"Rest assured, Issac," the holographic Mr. Bhryne conveyed, his tone filled with reassurance. "As I've conveyed in my message to you, you have nothing to worry about. You're safe."
A forced smile played on Issac's lips as he responded, his words tinged with both doubt and vulnerability. "I don't know if I can believe that, Mr. Bhryne..." he admitted. "Because right now, I don't feel safe at all."
Mr. Bhryne's holographic form maintained his calm composure. "I know you have a lot of questions, kid," he acknowledged, his voice a gentle whisper. "And you're going to learn everything... Eventually." The weight of those words hung heavy in the air.
Arching an eyebrow, Issac listened intently as the hologram continued. "But for now, know this," Mr. Bhryne raised a finger, his words resonating with a blend of gravity and urgency. "Issac Volante, you are now going to be working for the National Intelligence Bureau, United Korea, and you might hold the answer to saving the entire human race."
"Saving the entire human race? National Intelligence Bureau?" The words echoed in his mind as he took a step back, attempting to process the weight of what Mr. Bhryne had just disclosed. His thoughts raced, trying to make sense of the surreal situation he found himself in.
"Issac, I'm sure you've probably realized it by now, but I'm not really a university teacher," Mr. Bhryne's calm voice cut through the shock, and Issac could only let out a short chuckle in response. "Yeah, no shit! I figured that out already!" he blurted out, his emotions getting the better of him.
"Kid, I'm an agent working for the National Intelligence Bureau," Mr. Bhryne stated matter-of-factly. Issac's gaze locked onto him, trying to decipher the gravity of his mentor's admission, and for a few seconds, a sense of disbelief washed over him as he found himself in a surreal reality.
There was a brief silence, during which Issac's mind raced with a thousand questions. "Like a secret agent 'agent'?" he asked, incredulous. "Like the ones in movies?"
Mr. Bhryne nodded with a hint of a wry smile. "Not as glamorous as the ones in movies, but basically…. yeah," he replied, his expression revealing a lifetime of hidden experiences.
"...Shit," Issac's voice was soft, almost a whisper.
The man in black, sensing the gravity of the situation, spoke with calm understanding. "I'll give you both some privacy," he said before exiting the room, leaving Issac and Mr. Bhryne alone.
The silence hung heavy between them, broken only by Issac's hesitant voice. "Is Ian Bhryne even your real name?" he inquired, a mix of curiosity and betrayal evident in his tone. Mr. Bhryne offered a weak smile in response, and Issac's bitterness couldn't be contained. "Yeah, of course it isn't… I should've guessed," he snorted, the revelation adding to the layers of deceit he felt he had been subjected to.
Mr. Bhryne's composure remained unwavering, his words measured and deliberate. "Look, Issac, the fact that I'm an agent changes nothing," he asserted, trying to convey a sense of understanding. But Issac couldn't easily accept that reassurance, his emotions swirling like a tempest.
He let out a bitter chuckle, a hint of self-deprecation in his voice. "Oh, I beg to differ," he retorted, his thoughts scattered as he struggled to process the startling revelation. "All this time, I believed you were helping me out of genuine concern. I thought your actions came from the goodness of your heart. And that's why I willingly took part in those illegal experiments, thinking I was doing the right thing." His voice quivered with a mixture of anger and hurt, baring the vulnerability of his soul.
"And to think you manipulated me all along, just to use me as a pawn in some secret military project for the rest of my life..." His voice quivered with a tumultuous mix of hurt and anger, the words escaping him like shards of shattered trust. "You should've just left me in the hospital…"
Mr. Bhryne's expression softened, and he took a step closer to Issac. "It's not like that, kid… You're misunderstanding things.." he spoke earnestly, his gaze locking with Issac's. "Yes, I may have hidden certain aspects of my life from you, but my intentions have always been to help you. And that's what the NIB wanted as well."
