[Third person POV]
[Well, no shit Sherlock, do you want to have 6-pack abs in a week's training and get to S rank in a flash.]
"Sometimes I wonder where you get that terrible humor from." Kaizer addressed Grade as he made his way out of the library.
Kaizer's gaze overlooked the countless mesmerizing books as his quiet steps hit the marble floor.
[Don't you think we should inform them before going?]
"I checked out of the room, so the old man or the young boy should have been notified. Besides, it doesn't matter anymore, and we won't be here again."
[That's correct, but don't you want to improve your social skills?]
"I don't want to," Kaizer replied, exiting the library's main door.
But his steps halted as he looked around.
[We are being watched.]
'Yeah, and that too from three different locations.' Kaizer replied Grade as he calmly continued his steps and glanced around while pretending to wait for the car.
[Two girls on this side of the road, three girls on the other side, and those guys are glaring daggers at you right now.]
"?" Kaizer's expression changed to confusion as he noticed the three groups that Grade mentioned.
'I was talking about the two people inside that black limbo and the one on the rooftop.' Kaizer corrected Grade as he entered the parking lot, ignoring the surveillance.
[That girl looks hot, though; ask her out, bro!]
'We have bigger problems to deal with. First, where the hell is the car which should be here to pick me up.' Kaizer retorted as a car stopped before him with the Skylar Household symbol.
[Welp, I don't think we need to look for the car, but you missed that girl, though]
'You are thirsty even though you call yourself an AI.'
[You said I am not an AI. And what's thirst got to do with me being an AI? I have feelings too, you know.]
'You trust me with that statement?'
[I do trust you more than you will trust me because you are the only one I can put my trust in.]
'Should I be sad for your loneliness or happy that I will not get betrayed by your own will?' Kaizer and Grade continued their little banter as the car raced the road.
Kaizer's eyes darted across the Iconic skyscrapers and buildings equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including energy-efficient designs, innovative glass facades, and integrated renewable energy sources.
Under the Skylar Household, Athens boasted one of the best infrastructures and a bright atmosphere.
Kaizer looked around vigilantly despite the calm atmosphere.
The thoughts going through his head were erratic.
'Three different people were monitoring my actions. Swirl Vision unknowingly increased my senses, which helped me pinpoint them. It would have been more troublesome if I hadn't realized I was being watched. Moreover, it could also be possible that I couldn't find someone monitoring me despite my heightened senses. No…It would be too idiotic to assign a highly skilled individual to monitor the current me, who just woke up from a coma. But regardless of who is watching me, I could either lay low or create a mess to slip my plans through. Whatever I choose, I will need power and money to succeed. My strength is tremendously lacking compared to my peers, let alone the novel's main character.'
"Driver, stop the car in the sideway. I want to walk on my own from here." Kaizer ordered the driver as he picked up the suitcase he had brought back from the library.
"Sir, I was strongly ordered by Miss Helena not to stop the car until we reach the mansion." The driver replied as he tried to speed up the car.
"Is that so? What was the reason for such an order?" Kaizer asked as he reclined back in his seat.
"I am not so high up in the position to know the reason for such orders, Young Master." The driver replied in a fluster as he reached for the AC button.
"Then would you mind if I jump out of the car now? I don't think it will matter much to you, Mr. Alastor?" Kaizer replied sarcastically as he looked out the window.
Alastor stopped reaching for the AC switch as he heard his name being called.
His facial expression rapidly changed from a fake fluster to an intriguing gaze as he stopped the car sideways.
"Since when did you know I was driving the car?" Alastor questioned without turning his head as he vigilantly looked in the rearview mirror at the car, which turned right three blocks behind.
"You are too meticulous to send a foreign driver with whom I am unfamiliar. The fact that Miss Helena herself didn't come to pick me up gave it away." Kaizer nonchalantly mentioned his reasoning as he closed his eyes.
"That doesn't explain your reasoning well enough?" Alastor replied.
"Curious? What do I get for satisfying your curiosity?" Kaizer questioned.
"Hoo...Interesting…What do you want?" Alastor replied promptly
"Nothing…I am not interested in satisfying your curiosity." Kaizer replied as he swiftly left the car.
"…" Alastor remained stunned as he failed to realize the situation.
[…]
The silence remained palpable as Kaizer walked out.
[Hey…Umm…I am somewhat confused about why you didn't answer?]
"You wanna know?" Kaizer questioned Grade as he leisurely walked towards the mansion.
[Honestly, never mind.]
A calm silence ensured between Kaizer and Grade while Alastor remained flabbergasted in his seat.
[You know what? I have nothing better to do anyway, so I want to know why you didn't answer.]
"I was just bluffing, and he fell for it."
[EH?]
"I didn't answer his question about my needs because I wanted him to offer me benefits."
[Wait, pause, pause, pause…So you mean you just bluffed about him being in disguise?]
Kaizer went silent as he mulled about Grade's reaction.
'So he really can't read my thoughts, or is he lying to let me drop my guard? Which one is it?'
Kaizer continued his stroll as he entered the mansion with light steps.
'Asher should be in the training ground. I did ask him for help regarding my training. I don't think his master will train me as Asher is his only disciple, but I could still get some tips.'
[Aren't you on the edge a bit too much? Being careful is one thing, but being over-cautious could be detrimental. I feel ignored when you avoid my question.]
'You caught on, but you should say that after hiding your anxiety. I didn't mention it before, but sometime before, I could feel your doubts or impatience about your existence. I can feel that you doubt what you are yourself.'
[Hmm…so you knew. I also thought I was feeling your feelings. Does that make sense? But aren't you too stuck up on this topic? How do you know someone isn't influencing your doubts about me?]
'You are not wrong. It's not influencing, and it's more like convincing me that what I have concluded is correct. Does that make sense? For instance, If I theorize that something exists and I can collect it if I find where it exists, something is influencing me and convincing me that I am right and that it does exist. That's why I will do reckless things and search for that place.'
[But if you are doubting what you are thinking, wouldn't that mean the things you plan to do are influenced by someone? Your plan could get dangerous for you. I don't know what place you are talking about, but it sounds hazardous because it comes from you.]
'You know that I hate being controlled, and I will do anything to stop the feelings that influence me to go through with the plan regardless, but I don't think whatever is affecting me will want me dead so soon. I will also get my will and yours, so don't worry.'
[You get my will too?]
'It might get dangerous, but I don't think you want to disappear either. Besides, I need someone to talk to occasionally, and I can't miss out on you.'
[Thank you, Kaizer.]
'Don't mention it. If worse got to worse, you could disappear, so don't get your hopes up too high. But first, we must gain strength even to get our freedom.'
[You could have skipped that disappear line, you know? And don't you think you have repeated that for the fourth time.]
'Well, I am just repeating my goal to get myself motivated, don't judge me-'
'!'
While conversing with Grade about these topics, something suddenly hurled towards me as if teleported. Although the speed was astounding, my reflex kicked in fast.
[Kaizer!]
'I know!'
I steeled my body into the ground and spread my left hand forward to take hold of the object, I presumed, but surprisingly, a slender but strong fist got caught in my grasp.
******
[A/N: Sorry for no chapters. The semester is going wild, so I didn't get the time to write much. I will try to maintain a better pace soon. Thank you so much to anyone who is reading my novel. I am grateful to all my readers. Add the novel to your collection and leave a review. I want to know what my readers think about the novel. So please do it. Have a good day ahead:)]