"All of this is Alpha Helmet's fault." Ryan said. "He is the one who awakened me."
Silence settled as Aron narrowed his eyes, his trust in Ryan's words sitting close to zero. For a simple reason: he was a newcomer, seated at the table of the upper echelons, even though he had never completed a single mission or made a single sacrifice in the name of the organization. He was only there because he was the son of an important member, and even then with incomplete training.
Beyond that, a helmet capable of awakening the Voice? Could they skip entirely the intense pain and humiliation required? Could something so miraculous even exist?
'Don't make me laugh.' He thought arrogantly.
Many of Aron's supporters thought the same. They had their own reactions, between laughs and wicked grins. Some going so far as to burst out laughing, unable to hold it in.
"He speaks the truth." The Boss said, surprising everyone, who froze without a reaction. "It is surprising, but it is the truth. I watched him piecing it together at this very table, just now. And I must say, I have never seen anything like that before. I mean, a Voice like that one." He held back a laugh that was equal parts euphoric and mischievous before continuing:
"It was like having a massive, powerful Atlas Lion roaring right in front of you, the force of it was simply overwhelming. But in the end, the roar came out like a cute little kitten." It was getting harder to hold the laughter back, but he managed. "The emotion ran deep, the intent was sharp and the technique was admirable, yet it lacked practice. Simple repetition would do wonders, which once again proves it was his first time. But well, what I mean to say is: this boy has clear talent for the Voices... he could have learned it entirely on his own, and so he did... a shame that no one will be teaching him any further from here on out." He sighed deeply.
"So... their faction..." Aron murmured, though everyone heard it all the same.
"Yes, they are innocent." The Boss said. "At least up to this point. This time." The Boss then sighed. "Ryan was raised according to the norms, it is just that he is exceptional. That was expected up to a point, but he went beyond even what was expected. Pay attention: Ryan was already classified as a grade one potential by Rudeus and Alex, but I disagree with them. Raise the classification."
"But sir..." Aron said submissively. "The next would be special grade, and Ryan certainly does not display such overwhelming potential. Though I do agree he is not a typical grade one potential."
"In that case," The Boss said. "Create an intermediary classification, call it special grade one. And Ryan will be the sole representative for now."
"As you wish." Aron lowered his head and began taking notes.
"As for us, and the many accusations against the Savant Mafia itself and my person." The Boss said, assuming a serious expression. "Not even I would be capable of slipping past John's nose to plant the helmet there in secret, he would detect me and it would be such a catastrophe that the Manhattan Cafe would no longer exist... But, as far as I know, the cafe is still standing and business is thriving. And going a step further, there is only one single person who could, or rather, who would be permitted to slip past John's radar, and that was Ryan's father. That is my argument for this case. Anyone care to dispute it?"
The people in the room exchanged glances, many of those looks falling on John. Many of the senior members had seen him in action before and knew why he was feared, but the newer ones shuddered just imagining that even the Boss held him in reverence. But more importantly, in that moment, would it be enough?
Were John and his faction confident enough in themselves to say no intruder had gotten through?
For a moment, even John had to measure his own strength. He was getting old, which did not mean he was getting weaker, but the Boss had certainly been growing stronger as well. It was a possibility that John was no longer a match for him. Especially considering that lately, John had not been taking on high-risk missions.
John was out of shape.
While the Boss might be at his peak.
Even so.
In that instant, John took a deep breath before saying: "I think the final decision falls to me, does it not? In that case, I will shelve the matter for lack of evidence at this time. Which meant it was no longer under active investigation, but it was not closed either. For now, let us take your version as the correct one. Until a new suspicion arises."
Ryan looked at John with a serious but relieved expression. Each faction categorically withdrew its accusations. The war had been avoided, by a narrow margin, but it had been.
Which did not mean it would not happen in the future, just not today.
"With that said, I would like to change the topic." Aron said, picking up some papers. "The center of all this discussion is this helmet that leads to the so-called Unnamed Game. And I obviously want a report on it, which has been difficult to obtain." He then took a deep breath before continuing.
