“An acquaintance maybe. Sorry, this is also the first time we've seen the boy,” the staff answered politely, changing the topic.

Axel was brought upstairs and ushered into the kitchen, where Marina’s husband, who is also the owner, worked. Thomas was there, leaning on a long rectangular table, supervising the chefs. He had bushy brown hair that stubbornly stuck out of his chef’s hat. His beard also took up the upper and lower spaces of his mouth, tracing his jawline right up to his ears.

“Tom,” Marina left Axel at the door and patted her husband’s shoulder.

“Yeah?” Thomas was still buried in paperwork, double-checking the remaining ingredients.

“Look who’s here.” She excitedly pulled on his shoulder so he would turn towards the door. When he saw Axel’s face, his eyes brightened with a wide smile.

“My dear boy, Axel!” He rushed at Axel with a bear hug and tackled him.

Axel almost lost his balance.

“Why did you just come now? How are you, little brat? Tsk, you’ve grown taller!” Thomas had a broad smile as he kept shaking Axel’s shoulders and messing with his hair.

“I’m okay. How are you, Uncle Tom?”

“Hahaha, doing well! Doing well!” He put his big arms around Axel’s shoulders and guided him to his office right across from the kitchen.

“Marina, give Axel some snacks.”

“What nonsense! I will prepare him my famous pumpkin soup!” Marina said proudly, her cheeks puffed up as she turned and went back to the kitchen.

Axel looked up at Uncle Tom with a smile.

As the years passed, people changed. But this man and his wife were still the same. They still looked at him the same and treated him like he was their son. A year ago, they were not in C country, which is why they could not make it to Nyx’s funeral. Uncle Tom’s retirement was due to his right leg being amputated. His injuries from raiding a dungeon were so severe he was in a coma for at least four years. Nyx helped Marina take care of Uncle Tom’s hospital fees and supported her financially until she could stand on her own and support herself while waiting for her husband’s recovery.

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Thomas let Axel sit on the sofa and reminisce about their past. When Nyx’s matter was touched upon, Thomas teared up.

“Kid, I’m sorry, kid. It must have been very difficult for you to endure it all by yourself.” He tackled Axel into another hug and bawled like a child.

“Uncle, it’s okay. I’m okay now,” Axel attempted to pacify the old man.

Earlier, Axel had noticed Uncle Tom put the pen into his pocket when he approached Axel. While Uncle Tom was preoccupied with his grief, Axel put his hand in his pocket and stole the pen, smoothly putting it into his own pocket.

Uncle Tom’s face was covered in tears and snot. Axel slightly panicked.

“Uncle, actually it’s okay. You don’t have to feel sorry for me.” He took the tissue box on the table and handed it to him.

Uncle Tom blew his runny nose and wiped it until his nose turned red. With his brown hair and bushy beard, plus the red nose, he resembled Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer.

Axel stifled a laugh.

“Really, Uncle. I’m okay. I’m doing well now.”

If Axel from before had heard these words come out of his mouth, he would have scorned them because they sounded so ridiculous. But the him now knew these words came from his heart.

In the end, it took more than thirty minutes before Uncle Tom calmed down. His wife even saw him pathetically relying on a seventeen-year-old boy to comfort him.

“Why are you crying? You’re an old man! Toughen up!” she scolded.

She served Axel her pumpkin soup, scolding her husband for showing such a pathetic side in front of a child. Axel let the middle-aged couple argue while he focused on the pumpkin soup. His mouth savored the familiar taste and the warmth full of flavor that filled his mouth.

Just as he finished eating his fill, he looked up to see not only Uncle Tom teary-eyed but also Marina breaking down in tears.

“Auntie, what’s wrong? Why are you crying now?”

“How were you able to survive? It must have been difficult. Your brother was one of the kindest men I’ve met. When this uncle of yours was in a coma, I was left with nothing. No one offered to help me except him. I’m sorry… I should have been with you…”

Axel smiled.

How could you have been with me? Your husband was in the hospital, and you didn’t know when he would wake up.

“Things were difficult for you as well, Auntie. Truly, you don’t need to cry. I’m okay now.”

Axel tried to console the two about how his brother left him with a fortune. He could live without working. If he just slept and ate, he could grow old just like that. Not to mention, their house was left to him. So he was already rich.

Marina was sitting at his side, comforting him by letting him lean on her shoulder as she cried. His eyes glanced at the desk. At the left corner, Axel saw a picture frame. It was a photo from when they were still young. Marina in the picture seemed to be in her teens. She was young and pretty. Uncle Tom was also handsome and had his arms around her shoulder. But what caught his eye was Marina. She was holding a bow. Axel frowned.

He remembered Nyx mentioning that her ability was related to bows and shooting. Axel’s eyes trailed down and saw a small letter 'M' pin attached to her chest. With a swift movement, he ripped it off and put it in his pocket. Feigning ignorance, he extracted himself from Marina’s arms and looked at the two of them.

“Uncle, Auntie. Actually, the reason I came here is I need help.”