All of the mirth and laziness that radiated from Rachel's body disappeared, replaced by a bone chilling coldness that permeated the room. Her brown eyes growing darker as she glared at her grandfather.
"Tell me who the sick bastard behind this is—I'll rip him apart myself!"
She was furious, losing control of her own emotions. Her bloodlust poured out of her like an encroaching shadow swallowing the light, pressing against unseen throats like a phantom's blade
The Director perked an eyebrow of his own but remained unfazed.
"Control yourself girl. I am not done speaking yet."
"Control? You want me to control myself when some psycho is turning people into their own twisted experiments?! Are you losing it, Gramps?!"
Rachel couldn't stop herself from reacting rudely as her blood boiled. Even she didn't understand why she was acting .
The Director furrowed his brow tapping his finger on the desk once.
"Silence yourself Child."
His words were simple, yet they carried a weight that froze the air itself. In an instant, the room fell into an unnatural silence—her rage, her very breath, smothered beneath his command.
Rachel's lungs screamed for air as she felt an invisible pressure crushing her, tears forming in her eyes as she stood her ground, glaring at her grandfather.
With a sigh, the Director tapped his finger again and the pressure disappeared like it had never been there to begin with.
Rachel's knees shook as she took a step towards the Director.
"Was that really necessary?!"
"You were losing control and you didn't let me finish nor answer your question.."
She narrowed her eyes, aggrieved about how her Grandfather was treating her. He had not once been this heavy handed with her before.
She rubbed her throat as she steadied her breath, her glare practically screaming 'Well. What are you waiting for old man? Tell me!
"The answer to your question is we don't know..."
"We don't know who is responsible for these changes, nor do we know how they do it..."
"Are you kidding me, Gramps?! You're telling me that the head of one of the worlds largest underground intelligence organizations doesn't know something?! That sounds like a load of bullshit!"
Rachel scoffed at the answer that answered nothing.
"What we do know is how these 'mutations' have come to be. It appears that certain individuals playing a new VR game are the ones affected. Both Leone and Liliana have been reported to have played this game..."
Rachel stiffened. A flash of memory—Leone, practically fused to that damn headset as his body was bleeding out.
"Are you telling me that a Video game is the reason for the mutations? Then why not go after the makers of the game?"
"Do you think we hadn't thought of that Child? We have looked into the Company. Care to hazard what we found?"
Rachel's brows furrowed as she thought about what could have happened. The stiffness in her Grandfather's shoulders betrayed that even he was bothered by the results.
"Could it be that you found nothing suspicious?"
"No...It was far worse than that. We found nothing..at all. The company doesn't have an office, no paperwork to help track them down. They have hidden themselves so well that even I can't track them down."
The Director averted his gaze while Rachel was stunned. Could such a company even exist? How were they getting away with it?
"This is the Second task I have for you. I wish for you to delve into this game after getting close with Leone and his associates and see if you can track down the Higher ups or even the developers behind this game."
"So let me get this straight Gramps.You want me to protect him and lead him straight into potentially dangerous territory??"
The DIrector flashed her a smirk as he leaned forward, placing both of his elbows on the desk, his chin resting on his hands as he asked.
"Is that going to be a problem?"
Rachel broke into a wide grin and replied energetically
"Not at all~! It only makes this more interesting~!"
'How could I pass up on such an entertaining and exciting mission~'
The Director slightly shook his head, where had he gone wrong in raising her that she turned out this crazy...
"Your third and final task is this: If you come across the method of how to control and implement these mutations, Do whatever you must to take it for yourself. If we can implement it, we can strengthen our family further..."
Rachel frowned upon hearing the final task, a look of concern crossing her face as her Grandfather's ambitions could prove dangerous not just for her but for everyone involved.
She was about to speak about her concerns when the Director spoke once more.
"If you do a good job with this task, I will entertain your desire to work for the 'Other' side of our business."
Rachel froze, her ears perking up at the incentive that was being offered.
"Plus the Government has already put into place a salary for you plus a premium for the danger you will place yourself in..."
Rachel disappeared from the spot, running around the desk to give the Director a kiss on the cheek and give him a big hug.
"You're the best Grandpa~! I love you~!"
The sudden display of affection irritated the Director. He didn't remember raising her to be such a money grubbing brat.
"Enough! Get out of my office you Brat. I have sent a console to your apartment. I will make a call to some of my close contacts to see if they can provide you any support."
Rachel raised her hand and easily agreed, practically skipping towards the door, excited at the idea of being paid to play a video game while being both a spy and a bodyguard.
Whatever happened in the future was definitely going to be interesting.
Rachel had her hand on the doorknob when the Director called out to her once again.
"Hey Ch–No. Rachel. Please be careful..."
It was awkward but her Grandfather was doing his best to convey his affection while hoping that she stayed safe.
"No need to worry Gramps~! I have too much to die so soon~"
The door clicked shut behind her as she left the office, leaving the old man to sit there in silence.
After a few moments he couldn't help but quietly chuckle.
"Even without you here, your daughter has turned out just like you..."
He was speaking to a photo on his desk of a woman wearing a bright smile, carefree and willful.
There was no response nor did he ever expect one anymore. After all, he had lost her long ago.
Now he was sending her only legacy into a fire of her own. He could only pray history didn't repeat itself.