Black Circle's Special Invitation

Chapter 5

“Ugh… My head is throbbing. I saved her life, and this is how she repays me: by giving me a knock and causing me to collapse in my own home.” Axel was irritated.

Axel tries to stand up despite the fact that his body is trembling from the knockout after effect.

To sober up, he walks slowly to the kitchen and washes his face.

Splash, splash.

“Brrrr… The water is way so cold; I wonder what time it is right now. “

Axel raised his eyes to the clock; it was eight o'clock in the evening. “Great, I was unconscious for twelve hours and then had to go to work in this horrible state. Luckily, I had requested two days off from the bar beforehand; otherwise, I would not have been able to work properly there. It's all for the purpose of this once-in-a-lifetime invitation.”

Axel reaches inside his kitchen drawer and pulls out a black envelope. The signature sign of Black Circle can be seen on this envelope.

“Let's double-check the appointment time and see whether I'll still be able to make it in time.”

Dear Mr. Brainer

You are invited to the Black Circle at 10,00 p.m. This invitation is necessary for you to attend in person in order to finish your application.

Best regards,

The administrator

‘Two hours left before the appointment; I still have enough time to clean myself to impress the administrator.’ Axel pondered.

Axel Brainer is ready to visit Black Circle for the promised appointment after one crucial hour has passed to dress up.

His house is not that far from Black Circle, and Axel, who loves strolling around, takes advantage of his habit by coming thirty minutes sooner through shortcuts.

A security guard inquired him as he is about to enter Black Circle.

“State your case!!” yelled a security guard.

Axel remained unfazed. He wore a confident expression on his face. He pulls out the black envelope as a respond to his query.

“Please accept my apologies for coming in your way, Sir.” Axel is greeted by security, who apologizes and opens the door for him. He added, “Welcome to the Black Circle.”

Axel walked in straight away to the reception desk.

“Good evening, sir, how may I assist you?” asks the receptionist.

“I came to attend the appointment which the administrator had set up for me. This is my letter of invitation.“

The employee wasted no time in double-checking the validity of the black envelope Axel had handed him.

“Sir Brainer, I'd like to welcome you to the Black Circle. Please follow me; I will take you there.”

“Thank you, it is a pleasure to be accepted here.”

Just as this receptionist is about to leave, another employee arrives to take his place.

They both entered the elevator to the fifth floor as destination goal. Axel becomes agitated since he is not the kind to remain silent for lengthy periods of time.

“Where are we heading exactly?” he inquires of the receptionist.

“Sir, we're on our way to the administrator's office. There you will figure out everything in your business, and please accept my apologies, but that is the best information I could give you.” The receptionist gave his response.

“So, there you have it. I'm going to refrain from asking another question.”

Ping!

The elevator door slammed open. The receptionist didn't say anything, but he motioned for Axel to exit the elevator.

“The administrator's room is located on the left side of the building. Thus, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep you company for much longer. Sir Brainer, please accept my apologies.”

“Thank you for guiding me out of your way! I really appreciated your help.”

Axel takes a step toward the room where he was directed. The door isn't anything special; it's just a plain black door.

Creeak.

He walks inside the chamber with the same assurance he had when he first entered the Black Circle. Only one person is waiting for him inside the room. A lady, to be precise, who sits far away from him.

Axel introduces himself as soon as possible in order to make a proper introduction.

“It's a pleasure to meet you, administrator. Axel Brainer is my name. I have come to accept the invitation that was extended to me.”

“When you're Mr. Brainer, take a seat. We have been anticipating your precious arrival with bated breath.”

Axel chose to sit near the room's entrance, farthest away from where the administrator sat.

“We? Excuse my rudeness, but I didn't see anyone else in the room besides us at the time.” Axel responded.

“Mr. Brainer, do not be mistaken; my presence here represents the entire administrator. Please keep that in mind.” The lady appears to be offended by Axel's words.

“Please forgive me, elder...”

“You could refer to me as Raisen or elder Raisen, Mr. Brainer.”  

“Thank you, elder Raisen, and it is a pleasure to be invited here.”

After hearing the unexpected news from Raisen, Axel gets out of his chair. “Is it true that I can-”

“Likewise, Mr. Brainer. Now we'll get to the point of your visit, which is your inquiry request. We are pleased to inform you that the information you seek is already available for your use.”

Gasp!