But Issac was not ready to accept that reassurance so easily. He retorted with bitterness lacing his voice, "Help me? Really? Then riddle me this, would you? Why all the smoke and mirrors?" Issac pressed on, his frustration evident. "Why pretend to be a simple professor, extending a helping hand to a student? Why orchestrate this façade of illegal human experiments? Hm? You're a government agent, for crying out loud. Why not be straightforward and just ask me to join the damn program?"
With a piercing stare, Issac locked eyes with Mr. Bhryne, his anger evident in his gaze. "Here's my theory: this project was never meant to fly the normal way. Going through standard channels would have meant making a straightforward deal. But I'm guessing the NIB wanted more leverage, so they decided to take the hard route. They made it appear as if I willingly engaged in illegal human experimentation, giving them the upper hand. They wanted something to hold over me. Something to own me."
Mr. Bhryne walked around Issac as if trying to assess the situation. "You certainly have a vivid imagination, kid," he replied coolly, though his eyes betrayed a hint of concern, and the younger man's gaze followed him, unyielding and defiant. "But you're way out of your depth here. You're spinning tales and making wild assumptions."
"Oh, really?" Issac's jaw tightened as he retorted with condescension, his frustration reaching its peak. "I heard you loud and clear just now. You told me I was going to be working for the National Intelligence Bureau. Not asking, but ordering. That sure feels like you're denying me a choice."
Ian Bhryne's troubled expression spoke volumes, his silence echoing the complexity of the situation. Issac's smile turned bitter as he realized, "I can't, can I? So, at least we agree on one thing—you're giving me no choice at all."
The holographic image of Mr. Bhryne flickered slightly, a testament to the complexity of the situation. "Alright. I don't know how to convince you of my sincerity," he expressed, with a hint of desperation in his voice. He cast a fleeting glance at the frustrated Issac and continued, "But I need you to believe that I helped you because it was the right thing to do. Did our interests align? Yes, of course. But I will never agree that it was the sole reason for my assistance. This was the only way I could ensure that you received the help you desperately needed."
Issac remained silent, his mind swirling with conflicting emotions. Mr. Bhryne took a few steps away before turning back to face Issac. "You're right. I can't deny that you didn't have a choice in joining the National Intelligence Bureau," he admitted with a touch of remorse. "And you also don't have a choice in choosing the Alliance Guild—I apologize for the deception. All of it. However, please believe me when I say that it's the only time you'll feel pressured into something you don't desire, because everything else about this job is tailored to your interests and capabilities."
"And that is?" Issac asked, his expression cold and guarded.
"To turn you into the best hunter the world has ever seen," Mr. Bhryne replied with unwavering conviction.
Issac's mind was a tempest of conflicting thoughts, and he couldn't find the words to respond. He seemed lost in contemplation, his eyes fixed on an invisible horizon.
Mr. Bhryne let out a resigned sigh, the weight of his responsibilities evident in his weary demeanor.
"Are you planning to tell me why?" Issac's words cut through the silence like a sharpened blade, and Mr. Bhryne turned to face him, his expression a mix of weariness and determination.
"...Why I'm being trained to be the best hunter." Issac's tone was probing, seeking answers to the question that had been thrust into his mind. "Last time I checked, dungeon breaks were pretty rare. What makes me so special?"
Mr. Bhryne paused for a moment, contemplating his response. "You'll learn. Eventually," he replied cryptically, and Issac clicked his tongue in frustration.
Mr. Bhryne looked at Issac, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "See you, Issac," he bid farewell, his voice imbued with a mix of respect and affection for the young man in front of him.
WHOOSH!
In the blink of an eye, the hologram projection dissolved into nothingness, leaving Issac alone in the high-tech room as he grappled with the weight of the revelations that had been thrust upon him.
Well, almost alone…
A faint rustling of movement emerged from the shadows, and like a specter materializing, the man in black emerged from the darkness, his presence unsettling yet oddly familiar.
"I hope that you had a productive talk with the boss, Mr. Volante," the man intoned, his voice as smooth as silk but carrying an air of mystery.
Issac let out a weary sigh, his eyes locking onto the figure before him. "Not quite," he responded, a weak smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "But it's not like I have a choice, right?"