10 Years Later
Another yen years passed, exhaustion and despair finally caught up with him. "I give up. I can't do it anymore. What should I do?" Yun's voice was laced with frustration and defeat. He had sought the help of his vast network, but even their collective efforts yielded nothing. No clue, no hint, no whisper of the Dragon King's whereabouts.
The System's response was enigmatic. [ You have really asked everyone, and some even told you the truth. But aren't you forgetting something? ]
Yun's eyes narrowed, his mind racing, "What? What am I forgetting?" He had been so consumed by his quest that he had neglected everything else. What crucial detail had he overlooked?
The System's words echoed in Yun's mind, [ It is your job to think. Use your brain a little. Is there any link that you have not yet connected? Even if some people know the truth, why would they tell you? Sometimes we need to try other methods to get the truth out. ]
Yun's eyes widened as he scrutinized his own thoughts, searching for the missing connection. He had asked all his friends, and he didn't have any enemies. He had investigated every organization, old and new... Wait a minute, new organization! SSO! Why hadn't he thought of this before?
"Why did SSO build their basement and headquarters exactly where Kurodos and Zephyr were imprisoned?" Yun wondered aloud. And why was their basement precisely 100 feet below where they were locked in the dimension door?
The System's response was cryptic. [ Only they can tell you that. ]
Yun's determination reignited, "I need to get to the bottom of this. I'll confront SSO and demand answers!" The truth was finally within his grasp, and he wouldn't let it slip away.
Yun strode purposefully into the SSO headquarters, his determination palpable. He burst into the chairman's office, his presence commanding attention.
"Who are you? How did you get in? Guards! Guards..." the chairman spluttered, alarm etched on his face.
Yun's calm demeanor was unsettling, "There's no need to call the guards. They won't come."
The chairman's eyes widened, "What did you do to my guards?"
Yun's response was nonchalant, "Nothing, they're just fast asleep. Leave that aside and answer my questions truthfully. Tell me, what do you know about the Dragon King Kaelos?"
The chairman's feigned ignorance was transparent, "What are you saying? Dragon? What Dragon? That's just a myth. I don't know anything about it."
Yun's eyes narrowed, his patience wearing thin. With a swift and precise motion, he dispatched the chairman's protests, the sound of flesh meeting flesh echoing through the room.
Pow! Pow! Bam! Smack! Smack! Thud!
...A while later, Yun's gaze bore into the chairman's now-contrite expression.
"Are you ready to tell the truth now?" Yun asked, his voice low and even.
The chairman's tremulous voice betrayed his fear, "Y-Yes."
Yun's eyes bore into the chairman's soul, "Then tell me."
The chairman's hesitation was palpable, "..."
Yun's expression turned grim, "Looks like I'll have to explain a little more."
The chairman's fear was evident, "N-No. If I tell you the truth, they'll kill me."
Yun's curiosity was piqued, "Who are they?"
The chairman's voice trembled, "The Real Owners Of This Organization."
Yun's eyes narrowed, "Owners? How many such owners are there in this organization?"
The chairman's revelation was stunning, "Every Ancient Hidden Family of the world is the real owner and investor of this organization."
Yun's gaze was reassuring, "Don't worry about that. You must recognize this mask."
The chairman's eyes widened as he beheld the mask, his expression a mix of shock and terror, "0-07... Y-You are the mysterious person behind this mask. You are the one about whom it is rumored that you are immortal and have been living on earth for thousands of years. Even Ancient Hidden Families have not been able to find out anything about your background."
Yun's expression was a mix of amusement and disbelief, "What? For thousands of years? What kind of rumors have people spread?"
Chairman's eyes were wide with wonder, "So, you're not immortal?"
Yun's response was enigmatic, "You don't need to know all that. Tell me more."
Chairman's voice was laced with a hint of desperation, "If you are that mysterious hidden figure, then I am ready to tell you everything. But you have to protect me from them."
Yun's gesture was reassuring, "Don't worry about that. Take my mask. As long as you have this mask, no one will dare to touch you."
The chairman's eyes widened as he accepted the mask, his expression a mix of awe and gratitude.
