Chapter 34 - The Decision (1/2)
Axel was pacing up and down in his apartment. This thing to join the Venu family had scared him. He was scared cause of his family's response. What would his mom and father think about it? Will they disown him when they hear that he was going to join another family? He was not actually worried about his family disowning him cause his family didn't have much inheritance. But he was afraid they will stop talking to him.
Thinking about it he called home.
Tring!! Tring!!… Tring!! Kachak.
”Hello” said his uncle. ”Hi uncle, it is me. How is everything going around there? Are mom and Athena ok? How about dad and you?” asked Axel. It was just so nervous that he was blurting out things that he would not normally say. ”It is ok around here. What happened, you seem a bit tensed?” asked his uncle.
Then Axel explained all about the proposal about the Venu family and being their member. He specifically mentioned that he would not have to change his surname of ”Blaze”. ”Oh you don't have to worry about it. If you think that is good for you, go ahead. Your mother and father are outside now but I know for sure that they would not mind. Being a part of their family is like a business transaction. I know about these things, it is not that serious. They see potential in you so they are investing in you. So go ahead. But remember, these families are crafty and when they see no benefits from you they would stop caring about you.”
A look of relief came over Axel when he heard it. He knew that it would not have mattered much but he was nervous at first. Then they talked about usual things for about 15 minutes and hung up the call.
Then Axel thought about calling Koga. Angela had said that being a member of their family will not affect LAT but he wanted to make sure and he also wanted to know more about Venu family. He thought Koga would have some insights.
Tring!! Tring!!… Tring!! Kachak.
”Hello. Axel… how is life treating you? Being a while. How is your journey going” asked Koga. Axel then explained his doubts about the Venu family.
”Venu family is accepting you as their part? That is the first time I have ever heard of it” said Koga being quite shocked. ”What do you mean?” asked Axel. ”Well, Venu family has been quite reserved about its matters. It is not like Toise or Zard family. Toise and Zard family accept outsiders as their part but Venu family has never done so. Its influence is very low compared to the two of them. What I know is that, though it doesn't accept outsiders, it has a lot of secrets. There is a rumor that the leader of the family has a Champion ranked Pokemon. And it also has lots of secrets that the world doesn't know. Otherwise why it would be one of the prominent families till now. Venu family accepting you must be the first case”
”Well then, what do you suggest that I do?” ”I think you should accept it. This must be the new move of Venu family, as its influence is quite low, it must be thinking of changing that. Since you are the first to get this chance, you will receive much more rewards and benefits compared to the other families. The benefits of low-level members of other families are not quite good. You will get a good bargain. But you will also be discriminated against in the family since you are the first outsider. You don't have to worry about any bad thing happening to you other than that. The pride of Venu family will not let them do that, and you have me and Prof. Oak supporting you so you will be okay. Just put a condition that you will be treated fairly.”
”Prof. Oak is also supporting me now?” asked Axel. He had not heard of this news. If that was true then he may not need Venu family's support either. ”No, not completely. But he has his eyes on you and wants to test you. He says you to go to pallet town and you must at least try to battle 1 gym before that. But you must be prepared for that. You are not still strong enough and that old man will not recognize you now.” Said Koga. After talking for few minutes, Axel hung up the phone.
At the meeting room,
Knock knock!! Knock knock!!
”Come in” said Angela. ”Ohh, young man, have you decided it then?” Asked Angela tapping her fingers on the table repeatedly. She honestly thought that he would come later in the morning and would take some more time, but he came in the evening. She was nervous too. If this guy doesn't accept then it would be very hard for her to stir the elders again to find another outsider. Since all the elders have approved, she just wanted this to go with the flow.
”Yes, I have decided to accept your invitation,” said Axel with a determined look. A wide smile could be seen on Angela's face. The tapping on the table has stopped at once. One of the conditions that she had mentioned to the elders was that only she would deal with the outsider before he accepts the proposal. Cause she knew that the elders were proud and had a big mouth. She didn't want this deal to go out of hand.
”But I have some questions and some conditions,” Axel said. ”Ohh. Ok then, let's hear it” Angela was confident on whatever conditions he had, she could work out of them.