A plus to survival rate VI

Marcus

“Before we jump into a more serious topic, my name is Tyler Brock. I am a reagent CEO for RoS Co., this company. Nice to meet you.” He reached out his right hand, probably requesting for a handshake.

The moment he introduced himself to me with a friendly and genuine smile, the cold and ruthless image I had of him dispersed in a blink of an eye. He… Is strangely different. And although I was hesitating, I accepted his hand for a shake. “N-Nice to meet you too.” I stammered.

After a few seconds of handshake, he then withdrew his hand, while still smiling at me. “Well then, you must have a lot of things to ask me. Ask away.”

My eyelids twitched.

What? Am I just to ask away like that? Nothing else? I have been waiting for this day to come where I can ask him all the questions lingering inside my head, but now I couldn’t seem to even utter one.

Tyler must have realized the frown on my forehead, when he said, “It’s okay, you can take your time. I have already ordered someone to alert the university that you will be taking a break today. Of course, if your attendance credit is at risk, I can help pull out some strings to save that.”

I pursed my lips. “I’ll have you know that despite my shady credibility, my attendance is almost perfect each semester.” I said, slightly confident. I may not be the smartest kid in my course, but I am not the worst either. And because my course is, well, computer science, I had a lot of classes that starts late so chances for me to miss it is rather low.

His eyelids widened as a response, seemingly shocked by my statement. “Oh.” He snickered. “I see. Well, take your time then.”

What was that snicker for? I narrowed my eyes, trying to glare at him. It might be the end of me if I did that, because I am literally inside the enemy’s territory, but his behaviour made people easily loosen up in front of him. It’s like talking to a friend.

The room fell silent after that.

“What is that lucid dream that I’m having?” I started. I recalled having that question lingering inside my head as long as I remember, so it might be a good choice for me to start with that.

“That one?” Tyler rubbed his chin as he looked to be in a deep thought. “It’s pretty hard for me to give a literal name to it, but usually, I would label it as a proxy mission.”

“Proxy mission?” I repeated.

“Exactly.” Tyler halted before glancing around the room.

“Lancer, shield this room.” He suddenly spoke. But to whom? I don’t know.

“Granted.”

A light blue plate appeared on the walls from nowhere. Little by little, it grew and encapsulate the entire office room, before assimilated itself to the tone of its surroundings. While that magical moment happened, Tyler shifted his sitting position and leaned closer to me while he caned his chin on his crossed fingers. Because of that, I was strung along his actions, and also scooted closer to him.

“It might be improper for me to ask, but what was that?” I whispered, still in awe with what I just saw.

Tyler chuckled in response, and proceeded to answer me with a whisper too. “It’s a barrier. Technology, if I may say.”

I mouthed an OH. How much to install it, I wonder? Will 20 million dollars suffice?

“Okay.” Tyler’s tone went serious. “I’m about to tell you something big, so I hope that you can keep up with what I said.” He said in a hushed tone. Then he withdrew further from me and leaned against the sofa.

I swallowed nervously, while also withdrawing away.

“For generations,” He began. “My family has been tied with a pact with a mythical being called the dream guide. It was said that my primordial ancestors made a pact with them because they claimed themselves to be people of greatness, that they need to live so they can bring great things for the next generations to come.”

I fluttered my eyes upon hearing those words.

So, his ancestors are just pure narcissists. Okay.

 He then added. “Because of that, whenever the contractor, namely us, were in a near death situation, our vital essence and substances that affected us will be scattered across a built realm in a form of red crystals, and a proxy is chosen to gather all those vital essences, before sending them to us in our lucid form.”

I mouthed an OH. So, the red crystals that scattered along the pathways were actually a life essence of someone? Pretty cool setting to rev up someone to play the game. I’m starting to think that this dream-guide being he spoke of might like games.

“And how about Rox? Why can’t he remember anything?”

“Rox? Is there someone called Rox in your mission?”

“What are you talking about? He’s the one who gave me the mission. Looks exactly like you secretary but behaved like a total scumbag.”

Tyler fluttered his eyes. Then he fell in a thought. “…Usually, it’s our lucid body that’s trapped inside the mission. I, for one, wouldn’t have my consciousness with me by then, so I don’t know what happened inside the scene. And Shaun wasn’t involved in all of this apart from being my secretary and close aide, so it’s impossible for him to be able to be there in the mission ground.”

“Oh.” That actually made sense.

I tapped my fingers on my hips while thinking of any other questions. So, it seems I am alone in that field. Maybe Rox is really a quest giver that does nothing but giving quests. But really, where did he get his trashy attitude from?

“Okay.” I heaved a sigh. “I know that we have to collect crystals and fight monsters, but what happens if we failed?” I recalled that Rox said we would both die on scene if I failed. Would that really be the case? I mean, not everyone could win against the monsters inside the dream. They were ferocious, and if I didn’t have any experiences grinding in a VR fighting game, I would probably lose.

Tyler went silent for a moment. Then he nodded.

“Yeah. That’s why you see this protection shield set up around my office.” He then cracked a smile. “I am a little paranoid, you see.”

For a moment there, I sympathized with him. How much did he had to endure all this time? When I remembered the news that appeared about him on the television, they were all gruesome news. If I am not the one chosen as proxy, will he lived to see another day?

I noticed the ambience became quiet suddenly. When I shifted my gaze up, I could see him relaxing on his sofa as he breathes softly, yet his eyes were etched to my direction.

Man. I won’t lie if I said I would kill for that look. When I commented on how dominant he looked, it wasn’t based on pure strength and how frequent would he bully someone. Dominance is an earned title and a little could bear that name. Tyler Brock is one of them.

And if his demeanour is usually gentle when communicating, then that’s a huge plus on itself.

I must have been caught staring at him, when he called out to me with a confused tone. “Mister Marcus Collins?”

I flinched, snapping back to reality.

“Sorry, uhm…” I scratched my chin. “Well, everything is a little too much for me to take in right now. I might need some time to churn things if that’s okay with you.”

Tyler paused upon hearing my words. With a little bit of pondering, he pursed his lips and nodded at me. “Sure, you can take your time. I’ve told you almost all the basics that you need to know. Do ask me if you had other questions some time.”

Coincidentally at the same time, I heard a knock on the door. Tyler snapped his head immediately when he heard that sound, and froze for a good few seconds, before he told the person who was knocking the door to come in.

Then Shaun appeared.

“Pardon me if I’m too late.” He then raised a 6-spot cup holder. “I brought all the drinks that you want.”