"According to the research team, the technology is extremely advanced. Its primary characteristic is that it has only one user, and attempting to introduce a new player has proven impossible due to a software lock. And making direct changes to the board threatened to delete all files in a cascade before destroying it, rendering the device useless."
Aron gave a dry cough before asking Ryan. "This virtual reality video game, what is so special about it that it led you to awakening?"
The people at the table were preparing to leave, relieved sighs already washing over everyone. Shoulders growing lighter. That helmet, whatever its origin, was just a video game. They did not need to take it seriously.
"Another world, a world as real as our own." Those who had risen froze and slowly sat back down. "The letter spoke of a video game, the helmet called itself a video game, but that was not what it was. Not even close. This unknown technology takes you to a world as real as our own. Indistinguishable from ours, save for a few system messages and natural laws different from our own."
Ryan took a sip of tea before breathing deeply and continuing: "It was less than two minutes here, but there? I spent over five days in a frozen and unknown land, slave traders hunted me down, magical aberrations tried to attack me and eat me alive. And I met a bear with powers I had only heard of in myths." Ryan swallowed hard.
"I had to kill a man in there. I remember the pain of him throwing me against the wall. His head slamming into my nose. My blood running down and even his face changing color as I choked the life out of him."
Ryan then continued:
"I remember a wolf pack that hunted me, hundreds of them came for me and one drove its fangs straight through my arm. The pain was unbearable and shortly after, the wound became infected."
Finally he looked the Boss in the eye and said:
"I also met a guardian forgotten by time, one who had been corrupted. He forced me to fight him hundreds of times, and every time I was on the verge of dying, he brought me back."
Ryan then looked up at the ceiling:
"Two minutes, and even so. Even so, under pressure, I learned to fight men and beasts. I learned to paint myself red. I also learned chemistry, because I found an apothecary's book that I used to heal myself."
Ryan then went quiet, reliving each one of those moments, that collection of memories now forever etched into the very core of his being. Aron and the Boss, however, were beginning to make sense of the situation.
Aron quickly opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by the Boss.
"Is there a chance..." He said carefully. "That we could send apprentices into the Unnamed Game, for years perhaps, in order to train them more rapidly?" Ryan laughed, knowing that question would come.
"They would not survive the horrors they would encounter, everything there is so grim that it demands a mind and heart built from steel." Ryan then met his gaze. "But I know that will not stop you from trying. You will track down the origin of the technology, get more of it for yourselves and send your henchmen in. But they will die in the game and then in real life, without bringing back a single piece of new information... sir, did you not even see the state I came back in? All of that was just the damage I took in the game being transferred to my real body. Dying there means dying here, and even surviving can lead you to death."
The Boss pondered briefly as Aron raised a hand to his chin in thought. "We need to study this further." Aron said. "We need new information immediately!" He shouted.
"Boss! What are your orders?" Aron asked.
"Study the helmet again." He murmured, and yet everyone heard it as his voice began to rise. "Inspect the apparatus carefully so as not to damage it, but find information on the origin of this technology. As for the rest of you! Everyone who is available. Infiltrate every technology company in this world. Do whatever it takes! But find out who invented this and how we can get more!" He then looked straight at Ryan. "Ryan, after the studies are done, the helmet will be returned to you. Once you have it back, your mission is to prepare the ground for our arrival. Learn everything you can about that world, its people, its geography, religion, politics, all of it! Grow strong on the other side and serve as our foundation!"
Ryan nodded.
"With that! Dismissed!" The Boss rose with a furrowed brow and then murmured so that no one would hear. "So that was why he vanished... he found something he should never have discovered."
Ryan watched him in silence. John then clapped him on the shoulder. "Let's go..."
"No, you won't!" Aron said, hurrying over and stopping beside them.
"We have already had our general meeting." Aron said, looking Ryan up and down and then meeting his eyes. "It is time for a private one."