Max wiped the blood on his cheeks. There were dozens of beasts lying around. He seemed to have lost the count of the number of beast he had slaughtered on his way.

He didn't have anymore time to look around for the rest of the guys, it was time to return and prepare for the raid with Ocien.

But something funny happened. When he was looking all around, he didn't find anyone. But now that he gave up, someone familiar popped up.

Max slowed down his pace and quietly approached the place after sensing that there was someone else there as well.

"I can't do it…"

Max heard Kevin's voice, he seemed troubled.

"Why are you doing this? Don't you know the situation? Just foreit and go back…"

Max frowned when he saw that the person who spoke those words was Bahamut's brother and another one of the Celestials, Faryl Zen.

Max couldn't understand what was going on? Why would someone like Faryl force a tiny character from one of the branch families to forfeit the competition?

"I want to help my friends…'' Kevin said timidly as he looked at Faryl.

"Don't joke with me...do you know how angry grandpa is with you...I don't even dare to take his call…'' Farly said with an ugly face.

''But…"

"No but…..did you forget why you can't fight? Do you want to kill everyone here?" Farly glared at him.

"I won't fight. This time I am only here to be a tank….I only need to take hits... besides, it's not that bad...recently I have been able to fight a bit seriously...." Kevin flailed his hand and tried to reassure Faryl.

"Don't give me that bullish*t, if I didn't rescue you earlier, you would be clawed by those beasts…" Faryl said as he gave Kevin a look.

"Not to mention, tank my ass….I heard last time you held back in Arcane and almost got killed…."

"I didn't have a choice….you know how I can't control myself….." Kevin said as he started fidgeting around.

"Get rid of that timid personality of yours first….isn't that the reason Grandpa sent you out all alone in the first place….but it seems you have degraded instead of improving...I bet grandpa would go mad after he sees you…" Faryl said with a smug face.

Kevin shivered at the thought of it.

Max had been observing them quietly and had a strange expression on his face. It didn't seem that Kevin had a simple identity in Zen House and his physique seemed a bit unique just like Max had thought..

But Max couldn't understand one thing, why didn't Bahamut tell him anything about Kevin?

Max didn't wait and just messaged the little guy and as expected, he really didn't know much about Kevin except for the fact that he was from the branch family.

«Bahamut: Why are you suddenly asking this in the middle of the competition?»

«Coward Cat: Well, I am seeing something interesting I guess…..it seems you don't have much idea about what's going around in your family…»

«Bahamut: You are doubting my intelligence network? That too within my own territory? You really have got guts…Just to let you know, Uncle Giant is one of my father's trusted aid, so I am aware of most of the things going around escape for a few things which can only be known by the Lord.. »

Max was taken back for a moment and then informed him about what was going in front of his eyes.

«Bahamut: I have got a lot to deal with because these Dark Society b*stards have started to pop out again… with the influx of people due to the competition, they have managed to sneak in their people as well…so you better not be messing with me right now...

«Coward Cat: Why would I? I wish the system had had something like a video calling or vision sharing feature.»

«Bahamut: Fine, I will trust you and try to find out what's going on...»

Max closed the tab and then intentionally released his presence.

"Someone's here…" Faryl said as he looked at Kevin and the easy going atmosphere between them changed.

A few seconds later, Max slowly appeared in front of them.

"Max!" Kevin was surprised and happy to see that the person was Max.

Faryl looked at Max calmly.

"What are you doing here?" Max asked as he looked at Kevin.

"Uh...I was in trouble when the Young Lord helped me out…." Kevin said while fidgeting.

Max finally understood something. It was very difficult to find out whether this fatty was telling the truth or not. His actions while lying was his normal timid behavior.

You can't tell whether the guy was nervous, afraid, ashamed, or guilty of lying….

Faryl frowned when Kevin blurted out the truth, but his expression quickly turned normal.

"There won't be a next time…" He left after saying those words and giving Max a last glance.

"Let's go..." Max said as he grabbed Kevin and took off. He knew that with Kevin's usual speed, it would be difficult for Kevin to keep up with him.

…

On the other side….

Mr. Cool had arrived with Tia to take Venice.

Lisa had been staying at the place to look after Venice who had regained consciousness a few hours ago. But she still couldn't move due to exhaustion.

"How is she?" Mr. Cool asked her when he met Lisa outside.

Tia's eyes flashed with a chilling light when she realised that Mr. Cool seemed familiar and friendly towards Lisa.

Even Lisa could feel the girl behind Mr. Cool glaring at her.

"Stop it, Tia...we are not like that…" Mr. Cool hurriedly tried to explain.

Lisa almost vomited in disgust for being paired up with the damn narcissist.

But Tia snorted. It didn't seem new to her and she appeared to have heard the same line a few dozens of times.

"Just look at her...don't you recognize who she is…" Mr. Cool said with a sigh.

Tia shifted her gaze to Lisa and then finally realized the one in front of her was Mage King's daughter….even Mr. Cool wouldn't have balls to have thoughts about her.

But Tia still seemed a bit suspicious.

"Besides, she is a friend's girl….I am not that low.." He further added.

"Y-You!! We are not like that!!" Lisa's face was flushed when she heard Mr. Cool.

"Calm down, I haven't even taken a name. Don't go assuming on your own that it's Max…" Lisa's face almost exploded in shame and anger when Mr. Cool slapped the fact on her face.

Tia looking at Lisa's reaction was finally relieved that she had someone else in her heart.

"Stop being a jerk...let's go, we are here for Venice…" She stepped up to help Lisa.

When Lisa calmed down, she suddenly realised something.

Wasn't Venice and Mr. Cool….then what was up with Tia and him?

Lisa let them in still a bit confused about what was going on....

'May be Mr. Cool and Venice were not like that....we may have been thinking wrong all along...' Lisa thought inwardly.