6

 

As Dai continued to wander the streets, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He couldn't pinpoint where the feeling was coming from, but it made his skin crawl. Suddenly, a hooded figure appeared from a nearby alley and motioned for him to follow.

Dai hesitated for a moment, but his curiosity got the best of him. As Dai trailed the hooded figure, he noticed the figure's movements were methodical and deliberate, almost as if it was rehearsed. It kept to the shadows, and Dai couldn't quite make out the figure's features in the darkness. Yet, despite the sense of unease that hung in the air, Dai continued to follow the figure without question.

They arrived at a door that was unlike any other in the alley. It was a plain door with no distinguishing features, and it gave Dai the impression that it was designed to be hidden in plain sight. The hooded figure knocked on the door in a particular pattern, and Dai noticed that the door's mechanism was intricate and well-crafted. The door slowly creaked open, revealing a narrow stairway leading downwards.

Dai swallowed hard, feeling a knot of anxiety form in his stomach. He wasn't sure where this path would lead him, but he knew he couldn't turn back now. The hooded figure turned to him, and in a voice that was barely above a whisper, said, "To take the exam, you must first prove yourself worthy. Follow the path and be prepared for anything."

Dai felt his palms start to sweat, his heart racing with anticipation and fear. "What exam?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The hooded figure remained silent, and for a moment, Dai thought they were going to leave him there. But then the figure gestured for him to enter, and Dai took a deep breath, stepping into the unknown.

Dai descended the stairs, his heart beating with anticipation, wondering what lay ahead. The dimly lit room that greeted him was nothing like he had expected. No doors or windows were in sight, and the only thing present was a single table placed in the center of the room. His gaze immediately fell upon the paper that lay on the table, its stark contrast to the empty space drawing him in. As he picked up the paper and read the sentence written on it, Dai realized that he was not simply facing a riddle or puzzle to solve, but rather a test that required him to confront the hidden truths he had buried long ago.

The single sheet of paper was as plain as it was mysterious, with only one sentence written in elegant calligraphy: "What you seek is behind the truth." Dai's brows furrowed with confusion, and he looked around the room for any hidden messages. But it was completely empty, and the paper was his only guide.

Picking up the paper, he read the sentence repeatedly, trying to make sense of it. But the more he read, the more he realized that it wasn't a simple riddle or puzzle to solve. It was a test, a challenge that required him to dig deep within himself, to confront the hidden truths he had buried long ago.

Dai's mind raced with questions, his inner voice speaking to him louder than ever. Why was he so determined to find his mother's killer? Was it for justice, or was it for revenge? The words on the paper taunted him, pushing him to delve into his deepest memories, to analyze his intentions and emotions.

After what felt like hours of introspection, Dai's mind finally cleared, and he came to a realization. "I know the truth," Dai said out loud, and a hidden door in the room opened, revealing a passage that led to another room.

Dai stepped through the doorway, feeling a newfound sense of purpose and clarity. He knew that the challenges ahead would not be easy, but he was ready to face them with a resolute heart and a clear mind.

Dai entered the next room, and his eyes fell on two doors at the far end. As he approached them, he noticed a sign positioned between them. The sign read, "What is the price you're willing to pay for the truth? Go left if your answer is: nothing—go right if your answer is: everything.”

The question was difficult, and Dai felt his stomach clench in response. He knew that his answer to this question would be a reflection of his own values and principles, and the idea of facing this truth was daunting.

He stood there, staring at the sign, and his mind began to race. What did he truly believe? Was he willing to sacrifice everything to uncover the truth, or was he willing to abandon his pursuit if it meant holding onto his moral compass?

Dai took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to shut out the noise and confusion in his mind. He thought about his mother, the woman he loved more than anything in the world. The thought of her killer still out there, living freely, was unbearable.

He opened his eyes and made his decision. He was willing to pay any price, even if it meant sacrificing his own morals and values, to find the truth. He pushed open the door on the right, ready to face whatever lay beyond it.

As Dai stepped into the third room, he surveyed his surroundings with a sense of apprehension. It was another dimly lit room, with only a single table positioned in the center of the room. The air felt heavy as he approached the table.

"Another question?" he murmured to himself, the sound of his voice echoing faintly against the walls. He approached the table with measured steps, his eyes scanning its surface for any clues.

As he drew closer, his gaze fell upon a sheet of paper that lay atop the table. But as he reached out to take it, he noticed a document lying next to it.

He hesitated for a moment, feeling a twinge of apprehension at the sight of the document. It was a contract, the kind that bound one to an agreement, and Dai knew that once he signed it, there would be no going back.

Despite his trepidation, he reached out and picked up the contract, his fingers tracing the intricate calligraphy that adorned its surface. The words on the paper were plain and straightforward, outlining the terms and conditions for taking the Agency's Exam.

 

"I, [Your Name], agree to participate in the Agency's Exam, fully understanding and acknowledging that death is a potential outcome of this examination. I release the Agency from any responsibility or liability for any injuries or damages, including death, that may result from my participation in this exam."

"Furthermore, I agree to keep all information about the Agency's Organization and the Exam strictly confidential. I will not disclose any information about the Agency or its activities to any person who is not authorized to receive such information.”

"I understand the seriousness of this agreement and that any breach of it will result in severe consequences. I voluntarily agree to participate in this exam with the knowledge and understanding of the risks involved."

"Signed: [Your Signature]"

"Date: [Date of Signature]"

 

Dai took his time reading through the contract, making sure he understood every word before he put his name to it. The more he read, the more he realized how serious the situation was. The contract made it clear that he was taking part in something dangerous, and that there was a possibility he might not make it out alive. But he had come too far to back out now.

