Within the majesty of the Virion Tower of Knowledge or what was known as the Great Library of Virion, Arthur Rolyn was seen flipping through the pages of a book he had read and recalled its contents for who knew how many times while grumbling — admittedly he might have trouble managing chronic level anger issue. He sat on a chair that was in the third floor of the library, where the science category was located.
"Boring — too mundane — someone already made it," he said while checking the list of topics he had written down since 2 o'clock in the afternoon — 3 hours had already passed since he sat there. "Grrr — nothing is suitable for a thesis — ! Ah, forget it! Something like that can be thought later."
Arthur then closed the books in front of him before standing up to go to the thirtieth floor of the library. The Great Library of Virion was a gigantic library which building consisted of 3 interconnected towers, each tower up to more than 900 feet, which would be impossible to explore without the technology called elevator. Currently, Arthur was in the second tower which was only open to Virion's students, while the first tower was open to the public and the third tower which no one except high officials could enter. It was said that the third tower kept a very old historical record.
In the tower that Arthur was in, there were about eighty floors. And the biology category was located from the first to the fifth floor, while other categories were on the floor above. The library itself was declared as the largest library in the world with a collection of up to 200 million books.
Now, the floor Arthur was on was the floor where the literature category was, the place he usually went to when he wasn't doing anything. Because it was there that he could find literary works from various times and places.
As Arthur was walking out of the lift, he suddenly bumped into someone, "Ouch! Be careful if —" he stopped when he saw who hit him — it was Gilbert. "Wait, Gilbert? What are you doing here?"
"I should be the one asking that!" he said while trying to get up. "You look terrible. The negotiations are not going well, huh?"
"A lot happened."
"Then come with me, I also want to hear it."
They then sat in a room that people normally use for discussions so they wouldn't disturb other visitors. A good decision considering that Arthur seemed to have a bad habit of turning any conversation into a debate.
"So you met Professor Southwind earlier and was offered a first class cruise? Why did you refuse!?" asked Gilbert with disbelief after Arthur told him what happened just now. He had a point, and he had every right to protest. Only a fool would refuse a free vacation. "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for poor students like us!"
"Once in a lifetime what? Your monthly salary is even more than enough to buy a standard cruise ticket! And a poor student? You're not even a student," commented Arthur. "You would do the same if you saw what the ship looked like."
"Oh? What does it look like?"
"The ship is very similar to the Titania."
Gilbert laughed out loud, the same reaction a normal person would have if they heard such an excuse, "Oh, Arthur. You seriously rejected just because of that reason? I guess you're a coward too, huh?"
"That's not the problem, okay?" Arthur's face reddened with embarrassment at being told a coward. "This is just my worries, okay? Besides, you know from the start that I don't like anything related to the sea! And it's still January, it's not even the spring yet!" He indeed had a reasonable defense.
"Okay, okay," Gilbert said. "But that's just your excuse, right? Actually you turned it down because you prefer to work on your thesis rather than vacation, right?" Good, very observant.
"How do you know that?" Oh, come on, Arthur. He was your former roommate who had been with you for 4 years!
"I am your older brother figure, Arthur,".
"When did I ever say that?"
"No, I admit it myself after saving your life so many times."
"Hmph! makes sense."
"But you're really going to decline the invitation? At a time like this, what you need is a vacation, not a proposal," said Gilbert, who was exasperated by Arthur's workaholic nature.
"Heh! who are you to command me?" challenged Arthur.
"Oh, come on, Arthur. I don't want you to go back to that clinic again! It's too much trouble for me to check you every day and make sure you're alive!" Of course, especially since no one was paying for it.
"No one told you to do it!"
"But you need it!"
Arthur was speechless, he couldn't dodge on that one. If it wasn't for the extraordinarily generous Gilbert, he might be already dead by now.
"Still, I'm not going anywhere — cruise or whatever — period!" said Arthur, who was lazy to argue again.
"Oh, my. Luckily I had this thing prepared," Gilbert said as he took a small object out of his pocket and swung it in front of Arthur, a sly smile on his face. Arthur wouldn't be able to argue anymore with this, well done, Gilbert!
"Damn you! Those are my keys! Where did you get them?" Arthur said while trying to reach him. But once again, his height was not enough to fight against Gilbert who could reach 6 feet and half in height.
"While you passed out, I went back to your lab to lock it up — so no one would come in and steal something, and you know what? I found this."
"This is illegal, this is called theft!"
"If you report too, the police will only consider it as a prank."
"Bastard," Arthur growled. "Your play is dirty, Gulchin."
"Of course, Rolyn. This is what is called the adult world."
Arthur sat back on his chair, scowling like a child whose toy had just been stolen. "What do you want me to do?"
"That's easy, you just have to go to Professor Southwind's office, accept the invitation earlier, pack up, go to the harbor, get on the ship, and enjoy life! I'll return your keys when you get back."
"Wait, what? This is so stupid, Gulchin!"
"Um, who cares? I just want you to have a holiday, kiddo. No bad intentions here," Gilbert said with a chuckle.
