with a frown but Lear didn't respond.

He didn't want it but he wanted to know what was going on. Hence, he decided to take Lear away with force.

But the next moment he found that there was no mana around him. He couldn't even bring out the mana inside his body.

'What is going on?' He suddenly had a dangerous feeling. These people weren't that simple….weak his ass….

"Leave before you know whether we are weak or not….besides, isn't it clear he doesn't wanna answer.." Wilson calmly said. He was ready to punch this guy if he still insisted on it.

"Umn…what's going on here?" Lisa asked as she arrived near the table. Beside her were Beli and Rias. They had just returned from their work as well.

They could feel the tension in the air. Something was definitely up.

Arthur looked at these guys and was once again surprised to see two familiar faces.

Lisa and Rias….

Lisa was known for the obvious reason while Rias was known as she and Riser were a prospective opponent for them. But it looked like the news about their transfer to Arcane was not a joke…

'What the hell is wrong with Arcane? Are they playing a pig to eat the tiger...not to mention….what is their relation with Lear….he didn't join Arcane to fool around….and he even warned me to stay alert….what's going on…something is definitely going to happen...is this the reason he ran away...' Several thoughts were passing through Arthur's head.

In the end, he gave Lear a last look before leaving.

"You sure about it? You had already said so much...you might as well have warned him about Arnold…" Max muttered as he looked at Lear.

"No...even I didn't believe you initially. There is no way that guy would believe either...I am afraid he would have confronted him. That would make things worse…." Lear replied.

"What did you guys do? Everyone is staring at us…" Beli asked as she looked towards Max.

"Nothing….we were a bit loud I guess…'' Max said as he looked at Lear and Wilson.

Everyone took a seat around.

"So, it's done?" Lear asked.

"Yeah, we wiped it clean…" Rias replied with a smile.

"Hmmn? Why do you keep looking at her? That girl is stealing glances at you too…" Beli suddenly said as she looked at Max and then turned her head to look at Lora's table.

"She is his girlfriend…can't bear the separation I guess..." Max said with a smile.

"She is not my girlfriend…" Lear replied. 'At least not yet…' he continued in his mind.

"At least not yet your mean... " Max smiled.

Lear's face twitched when he heard that.

"What about you? You have a girlfriend?" Rias asked as she looked at Max.

Elly's face suddenly appeared in Max's mind.

'I guess.. technically I have one.' Max muttered inwardly.

"There is no way a guy like him would have a girlfriend…" Lisa said as she looked at Max.

Max smiled, ignoring Lisa's remark.

"Oh! Then who was that girl calling you her boyfriend that day…" Wilson who had been eating quietly until now finally butted in.

"Cough! Cough!"

Max was taken in by surprises and immediately chugged in the glass of water.

When he was done, he saw everyone looking at him.

'F*ck….this guy.. he had to speak at the worst possible timing…'