Dai's heart pounded in his chest as he looked at the contract sitting on the table in front of him. He knew he had no choice but to sign it. The Agency had gone to great lengths to get him here, and he couldn't risk angering them by refusing to comply.

He picked up the pen that lay next to the contract and hesitated for a moment before putting it on paper. As he began to write, his mind raced with thoughts of what might happen if he refused.

Dai's heart raced as the door to the big room swung open, revealing a scene he could scarcely believe. Over a hundred people bustled about the space, their chatter creating a hum that filled the air. As he stepped inside, Dai felt a rush of emotions; relief, curiosity, and a sense of foreboding all mixed together.

Spotting the mysterious boy who had saved his life earlier, Dai couldn't help but call out to him. "You!" he exclaimed, his voice barely audible over the din of the crowd.

The boy turned towards him, a smile spreading across his face. He approached Dai, hand raised in greeting. "Yo, you made it!" he said.

As he got a closer look at the boy's face, Dai realized that he had never really seen him up close before. It was only now that he noticed the strange shape of the boy's right pupil - an X-shaped mark that made him stand out even more. Dai couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he wondered what kind of person this boy really was.

Dai's mind raced as he tried to make sense of everything that was happening. It suddenly dawned on him that this boy was the one who had left the paper in his wallet.

"So it really was him that left the paper in my wallet..." Dai thought to himself.

"Why did you bring me here?" Dai asked the boy, feeling both grateful and bewildered.

"I didn't bring you here, that was all you. I just showed you where it was!" the boy responded, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

Dai couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards the boy, even as he struggled to make sense of what was happening. After all, if it wasn't for the boy, he might not have found his way here at all.

"I... I see," Dai said, his voice hesitant. He owed the boy his life, and he didn't want to blame him for the situation he found himself in

Trying to start a conversation, Dai looked for the right words to ask the boy about his eye. "By the way, I noticed earlier that the pupil your eye was shaped like an X, it looks so cool!" he said, as he was trying to get a closer look on the boy’s eye. "How did you get it?”

The boy’s expression tightened briefly, and for a moment, Dai thought he had offended him. "It's a birth defect," he said evenly, shrugging his shoulders as if it was nothing.

Dai could see bit of sadness in the boy’s eyes despite his nonchalant tone. He had a feeling that there was more to the story, but he didn't want to push him too much. "Oh, okay. I was just curious," he said, playing along.

Narco nodded, and they both fell into silence, watching as the other teams raced ahead. Dai couldn't shake the feeling that there was something Narco wasn't telling him, but he knew better than to press the issue.

The conversation lapsed into an awkward silence, leaving Dai to his own thoughts. Just as he was about to turn away, Narco spoke up. "Hey, I have to admit, your red eyes are pretty cool as well," he said with a small smile.

Dai felt a small surge of pride at the compliment. "Thanks, man," he said, feeling more at ease now that the tension had dissipated. "I've always thought they were a little weird."

Narco shrugged. "Nah, man. They're unique, I’ve never seen anyone with red eyes before.”

“We both have pretty unique eyes, huh,” Dai said in a joking way.

They both laughed, until Dai remembered that he couldn’t afford to be joking around right now, he was in an unfamiliar environment, with more than a hundred people around him, he had to stay alert.

As if on cue, a hush fell over the crowd as a well-dressed man entered the room, his commanding presence filling the room. The tension in the air was palpable, and I held my breath as the man began to speak. "Congratulations on making it to the Agency's Exam," he announced, his words sharp and direct. "The test you took earlier was merely the entrance exam," he clarified, his eyes scanning the room. "Now, the real test will begin."

I couldn't help but wonder what kind of grueling challenges awaited us, if this was just the beginning. Still, I tried to remain composed and focused as the man continued his instructions.

"My name is Orion; I am not fond of small talk, so let's hurry up and get started with the first stage of the exam, of which I will be the examiner."

During Orion's introduction, Dai's shifted his gaze to the boy standing before him, realizing that he had not caught the boy's name yet. He shifted his weight and cleared his throat before he mustered up the courage to ask. "Pssst!” Dai sounded, getting the boy’s attention. “I forgot to ask you for your name,” Dai said, trying to sound as casual as possible. His heart beat a little faster, wondering if the boy would answer and if they could become friends.

"Me? I'm Narco," he replied with a grin. Dai couldn't help but smile, feeling a spark of connection between them.

"What's your name?" Narco added.

Dai answered with a soft yet confident tone, "I'm Dai."

 Narco's brows furrowed as he seemed to be deep in thought, stroking his chin. "Hmm, how old are you?" he asked.

"I'm fourteen. What about you?" Dai answered,

 Narco's eyes widened with excitement. "Ooh! So am I! When is your birthday?"

"June 18th, why?" he replied, curious as to Narco's line of questioning.

"Ha! I'm older than you, my birthday is on May 15th," Narco proudly declared, puffing out his chest.

Dai couldn't help but roll his eyes at the boy's exaggerated pride. "That's only a month's difference. You're barely older than me!" he retorted, trying to playfully downplay Narco's age advantage.

"A month's a month!" Narco shot back, grinning mischievously.

Dai couldn't help but smile back. "Well, I'm a centimeter taller than you!" he countered, puffing out his chest and trying to one-up Narco.

Narco didn't let Dai's claim go unchallenged. "No, you're not!" he protested, eyes sparkling with humor.

"Yes, I am!" Dai insisted, the two of them now playfully bickering.

As their back-and-forth continued, Narco and Dai suddenly burst out laughing, their playful bickering forgotten in the moment. For the first time in a very long time, Dai was able to laugh like a careless child again, and it was all thanks to Narco's infectious energy.