"Alright, okay! Yes, yes, I'll take the invitation —you — stupid, ugly, damn giant!" Arthur immediately threw various kinds of words of ridicule which honestly didn't make him look like an adult here at all. "If you don't keep your promise after I get back, I'll come to your office and rummage through your documents!"
Gilbert couldn't stop laughing after that.
*****************
Early that morning, an old black Ford that looked like it had been picked up from a junk dealer drove out of the west gate of Virion. At 6 in the morning, not many people were diligent enough to roam the streets, so the car was able to move smoothly.
"The ship leaves the harbor at twelve o'clock! Why do we have to leave so early?" Arthur shouted in the driver's side seat.
"Heh, looks like you just want to sleep."
"I can't sleep okay!"
"Of course. Because you're excited, right?"
"Obviously not!!" Arthur breathed deeply. "Besides, why did you bring Callista too?" Arthur asked, glancing over to the backseat, where a woman with long blonde hair with a very pretty face had she not smeared it with drooling sound as she was asleep. Arthur's face then reddened a bit when he saw the woman's clothes that were slightly opened before he turned his head away. "D — doesn't she feel cold?"
"This is Callie we're talking about, so I don't think so," Gilbert countered. "Besides, don't you feel a bit sorry for her, Arthur? She picks out clothes for you until midnight!"
"I didn't ask your girlfriend to do that," said Arthur, who was now wearing a yellow shirt wrapped in black vest and a tie, wide gray trousers, an emerald green jacket that reached his knees, and a gray fedora hat perched on his head. The clothes that were bought for him couldn't be called cheap, Arthur wondered why a couple who for some reason hadn't get married until now were actually this enthusiastic about his vacation. Well, if the pair hadn't done any of that, maybe he'd have come aboard in a lab coat, and that would have been the second time this had happened.
"Haha. Well, she's really fond of dressing up children."
"You haven't answered my question, why did you bring Callista too? Just to take me to the harbor —"
"Hm? Who said I'd just drive you to the harbor? What a waste of gas! Callie and I are going to the beach," Gilbert answered brightly.
"Gilbert, it's January."
"So?"
"It's five degrees, Gilbert. Fi - ve."
"Oh, yes, continue?"
"Never mind," Arthur no longer wanted to respond to these strange people. On that one, anyone would agree. What kind of madman went to the beach in January?
***************
An hour later, after Arthur got bored of only being able to see the sights, they finally arrived at Virion Harbor. Instantly,bthe atmosphere changed to that of a busy port. Instead of the blue ocean, the first thing Arthur noticed was the sight of people working to transport goods from the cargo ships. It looked like they had been working since dawn.
"Here," said Gilbert as he stopped his car which after that looked like he had just barely escaped death. This is why you could't trust old cars.
Arthur opened the door of the car and he couldn't help but be stunned when the first thing he saw as he stepped out of the car was the gigantic and majestic shape of a cruise ship. It was the first time he had seen something like this from neither a book nor a newspaper, because he hardly ever went anywhere alone other than just walking around the campus area.
"Hff, yosshh!" Gilbert said from behind the car as he took Arthur's suitcase out of it. "This is your luggage."
"You didn't forget to put anything in, did you?" asked Arthur. Since he couldn't get into the room and Gilbert refused to at least lend him the key that should have been his. He was forced to allow Gilbert to pack his things for him
"I may not be someone who has a miraculous memory like you — but believe me, I've put the things you need here," he said, patting the black suitcase to convince Arthur.
"Hmph! Okay," Arthur said as he took the suitcase and almost dropped it back. He had the strength of an infant. It was no wonder, looking at the diameter of his hand that wasn't even bigger than a log, "What the heck — it's so heavy! What did you put in it?"
"Ah, I did include 'something', I'm sure you'll definitely need it." Hm, suspicious.
"'Definitely'? It seems that the 'necessary' standard for us is different."
"Okay, now just get on the ship and enjoy your vacation!" Gilbert said as he got into his car again. "Have a good time!"
"Whatever," Arthur muttered as the car's engine started as it began to speed away from the harbour.
Arthur then lifted the suitcase with difficulty and walked towards the ship. In front of the ship, there was a staff who seemed to be checking the invitation letters belonging to the attendees. The staff was a young woman with super heavy make-up that covered her face like a mask and blue clothes that were so saturated that it hurt everyone's eyesp. Whoever designed the clothes perhaps had never passed a color theory course.
"Do you need something, dear? Are you waiting for your parents?" asked the woman when she realized the whereabouts of Arthur who had just been staring blankly observing the ship.
"Me?" Arthur pointed to himself. "I'm not waiting for anyone, I'm going to get on this ship."
"Eh? Do you have a guardian or someone to accompany you?"
"No, I came here alone."
"O — oh, do you have an invitation letter to board this ship?"
Arthur then reached into his jacket pocket to retrieve the invitation letter which was now slightly crumpled because it was forcibly stuffed into the jacket's small pocket. Then she took it and opened it.
"Charles Southwind, huh — oh, we did receive news from Mr Southwind that his apprentice will replace him, but —" the woman looked at Arthur doubtfully. "Are you really Mr Arthur Rolyn?"
