CHAPTER 56: OFFICERS AND BIRTHDAY

Max practiced for a few more hours after his talk with Melissa and John. While he had a lot on his mind because of her words, he didn’t let it affect his practice.

In the morning, he repeated the same route while also drinking a Health Regeneration Potion.

He had expected the day to go the same as before with practice on his mana control, but things never go as planned.

In the afternoon, two officers from the Hunter Organisation visited the Moonlight Inn for investigation as it was a hub for hunters.

Max had seen them questioning John and others when he went downstairs to grab something. So, he knew his turn would be soon too.

After half an hour, he was called downstairs in a room where John sat with the two officers.

Aside from three couches, a glass table with refreshers on it and a few beautiful paintings that seemed to illuminate the world, there was a single white ball the size of his palm in the officer’s hand.

Max gave a light nod to John, the two officers and sat on one of the couches and asked, "I assume this is related to the Ashborn Clan case?"

"Yes, it’s just formalities. You just need to answer a few of our questions and we’ll be done with it," Micheal said, wearing a dark green uniform on his muscular body. "Just put your hands on that Lie Detector Globe and we will start."

After Max put his hand on the white ball, Micheal began asking him some questions. As he knew this would come, Max had prepared and answered everything normally.

Just when Micheal was about to wrap up the investigation, he frowned and asked while looking at a big file, "It says you weren’t present here on the night of the Ashborn Clan incident. May I know where you were?"

"Sure!" Max smiled and answered truthfully. "Miss Harley from Harley Auction House invited me to sleep that night."

Hearing that, the three of them didn’t react for a second and then looked at the white ball to see if Max was just playing a prank.

He had to be, otherwise it meant he had connections with one of the strongest women in the city currently...

Their jaws almost dropped to the ground when they noticed the ball staying as it was, showing that Max was saying the truth.

But how was that possible?

Why would someone of so esteemed status invite a young man like him....

A thought arose in their mind, but they didn’t dare ask about that. After all, who would intentionally antagonize Harley Lannister?

Even Hunter Organisation had to think three times before doing anything against her, so if they let out such rumors...

They felt a chill run down their spine, feeling sweat forming on their forehead. Micheal wanted to curse out loud for being there.

Max scratched his cheeks slightly and asked, "You don’t have any other questions?"

"Ah! No, that was all we wanted to ask," Micheal said, standing up. "We will take our leave then. Hope you have a good day."

"Thank you, officers! I also hope you have a good day ahead," Max smiled at them and then added, as if just remembering it. "Oh yeah, Harley wanted to keep our relationship a secret so I hope you don’t indulge it to anyone else. I don’t know if I can shield you from her then."

They saw the white ball still in his hand with the same unchanged state and gulped in fear. They hurriedly nodded, swearing to bury this matter right here.

"One last thing, neither me nor Harley has anything to do with what happened with the Ashborn Clan and if you still wish to confirm my words then you can go ask her. I’m sure she’ll entertain you."

They once again looked at the ball and it still didn’t change color. They heaved a sigh of relief, because they were really afraid that the Ashborn Clan case might have something to do with them.

But it looked like it was just a coincidence as the two of them were sharing a passionate night...

All of a sudden, Max felt a chill run down his spine, making him shiver as he thought, ’What the hell was that? Why do I feel like I’ve just stepped into a landmine?’

[Who knows!?]

’You definitely know, don’t you?’

[Who knows?]

’Curse you!’

"There is no need for all that. We will take our leave then," Micheal wiped the sweat from his forehead and took the ball from him.

Then, the two officers ran off as if they had escaped from a decade-old prison life. It really amused Max, making him wonder if he should do this more often.

"You’re actually related to her?" John asked, bringing Max out of his joyful thoughts.

"I am, why, are you surprised?" Max smirked. "But no, we don’t have that kind of relationship."

He didn’t know why, but he had a feeling that he should clear this misunderstanding. For no other reason but his safety probably.

"I can see that from the way you used your words," John snorted and stood up. "She invited you but you didn’t say anything else but let them misunderstand. Why would someone of Harley Lannister’s status invite a young man at night? Heh, you’re clever, boy."

’Actually, she did invite me to her bed,’ Max wanted to say, but held it in and simply nodded. "Well, duh. But it’s the truth that I was in her place that night so it doesn’t really matter what officers think. I have nothing to do with what happened there."

"Yeah, I don’t have any interest in that. Just tell me if you want to share some meal with me!" John waved his hand and stopped at the door.

"I do!"

Max then had a wonderful meal with John and Melissa who had prepared yet another divine food.

He even began to consider if he should learn some cooking from her. It would certainly help in impressing some ladies.

After that, he returned to his room and was going to start his mana practice when his gaze landed on the calendar.

29th October, 3225

’Why does that date look familiar?’ Max wondered.

[I still find it baffling how you can think of such good world building and power systems, yet your lazy ass always copies the date and time of Earth.]

’Because it’s easier to manage and most readers like it too,’ Max thought and then it finally occurred to him why that date felt familiar.

’It’s Stelle’s 18th birthday. Yeah, that should match the timeline,’ Max pumped his fist, smiling from ear to ear.

For everyone, Stelle’s birthday was much earlier as that was what her mom wanted everyone to believe.

It was because of some ridiculous omen thing that Elders of SInclair Clan believed and if she had told the truth, Stelle might not have been alive.

But Max knew the truth, along with Charlotte and Stelle herself. They had never told anyone about it and never even celebrated properly.

’Poor girl can’t even celebrate her birthday because of some shitty old people. Training can go to hell, her happiness is more important,’ Max thought and dialed Stelle’s number.

He had managed to get her CID number too, somehow.

Soon, his call was picked up as he heard her annoyed voice in his head.

[Who is it and who the hell even gave you my number? Tell me so I can beat them up!]

"Sure, then beat yourself up and please send a video. I’ll watch it with popcorn," Max said, as he slumped on his bed.

[Dummy? You took forever to call me.]

"Oya! Were you waiting for my call all day and all night? That’s so cute!!" Max grinned and said.

[Hmph! As if that will ever happen. Anyways, just tell me the reason you called me because I’m already too annoyed.]

"What managed to annoy you? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?" Max asked.

[I attained Silver Rank and wanted to celebrate it with Big Sis but those old foggies won’t even let her out of their conference room. I don’t even know what they’re discussing!]

’Ah! So that’s how it is.’

Max thought, feeling even more bad for the poor girl. She must have worked really hard to ascend to the Silver Rank so that she could celebrate her birthday in the name of celebrating her ranking up.

She was really doing her everything just so she could celebrate her birthday with people who genuinely cared for it.

It was quite ironic how she had such a big family and was surrounded by people sharing her blood, yet she never actually got their love.

’It will change once they see her potential but it wouldn’t change her feelings. She’ll just become more disappointed with them.’ Max sighed.

Stelle was a simple-minded girl who had a fragile heart that was too kind. That was why Charlotte had to abandon her dreams to make Stelle’s life better.

Max took a deep breath and asked with all seriousness, "Stelle, do you want to celebrate your Ascension with me?"

...

A/N- I know the pacing had slowed down slightly and I began to focus on Slice of Life more to give more depth to the characters, but how do you guys feel about this? Tell me your thoughts.

Also, the action will return soon when the Labyrinth opens up again. Then, the pacing will pick up again.

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