The chairman's voice was laced with a hint of reverence as he began his tale. "This organization, my friend, has a history that spans thousands of years. Its roots delve deep into the past, when ancient diaries were unearthed by curious individuals. These diaries were enigmatic, their pages whispering secrets that seemed almost... alive. The script was mystical, transcending language barriers as if the writers had intended for their words to be understood by all."
As he spoke, the chairman's eyes seemed to gaze into the distance, as if beholding a vision from a bygone era. "The diaries spoke of hidden treasures, ancient wisdom, and forgotten lore. They whispered of mythical beasts, creatures of legend: the dragon, phoenix, black tortoise, and white tiger. Those who found these diaries became the Ancient Hidden Families, their names etched in the annals of history as they amassed power and knowledge."
The chairman's voice grew more animated, his words painting a picture of a centuries-old quest. "But there was a stumbling block, a barrier that prevented them from unlocking the secrets of the ancient beasts. The dimensional doors, hidden and mysterious, refused to yield their secrets. And so, the families united, forming this organization in their quest for answers."
A hint of triumph crept into the chairman's voice as he continued. "Recently, we've made groundbreaking discoveries, unlocking the doors to the Black Tortoise and White Tiger. We stand on the precipice of success, poised to claim the treasures that lie beyond. Our emergence into the public eye, our bold thefts, were mere precursors to the true prize: dominion over the earth and the universe."
Yun's eyes narrowed, his voice firm, "And?"
Chairman's response was hesitant, "And that's it. This is the truth that has been hidden from the world."
Yun's gaze intensified, "About the location?"
Chairman's feigned ignorance was palpable, "Location? Whose location?"
Yun's anger erupted, his fists flying, "You motherfuc*ker!" Bam! Pow! Smack!
Chairman cowered, "Argh! S-Stop beating me. S-Sorry, I forgot. The Dragon King's location is in the ocean."
Yun's fury abated, his expression skeptical, "He's not there. I've searched the entire ocean."
Chairman's voice trembled, "The Dragon King is neither on the earth, nor in the sky, nor is he imprisoned in the ocean. But..."
Yun's eyes bore into the chairman's soul, "But what?"
Chairman's whispered revelation sent shivers down Yun's spine, "He's under the ocean."
Yun's voice was like a whip, "You!"
Chairman trembled, "I-I mean, he's under the seabed. To be specific, go to the middle of the Pacific Ocean, and 10,000 feet below the seabed, the location of the Dragon King's dimensional door is there."
He continued, his words spilling out in a nervous rush, "Because no human can reach there, so we first focused on these three mythical beasts."
Yun's gaze was unrelenting, "Do you know the location of the Phoenix Empress too?"
Chairman's nod was hesitant, "Yes, but since we are working on this project, no one has been deployed at Phoenix's location. Anyway, what can anyone do if their location is unguarded?"
He ventured a question, "Do you want to ask anything else?"
Yun's response was curt, "No, I'll leave now."
Chairman's inquiry was laced with concern, "Where?"
Yun's smirk was a harbinger of secrets and surprises, "Don't tell me... no human can reach there."
But Yun's response was a calm affirmation, "But I can. After all, I am the SO-CALLED immortal."
With a hint of mischief, Yun added, "Before leaving, as a reward, I'll give you some information. There's no use working so hard. I've already met Kurodos, Zephyr, and Ardentia."
The chairman's eyes widened in disbelief, "Kurodos, Zephyr, Ardentia...? D-Don't tell me... But how is this possible? How can you open those doors?"
Yun's revelation sent the chairman into a fit of laughter, "Ha ha ha ha ha! If all this is true, then this organization has no meaning. What will you all do now, Ancient Hidden Families?"
As the chairman's laughter echoed through the room, Yun's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with secrets and mysteries beyond the chairman's comprehension. With a nod, Yun turned to leave, but not before adding, "One more thing, do not tell this to anyone, and always keep this mask with you. It will save you."
With that, Yun vanished into the shadows, leaving the chairman to ponder the implications of their conversation, his laughter slowly fading into the darkness.