19 Chapter 18 - Head of the Spider

Two days passed from that night. Thong laid on his bed as he heard his parents leave the house.

Thong's thoughts: I don't know when I became so isolated from my parents. I used to train with my dad everyday, but now I avoid them to go outside. Do these jobs really cause this?

Thong sat up as he looked at the envelope he tucked away into his pants.

Thong's thoughts: Dianshi had given me this letter as an invitation. I hope this will give me the information I asked him for.

Thong left his room before casually walking out of his home. He opened the envelope, looking at the address of the location, noticing it was on the outskirts of his city.

Thong's thoughts: I should really get a car…

…

After a few hours of walking, Thong walked up to what seemed to be a large building with large men in suits standing outside.

Man 1: Who may you be?

Thong gulped before rummaging through his pockets, quickly pulling out his envelope as the second guard read through it. He nodded at the first before they both stepped aside, the doors opening to show a lavish interior. The floors were a glistening marble with a red carpet to lead the way.

Thong's thoughts: This definitely doesn't give off the aura of a place connected to assassins. Who was I meant to meet here again?

Dianshi: So you made it.

Thong looked directly ahead as Dianshi pushed up his glasses. His attire was a lot more casual while keeping Dianshi's serious tone.

Dianshi: I didn't want to come in on a day off, but you seemed rather confident yesterday. Granted, it seems that soon after a mission, you revert to your cowardice. Is it a ploy?

Thong rapidly shook his head no as Dianshi let out a sigh.

Dianshi: You were like this before the match with Babe as well. I wonder where all that confidence goes.

Thong's gaze drops as he follows Dianshi. The interior remains as lavish as it opened up with. The entire building likely cost millions to make. As Thong and Dianshi passed by a wall of plaques, each with a different photo and name underneath.

Thong: Who are these?

Dianshi: This wall is covered with fighters that have made history with their existence in the matches. With the ones near the top being leaders of the Eclipse, in past and present.

Thong: The years between those last two are fairly recent. It's barely a two year gap since the most recent one came into power.

Dianshi: Well, that's because-

???: I worked my way up here.

Thong and Dianshi both darted their eyes to where the voice came from. Dianshi gulped before pushing up his glasses.

Dianshi: Boss, I didn't think you'd be here.

???: I basically reside here, Dianshi. If you don't mind, may I ask your name?

The man held a hand out to Thong. Thong could tell just by looking at this man that he was nothing like any of the others he has met. Even Jason, one of the first top ten members he had met, this man was nothing like him.

Thong: My… My name is Thong Tran, a new guy…

???: New? You must've come to great terms with Dianshi if you were capable of being invited outside of a faction.

Dianshi: More like he likely wouldn't leave me alone if I didn't invite him.

???: Is that so? Oh yes, how could I forget my manners. My name is Daymond Theraphosa, the patriarch of the group known as Archna and current head of the Eclipse.

Dianshi: No point in acting humble now, Mr. Head of the Eclipse.

Thong looked up at the plaque before looking at the man before him. His short, black slick back hair, his dark purple coat with fur along the edges. The dress shirt he wore underneath the coat along with the dress pants. He gave off a sense of mystery and power.

Thong's thoughts: This guy is the head of the Eclipse? He seems no older than his thirties!

Daymond: I can't say it's a big surprise that you would come here today, a large match is going to occur in a few hours.

Thong's thoughts: A large match?

Daymond: Looking at your face tells me you didn't know of that either. Why exactly are you here?

Dianshi: He's here… He's here for the Associate Documentation Center.

Daymond: I see, so he has his eyes on someone…

Thong could feel a shiver down his spine as a shadow covered Daymond's eyes. He was not entirely sure if the men he was looking for were part of the Eclipse at all, but it felt as if he had breached some taboo from his intentions.

Daymond: I cannot say you are entirely in the wrong for seeking it. We are an assassination group as much as we are a fighting ring. But do not misunderstand, the two do not go hand-in-hand.

Thong: What…?

Daymond: The Eclipse was originally a pure assassination corporation. While popular underground, it was not getting enough traction, likely due to the nature that any of the supporters may become targets for assassination. So the third owner of the Eclipse decided to make a change. Noticing the skills of many of their members, they made a way for more sponsors to appear to make a profit. These are known as our Eclipse Duels. These matches are the most surface level of the organization, meant to be a source of income while the assassination jobs were the more politically important ones, with our connections eventually reaching the government of the country itself.

Thong gulped as Daymond turned his back.

Daymond: The section you seek was implemented by the previous leader around the beginning of his reign. That section made it possible for members within the Eclipse to target each other, as if it was a sick demented game. But it was used quite a bit. Due to jealousy, to allow murders in our Eclipse Duels or for members to take each other out during missions. With their popularity, we could not take it down without causing a sort of riot. And simply, it was because of that same system I was able to become the head.

Thong could feel Daymond's intense aura lighten as he let out a breath.

Daymond: Sorry, I just have moments where I seem to ramble. Show him the location, Dianshi. I welcome you both to the match that will be occurring in the ring towards the back. If you wish to see what the real professionals are capable of.

Daymond walked off as Dianshi shook his head, Thong noticing that Dianshi seemed half asleep.

Dianshi: He went on another one of his tangents. He does that far too often, I just learned to doze off while standing. Let's get going, the station is just around the corner.

Thong: … On second thought, Dianshi. Is it okay if you simply research for me if the group is there? I'm looking for the Kaisuto Group. Those are the people I wish to confront in the future.

Dianshi: Kaisuto…? They sound familiar. I'll look for them, I wasn't really planning on watching today's match anyway. I'd recommend you watch it, however. Everything you've seen so far is nothing to what a match in these bigger rings mean.

Thong watched as Dianshi disappeared into one of the many halls that filled the building. He looked towards the back hallways, heading towards it as he could hear the increasing sound of people filling the building.

Thong's thoughts: What the professionals are capable of? The bigger rings? What did those two mean? What's the Arachna? I was told too much already, but if this match is so major, I need to see what my future holds against these professionals…