Chapter 8 - My Name Is Jason Bellthorne

Thong laid in his bed before hearing a ringing from the phone that he rarely used. He picked it up and saw it was Mike calling. Thong picked it up and let out a sigh.

Mike: Yo! You left this place faster than I thought. I don't know if you have plans for later today, but I actually want to take you somewhere. It's related to the Eclipse since you're not fully registered. You know those things they yell when we get called into a match? Those titles? You gotta make one for yourself. So meet up with me outside your dojo, I'll drive us there and we'll get all the fancy stuff covered.

Mike hung up before Thong could even get a chance to reply.

Thong: I guess he really is energetic. I don't really have much else to do, and I just need to get my mind off that job offer, I hate the idea of it…

Thong jumped out of his bed before walking out of his room. His parents had already left while he laid in his room, likely to buy more groceries with the money he had given them.

Thong: I'll leave another two hundred here, they might need it if I don't come back soon…

Thong ran to his father's gym, seeing Mike typing on his phone while leaning on his shiny blue car.

Mike: Yo! Thong!

Thong: No need to yell… Let's just hurry up, I don't want to take longer than I have to.

Mike: Alright! Alright! Sheesh. I knew you were excited, but I didn't know you were this excited. That's the stuff I like to see.

Thong's thoughts: I'm the exact opposite of excited, bastard.

Thong and Mike hopped into the car, Mike immediately driving them without a care in the world. Thong had Marvin's words echo in his head, thinking how it completely broke his composure.

Thong's thoughts: Was that really all I took? Why did I run away?

After thirty minutes, Mike's car finally came to a final halt, Thong looking out the window to see a fancy building next to them.

Thong: This is the place?

Mike: Yup yup. Just follow me.

Mike and Thong entered the building, it looked like any usual bank.

Thong: Are you sure we're in the right place?

Mike: I'm more than sure of it.

Mike and Thong walked up to one of the ladies behind the counter, Mike slipping her what seemed like identification before she stood up and opened a door, Mike leading Thong inside. They both headed down a hallway before eventually being faced with another wall, Mike opening it to show what seemed like a much more fancy office building. Boards, seating areas, a fancy front desk, this lobby screamed success.

Thong: What is this place?

Mike: It's one of the many offices that the Eclipse has hidden around all of America. They're often hidden in huge banks since it's easier to exchange money and jobs without seeming suspicious.

Thong's thoughts: This place even thought that far ahead? Just how long has this organization been around?

As the two walked around the lobby, Thong being mesmerized by the pristine look of everything around them, Dianshi entered from one of the many doors in the room. Dianshi was looking up at Mike and Thong, however as he entered the room he seemed to be addressing somebody that was waiting outside.

Dianshi: I believe he's the one you were told about, just come in once I'm done speaking to him.

???: That's fine. I've never seen him around, but apparently his first fight was impressive.

Dianshi: It most definitely was.

Dianshi walked up to Mike and Thong, Mike waving to him as they all huddled up.

Dianshi: Nice to meet you once again, Thong.

Mike: C'mon, it's only been a few hours. Just jump right in.

Dianshi: If you say so. So Thong, we're here to finish up your initiation. As you likely noticed, you get a form of identification as well as a title that gets announced with your appearance. The paperwork can be finished on the counter over there.

Thong and Dianshi walked up to the counter, Dianshi explaining everything to the attendant regarding Thong. As Thong finished his paperwork, he ended up on the one line he wasn't entirely sure of: his fighter title.

Thong's thoughts: A title that'll always be called out before a match… So this will be what people know me as. What's one title I can never go wrong with…?

Dianshi watched closely as he saw Thong write Silent Point as his fighter title.

Dianshi's thoughts: He is a very silent person. I can tell he's promising, and he has a brutality I didn't expect from someone like him. Is he really all that opposed to assassination jobs?

Thong gave the attendant his paperwork before walking back to Mike. Before Mike could meet up with Thong and Dianshi, a figure fully clad in red attire with a katana at his side entered the room and approached the group. He wore a red long coat, reddish pants, what appeared to be red body armor, and to top it all off he donned a red mask with yellow eye slits that covered his entire face. The man barely gave off any presence, but Thong could tell that he was dangerous.

???: I'm not really one for waiting around. My name is Jason Bellthorne, nice to make your acquaintance.

Mike: Yo, did you just say Jason? I feel like I've heard of you…

Dianshi: You likely have… He's actually one of the top ten highest ranked fighters of the Eclipse.

Thong was immediately struck with fear, the strange sensation coming from Jason finally came to his understanding. Jason was insanely strong.

Jason: Great, now you made them scared. Shouldn't you be hurrying along to your bosses, Mike, Dianshi?

Mike: I… Sheesh.

Thong watched as Mike put his hands in his pocket and walked away, heading towards a hall he had no idea where it led.

Dianshi: I assume you're correct. I wish you the best of luck in this group, Thong. If you have any further questions, do not hesitate to ask for my assistance.

Dianshi walked away, heading into another one of the doors that Thong looked over as he stood in this lobby.

Jason: So, you're Thong, right?

Thong: I… Yeah, I'm Thong. Thong Tran.

Jason: So, tell me, why did you abandon that job?

Thong immediately stared at Jason. How did he know about the job? Wasn't it information only between him and Marvin?

Thong: Are… Are you the guy that told Marvin to hire me?

Jason: What? No. I wouldn't waste money on hiring people. I was also approached by that Marvin guy.

Thong: He approached you too?

Jason: Unlike you and Mike, I partake in both the fighting ring and the assassination work of the Eclipse. I understand your resentment towards killing, I'm not really one for kill myself.

Thong: Then why… Why do you take those jobs?

Jason: I hope you don't think I just take any assassination job. I may be an assassin, but I'm not entirely heartless. A simple way of putting it would be that I only take down the real scum, for lack of a better term. I target those that I see as heartless bastards. Luckily, the job we have been given is taking one of those heartless bastards down.

Thong: Oh… Wait, did you say our job?

Jason: Yeah, didn't Marvin tell you? You aren't working alone on this job. You were more of uhh… Well, you were hired because the real person behind the job had some extra money to spare. And better to have more people to do the job, right?

Thong: So I'm an afterthought…

Jason: Don't worry too much about it, because I doubt you were going to be able to avoid this part of the Eclipse forever. Every faction has taken part of it. Even your friend.

Thong looked down at the hall that Mike had gone down earlier.

Thong's thoughts: Mike… What else are you hiding from me?

Jason: Come on, we got no time to waste. I'm not the patient type.

Thong shook his head and followed after Jason, his mind clouded with the thoughts of Mike still hiding more than just simply working for a dangerous fighting ring.