After hearing such an unexpected news from Raisen, Axel gets out of his chair. “Is it true that I can-”

"However, Mr. Brainer, we must point out that you have yet to inform us of the compensation for such valuable information. As a result, we can't give it to you as long as you didn't fulfill your end of the bargain."

“T-tell me... What are you looking for in terms of remuneration?” said Axel.

“How insolence of you, Mr. Brainer!” Raisen yells. “Black Circle’s partner was never charged or demanded anything. Instead, they are approaching us with a counter-offer to the inquiry.”

“Please tell-”

“We will continue this conversation the week after today, and we hope that by then, Mr. Brainer, you will have made a satisfactory offer.”

“However, elder Raisen, I am unable-”

“ENOUGH AXEL BRAINER!! You've already insulted us twice. If you have no intention of leaving this place, don't blame us for how we treated you. Furthermore, the security of the information you seek cannot be guaranteed or destroyed.” threaten Raisen.

'I was astounded to learn that they already had the name of my sister's murderer in their possession. I lost my sense of purpose and nearly ruined the two years of hard work I had put in.'

“I humbly beg your pardon for my insolence. I promise to be a different person the next time we have a chance to talk. Until our next meeting, elder Raisen.”

As a result, Axel is following the administrator's order to flee the room with trepidation. The fact that he had received news about the requested information in such a short period of time had not been factored into his calculations.

He can't stop worrying about the fact that the information he requested about a week ago has been acquired by Black Circle so quickly.

“Is it true that elder Raisen knows who killed my sister?” he mumbled as he waited for the elevator that would take him to the first floor.

Axel was so preoccupied with trying to comprehend the situation he was in with the Black Circle.

'Does she intend to fuck my mind, or is she just using this opportunity to enslave me? But if that's the case, my identity should be revealed, and I should be dead by now.'

These are Axel's inner thoughts as he rides down to the first floor in the elevator.

Ping!

Axel rushes to the exit as soon as the elevator door opens. However, someone approaches from behind with a question.

“Does the appointment go well, Mr. Brainer?”

The question was posed by the same receptionist who had escorted him upstairs. Axel can only say, with a hesitant look, “I'm almost done. We only need to discuss a minor point next week.”

“That is truly regrettable, Mr. Brainer,” said the receptionist.

“I'll ask for your help again the following week, Dan.”

“I shall wait for the next week to assist you, Mr. Brainer.”

Axel has moved away from Black Circle, and the prospect of discovering who murdered his sister is a temptation he can't resist. He is considering what price would be most compatible with the information they have.

'Should I sell my soul for this knowledge? Will my sister be pleased that I finally know her murderer or will she be upset with me?'

Bang!

A gunshot fired from behind that is designed to miss Axel’s body as a friendly warning.

“Are you associating yourself with Black Circle?”

The voice interrogating him sounds familiar to Axel’s ear, “Is that you, S-selina?” Axel asks, raising his hand.

Selina approaches him, cocked her gun and prepared to fire another bullet. “What is your connection to the Black Circle? If I didn't get satisfaction answer, I swear a pair of bullets would pierce your skull.”

“Like I said in my house, I do not have a relationship with the Black Circle-”

“Why did you save me? Did the administrator order you to do so? “ Selina asks.

Axel teases Selina because he is tired of being misunderstood. “I'm curious, why?” Perhaps because of guilt.” Axel responded.

“What exactly do you mean?”

Axel abruptly turns around; another gunshot is echoing throughout the empty street of Norland City.

Thump

Selina fell to the ground as a sequence of Axel that is forcefully snatched her gun. “Raise your hand, Selina; now it's my turn to question you.”

“Not bad for a former cop, Axel,” Selina added.

Selina slowly raises her hand, waiting for an opportunity to throw daggers at Axel.

Throw!

Axel manages to avoid them all, but misses Selina's move. She is closing the distance between them in order to gain access to Axel's gun.

Selina spanned her body in front of Axel, exposing her back in order to launch a powerful left elbow at his rib.

“Arrggh!” groans Axel.

Selina attempts to land her second elbow in the same location. This time, Axel responds by putting his right leg between Selina's and dragging her down with a Judo move.

Thud.

As soon as she was about to kiss the ground, she rolled forward. This also ended Axel's chance to subdue Selina.

“Wait, wait, wait, Selina!” Axel yells. “Stop fighting. I don't want to hurt you, and I believe you think the same way of me.”

“You are talking too much for someone who is about to die, Axel.”