บท 15: Reassurance
"What exactly do you mean by 'normal hunter'?"
"Just what it sounds like." Mr. Ritchie replied with a calm demeanor. "A normal hunter, as in someone who hasn't resorted to using illegal enhancements to push the limits of their body," He paused for a moment, glancing at Issac before continuing, "And that excludes you, Mr. Volante."
".... I see." Issac nodded, his expression turning serious. "So it's not good enough."
"It's not, no.." Mr. Ritchie answered, his words carrying a hint of reassurance. "...But you'll get there." Issac tilted his head, his curiosity piqued as he looked at Mr. Ritchie, who continued, "I said that Archer Onana was the best hunter 'known' to the world. But what you don't know is that there exists hunters who are far stronger and more powerful than Archer."
Issac's eagerness couldn't be contained as he inquired, ".... What's the highest level achieved by an abnormal hunter?"
"The official term is 'Universal Hunter'," Mr. Ritchie's eyes glimmered with an almost enigmatic charm as he replied, "And the answer is level 50."
Issac's eyes widened in sheer disbelief, his body jerking back in the chair as if struck by a revelation of cosmic proportions. "Level 50?!" His voice quivered with awe and astonishment, struggling to fathom the immense magnitude of such a feat. "Isn't that nearly double Archer's level? How in the world is that even possible?"
Mr. Ritchie's countenance remained unwavering, exuding an air of confidence and knowing. "You're not a normal hunter anymore, Mr. Volante," he declared, his words laced with assurance. "The boundaries you now possess belong to an entirely different realm. With dedicated training under our guidance, you too can unlock the full extent of your extraordinary potential."
The revelation that he could potentially surpass Archer Onana, a hunter renowned and admired by the world, left Issac utterly astounded. "Still, to think that it was double the level of the strongest hunter known to everyone.." he murmured under his breath, the weight of such a prospect settling upon his shoulders.
"It's such a shame that this level 50 hunter isn't famous worldwide. They should be!" Issac couldn't help but express his disappointment, realizing that such a formidable figure remained veiled in obscurity. His gaze shifted towards Mr. Ritchie, harboring a glimmer of hope to learn more about this awe-inspiring figure. "Can I know the name of this person?"
An apologetic shake of the head from Mr. Ritchie quickly dashed those hopes, reinforcing the cloak of confidentiality that shrouded the identity of this mysterious Level 50 hunter. "Sorry," he replied regretfully, "but that information is confidential, Mr. Volante."
A tinge of resigned understanding crept into Issac's expression. "Yeah, I figured," he conceded, a faint sense of defeat in his demeanor. "But I had to give it a shot.." He let out a contemplative sigh, leaning back on the chair once again.
"Hey, Mr. Ritchie," Issac said after a few seconds of tense silence, his voice tinged with uncertainty, and Mr. Ritchie shifted his gaze towards him. Issac took a deep breath before posing his question, his words carrying the weight of genuine concern, "Can you, for a moment, just assure me that I won't live to regret the decision I made when I agreed to work for Mr. Bhryne?"
Mr. Ritchie's eyebrows furrowed, his usually composed demeanor showing signs of bewilderment, which was a rare sight to behold. "Mr. Volante, you do know that you don't have a ch—" he began to respond, but Issac couldn't hold back his emotions any longer.
"No, no, hold on," Issac interjected, his voice rising with intensity, determined to convey the thoughts that had been swirling inside him. "I'm not talking about what happened today. I'm going back, way back, to three years ago..." He tightened his grip on his clenched fists, the memories resurfacing vividly. "When I was stuck in that damn hospital, trapped in a nightmare. Mr. Bhryne was the one who extended his hand, offering me a way out of that hellhole, and that's why I decided to work for him and help him out."
Issac shifted his gaze back to Mr. Ritchie, a mix of frustration, doubt, and vulnerability painted across his features. "But with everything that happened today, I can't help but wonder if I made a huge mistake by accepting his help back then. I mean, none of this madness would be crashing down upon me right now if I had never agreed to work for him, right?"
Mr. Ritchie maintained a stoic silence, offering Issac the space to unburden his thoughts. As the weight of the past pressed upon him, Issac's voice trembled with a mix of resignation and bitter reflection, "But you know, if I hadn't taken that step and accepted Mr. Bhryne's help back then, I know wouldn't be standing here today." He let out a humorless chuckle, his mind replaying the twists and turns of fate that brought him to this moment. "It's ironic, isn't it? Accepting his help was the key that unlocked my potential, shaping me into who I am now. Without him, I might have succumbed to the overwhelming darkness that consumed me."
