Chapter 59 Mr. Intel

[Isaac's side]

They continued to search for Llyne. Isaac looked everywhere on his side but found nothing except dust. Isaac asked Rona. "Found her yet?" Rona shook her head sadly. "Rona didn't see anything." Isaac gulped nervously, turned towards Ronald, and asked. "What about you, Ronald?" Ronald shook his head as well. "Not yet." Isaac sat on the ground, placed his hands over his face, and mumbled. "Where could she be?" Rona sat next to Isaac and hugged him.

Ronald saw something moving at the edge of the stadium. "Hmm? What's that?" Ronald called out to Isaac. "Isaac, I think there's something over there. Can you see it? I can't see that far clearly. My eyesight is not as good as yours." Isaac stood up and asked. "Where?" Ronald raised his hands and pointed towards the edge of the stadium. Isaac looked towards the direction where Ronald pointed and was lost of words. "Jinx..." Isaac laughed softly and fainted with foam spilling out of his mouth. Ronald quickly caught Isaac and started to panic. "Oh, no. What do I do? What do I do?" Rona looked at Isaac and said. "Rona thinks TsunTsun is dead. Death confirmed at..." Ronald screamed. "No. No. No. Isaac isn't dead. He just fainted." Rona nodded.

Ronald put Isaac over his shoulder. "Come on. I think Isaac saw Llyne over there." Rona nodded and followed Ronald from behind.

[Llyne's side]

Mr. James continued to annoy me with his weird dances. 'Ugh... I want to punch him so badly.' I laid on the ground and let out a big sigh. "Fine! I give up." Mr. James stopped dancing and sat right in front of me with his smug face. I frowned and said. "Wipe that smug face off." Mr. James smiled and said. "Nuuuu." I got so annoyed, I raised my index and middle fingers and stabbed Mr. James's eyes. Mr. James screamed. "Ouch! What's that for?" Mr. James rubbed his injured eye while complaining. "How could you poke my seductive eyes?!" I ignored his complaint and said. "I never dated before, but I know who had many exes so I can give you some tips on the do's and don'ts." Mr. James opened his eyes wide open and stopped complaining. "I'm all ears, sensei."

Step.

Step.

'Footsteps? Who?' I turned around and saw Isaac, Ronald, and Rona walking towards us. I waved and ran towards them. I hugged Rona and said. "I miss you all so much, especially after dealing with Mr. Annoying over there." I pointed at Mr. James, who was waiting behind me. Mr. James walked up to us and hugged us. "Oh, my fuzzy bunnies. I'm glad you all are safe and sound. If anything happened to you all, it would kill me." Isaac, who was dangling over Ronald's shoulder, smacked Mr. James in the face. Mr. James flew away and dropped to the ground. Rona, Ronald, and I gasped. 'What in the word just happened?'

We looked at Isaac and saw him still lying unconscious. I looked at Ronald and asked. "How did he just...?" Ronald raised both his shoulders. Mr. James got up and placed his hands on his cheeks. "I had never been slapped that way before. No. No one ever slapped me before. I knew it, bunny no.2 is my fate." Mr. James turned and rushed towards us like a madman. We screamed and carried Isaac away from Mr. James. Rona screamed. "Rona thinks Isaac death is at..." Ronald interrupted Rona and said. "He's not dead! He's not dead!" Mr. James quickly caught up to Ronald and grabbed his other shoulder. "Where do you think you're going, bunny no.4?" Ronald's face went pale as he saw Mr. James's evil smile. Ronald stuttered. "N-No w-where..." Mr. James snatched Isaac away from Ronald. Rona lowered her head, covered her ears, and shrieked. "Eek!" Without hesitation, I rushed towards Mr. James and was ready to give him a nice punch.

Mr. James grabbed Isaac with both hands and said. "I want him to be my disciple. Announce it, Mr. Ogre." I slipped past Mr. James and landed on the ground with my face. "Argh!" I got up and spat the dirt out of my mouth. "Ptooh! Disciple? Did I hear that right?" Rona and Ronald got closer to Mr. James and asked. "Mr. James, I thought only the 8 Masters can have a disciple?"

