Alex, “I don’t think I can possibly do anything for someone like you.”

Luxario only smiled. “Well then do it as repaying your favor from before when I saved you.”

“I don’t think I needed saving. Even if you hadn’t intertwined, I would have still been fine, so I don’t really owe you anything.” Alex said lying about it.

Luxario “Tsk big words for a small boy.”

‘This kid thinks he would have been alive if I hadn’t done anything…’ Luxario thought as he chuckled internally.

Rose, “If you don’t mind me asking, what is it that you need him for? I am in charge of him while he is here.”

Luxario looked at Rose and only gave a small sigh.

“Fine, looks like this won’t go anywhere until I don’t tell you. You made quite a scene Alex, a little time back didn’t you.”

Rose, “Are you referring to…”

Luxario, “Yes that’s right, where he became the enemy of an entire kingdom and it was spectated by everyone.”

Alex, “Enemy? Spec—

Before Alex could try to make sense of what he was saying, Luxario quickly pulled out a small, round like device with a screen. On it was displaying a woman seemingly a reporter talking about Alex and what he declared to General Renardo that he would destroy a legendary treasure of the Kingdom! There was even a footage to go with it. Apparently, it had been shot from a secret angle from the pine trees nearby.

Miracle, ‘Oh, you’re a celebrity now?’

‘What?! No! Where did you even learn that word?’ Alex rebuked.

This made him realize why the reporters were trying to get close to him at Xerxes funeral. He didn’t find it much odd there since there were very few people who were allowed to attend it. And they were trying to get close every one of them.

Luxario revealed a small smile before he continued “People will be coming for you and not just you but also those close to you.”

Alex’s face turned a little serious as he asked “What people?”

“Bad and powerful people, you won’t even see them coming and you’ll be dead in seconds.” Luxario said as he snapped his fingers.

Rose, “But why? Everything’s clear now, it is already universal information that the stone was destroyed and Alex was just caught up in that mess.”

“Well, that’s true, but you know the rumors, right?” Luxario said as he calmly looked at Rose. This caused her face to become a little tense.

“That doesn’t mean anything, it’ll pass.”

“Oh, who told you that? your master Clare? That’s a naive way of thinking, that girl should know better than that.” Luxario snorted.

Alex, “Hey what rumors are you guys talking about?”

Rose only gave a glance at Alex before turning her gaze to the ground.

“What are the rumors?” Alex asked in a little aggravated tone.

Rose, “P… people believe that you are still cursed with the power of the stone.”

“What?!”

Luxario, “You belong to some foreign organization, you are this kingdom’s hidden weapon, you know a thing or two about legendary treasures… the list goes on.”

Alex, “How the heck did those rumors come to even life?”

Rose, “Emerald is not the same as it was before Alex. People either believe something easily or they don’t. You are targeted by many now. The last few days we have captured several hunters… people who take on jobs… jobs which are not always legal. They were from Emerald. They came for you.”

Alex was quite for a full minute as he watched the mountains in the distance while leaning against a nearby railing. He then abruptly said “Well I am quite flattered. People have quite a high opinion of me.”

Rose and Luxario didn’t felt good with Alex’s mood. He seemed unusually calm. Was he having a weird panic reaction? Was the only thought that went through both of their minds.

“So, are you going to put me in confinement or something until things finally cool over?” Alex asked warily.

Rose, “We… we thought of that but it won’t go unnoticed by the large organizations who might be keeping an eye on you and it’ll make that even more obvious.”

“Well but that’s an option the Council might resort to sooner or later.” Luxario added.

“What? No way, you are joking right?” Alex asked goofily. No response came.

“H-he is joking right? R-1?” Alex asked a bit more worried now. Rose didn’t want to answer it as Luxario had said nothing wrong. The fact remains that Alex wielded a legendary treasure though not at its full might, he still did.

Even the Council was curious as to how he was able to pull it off. They couldn’t simply let anyone get their hands on him regardless of whether he is capable of performing the same feat or not. Worry and fear found its way onto Alex’s face. After his help with uncovering the truth behind Xerxes he had thought he might receive some special considerations. But this was some other type of special consideration.

Rose felt sorry for him. She wanted to say that it won’t not happen but she knew better than to give false hope. Luxario observed Alex carefully before offering him an option.

“Well, there’s a way where you can avoid this scenario.”

Both Rose and Alex’s attention had been garnered. Smirking Luxario turned around in silence before turning dramatically and pointing at him.

“Become my disciple!” Luxario stated with a wide smile.

Rose was stunned when she heard Luxario almost wondering if she heard right. Training under the supreme protector was dreamt by many but was never achieved by any!