The room seemed to hold its breath as an almost palpable tension enveloped the space. The silence, pregnant with unspoken thoughts and emotions, stretched on like an infinite chasm. Both Issac and Mr. Ritchie stood there, locked in a moment of profound contemplation.
"So you see, Mr. Ritchie," Issac began, his voice quivering slightly as he mustered the courage to articulate his vulnerability. "I'm just looking for some assurance here. A reassurance that when all is said and done, I won't look back and wonder if I made the right choice by working for Mr. Bhryne."
Mr. Ritchie's understanding nod conveyed his attentiveness to Issac's concerns, and with a steadying breath, he offered his response in a soft, comforting tone. "I understand the gravity of your decision, Mr. Volante," he began, his eyes reflecting empathy. "And I believe that you're on the right path." His words carried a quiet conviction. "I am certain of it."
A sense of solace washed over Issac at that moment, momentarily allaying his doubts. "I appreciate that," he murmured, a mixture of gratitude and determination coloring his reply.
-------------------
Several miles beyond the bustling city of Neo Seoul, nestled amidst a suburban neighborhood, a small house seemed to withdraw from the vibrant energy of the surrounding homes. The streetlights cast elongated shadows that danced on the front lawn, as if trying to breathe life into the unlit dwelling. The curtains, drawn tight, kept the outside world at bay, and a profound stillness clung to the air, enveloping the house like a cocoon.
Within the dimly lit living room, the man sat hunched over a laptop, the only source of illumination in the otherwise darkened space. The screen emitted an eerie glow that cast an ethereal light on his face, exposing the identity of the man as none other than Ian Bhryne. With unwavering concentration, Mr. Bhryne's eyes remained fixated on the laptop screen, and his fingers moved across the keyboard with a rhythm born from familiarity.
"Good evening, Agent 82," appeared General Kim Dae-ho's image on the laptop screen, his presence commanding respect even in the virtual realm. In a gesture of respect, Ian Bhryne, known as Agent 82, bowed his head with deference, acknowledging the senior officer's appearance with a polite greeting, "Good evening, sir."
"Has Project Cobalt been duly adjusted?" In his characteristic monotone voice, General Kim Dae-ho inquired about the status of Project Cobalt,and Ian Bhryne nodded affirmatively without hesitation, his response imbued with a sense of assuredness, "Yes, it has been, sir. Project Cobalt has received the essential information. We have ensured utmost confidentiality by orchestrating their induction into the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) at the earliest possible instance."
"Outstanding work," Kim Dae-ho praised, his voice tinged with admiration. "Ensure that he's sworn in swiftly. We must forestall any unwarranted interference from those lunatic SHDD operatives. We can't afford them poking around and discovering what they perceive to be loose ends. The moment they sniff out even a hint of this, they'll waste no time taking it to the higher-ups, and trust me, we'll find ourselves mired in a world of trouble."
"Understood, sir," acknowledged Ian Bhryne with unwavering commitment. "I shall expedite the process diligently."
General Kim Dae-ho nodded. He hesitated briefly, deliberating his words carefully before continuing, "I apologize, Agent Bhryne, for how Project Cobalt unfolded in the end." He stated, his expression betraying a hint of remorse. "It wasn't the intended course of action, but given the circumstances and the revelations that have surfaced, it was the most prudent choice we had."
Ian Bhryne stood stoically, absorbing the General's words. "I do, sir," he acknowledged with a curt nod. There was a brief moment of silence, and the conversation came to a close.
Ian Bhryne closed the laptop and leaned back in his chair, directing his gaze upward to the ceiling, heaving a long sigh.
Retrieving his phone from his pocket, he dialed a number and brought it to his ear, rubbing his eyes of any traces of fatigue that clung to them.
"Is it over?" he inquired once the call connected.
"Yes, it is," responded Mr. Ritchie, his voice solemn and authoritative, holding a critical document in his hand. "He has signed the necessary paperwork, ingested the potion, and completed the requisite testing. Everything has been executed meticulously."
"Good, good…" acknowledged Mr. Bhryne, a sense of relief evident in his tone.
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