Chapter 57 - She's Xero

Tristan watched his grandfather reaction after he asked that question. It was as if confirming something in his question when his grandfather looked so calm. He couldn't help but clench his hand tightly. Fearing what he would hear next.

Looking at his grandson tense face, Duke Cullen knew that his strong instinct lead him into asking that question and the reason he's here besides on Christmas day itself. He inhale the warm bitter tea but left a sweet taste on his tongue after awhile, enjoying the sun leisurely which something that he haven't been doing during his youthful days including his nearly retirement days. It's almost time for him to give up his only post. The post that he still held after he retired from his political world. And the reason he's holding it due to that sweet daring brat with outstanding IQ. He have to hide her from any political affair and even from the world itself. Now that she's married to his grandson, he knows his grandson will protect her this time.

"To answer your question, i know her more than you do. Even though she's been under your watch while she was abroad but not everything you see is real. Before Ralph and you enter her life, she have known me way before. And i have seen the new injuries that kept on appearing on her body back then. No matter how i want to helped her, she always refuses. Thus, she have her own way to payback every wound that she received which lead me to her. It was hard to convince her to stop. She's stubborn and a pain in the neck. It was because of her i started the Googol. Everyone thought i was crazy but to protect your wife from the world and getting unwanted attention, i had to do it." Duke Cullen said after he felt like torturing his grandson long enough. As he spoke, he looked far away as if reminiscing the days he spent to persuade Alicia to stop wrecking the country. Back then it was frightening looking at her eyes that only filled with blankness. As if nothing matters for her. If she were to be a murderer back then, she would have become a cold blooded killer. The most terrifying one. Thank goodness she chose keyboards and complicated code. That alone could make everyone around her collapse in fear.

Hearing every words that his grandfather spoke, he unconsciously inhale deeply. Although he had a gist of it but he didn't expect she was the sole reason Googol exists. He heard some rumors before while he was working under his grandfather. Back then his grandfather asked him to be a trainer to train the people that he chose under the name of Googol. He was only curious that time. Seeing that his grandfather retired from every position that he holds at that time but strongly held onto the position on being the Leader in Googol. His grandfather even quarrel with the rest of the ministers since they were trying to put a spy inside the group. He made the group so secretive that not many would know about Googol unless you are the president or the higher. For Tristan, he just happen to be curious. Thus got the position as a trainer for kids who have high IQ. It was then he heard rumors about a person whose name was Xero.

"You were a trainer back then. I'm sure you heard of the name Xero." His grandfather continued seeing he kept his silence.

"I heard a lot of version." He answered nonchalantly. But his heart tremble whenever he remembers some of the rumors that he once heard. Not out of fear but more like astonished.

"Oh? Entertain this old man." Duke Cullen smirks.

"Heard he was very skillful. Everything that he learn in one go, he will master it straight away. And once i heard he rushed towards the enemy base in the middle of gunshots like he was strolling in the park. And the most famous of all is he almost cripple the entire country. I'm sure these stories they were exaggerate so that it will hook onto others. No one knows who's Xero. And the time that i was there, i met Xero. He looks really weak and despite his high IQ among the others, i doubt on his fighting skills." He said lazily.

"That's interesting. But what's more interesting is that you assume it was a he." His grandfather stated.

"Because i saw Xero. That's why i am confident that it's a he."

"What if i told you in Googol there's a different between Xero and Zero? The one that you met probably Zero version god knows what number he was. There's been a lot of replacement for this Zero. And it will never be the same person. Probably the person that you saw back then no longer a Zero and it was replace with another person by now. But as for Xero, no one can replace the person who holds the name." Hearing the explanation from his grandfather, the uneasy feeling in his heart start to rise up. He frowned.

"What are you trying to say here?"

"All of those rumors that you heard, it was all true. Due to Xero's capability in crippling the country, i had to step in to stop her. It was a good thing i found her. Because with her talent and outstanding IQ, she will become the country's puppet if she falls into the wrong hand. Thus the reason i started Googol. It was to protect her and gave her freedom. Although it was hard to make her cooperate in the first place but she still have a little warmth in her heart when i found her and eventually she knows what is good for her. Googol is like her safe house and also her playground. It's where she can fully unleashed her skills and the remarkable IQ. It was really astonishing everytime i watch her do the mission. I felt like a proud parent each time she came back with wide smile on her face."

"Her? Are you telling me that all these time that the person who's called Xero is a she? Is she the same person that Ralph looked for long time ago?" He asked when he remember that Ralph was assign to look for the person who almost bankrupt the entire country by hacking and crippling the economy. It was a fright and disaster back then. No one knew what happen but it was scary every time the phone rang only to be told they are on the verge on being the poorest country with no way to survive.

"It's the same person. I manage to find her before Ralph does. He was close though."

Tristan frowned.

"Are you saying that..." He couldn't finish the question when he saw his grandfather nod.

"She's Xero. The sole reason Googol exist. It was to protect her."

Tristan's heart went thumped. As if it was hit by a truck but still manage to hold on and beats faster than normal. He remembered something.

"Was she doing any mission last few days?" He asked. She was pregnant. And he saw the situation at the abandoned warehouse. And he heard her voice over the phone as well. Although he refuses to believe it at that time but hearing all of this from his grandfather, he had to accept the truth.

"If you're talking about the incident at the abandoned warehouse, yes. She was there. She was the leader. And even though i did warn her not to danger herself since she dropped the bomb on us, it was futile. Ever since i found her, it's easier to let you boys come home rather than making her tell what did she eat for dinner. She follows her own instinct and the wildness in her. The mission that day can be considered a small matter. She doesn't even need to be on the field. But because we're dealing with MUTINY, it's not something that we can take lightly." His grandfather answered without having any intention to hide it from Tristan. He felt like Tristan should know and hopefully he might be able to control Alicia before she could harm herself. No matter how skillful and amazing her IQ is, it's still better for her to take care of herself since she's carrying another life within her. It's not something that anyone can overlook.

"Will she keep on doing the mission?" Tristan asked after he kept quiet for a while.

"No. I let her use the computer and that should made her stay put. I put a banned on her. Not allowing her to use the computer since every time she touch it, she will alert every other country who's looking for her as well. But since you're with her, i uplift the banned and just so she would stop pestering me into getting another mission nor bother others in her main group." Duke Cullen felt his life feel calmer now that he gave her the permission to use the computer. At least the upcoming trouble would be handle by Tristan. And he could have his time off like right now.

"Is it dangerous to let her use the computer?" Tristan asked. He was curious. Why would his grandfather do so much for Alicia and to put that sort of banned on her.

"You'll find out soon enough. I'm guessing she already alerted the government." Not long, his phone rang and he glance towards the caller id before sighing.

"You should go back and let her sleep. She's already on the move." Duke Cullen showed the name on his phone before picking up the call. Tristan who saw the name could only gulped down hard and hastily head home. Even though he was still bewildered by the truth and about her real identity but what he does know that whenever she's with him, that's the real her. No matter what her identity is, she will always be his wife. The mother of his kids. That is all matters.