Chapter 8

Vice chief Wright and his men patiently waited for Esecleus to finish taking a bath and change into something formal. He was being escorted to the Hunter's Organization headquarters for further investigation about the death of his guild members upon the request of Darius, Vylan's father.

They were currently on the highway, avoiding traffic jams as much as possible to save more time. Giving Esecleus the luxury to prepare himself ate up almost all of their time. But since Esecleus has nothing to do and he feels obliged to cooperate, he will spend as much time as they need from him.

Even though Vice Chief Wright is a close person to Esecleus, the latter does not share everything with him. He does not feel the need to and is not really obligated to do so.

***

When Esecleus finished his first-ever threshold raid and received the payment for doing his part, the first thing he did was buy himself a bowl of ramen.

With his stomach growling, Esecleus wandered around the city in the afternoon and found a small ramen store. And upon finishing his bowl of ramen, the next thing he did was buy himself a whole lot of ice cream. He bought an ice cream that comes in small containers. An amount of ice cream that was enough for 3 to 4 people to enjoy.

He barfed loudly in public. People looked at him, but he did not care. Esecleus was satisfied. That was all that matters to him.

"Uwah! That felt great! I'm so full."

Recently, Esecleus was forced to leave the small apartment he was renting. He could not pay the bills and was in debt. Therefore, he was sleeping wherever feels comfortable. He had a blanket and pillow with him.

Esecleus was the definition of a hobo at that time, but he did not let himself stink like other homeless smells. If he wanted to be social. First he needs to at least get rid of the stenchy smell.

"Proper hygiene is something a person should always have."

His belly was filled to the brim with food. He was so full he felt like vomiting everything.

"I can't move an inch."

Under the shade of a tree, sitting peacefully on a bench while gazing at the chirping birds on the branches, Esecleus recalled all of his struggles before he became an official hunter.

"It was one hell of a training. Both physical and mental."

Esecleus could not contain his happiness. He kept striving and became better at controlling his desire. There was no longer the need to massacre people just because his blood was boiling.

"That special exam that everyone took part in was absolutely crazy. I was lucky to be the only one standing after a hundred people tried to become a hunter."

Although some of them were exempted from the special exam, people that show greatness were immediately recruited by the organization.

"Sacrificing that one fella that helped me throughout the course of the exam made me feel a bit guilty. Well, it was his fault from the very beginning."

If he had not taken pity on Esecleus, it would have been him that passed the exam instead of a psychotic and merciless human being.

"Our paths shall cross again in the future I will definitely make things right with him. He has a good heart, so I gotta thank him for helping me."

He was saying things out loud, unaware of what he was doing. It caught the attention of passersby and people relaxing in the same area as him.

People might think of Esecleus as a crazy hobo, but he knows he is normal. He just does not have a person to talk to, so he is telling things to himself.

Esecleus tried befriending people, but it just did not work out. He is not accustomed to people worrying about him or always talking to him about the simplest things.

"Mister, why do you keep talking to yourself?"

A young female child went up to him and asked him the question.

Esecleus had his head looking above him with his arms spread on the bench's rest. When he looked down on the well-dressed kid while licking a popsicle in her hand, the kid's mother already pulled her away, giving him no time to answer.

"Don't talk to strangers! He might be a bad guy trying to kidnap friendly kids like you."

He could hear it all, but he did not care. Her words went in his right ear and left from the other. None of their words can affect someone who had gone through so many hardships in life that suicide had always been going on in their mind.

Despite the poverty and harshness, he experienced in this world, Esecleus overcame his struggles and pushed forward with his head held high. None of his suicidal thoughts were successful in making him end his life.

"Life may be a moving tire. There are times when you're at your low and points in life when you're at your best. You gotta make the most of it, relish each moment and learn from every mistake you make."

A time might come when you feel like giving up. You don't see yourself getting out of the problem. It might be an unsolvable one but look at the big picture. There will always be another side to a coin.

"I may not be the greatest speaker when it comes to motivations, but please, do take my notes to heart. It won't hurt to do so."

When he became a licensed hunter, Esecleus most of his time eating until he was struck with the realization that he needed a place to live. And so, he saved up his money from raids and items he sells online. He looked for the most comfortable house he could afford at a low price.

"Now, I have a place I can call home."

Lynx meowed at him as he daydreams in the middle of the day. He recently picked up the cat, and it had already gotten attached to him. And so did he.

Never had he ever thought that such a bond between him and a cat would be formed in just a short span of time.

***

"You're the same again as back then, Esecleus."

Vice Chief Wright was beside him inside the backseat, circling his thumb against each other with his remaining fingers clasped.

"What do you mean?" Esecleus asked as though he had no idea what Wright meant.

"When I first met you. You have this ominous aura surrounding you. And your eyes... They are filled with enkindled... rage? No, it was more like pleasure."

Before Esecleus knew it, he was smiling.

"Not quite right, I'd say. It was more of trepidation than pleasure. Though I have been feeling gleeful since I received a message from Darius."

"Trepidation? Why?"

"Don't get me wrong. It is not them I fear but myself because the only possible thing I can lose is Lynx. Basically, I am a free man with almost nothing to lose. What I am afraid of are the things I would do for the sake of what? Excitement?"

"Honestly, I am glad that you've found something you want to protect at the cost of your life. But please, Esecleus... even your life is worth it."

To break the burdensome vibe going on in a stagnant motion inside the car, Esecleus segue and changed the topic.

"How are your kids, Vice Chief?"

In Wright's face was the look of a troubled and worried father. Esecleus' smile faded away when he saw it, and he stopped laughing.

"Come on, Vice Chief. Don't make such a sad expression. It's not like I'm gonna disappear or what."

"Our time isn't in our hands. No one knows when exactly they will die."

A smirk formed on Esecleus face.

"I hope your kids are doing well. Make sure to spend time with them. Growing up without a father figure was something you would not wanna have your kids experience."

It was honest advice for someone who grew up without his parents. When Esecleus opened his eyes, he was near a dumpster with his ragged clothes and tummy aching for some food.

"There was no need for a lecture, Esecleus. Most of my free time is spent with them. Even sometimes I make exceptions for them."

Due to work and a tight schedule as the vice chief of the Hunter's Organization, Wright did not have the time to plan out to make a family with his wife. His kids just came at the right time, and he was very happy to have them.

Not long after their conversation, the car arrived in front of the Hunter's Organization building, which is about 20 floors high.

The engine died, and the two of them came out of the car. Vice Chief Wright and Esecleus were followed by the guards inside the building. The automatic sliding glass door opened itself for them.

Every person inside the building greeted the Vice Chief. No single individual dared to just pass by Wright without looking and smiling at him. A respectable man had earned everyone's acknowledgment.

"Chief Executive Alfredo is waiting for us in the meeting hall."

People were coming in and out of the building. Different people could be seen inside, wearing their casual clothes or their raid clothes. People in formal attire working under the organization also come in and out, in a flock and one by one. Everyone was busy in their cubicle, answering calls and doing their job properly because the pay was good and comes with great benefits.

"This way to the meeting hall."

~