Greg, still savoring the tranquility of Mr. Tan's noodle shop, had his serenity abruptly shattered by the sound of a loud clash followed by a waitress's scream. He blinked, a tinge of annoyance creeping into his expression. "What is that commotion?" he mused, glancing around the cozy interior. The peaceful atmosphere had been disrupted.His mind raced back to a similar scene not too long ago, a memory from the deceased old man's visit, when he had made a ruckus just because he wanted free noodles. Then another clash echoed, and this time, it was accompanied with Mr. Tan's exasperated scream!Couldn't ignore it any longer, Greg sighed as he stood up from his seat to investigate the latest disturbance..As Greg approached the source of the disturbance, he spotted a teenage boy in shabby clothes, unmistakably a villager. The boy held a chair high above his head, threatening to throw it at Mr. Tan, who stood behind the counter, clearly taken aback. The waitress, on the other hand, had s
Greg's initial curiosity turned into a mixture of surprise and concern as he heard the teenage boy's startling declaration. After all, who wouldn't be surprised when hearing it from a young mouth.Avenge your grandpa?" Greg asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "That's quite a heavy burden for someone your age. What happened to your grandpa that led you to go alone to seek revenge—?”Greg paused as he looked at the teenage boy, who looked down on his empty bowl. He seems pretty sad, and Greg couldn’t help but feel a twinge of sympathy when seeing it.“Um, hey… You know, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it,” Greg said, before switching the teenage boy's empty bowl with another bowl of noodles. “After all, you’ve been through a lot, and it’s not right for me to push you. But, If you ever feel like sharing, just know that I’m willing to listen to you. Even though we’re just meeting today.” Then, after Greg said that, the teenage boy, who previously looked down, began to look
"So that's the story, how my whole family died because of water pollution, mister... And now, the company killed my grandpa since they're afraid that everyone will know the truth," the teenage boy said, his voice heavy with grief and anger..Greg's frown deepened as he listened to the teenage boy's heartbreaking story. Now that Greg knew the entire story, everything began to make sense. No wonder that the old man had been so furious with the executives back then, and even dared to launch on Gilbert at the restaurant! 'Behav is a bastard... How come they just be silent with all of this, and even brush the old man like a crazy person? I mean who wouldn't do that, after losing their entire family due to water pollution and medical negligence?' Greg mused to himself.Then as he delved deeper into the story, Greg learned that the executives had initially been a group of scholar medical students sponsored by Behav Company which makes all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place.It made
At Von Ritcher’s Estate, the grand dining room was adorned with elegant decor and bathed in soft, golden light. The family, consisting of Austine, Lorraine, and Griffin, sat around the ornate dining table, their expressions masked by the facade of a harmonious family dinner.However, beneath the polished veneer, tension simmered. Griffin, usually confident and unflappable, found himself struggling to articulate his thoughts.Griffin's gaze shifted between his parents, his internal turmoil manifesting in the way he toyed with his salad, pushing the greens around on his plate without any appetite.'F*ck, usually demanding is not a problem for me, but why did my mouth suddenly feel hard to ask it?! Is it because I know that the answer is definitely no? Gosh… I’m so dead right now, you’re so dead now Griffin…' Griffin thought, his frustration building as he tried to find the right words.Just that afternoon, Griffin's mood had plummeted. Charles, in a shockingly candid conversation, had i
In the heart of the sprawling Behav Corporation, within the confines of the executive meeting room, a group of executives gathered. Their conversations buzzed with the anticipation of Bradley's arrival, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and idle chatter."Hey," Alan began, his voice carrying an air of curiosity. "Did you all hear that the newbie is taking a long holiday?""Really? I didn't know about that," Karel asked. "When did you hear it?""Well, I just heard it yesterday when making coffee," Alan said, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "I overheard him talking to Rika saying that he will take a long break starting today because he wants to find his soulmate!""A SOULMATE?!" said Sarah, who seconds ago had just been engrossed in her smartphone. Her phone almost slipped when heard that shocking news. "But...I thought he wanted to remain single forever. He's always said that to me whenever I ask for a date! Is he lying to me?" she asked, sounding heart broken."That's r
The airplane engines roared as the aircraft taxied down the runway, heading for their destination - Bluebell. Inside the plane, Greg, Dylan, and the teenage boy sat in their assigned seats. Dylan was positioned close to the plane corridor, Greg in the middle, and the teenage boy, still a bit overwhelmed by the experience, was seated by the window.The teenage boy's wide eyes darted around the cabin, taking in every detail. "Woah… So this is how it feels when riding a plane! The clouds are so cool, they are shaped like moneybags over there," he murmured, his fascination evident in his voice.Dylan leaned toward Greg, whispering, "Hey, Greg… Are you sure that kid can be our guide? Because when I look at him… I'm a bit doubtful."Greg watched the teenage boy, who was still marveling at the clouds outside. "I understand how you feel. I also feel the same way too when first I look at him, but you gotta trust him. He's our guide now,” Greg said before looking at Dylan’s back. “Hey, look, t
