"Wilson's mother?" Scarlet Lord frowned a bit as he looked at Max. "I am sorry, but he has left the family. He has no relations to us any longer."
Max looked at him. This sure was a bit strange. He was behaving in a different manner than yesterday when he actually asked about Wilson. Max had clearly seen his caring side, but what was this now?
"Besides, she is not here in Ocien. She has been shifted to a different place for treatment. I will have to disappoint you." He further added while looking at Max.
"That's a pity, it seems I will have to wait for another time." Max let out a helpless smile and then got up to leave.
….
'Is he telling the truth?' Max muttered inwardly as he got out of the room, and walked towards his room. Right now, he didn't think he could trust any of the Lord's word. Something seemed odd about him for some reason.
Max was wondering if it had something to do with his meeting with Talia. After all, his way of testing him sure felt odd.
….
"How did it go?" Naze asked when Max returned to the room.
"He said that she isn't in Ocien," Max calmly replied.
"Hmmn.."
"Something feels off between the Lord and his current wife.." Max suddenly added before getting up.
"Well, who knows they might be fighting or something.." Naze shrugged.
"Do you know how the two of them came together?" Max asked him. Because from what he knew, it seemed that the Lord had married another woman to provide a mother for their children.
But, it sure sounded like bullsh*t to him.
"Hmmn… from what I hear, it seems. That they wanted to expand their influence. But, that is not entirely true." Naze paused, "The Scarlet House is the Biggest House among the 12 Noble House. Its strength isn't something that could be taken lightly. It single handedly might be able to compare to three other house if I am not wrong."
"Such power was really disrupting the power balance. But, when Talia Ovens married him, the balance returned. After all, Ovens family is on the Union's side."
"Do you think this just a coincidence?" Naze asked.
"But, who could force the Scarlet Lord into something like this?" Max asked with a frown, but seeing the smile on Naze's face, things became obvious.
"The Ancient Families.." Max muttered in a low voice as his face turned a bit dark.
The Union's families were being maintained by the Storm Family. And, if Max wasn't wrong, Tempest was a branch family of the Storms. He had confirmed that fact from a few places. Even Stark had nodded at it when asked once.
The Tempest were the outcast of the Storms. It was established by an exile member, but they later managed to mend some relations. At least that was how the story went.
But, Max wasn't focused on that. He was just trying to find connections here. He remembered the fact that Bayu who had the artifact actually had Demonic power within him.
If you say that it had nothing to do with the Storm Family, Max would have a hard time believing it.
'Are they betraying us? Or is someone among them a traitor..'
'I will just inform Master about it. I shall concentrate on what is at my hand first.'
There was too many things on his plate, it was obvious he couldn't eat it all alone.
"Anyway, for now, I don't believe the Scarlet Lord. I will try to find Wilson's mom around. You try to see if you can get any lead on the matter as well," Max said to Naze and he nodded.
"And, yeah, when are the people arriving for the mission here?" Max asked as he looked at him. They were here to destroy the Dark Society branch after all.
"It should take a bit more time. I heard that not everyone has recovered as of yet." Naze shook his head.
…
The same night..
Naze had left to gather information and Max too quietly sneaked out of the room while leaving his clone inside. He was planning to go around and search every nook and cranny properly.
The property was very big and it wasn't possible to check every place personally in one night.
The hunt went on for two days, but Max still hadn't found anything. He actually still hadn't checked two places which was the Lord's Chamber, and the Lady's chamber which was being occupied by Talia.
He didn't dare to go in there. He wasn't sure that he could escape from their senses, and he wasn't willing to take that risk right now. He sure didn't want to get kicked out and make enemies with them as that would spoil a lot of things for him now.
…
"Anything?" Max asked Naze on the fourth night.
But, he just shook his head. There was nothing important that he could find about. If anything, it was to say that people had no clue that the Previous Lady was moved out. Nobody had knew when it happened.
"I think we will need to get someone's help."
"Whose?" Naze asked in confusion.
"Well, that Old man. He said there weren't any Demons, right.." Max smiled.
….
Yule Family, Ocien.
"Are we going through the entrance?" Naze asked as he looked at Leo.
"I will go through the entrance, you go through the back. That day, Talia spoke about the artifact. I think the Yules had something to do with her. Try to find any evidence regarding that matter. I wonder how that old man would react when he finds out that not only are their Demons in his territory, but even his own family is dealing with them under his nose.." Max was ready to get the best out of him this time.
"Ok, leave it to me." Naze let out a smile, and then disappeared.
Max looked towards the entrance and then slowly began to walk.
The night wasn't going to be peaceful, at least not for the Yule Family.