Echo Association

Barely! Zen didn't know what Yelena and Bolt were thinking when he burst into the kitchen, panting. They agreed to meet at six, and thanks to the guild meeting, Zen was delayed. He had fifteen seconds to spare by the time he arrived. Nervously, he looked at the invigilators and only relaxed when Bolt gave him a thumbs up, flashing him a grin.

Yelena huffed when Zen sagged in relief, trudging to the counter. No matter how Yelena looked at this candidate, he smelled like a civilian. Why was he selected as one of the true Godfather heirs? Unlike the other chosen candidates, Zen didn't show any signs of blood awakening.

Bolt knew what his young partner was thinking and grinned. Zen was truly a mystery. How did anyone grow up in a mafia family without knowing anything about the underworld? Moreover, he wasn't part of any illegal experimentation or trained in any form of combat. What did his family think of his existence?

"I want meatball spaghetti!" Yelena demanded and banged her fork on the kitchen counter, kicking the chair beneath impatiently.

Zen frowned in disapproval at her actions. "If you continue to treat the utensils and property in the kitchen with such disrespect, I will add ghost peppers into your food."

The horror reflected in Yelena's cobalt eyes told Zen that he hit the nail on the head. She hated spicy things, and it was a very effective threat. Beside her, Bolt turned away, unable to maintain a straight face. Zen might behave very similar to a civilian, but he definitely knew how to handle even the most troublesome characters in the underworld. His motherly nature was like a fluffy fleece blanket in the middle of a freezing winter night. It brought comfort to their weary souls.

As Zen cooked dinner, Bolt taught Yelena how to use the VR system. The invigilators made plans to teach Zen different skills tonight in the virtual world. If they wanted Zen to survive the next event, there was only one thing he had to master before it.

Invigilators might not know the next event's details, but they were given tasks and duties to fulfil. Bolt anticipated the type of ordeals the candidates would face based on their preparation list. Yelena agreed that it was too late to strengthen his physical abilities for Zen. Instead, Zen should sharpen his natural wits and unique way of thinking. His civilian-like thought process was his greatest edge over the other candidates.

"Dinner is ready!" Zen announced as he sprinkled the last handful of parmesan cheese over Bolt's portion.

Yelena dug in messily and blushed when the noodles hit her tongue. It was warm and tingly when she ate it. She didn't know what kind of spices Zen used, but the young invigilator liked it.

Bolt appreciated the extra cheese. It hasn't even been a day since they met, but Zen remembered what he liked. This attentiveness was only possible for someone with a sincere heart.

They dug in quickly, and Zen found comfort as he ate. Ever since he died a few days back, so many things transpired. He found it amazing how he took everything in like a sponge without breaking down mentally or emotionally. Death felt surreal. Even if there was a possibility of dying in the next event, Zen felt strangely at peace whenever he was in the kitchen.

Other students felt safer in a more familiar environment, such as the shooting range or in their new rooms. For Zen, he felt most at home when he was in the kitchen.

Without a word, Zen walked over to the fridge to get Yelena a glass of strawberry milk and some apple juice for himself. He glanced over his shoulder for a second to Bolt before grabbing a bottle of beer and slammed the fridge shut.

"How do you know what we like to drink?" Bolt couldn't help but be surprised. It was accurate enough, and Yelena reached her hands out greedily for the strawberry milk.

Zen shrugged. "Just a hunch."

Truthfully, he didn't know why he did that either. It was just a small voice and feeling in him that influenced his decision. There was a small uncomfortable feeling in him that wouldn't go away until he served the drinks. Zen decided that there was no harm done in listening to the feeling, and once he did that, it went away.

Bolt looked at the young chef strangely. Yet, he didn't say anything. The lad probably doesn't realise what was happening, and it wasn't an invigilator's job to interfere with a candidate's awakening. No wonder Godfather Estrada was so intrigued by this individual.

Yelena was the first to finish her meal and burped unceremoniously. "Thank you for the food!"

Zen washed the dishes after everyone finished their meal, and Bolt took this chance to continue their conversation earlier that afternoon.

"Do you really not know anything about the Tiger Lily tattoos?" he asked.

Zen shook his head as he soaked the dirty dishes in soapy water. "I grew up like a ghost in the Taro family's main house. We weren't even within the top 500 families a few years ago. There's no way I would know anything that goes on outside of the mansion. Apart from the books in the library and the games that they supply me with, I know nothing."

That was half the truth. As Zen Taro, his knowledge was very limited. However, as civilian #3207, he knew a little more. However, he still had many unanswered questions about his death. Who was the man he saved? Why do the invigilators have a similar tattoo as that person?

Bolt looked at Yelena, who frowned. Judging from her expression, she didn't like the Taro family either. It was probably a good thing Zen cut off connections with his family for this death game. It was better for his future prospects.

"Are you aware of the language of flowers?" Bolt asked as Zen rinsed the soap suds.