Inside the sleek, modern offices of Behav Company….For the first time in Behav, the situation in the office was just like any other office. The air was thick with tension, and the executives’ faces were etched with signs of stress and fatigue that they never encountered before. "Ugh, I can't believe it…" Alan muttered, his fingers tracing the data paper detailing Behav's stock market performance. "Never in my life have I chosen to work just to avoid someone. I think I can be Dr. Lou after this."Alan's sentiments were shared by the others in the room. Gilbert, in particular, seemed exasperated. "Same," he grumbled. "Although I was well aware that I'm pretty useless here… I never thought there was someone even more useless than me! Like seriously! Are you all sure that boy is even the future heir of Von Ritcher, the most powerful family in all of Cleveland and the owner's son of Behav?" Gilbert's gaze shifted to Griffin, who was currently pestering Karel to step out of the room. "W
The taxi came to a sudden halt, the screeching brakes echoing through the quiet surroundings. Greg, Dylan, and the teenage boy looked around, realizing that they had arrived at their destination.Brumm... CKIT!“Alright, we're already arrived in front of the Bluebell Inn, folks. Hope you enjoy your stay here,” the taxi driver announced."Thank you," Greg said with a nod as he handed the driver a generous tip. The driver flashed a quick grin before driving away, leaving the three of them standing in front of the old inn building."Hm, now that I look at it during the day, turns out the building is not that bad," Greg mused, his gaze fixed on the weathered structure. "In fact, it looks pretty... Kinda reminds me of the old witch's house that Hilda used to read about to me when I was a kid."“Alright, Mister. I will go there first, since I want to meet Maria. There’s something that I need from her while I’m here,” the teenage boy said. “If you want to see Jason, you can find him on the r
At The Faith's Company.The imposing wooden door of Charles Faith's office had a distinct rhythm as it received three sharp knocks, echoing through the hushed corridor."Come in."The door swung open, and his impeccably dressed secretary entered with a respectful bow. She carried a folder and a map, her demeanor exuding professionalism."Good morning, Mr. Faith," she greeted. "I just wanted to inform you that the Faith Company's market is experiencing rapid growth. The score was higher than last month, and the number held a new sales record for our company, so our marketing team decided to set a higher score so that we can achieve higher success. Charles Faith, seated behind his polished mahogany desk, was engrossed in reviewing a stack of documents. He glanced up from his work, intrigued by the news."Oh really? Is that so?" he inquired, his piercing gaze focused on the secretary. Then, with a calculated curiosity, he asked, "And how is Von Ritcher doing? Have we surpassed them, and
Months had passed since the chilling night at Bluebell Inn, and the air of uncertainty still clung to Greg. The events that unfolded during the banquet remained etched in his memory, and the questions surrounding Griffin and Behav's secrets continued to haunt him. [Breaking news flashed on the screen, interrupting the usual morning routine. "In a shocking turn of events, it has been months since the youngest heir of Von Ritcher, Griffin Von Ritcher, died mysteriously of poisoning and now, another blow has struck the Von Ritcher family as one of their main subsidiary companies, Behav, has been revealed to have been hiding a significant secret. The company was linked to the water disposal incident from Bluebell years ago, a scandal that has sent shockwaves through the corporate world and---"PIP!] "Another day, and the news seems unending, huh?" Greg mused as he stared at the blank screen. CKLEK!“Hey, Greg. Sorry for bothering you, but I just want to remind you that minutes from n
Greg's thoughts swirled with uncertainty, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders. And just as he was wrestling with the question of how to navigate the unexpected presence of Griffin and Mara, a sudden knock at the door disrupted his contemplation. It was one of Bluebell Inn's servants."Good afternoon," the inn servant began, "I'm sorry for bothering you, but I wanted to remind you that the banquet is now available, and you are welcome to join if you wish."Greg nodded, acknowledging the information. "Thank you. We'll head to the banquet shortly."As the servant left, Dylan turned to Greg. "Looks like the banquet is already open. Shall we go now?" he asked, and Greg nodded."Sure. Let’s head to the banquet," he said.+++TIME SKIPAs they had arrived at the banquet, the room was already full with the executives.The room was adorned with elegant decorations, giving it the air of an official gathering rather than a simple dinner."Wow... the banquet is quite full," Dylan
