287 Fred and Gio 2

"Fred…" A voice called out within the abandoned convalescence, the realm in the highest Layer within Alina City. "Do you know?"

An aged man was looking into the distance with a nostalgic expression on his face.

On his left side, the crazy scientist who had long vowed to revive his wife was standing next to him by the window, albeit located a step back and in a rare respectful stance. He was also staring outside, at the day sky that was bleeding into nightfall, and he didn't answer when his name was called.

"I've long been wondering one thing to myself…" A soft sigh rang from the old director, followed by a statement that had hints of sorrow and self-mockery. "Life is really full of irony and lies…. People believe in gods, revering them as embodiments of sacredness and hope…Yet they didn't know that to become a god, one had to embark on a path that is not only full of thorns, but coated with blood, betrayal, sadness, immorality, depravity, and sins… Still, for these common people, gods are not only immortal, but holy... Don't you think it is so ironic?"

A lost expression emerged on the face of the person asked. His question was truly blasphemous to the point that all religions in the world would have hunted him down had they heard what he just said.

However, right now, the mad doctor was the only person around so no one else would know about the blasphemous words he had spoken aloud.

Fred gave the words a thought then shook his head, "To be honest, Your Excellency, it's something I once thought before. And just like you said, it's a heartbreaking irony that most people are not aware of… However, the dangers, battles, and missions had whittled away all the skepticisms in my mind. Life and death have always been a mystery. So before I know it, I had simply stopped pondering over it… It no longer crossed my mind again..."

A peal of laughter came as a reply to him as the owner of the voice was truly amused. Fred did not feel offended about being laughed at. In actuality, ever since he accompanied the director, he never once raised his voice or temper. The first time Leo and his other servants saw him being like this, they had wondered if he was a fake.

What was unique about the director that made Fred very obedient to him? They couldn't help but ask themselves... Until they learned that the director was the supreme ruler of this enigmatic place.

The laughter died down and a moment of silence ensued before it was broken half a minute later.

The old man's voice was as slow and poignant as he shook his head and said, "Even you, a demigod, is forced to accept that things could happen just like that." He then murmured absentmindedly, "The world is really a huge puzzle and a cavern of unknown wonders."

Fred answered solemnly, "Fate is as mysterious as time. And the world, its nature and layers, and the system are like that too. I'm ashamed, Your Excellency, but I sometimes accept things as they are as I am still powerless before it despite reaching my current achievements.  Perhaps, the only instance I fervently questioned fate was when she died… Before, even when my enemies almost managed to kill me, I only thought of my death as inevitable, it's normal for everyone to perish... When I began to question death, it is already too late..."

"I see…"

The man temporarily quieted down and did not continue the melancholic and enigmatic talk. He felt that his companion had been distracted. He sighed once again.

Fred's mind was on what he just said. The man really felt the irony as when it was about him, death was a concept he deemed okay and natural, yet it was a very hateful thing when it claimed his wife's life.

But then, when he was feeling gloomy and all, a voice rang in his head. He had to step back once, frowning due to something which interfered with his thoughts.

In front, the old director seemed aware of his mind's state and kindly gave him time to deal with his matters. Gratitude filled the doctor's heart and he immediately did what he was supposed to, closing his eyes with the intent to finish off the problem reported remotely to him by his clone.

...

Somewhere in Alina, space turbulence had occurred, and a foreigner who had just almost completed his goal vomited blood due to the unexpected intervention. Confusion flickered across his face as pain assaulted his senses which seemed to have originated in his magic.

It was the Level-7 who was trying to bring Sofony to his castle in one of the Layers. He was closed to success. The kidnapping done by the other supporter of the girl had helped in his plan and now, the woman he wanted to make his was trapped in the space created by his teleportation circle.

Yet before he could smirk at his achievement and fantasize about a life he would have with Sofony Silver, his system-bought magic circle dimmed dangerously.

Anger and panic similar to what Sofony had just experienced a while back, laced his tone as a shout escape from his throat.

"NOOOO! MY GODDESS!!!!"

He vomited blood again. In front of him, the brilliant light had already vanished. The system had congratulated him on the success of the transfer. Yet no sense of happiness could be seen from his ashen face due to the accident which made him lose control of its direction….

