Chapter 117 - read my comment down below pls! The Armageddon Project

The advice that Melanie gave to Sato stuck with him into the evening. Lying in his bed, Sato stared at the ceiling aimlessly. From the way it looked, everything was up to him. His parents had already taken the first step and now, he needed to move his feet too.

Back when they had called him to tell Sato that they loved him, Sato's heart had started beating again. The things a parents could do for their child to be happier were very simple. So long as they show that they care, their child would reciprocate back.

For Sato's case, speaking to them through the phone was miles apart from meeting them in person. His trauma had created a large crevice in his renewed heart. He wanted to start moving again, but everytime he attempted, the pain kicks in. Sato was scared. He was terrified of the what ifs.

What if I went back and it was still the same as back then? Would I be able to go through that trauma once again?

What if I went back and I am not able to be myself around them anymore? Would they still accept me back as their son? What if they hated the current me?

Sato dwelled on it for a long time. Gray had finished his conference call minutes ago and decided to check on Sato. When he came around to his room, he saw the melancholy boy, with a pillow covering his head.

He was able to breathe through that right? Gray got worried and quickly ran in to lift the pillow off Sato's face. Sato was welcomed with a worried face from Gray.

"Why did you cover your face like that? You scared me.." Gray lifted up Sato's fringe that covered his dark brown eyes. He noticed that Sato had a straight face on, which was totally different from how he usually was around him.

"What's the matter?" Gray asked tender-heartedly. Sato didn't reply.

"Did my mother do something bad to you? I shall go ask her." Gray didn't know what was wrong and was about to go ask his mother. It was then Sato woke up from his stupor. He grabbed onto Gray's rough hand, stopping him from going.

"No.. Auntie did not do anything bad. It's something else." Sato clarified.

Gray sat down by the bed side, looking at Sato worriedly. He asked, "Do you wanna talk about it?"

Sato stared into Gray's dreamy eyes. He knew Gray cared and loved him deeply. It was a fact. Maybe only he knew Sato best. Sato asked with a curious mind, "What kind of person am I, Gray?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Like, what are the qualities that define me? Good or bad."

"Well," Gray continued to caress Sato's hair as he spoke, "To me, I would say that you are reckless due to your righteousness. You are smart, but humble about it. You are playful and loving to those that you are close with. But most of all, you are genuine in all ways in life. Never once, have I ever seen you put up a fake image."

"In this society, people like you are hard to come by. The sincerity and earnestness in your actions are what everyone should aspire to achieve. If everyone were able to do that, the world would become a better place."

"Is that good enough of an answer to your question?" Gray gave Sato a kind smile. Sato nodded in acknowledgement. Sato knew that Gray would not lie about what he said. The man was straightforward and blunt about the things that he say. If someone were to ask for an honest opinion from him, Gray would not sugarcoat it.

"I had a conversation with Auntie about visiting my parents." Sato decided that he should explain to Gray his problem. When he finished, Gray sat there quietly thinking it through before he spoke again.

"Well, what mother suggested was sound. I too, think that it is a good opportunity for you to seize. After all, your parents had held out an olive branch. Your father seemed like he has changed too."

Sato laid on his bed soundlessly, thinking through what Gray said. After hearing the mother and son's combined advice, he felt more compelled.

Gray knew the boy needed a push and so, he suggested. "How about this, why not tommorow after we cut your hair, I accompany you to your parent's house?"

"You would go with me?"

"Of course. I would even give my life for you, much less visiting your parents." Gray chuckled at seeing how innocent Sato looked.

With Gray, Sato received the extra boost of assurance. Nodding, Sato said. "Okay. We shall go tommorow."

"That's more like the reckless Sato I know."

At night, the family of three had their dinner together. Sato told Melanie about him going to visit his parents tommorow with Gray.

"I'm proud of you for taking that step forward, Sato." said Melanie.

"No, it was thanks to your encouragement that allowed me to do this."

Melanie had cooked the sumptuous meal with the housemaids. In front of everyone laid an array of dishes that looked very appetising. The smoke wafted in the air for all of the dishes, showing that it was cooked finished minutes ago.

Sato chose to start off with the claypot chicken. The tantalising aroma enter Sato's nose even before he consumed him food. When the tender meat enter his mouth, the juices hidden within, exploded forth a strong bout of deliciousness. Sato was overwhelming with flavour.

Each and every dish that Sato tried out after were all the same as the chicken. They all tasted amazing.

"Eat more if you like it. You shouldn't be too skinny."

Seeing that Sato enjoyed what she cooked, Melanie was very happy. It was good that Gray's boyfriend had a great appetite for food.

"Yes Auntie." Sato continued to consume everything. Gray, on the other hand, observed the young man who was enjoying his mother's cooking. Sato was too cute in his eyes. He turned to look at his mother, planning to speak to her.

"Mother, how are things over on your side?"

"In terms of what aspect?" Melanie replied.

"With Regards to the Horsemen," Gray brought up the topic on the Tobion's elite squad of soldier. He wanted to know more details on it. Of course, he did not care if Sato listened in, since he had full trust in the boy. "When will they be arriving in Country Z?"

"Well, I was going to tell you sooner or later, but I had to cancel their mission." Melanie sipped a mouth of soup after breaking the news to Gray.

"Why is that?" Gray's voice got slightly colder as he tried to maintain his calm.

"There was another more pressing issue that required their immediate attention. I'm sure you have heard about Country N's Armageddon Project." Melanie answered seriously.

"I think it's best if the two of you carry on your discussion in private." Just the name was enough to make Sato's hair stand up. Were they going to talk about something so confidential when I am around? Sato felt out of place. He stood up as he tried to excuse himself.

"Oh no, it's fine, Sato. Continue to enjoy your meal. Both of us trust that whatever we disclose to you here, you would not leak it out." Melanie assured the young man, even Gray nodded in agreement. In the end, Sato could only suck his thumb and just sit in to listen.

"Anyways, continuing on from where I left off, the Armageddon Project, I'm sure you have heard of it right? The latest hacked information from Country N's database has provided us an overview on what the Project was capable of."

"Yeah, just now during the conference call, the International Security Department for our country had requested for emergency aid. They were releasing their information on that project." Gray now realised where his mother was coming from.

"You mean to say that the Tobion family has to step in and intervene on the Project?"

"That is precisely what I was trying to say." Melanie nodded solemnly. She continued to explain further. "The Project was classified as an S tier mission difficulty. The Armageddon device that was leaked, was described to have the function of absolute control over any technological device connected on the Internet."

"We are not sure what stage of development were they on. Thus, if left unchecked, we would be in big trouble if the Armageddon Device was finished. I'm sure you know the consequences of such a machinary."

Gray understood where his mother was coming from. Indeed, this predicament was far more important than Yroth's revenge. Just by comparison, Gray's drug cartel mission was only rated as an A tier classification.