"Believe it or not, I am Roy's son."
Aria interjected abruptly, following Luke's shocking revelation.
[Are you kidding me? How many lies are you planning to tell everyone? Do you really think he's going to buy such a blatant lie?]
A chuckle threatened to escape from Luke's lips at such an absurd claim. He quickly covered his mouth and averted his gaze. This action, however, played into Luke's hands as Swanson misinterpreted his laughter as tears, leading him to become emotional himself.
[Tears running down his face. He can't possibly believe that.]
'Well, it has to work. Trust me. In a way, I am Roy's son. So, it's not a total fabrication.'
Luke teased Aria, struggling to keep his grin at bay.
But as soon as Swanson noticed Luke's silence, he swiftly rose from his chair and embraced Luke. Oddly enough, the smile on Luke's face disappeared, replaced by a glimmer of tears as he returned Swanson's hug.
"Now, it all makes sense, why you have Roy's eyes and that brat's cockiness."
Swanson commented, his voice heavy with emotion, as he stepped back and resumed his seat.
Swanson slowly regained his composure, while Aria voiced a question that had been nagging her from observing Swanson's reaction.
[Why didn't he ask? Who is your mother or how did you learn this info? Why didn't he ask anything deeply? Why is he trusting you so easily?]
Luke responded with a triumphant air,
'For outsiders, Swanson is known as a distant and cold service provider that keeps things professional between clients and consultants. He behaves like this due to his position, but in reality, he's quite the sentimental fool, a fact well-concealed until now.
However, my family knows his true self, so he's always close with my family and especially his favorite, me, Roy. He will do anything for Roy. I don't know what I did in the past. He always gives me everything I ask. Using Roy's hardship as a foundation, even he will believe me that I'm Roy's son because he's always been a guy who only sees what he wants, especially he wanted to see Roy's family live happily.'
[Why don't you reveal the truth that you are Roy, instead of Roy's son?]
Luke clenched his fist and retorted to Aria,
'I'm not here to just talk to him. He's not just simply close to my family, he also serves a family that I need to eliminate. This geezer is the key to the mission.'
Swanson regained his calm after a few moments, he looked at Luke and declared,
"Kid, look at me. Are you going to take down Roy's Industries like your father? If you are planning like that, don't even think about it. Stop with the revenge thing. Taylor changed security walls and everything from firmware to A.I. He created an impenetrable kingdom that cannot be breached."
Luke smirked and dismissed Swanson's concern with a wave of his hand,
"Old man, just hand over the things when I ask. Don't tell me what's right for me. This is between my family and Taylor's family, you get that?"
Swanson was incensed by Luke's nonchalance,
"Kid, this is the exact path that your father took and met with failure."
Swanson stood up and placed his hands on Luke's shoulders, letting him know,
"Kid, I don't wish to help you, but if I don't intervene, you're going to self-destruct like your father Roy and grandfather Reyman. I don't want to witness another Keaton fall to the ground."
Luke embraced Swanson after hearing his words, his emotions surfacing,
"I appreciate it, and I'm looking forward to your support, but right now, I need a skilled hacker, a professional assassin, and a scout. These individuals must be exclusively committed to my cause until the end. Arrange them within a month."
With these words, Luke simply pivoted and left Swanson alone in the dilapidated building.
Luke quickly retreated to his bike and returned to his subterranean hideout, settling on the eighth floor.
After his mission, Luke picked up some takeaway food. As he relished his meal, his gaze was fixed on the system screen, his mind a maelstrom of strategies and plans.
Engrossed in his thoughts, he finally identified his next target. As the shroud of night gradually lifted, Luke found himself sprawled on his bed, his mind still entangled in his complex plans. Unaware of the dawn breaking outside, he was immersed in his own universe.
The piercing sound of an alarm at 10 o'clock snapped Luke out of his deep thought. He had spent the entire night awake, his mind filled with the day's tasks, the words he needed to formulate to initiate his mission, and the person he had to face.
Luke took the elevator to the seventh floor, stepping into a spacious area. The floor was designed with practicality in mind: a dining hall was situated in the center, with a kitchen conveniently positioned near the elevator. A bathroom and a restroom were tucked away in a distant corner, offering the necessities for daily living. The serene atmosphere was a stark contrast to the tempest brewing in Luke's mind.
Luke had already explored all eight floors, but so far, he hadn't given much attention to the other floors, keeping them for future use. After a refreshing shower, he decided to leave the underground refuge.
Dressed in a white t-shirt and black pants, Luke hopped on his green bike and zoomed into the city. This time, there was no aimless wandering. He was headed straight to his destination.
Luke found himself standing before a towering skyscraper. The modern design of the building, with its grid-like pattern of windows and vertical lines, reached nearly 50 floors high. The facade, made of glass, mirrored the surrounding cityscape and sky. But what distinguished the building was not its towering height, but the massive steel sign at the top that read: "Thief's Paradise Guild HQ."
Luke's teeth clenched in fury as he glared at the building. This was the first building Reyman had constructed for the Thief's Paradise game and the place where the news had announced his suicide.
'I will make you all pay for what you've done to our family.'
With that vow, Luke strode towards the building.
As he entered, he was greeted with the sight of thousands of people clutching VR headsets and other VR gadgets, standing in a line that extended from the numerous counters to the door.
Luke took in the mirrored interior design, where every surface seemed to mimic another. The steel-coated ceilings mirrored the floor below, creating an almost infinite loop of reflections.
A chandelier suspended from the ceiling cast a dazzling light that ricocheted off the polished surfaces, bathing the space in a warm glow. However, the expressions of the people standing in line were a stark contrast to the opulent surroundings.
Their faces were etched with worry, pain, and desperation, hinting at struggles far deeper than the shining facade of the room suggested.
Luke made a direct path for the central counter, ignoring the queue.
"Hey bastard!"
"Get in line!"
The crowd's irate voices attempted to reel Luke back, but a frosty glare from him silenced them instantly. In a voice that reverberated through the room, Luke commanded,
"Silence."
Luke's purple eyes flashed, instilling fear in everyone present. They quickly averted their gaze and stepped back.
Luke then shifted his attention to the receptionist and instructed,
"Notify Rene Clarke that Martha Zane sent me."
"I'm sorry, sir. We don't permit direct communication with the President. Please contact the headquarters through Zane Industries, and we will evaluate the importance of your message and schedule an appointment within a week."
The receptionist responded to Luke with a strained smile, the wrinkles around her eyes betraying her unease.
"Lady, you have two choices. Either inform your boss that I'm here, or if I leave this place, you can spend your days grinning at your TV at home."
Luke's threatening tone sent the receptionist into a frenzy, and she hastily dialed a number on the phone.
After a brief conversation, a man in a black suit descended from the upper floor and guided Luke to a private room where only two people were present.
Luke followed him in silence, aware that the man seated before him was not the one he had come to see.
"Sir..."
Before the man could finish, Luke interjected,
"Tell your president that his job is at risk for associating with Roy Keaton."
"What!" The man sprang up from his seat upon hearing this and escorted Luke to the top floor.
Luke entered a grand room adorned with paintings of 'Thief's Paradise' scenes. A man sat behind a large table in the middle of the room, his gaze fixed intently on Luke.
"What do you know about Roy Keaton? Who are you?"
Luke flashed a smile and revealed,
"I am Roy Keaton, the son of Reyman Keaton. The man you despise, the traitor."