"That's right, you cockroach." A huge hand slammed to the ground we were on and lifted us off the ground. "Now bow down to the 8 Masters." A hoarse voice roared, and we covered our ears. Mr. James chuckled and said. "Stop that, Mr. Ogre. There's no need to be so harsh on them. After all, I never introduced myself to them officially." Mr. James placed Isaac on the ground and bowed. "Hello, my 4 little fuzzy bunnies. All of you know me as Mr. James. However, my real name is Master Intel. I am in charge of gathering and distributing intel. Sorry for all the confusion, and it's a pleasure to meet you all." All of us stared at Master Intel blankly until Isaac spoke. "Tsk. I don't care if you're Mr. James or Master Intel or whatever, it won't mask that nasty attitude of yours." The hoarse voice roared again and cursed at Isaac. "How dare you insignificant bug dare to insult Master Intel. You should be scotched to flames along with your insolence."

Suddenly, a ginormous creature appeared behind us. I looked down and saw a huge shadow casted over us. We turned behind and looked up. We traced our eyes from its feet until its head.. The creature was extremely hideous and had only one eye. I grabbed Isaac and whispered. "Is that a cyclops?"

Isaac nodded. "Based on the games, most probably."

"Oui. He's huge, and his breath is... indescribable. Yuck! Even though we are so far away from its mouth, we can still smell the stink from all the way down here. And why are they so obsessed with big things. Don't they know obsession is a sickness?" I panicked.

Master Intel grinned. "Hmm. Yes. Yes. That mouth of yours is extremely sharp, but that's what I like about you. You are very honest. You rarely find honest and brave people here. That's why I want you to be my disciple. What about you, hmm?" Mr. James put his hand out towards Isaac. When Mr. Gregory heard what Master Intel said. He stood back with his head on the ground.

"Just to clarify, if I become your disciple, I am also capable of reaching Master Rank, right?" Isaac asked with a serious tone.

The audience gasped and started cursing at Isaac. Master Intel raised his hand, and everyone kept silent.

Master Intel's face turned grim. He retracted his hand and straightened his back. Ronald tried to move in front of Isaac, but Isaac blocked Ronald and shook his head. Ronald back away with a worried look. Ronald turned towards me for help, but I shrugged and gave him a peaceful smile. Ronald was confused, so as Rona.

"Master, you say?" Master Intel mumbled to himself. Isaac stood his ground and said. "If you can, why can't I?"

Master Intel bent towards Isaac and met Isaac's eyes with his. He said in a very deep, commanding voice. "Do you think you can, son?" Suddenly, the wind stopped, and there was no moisture in the air. The atmosphere became so intense. No one dared to make a sound or breathe. The audience sat nervously in their seat. Silently watched Master Intel as he stared down at Isaac.

Isaac didn't back down and looked right into Master Intel's eyes. Isaac replied with confidence. "I know it." I looked at Isaac and then at Master Intel and smiled. 'A person's face can't lie. Master Intel is overjoyed now. Hehehe!'

Master Intel straightened his back and let laughed out loud. "Bwahahaha! Yes. This is it! This is what I have been looking for." Master Intel looked down at Isaac. "Be my disciple, and I'll make you my successor."

The audience went into an uproar.

"That little kid? Master Intel's successor?"

"Master Intel never showed any sign of giving up his position. Yet, he wishes to give it to this child."

"This is a huge news."

Master Intel put out his hands once again and said. "What do you say, son?" Isaac nodded and grabbed his hand. "You can throw anything at me, but I will never back down." Master Intel grinned. "Words are cheap, son."

Mr. Gregory announced. "Congratulation, after years passed, Master Intel finally found his successor! What a day!" The audience cheered. I covered my ears and complained. "Oui... My ears. I keep hearing ringing sounds."

Master Intel walked towards us and said. "Looks like this is goodbye for now, my bunnies." Rona, Ronald, and I nodded. "Bye, Master Intel." I looked at Isaac. "Bye, shorty." Isaac looked away and said. "Stop calling me, shorty. I'm still growing." I rubbed his head. "Sure. Sure. I'll wait." Rona hugged Isaac. "TsunTsun, let's do group hug." Isaac stunned and said. "What? No! Wait!" Rona, Ronald, and I hugged Isaac tightly. After our group hug, Isaac cursed at us.

Suddenly, a portal appeared in the middle of the stadium. We looked at the portal and saw Master Intel waved at Isaac. "It's time." Isaac nodded, turned towards us, and said. "Let's reach out soon." We nodded and waved Isaac goodbye. Isaac and Master Intel went through the portal, and then the portal disappeared. Rona pressed her finger against her lips and said. "Rona misses TsunTsun." I patted Rona's head and smiled bitterly. "Me too, Rona. Me too."