As Greg continued to ponder the familiarity of the bag, Alan's voice abruptly brought him back to the present.“Hey, Greg. I’ve been searching for you everywhere," Alan said with a friendly smile. "We need to get inside the lab building. Everyone's already gathered inside since Mr. Smith has already arrived.""Alright, I'll come in," Greg said, as he followed Alan.Inside the Old Behav Lab Building...Greg stepped into the old Behav lab building and found that everyone had already gathered inside. The room buzzed with whispered conversations as the executives engaged in hushed discussions. There was a certain nostalgia in the air, a reminder that many of them had started their careers in this old abandoned lab when they were young scholars. Some of the executives were reminiscing about the past, discussing their memories of working in this very building."Everyone must be feeling nostalgic, considering it's been a long time since they set foot in here," Greg mused as he observed thei
The morning sun bathed the Bluebell Inn in warm, golden light as the executives of Behav Industries enjoyed a grand breakfast. As everyone was eating, Greg, who was sitting on the corner couldn't help but observe Jason, who was now sitting at a table, laughing heartily with Bradley. It was a stark contrast to his furious demeanor just the day before. "Hm, that was weird, how come Jason suddenly changed his mind in one day? Wasn't he still angry yesterday?" Greg mused as he silently drank his coffee."Is Bradley perhaps saying something to him? He must have said something to Jason since he was still mad yesterday. "What did Bradley say that managed to change Jason's mind in one da—” "Hoh, newbie, so you're joining our trip to the lab, huh? What did you say to Karel that made him suddenly let you? You didn't tell what Dr.Lou tells right?" Greg, who heard someone call his name, shifted his gaze and he immediately met with Alan's smiley face. Returning his smile, Greg said, "Nah
Greg now stared in disbelief at the sight before him. Under the bed, there was…“Dylan?” Greg exclaimed, his voice betraying his astonishment as he looked at his subordinate who grinned mischievously before slowly getting up from his hiding place."Hey, Greg," Dylan greeted with a smirk. "Phew, I was relieved to no longer be down there. It's pretty dirty under the bed."Greg scoffed, still bewildered by Dylan's sudden appearance. "Weren't you just out with your belongings minutes ago?"Dylan chuckled as he brushed off some dust from his clothes. “Well, about that… Let’s just say, I didn’t really go out since I was kinda curious about what you and Karel are about to discuss so I decided to eavesdrop for a while before going back to Maria and the teen room,” said Dylan, making Greg roll his eyes.“Anyway, Greg, about Karel’s question…” Dylan's grin faded, and his expression turned serious. "It was strange, don't you think? Like, why would he suddenly ask about Bradley and forgiveness? I
BRAK!The suite room's door swung open, and Karel stepped inside, his eyes scanning the spacious and luxurious surroundings. "Oh, so this is the room, huh? It's pretty big," Karel remarked as he began placing his belongings on the floor. "It's almost as big as the city's hotel suite room. Bluebell Inn should try to advertise more about this place. It'll definitely elevate their income."Greg followed Karel into the room, placing Karel's other belongings beside his own. "Well, yeah, I agree with you. Bluebell should try to advertise this place more" Greg replied, keeping his tone casual. 'Tsk, how come he and Dylan had the same thought?' Greg mused.Karel continued his assessment of the room. "And also, I think they need to fix the connection too. You know, even though this is an inn based in nature, this world is already modern, so Wi-Fi and a good connection have become primary needs, just like food and drink."“Yeah, I agree with you,” Greg briefly said.As they settled into the ro
Karel sighed as he heard what the receptionist said, his mind racing to find a solution to his predicament. "Hmm… So the only option that's available is just an extra bed, huh?" Karel said, a hint of frustration in his voice. The receptionist nodded, her eyes sympathetic.“Yes, sir, the only option available right now is the extra bed. But don’t worry, even though you'll be sleeping on an extra bed, we will give you a free breakfast as our apology for any discomfort you might experience—”As the receptionist talked about the inn's apologetic service, Karel, on the other hand, fell silent as he contemplated this option. Sharing a room with the executives wasn't his idea of a peaceful night's sleep given his personality as a picky person who had zero tolerance to someone else's habit."Hm… who should I sleep with? Alan and Mr. Anderson, or Dr. Lou?" Karel thought as pondered about the sleeping candidate. "It will be troublesome if I sleep with Alan and Mr. Anderson remembering how talka
"I know that exposing the lab and Bradley's activities will tarnish the company's reputation, but seriously, destroying Behav... Should we really just stay silent and let them do it?"***The tension in the room was palpable as Greg and Dylan exchanged thoughts about the executives' plan to expose Behav. Greg's brow furrowed as he considered Dylan's words, the weight of their conversation sinking in before saying, "Well, yeah. I guess so...?" Greg said, raising an eyebrow. "I mean...Why should we stop them? Just like what you said, by exposing the company, it will automatically tarnish its reputation. So what's the difference with letting the executives do that instead? Won't it be good since it didn't dirty our hands?"Greg asked, and Dylan nodded thoughtfully as he acknowledged the validity of Greg's points."Well, you're not wrong about that," Dylan admitted before continuing, "However, our purpose is different from theirs Greg. Our purpose in revealing Behav's illicit activities