"Who!!! WHO THE HELL INTERFERED!!!?"

In a beastly manner with eyes both red and threatening to pop out of their sockets, the level-7 bulky host roared with all his might, running outside the room and teleporting to the building where Sofony vanished. His face became more wreathed in insanity. Because there was no whatsoever trace of the Silver's Princess there! There was no trace of the interferer too!

Feeling the helplessness and unwillingness, he kept cursing the unseen enemy in his heart and like Sofony, he began throwing attacks all around him, this time, his action not only affecting an empty floor, but a whole building. The sounds from people who were panicking, escaping, and crying accompanied his furious yells.

But then, no amount of cursing was able to hurt the real offender who was actually located far away from there.

As said by the culprit, 'Fate is mysterious, something no amount of intelligence would be able to fathom.' The bulky and perverted system user was not fated to own what should not belong to him. If he was, Fred's meddling would have not succeeded.

...

Back in the abandoned mental hospital, Fred had donned again his expressionless face.

Bowing, he stepped forward and said, "Your Excellency, I'm sorry. I'm now done with my matter. I thank you for your patience with me and I beg for your pardon if my silence has made you displeased."

There was actually no trace of displeasure in the director's face. He looked always magnanimous and noble. If there was anything different about the old man this time, it was the curiosity he displayed when he turned to the middle-aged guy and asked, "You sent your daughter in one of the largest kingdoms in the Layers?"

Fred honestly nodded, "Yes, Sir."

"I see," he said, nodding. "Well, it's a small matter and I'm not really offended. But you meddled with the city again. It's your third time. The first offense was when you fought against Conrad's adoptive son in the wasteland outside. The second and the third were when you sent those ladies into different layers. The last one, you even did in my presence…"

"I'm guilty, Your Excellency. Please advise." Fred did not delay in admitting his fault.

"It's you and the other boys who made the rules though. So what should we do?"The old man returned his gaze to the red sky outside. It was unhindered from sight due to the lack of trees in the wasteland surrounding the center.

After thinking for a moment, he passed the judgment, "Alright. This is to adhere to the rules you all set up and not earn your colleagues' protest. Fred Mendez, you are to not interfere anymore for this year. Even if your daughter is in great danger, you will have to stay back. Do you agree with this punishment?"

Fred did not argue and simply lowered his head. There was no trace of madness or reluctance in his face. "I have no problems with it and feel that it's too light. Thank you for your kindness, Your Excellency."

The director, the real owner of the place, sighed at the middle-aged man's reply.

"Very well. It's good that you have no problem with the arrangement… although it's hard for me to know whether you're being heartless once again to your daughter, or accepting her lover… That odd future son-in-law of yours…."

Silence reigned again. The King of Country F momentarily frowned, but he immediately smoothed out his expression, not replying in fear he would say something inappropriate. The director saw through him though.

The old man took one last glance at the breathtaking scenery outside then started to head back. He said cryptically to the doctor who began to follow him with silent steps, "Forget it, Fred… You've done enough testing, of him and my attitude towards the matter. We won't interfere anymore…."

"Your Excellency. May I request one last thing?" Fred said before parting ways with the old man and going to his own lab room.

Before stepping into his office too, the director stopped and turned his head to the middle-aged man. "Go on."

"May I send one of my people to that Layer?" He made his expression and voice as sincere and pleasant as possible.

The other was not surprised by his sudden request, although he did look at Fred for a fairly long time before waving a hand to him. The door to the director's office then closed. As it was already quite dark, the fluorescent lamps in the corridor lit up one by one.

"Thank you, Your Excellency," Fred said, bowing to the person beyond the door before turning on his heels.

No change actually appeared in the man's expression after obtaining the approval of the director. He simply went back to the left-wing of the main building that had been assigned to him and his people.

However, the moment he entered the lab, he immediately ordered Leo, the childish peak Level 6 host, to level up in a week and enter a particular realm in one of the Layers.

Complete his level-up mission in just a week? Even after reporting that it would take him a month and a half to finish all his preparations for his current level-up mission?

The teenager was angry and was about to protest but he had to swallow the words down his throat due to Fred's gaze and demeanor that were especially icy that day.

...