Phase 15

David's Perspective

In the realm of dreams, the seamless tapestry of meeting our parents' expectations and envisioning a harmonious symphony of accomplishments is effortlessly woven. Yet, in the realm of reality, that delicate dance transforms into an intricate labyrinth, where the path to their approval becomes a journey fraught with challenges, resilience, and self-discovery.

As I stand before her, a wave of disbelief washes over me, making me question if my previous revelations were merely a haunting nightmare. Nevertheless, I force a smile upon my face, aware that she is once again disappointed in me for squandering her precious working time.

"Thunder," her voice calling my name echoes with a sense of urgency, anchoring me to the present moment. It feels as if I have finally emerged from the illusory dream, where the tormenting figures of Mister Lex and Zhan threatened to dismantle my sanity.

"Is it working?" she asks, her tone tinged with concern.

"Yes, I believe he has fallen into hypoxia once again," Old Hex responded, his voice laced with worry.

"Let us proceed," she says, drawing her words.

San's Perspective

Old Hex and Lady Étienne have successfully rescued Thunder from the perilous edge of the cliff, hidden beneath massive rocks that had concealed his capsule. We had initially struggled to locate him, as the malfunctioning capsule had been dragged by the current to the hidden recesses below the cliff.

Currently, Thunder remains in a coma, requiring close monitoring due to the episodes of hypoxia he experienced. Given his underlying heart condition, it is anticipated that his recovery from this coma may be more prolonged. Instead of risking his well-being by sending him back to the surface, Lady Étienne has decided to allow him to remain here during his recovery.

"San," the repugnant voice of Kevin pierces the air, igniting a flame of anger within me.

"What is it now?" I retort, my gaze refusing to meet his repulsive countenance.

"Stop scowling as if you're not delighted to see your charming little brother."

"Just tell me what you need," I hiss, not bothering to look away from my laptop screen.

"Nothing much. I just miss your delightful attitude," he taunts, attempting to provoke me.

"Leave this room this instant, or I'll strike you with this vase!" I threaten, pointing towards a nearby decorative vase without diverting my attention from my work.

"Come on, Bro—" He doesn't get to finish his sentence as I swiftly hurl a spoon from my mug, which finds its mark in his mouth.

He was prepared to retaliate, but our confrontation is interrupted by Mandryx's entrance. We fall into silence, pretending as if nothing had transpired.

"San," Mandryx calls my name, diverting my attention to him.

"What is it?" I respond, moving my chair closer to his table.

"I want you to investigate the location where Thunder was stranded. I received files containing footage from Thunder's escape capsule," he says, showing me the footage, which reveals an unidentified entity attempting to open the capsule while Thunder desperately seeks its attention.

"What in the world is that creature?" I inquire, my curiosity piqued as he displays photos extracted from the footage.

"Take a look at the second image."

"Who sent you this?"

"Most likely, Thunder."

"It would be risky to investigate without a solid plan. We are dealing with the cliff as our boundary, along with the presence of the snake," I caution Mandryx.

"That's precisely why I'm entrusting this task to you. I know you always have a plan."

"The higher-ups—"

"We will conduct this investigation privately. The company has not been informed about these files, indicating that Thunder deliberately deleted them to prevent their discovery," he reveals, his tone tinged with a sense of secrecy.

"Mandryx, this is illegal," I whisper, issuing him a warning.

"You will probably assist me once I show you the subsequent footage he sent me."

I remain silent, waiting for him to proceed. He plays another clip, revealing Mister Lex before the unconscious Thunder. The succeeding sequence sends a shiver down my spine, as the elderly man is accompanied by the creature seen in the previous footage, almost as if it were his pet.

"So, what now?"

"Analyzing these images suggests that you were already aware of Thunder's whereabouts, yet you allowed us to search aimlessly around the cliff," I state, disappointment evident in my voice as I realize that Thunder's location was clearly shown in the footage.

"I did so because alongside the files, Thunder sent me a message, stating that in order for him to witness more, he had to remain there for an extended period. I trusted Lady Étienne and Old Hex to eventually find him," Mandryx explains.

"And look what happened to him!"

"He is safe. I know he will be okay," he reassures me, his confidence unwavering.

This insolent brat is causing me distress, sacrificing his husband just to obtain these files.

"What occurred afterward?" I inquire, seeking information about Mister Lex's visit.

"Thunder began hallucinating."

We continue our discussion regarding the investigation Mandryx wants me to undertake. I have no choice but to comply with his request. We are both perplexed about the connection between Mister Lex and the creature, as if the elderly man had been nurturing it.

After our conversation, I leave the room and retreat to my office, seeking solitude as Kevin resumes his attempts to undermine me. I must devise a meticulous plan to navigate the cliff without encountering the snake. Thunder's presence near the cliff was a stroke of luck, as we roamed its vicinity without encountering the serpent.

Mandryx, too, has his own investigation focused on his grandfather's private laboratory. He believes that within that secretive facility lies the key to unraveling the mysteries depicted in the footage. Our theory posits that Mister Lex has been conducting experiments within that laboratory, and the creature we encountered is one of his creations. This hypothesis is not unfounded, as last year he introduced us to a slime-like creature designed to monitor the snake's activities around the laboratory. The black creature sealed in a tube, alongside the green liquid distributed by divers near the cliff, was Mister Lex's creation.

That creature is hazardous, for upon contact with the liquid it produces, the affected area disintegrates. However, what perplexes us is Mister Lex's motive behind creating the mermaid-like creature and concealing it from us, along with the purpose behind his creation of even more dangerous entities. We are aware that he is a scientist who was previously banned from the air force due to his perilous experiments, which put his colleagues' lives at risk.

Amidst these thoughts, a laugh escapes me, realizing that we are partaking in this mission akin to a game orchestrated by Mister Lex, where he hides creatures for us to discover. Why are we delving into these depths when Mister Lex has already unveiled one of the images the company sought, which, in fact, he himself created? It troubles me to consider the possibility that Mister Lex may have even created the snake and the other creatures depicted in the images. However, we can only confirm these theories concerning Mister Lex once our investigation is complete.

"San, Lady Étienne requests your presence," I am swiftly summoned by the Lady's assistance, and I can't help but feel uneasy about the impending conflict.

"Lady Étienne, you called for me?"

"Yes, San. Please, have a seat."

"For what reason have I been summoned?"

"I won't take up much of your time. I want you to keep a watchful eye on Mandryx," she states, her words brimming with concern.

"Why is that?"

"He has been behaving suspiciously lately, and I wish to uncover his activities concealed from our knowledge. Will you undertake this task for us?"

"Of course," I reply, concealing my reluctance beneath a facade of compliance. Refusing could prove perilous.

"Thank you, San. That will be all. I apologize for interrupting your work."

Leaving the room, I head to the lobby, seeking solitude as I contact Mandryx while seated on a bench. I must inform him of the situation, to warn him of the circumstances. I can't believe I am being manipulated by both mother and son. It's utterly exasperating.

'Mandryx'

'What is it?'

I proceed to explain the job Lady Étienne has entrusted me with, to which he responds with laughter. This is not an easy task, especially considering my alliance with him in this maddening curiosity.

'Do not let her discover our alliance, or we will both find ourselves swimming back to the surface. HAHAHA.'

Enraged by his audacity, I end the call without dignifying his attempt at humor with a response.