"I read about it," Zen admitted. "It's used to convey secret messages. The most common should be roses on Valentine's Day. Does a Tiger Lily also have a meaning?"

According to the book, Zen recalled that lilies were typically flowers of death. They represent rebirth, but he only remembered them to be white.

"A Tiger Lily represents pride," Bolt explained, and Zen dried the dishes off with a confused look.

"Pride?"

Yelena yawned. "The orange lily celebrates life."

Puzzled, Zen tilted his head to one side. "Aren't lilies the flower of death? It's mostly used at funerals, right?"

Bolt chuckled. "You're right. It is used at funerals. However, in the language of flowers, a different colour variation can drastically alter a flower's meaning. In the case of the Tiger Lily, it represents the pride of someone's life. Yet, it is used as a symbol of death. Do you know what that means?"

Zen pondered over the invigilator's words for a while. It was a very contradictory meaning. A flower that celebrates the pride of life but is used as a symbol of death… whose pride are they celebrating? Why did the man he saved also have that tattoo?

"Have you heard of the Echo Association?" Bolt asked after a while.

Zen shook his head. "What's that?"

Frustrated by Zen's ignorance, Yelena slammed the countertop. "You don't know?! Are you really mafia?!"

Bolt hushed her, and Yelena seethed silently beside him. "The Echo Association is an anti-mafia organisation."

He pulled down his shirt to reveal the Tiger Lily tattoo on his right collarbone. Yelena jumped off the chair and pulled down her left sock to reveal the same tattoo on her ankle.

Zen started putting two and two together. The man he saved and these invigilators who were said to be death-row criminals… They were from an anti-mafia organisation called Echo Association.

"Does Echo support the civilians?" he asked, and Bolt smiled mysteriously.

Zen's eyes darkened and clouded over at the memory of his death. If the Echo Association was an anti-mafia organisation, why was he killed? He was a civilian, an innocent party.

"The Tiger Lily is a flower of pride and death. Anyone in the Echo Association is a dead person walking. We live and breathe for only one purpose. What do you think it is?"

Zen looked at the invigilators and shuddered. Now that Bolt mentioned it, what was a girl like Yelena doing here? What did she do that warranted her death in this academy?

"Why did you choose this path?" he asked in an almost hushed tone as if he was afraid of the answer he would receive.

Yelena snorted. "If you are given slow-acting poison to drink and lava to swim in, which will you choose?"

Zen didn't answer. He finally understood, and Bolt smirked.

"We hate the mafia. However, we also share no love for the citizens. We only unite under the tattoo of the Tiger Lily to set this world ablaze. There is no hope for this world. There is no future for people like us. We're the ones who drank that slow-acting poison. We were marked the moment Echo found us."

They locked eyes, and Zen felt something bubbling from within him. Before he could stop it, the words had already left his mouth.

"Do you regret it?"

Neither Bolt nor Yelena answered. Instead, Yelena returned his question with a question. "Can we change anything if we did?"

Zen didn't have an answer. Bolt took this opportunity to dig deeper into the mind of the candidate called Zen.

"Assuming you have all the power in the world as the next Godfather, will you eliminate us?"

The memory of getting shot still left a bitter taste in his mouth. Even if Zen was given a second chance at life, he didn't know if revenge was the right answer. Yes, he hated the world they lived in. He could understand the hatred of the Echo Association. However, he understood clearly that violence and death wasn't a solution. Hate only begets hate.

"No," he told them. "I'm not a saint, but I won't eliminate the Echo Association if I became the Godfather. There is a better use for this hatred."

Pleased with Zen's answer, Bolt bit his thumb until it bled, shocking Yelena.

"Invigilator #26 pledges loyalty to candidate #100."

[Pledge of Loyalty accepted. Invigilator #26 is now disqualified from participating in future events. In the event of the candidate's death, Invigilator #26 will be immediately executed.]

Zen's jaw fell open at the message, and noticed that the message was broadcasted to everyone's VR system within the academy.

Yelena flew off her seat and grabbed Bolt by the collar, pinning him to the floor with a livid expression.

"What have you done?!" she yelled, and Zen backed away at the killing intent.

Strangely, Bolt appeared utterly at peace and content with his choice.

"I simply placed my bet on the one who would win this game. Don't worry, I'm not going to die in the next event. You promised to help me train him after all."

Unable to find the right words, Yelena butted her head against Bolt's, and Zen cringed at the sound. Bolt groaned and saw stars in his vision upon impact, but he couldn't blame Yelena for getting so angry at his decision.

In this death game, invigilators are given a chance to escape their death sentence by choosing a candidate to pledge loyalty to. If the candidate they pledged loyalty to succeeds in becoming the next Godfather, they will become the Godfather's retainers. If the candidate they pledged allegiance to dies, their lives were immediately forfeit.

"Get up!" Yelena dragged Zen out of the kitchen. "We train now!"

Confused but not daring to offend the fuming commando invigilator, Zen followed with Bolt trailing behind from a distance.