"Yes, I lied…." Naze said with a sigh and his gaze turned calm.

Lisa looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

"I don't like you but I pretended to, all because of keeping someone out of trouble's length."

"What do you mean?" Lisa asked.

"Let's just say that there is a guy who I am close to….he fell in love with you. I didn't want that to happen, so before he could tell me about his feelings for you...I made sure he found out my feelings for you….It was all a lie obviously…so he being himself, decided to suppress himself…." Naze replied with calm.

"Why would you do something like that to a close friend….what do you think will happen when he finds out..." Lisa replied with a frown.

"I don't know and I don't care. I will do what it takes to protect that naive idiot. He can blame me all he wants. But that is the price the weak has to pay...." Naze said as he looked at Lisa.

"Tell me...is it better to lie to him and make him hate me or better to let him love you and die?"

Lisa was dumbfounded at the question. There wasn't even a need to think about the correct option.

"You might be oblivious to it…..but there is someone out there who will go to any lengths to get his hands on you and destroy anyone who gets in his way….some have already suffered…some have even dropped out….So, you better be careful…." Naze decided to warn her as he turned to leave.

"Stop! Who are you talking about? Tell me the name…"

Naze turned his head to look at her but didn't speak.

"I don't know whether you are telling the truth or lying again….but if it's true, don't you think you will be in trouble after everything you did?" Lisa asked as she looked at him, "If you can tell me, I will obviously help. After all, if it's true, I can't let this go on…."

Lisa felt that there was a chance of it being the truth, there were several nobles sent to Arcane. It wouldn't be odd if someone among them eyeing her was behind it.

"No..."

Lisa's eyes widened at his reply. She couldn't understand what was going through his mind.

"Why?"

"You are right, I might be in trouble….no….actually I already am.." Naze said with a depreciating smile.

"But, I can't tell you..."

"Why go to such length when you are aware of your situation?" Lisa really felt him harder and harder to understand.

"If I go missing someday, I am sure that idiot will come to you looking for answers…I don't trust you...if you gave that name out, won't my hard work go in vain…"

"So, you are willing to die for it?" Lisa asked as she stared at him.

"Of course not, I don't like that idea….I will struggle on my own way. Even though I don't look like it, I have got my plans…" Naze said with a confident look.

"You really are behaving differently than you usually do….". Lisa replied.

"Be grateful, you are one of the only two people who has seen this side of mine…"

"You friend sure is a fool to have fallen for your lies even after seeing this side of yours…." Lisa was looking down on this friend of his.

"Well, he obviously hasn't seen it. Even though we are close, I definitely wouldn't show it to him. He just needs to live and be happy, I will make him worry if he finds out what I am doing…" Naze said with a silly smile.

"Hmmn...then who is the other person?" Lisa couldn't help but ask in curiosity.

"Well, I will tell you if you do me a favor…." Naze said with a smile.

"Well, I can hear you out...but I don't intend to promise anything…."

"Well, it's just a small thing….I am sure you won't mind…so, like I said if I ever went missing, I am sure a person would come looking for you…." Naze said.

"That friend of yours?"

"Yes…" Naze replied before continuing, "Can you make him turn away with some harsh words? I would love it if he starts hating you…."

"You are still on about it?" Lisa looked at him in surprise.

"Of course, if you even saw a bit of kindness I doubt how he would react….being an orphan has its downside too. You are easily attracted to stuff like that….of course, it's another thing if you end up falling for him at first sight…"

"Hah!" Lisa spat in contempt.

"There is no way I will fall for someone so foolish. Besides, he is no match for me. So, you can leave it to me. It's not just for the answer but your resolve….I am impressed…." Lisa said with a snort.

"As expected of Mage King's daughter…"

Lisa nodded feeling great.

"Huh?" But the next instant, she realized something. This was supposed to be a secret.

"Don't ask me unnecessary stuff…." Naze raised his hands and stopped her from speaking.

"The other person who has seen this side of mine is the Son of Scarlet Lord….well then goodbye…" Naze turns around to leave.

"Ah!"

But the next instant, a groan escaped her mouth as she felt a heavy impact on her head.

As she fell, Naze turned around. His face grim as he kicked the ground and within the next instant, he was already by Lisa's side.

That speed far surpassed what an ordinary human was capable of. Even though Max wanted to know what was going on, Lisa's consciousness started to fade.

Naze looked at Lisa as she spoke, "It seems, I will be missing from today. It sure came fast. Don't forget your promise and please don't do anything unnecessary let things go on their own…"

Those were the last words Lisa and Max heard before everything turned dark….

….

"Isn't that too vague? He didn't even clearly tell it was Axel once?" Lear said with a frown after Max had told him what he knew about.

"Yeah, I too doubted it at first. But I don't anymore after seeing Axel's reaction." Max replied.

"Besides, there are still things that don't make sense to me….Axel said he had read Naze's diary...he had written about James planning something on Lisa. There was no way he would do something like that….it totally contradicts what he was doing…."

"Aside from that, I can't seem to understand why Lisa chased after Axel when she promised Naze that….things aren't connecting well.."

Max sighed. He had planned to get something out of info from Axel to understand the situation but it failed.

"Want me to fill in the details then?"

Max and Lear turned their head to see Wilson walking towards them. He had heard everything and seemed to be massaging his head thinking about it.

"Geez, I can't believe this really happened....."

"What do you mean?" Lear asked in confusion.

"Its probably due to fatty and me...." Wilson said with a troubled look and sighed before turning his face to look at them.