"I'm Arthur Rolyn," said Arthur angrily, showing his student ID because he wasn't old enough to have his own identity card. So the only ID he had was his student card.
"Ah, well — you really are Mr Arthur Rolyn. Forgive me, young sir," said the woman. "Please get on the ship, inside there is a receptionist who will give you your cabin key and someone to carry your luggage."
"Thanks a lot," Arthur grumbled before he made his way onto the ship.
The first thing Arthur did when he entered his first-class cabin was to bury his face in the table — not the bed. The reason was because he didn't want to sleep, even though his hours of sleep last night could not be counted on one hand because he only managed to sleep for half an hour. His eyes were already showing signs of fatigue as represented by a pair of huge eye bags under his eyes.
"Now what? I'm bored —" Arthur muttered.
The cabin he was in turned out to be crazier than Arthur had expected — and honestly, he was right. The cabin only consisted of a single bed, a table and chair, plush carpet and lamp, the only distinguishing feature that it was a first-class cabin was the antique interior. Whoever designed this ship must be an amateur.
"I shouldn't have come here," Arthur muttered, tapping the table. "It's still , I'm probably the first visitor to arrive — my goodness, what's there to see on a ship at this time?"
Arthur then turned his attention to his suitcase lying on the bed. "Right — I'd better check my luggage first, I hope Gilbert didn't put anything strange in," he didn't have time to watch as the staff checked his luggage, he was too busy with the registration at the reception desk.
"Dammit, it's so hard to open! Grrr —" Arthur said when the lock on the suitcase jammed until he had difficulty opening it. Naturally, it was an old suitcase that was used by someone else. Arthur never bought his own stuff except those related to research. Even his clothes were mostly used stuffs or gifts from other people. It was not that he was poor, he was just bad at managing finances.
"Haaaaa! Finally!" shouted the boy when the suitcase was successfully opened. "Now — what did that person put in here —"
Arthur then took out the contents of his belongings one by one, "Shirts, pants, jackets, stationery — hm, pretty normal — wait, what's that envelope?" Arthur's eyes widened when he saw a large brown envelope that was usually used to send documents. The envelope looked very thick which meant the paper inside it could't be small.
Arthur opened the envelope and when he saw what was inside, he vowed to speak to Gilbert face to face with their four eyes when he got home — or six eyes, since he wore glasses? — it didn't seem funny.
"This — my unfinished research journal! Why is this thing here?" Arthur said. "Didn't he want me to take a vacation?"
Arthur couldn't stop himself from thinking what was really going on in the mind of this person named Gilbert Gulchin. Everything he did was completely unbelievable. Sometimes he said he wanted to do this, but instead ended up doing something else. There was a term for people like this, namely unstable humans.
"Haissh, forget it!" Arthur said as he put the thing aside, he still hadn't finished checking his luggage.
A minute later, the suitcase was completely empty with all its contents lying on the bed. Arthur couldn't find anything else in it. However, his gut told him that something still needed to be done.
"Wait, what is that?" Arthur said when he realized that the inner surface of the suitcase was not as flat as it should be. As if there was something stored in it. It was camouflaged expertly that it was very possible to miss one's eyes. But of course, Arthur who had spent years training his eyes to spot typos on assignments would not have passed up on that.
Arthur checked his trunk, and sure enough, the weight of the empty suitcase had hardly reduced even though all of its contents had been removed. Arthur thought, 'Is this the reason why this suitcase is really heavy?'
Then, he carefully examined the cloth surface inside of the suitcase, and he was really surprised to see a small zipper that was really hard to see because it was the exact same color as it's surroundings. 'This is not my suitcase! My suitcase doesn't have something like this — did Gilbert exchange it?' he thought.
The boy then opened the zipper, and touched inside the hidden slot that was behind the inner surface of the suitcase, and what he found was a small cloth bundle neatly tied.
"What bundle is this? Gilbert, that person —!" It was really suspicious, everyone already knew, no need to repeat it.
Arthur then opened the bundle of cloth and the first thing he did upon seeing its contents was scream like someone who had just seen a devil before throwing the bundle against the wall.
A loud sound rang out as a metal object hit the wall. And when the metal object fell and the cloth wrapping was opened, it revealed a revolver with a very small size, which even someone like Arthur could handle.
Arthur immediately ran towards the small toilet beside the bedroom door and vomited all the insides of his small stomach upon facing the toilet hole. He really panicked just because of a gun.
"Haah — haah — haah — what was that? Huekk —," he threw up again. Ew, the color looked horrible, just what did he eat for breakfast?
His whole body had severe tremors, and he was thankful that he had no history of heart disease, or he would have died by now. Arthur rubbed his mouth with his arm, his head felt like it had been poked by thousands of needles.
"Damn Gilbert — just what are you thinking??" Arthur growled as he tried to walk to his bed. But before he even had a chance to return there, his consciousness was simply not on his side. His eyes were dizzy, the room felt like it was shaking, and unable to hold it all in, the boy fell unconscious.