Midel's POV
Bloods of Grey. Is an online virtual-reality game loved by billions. As soon as it was released, 13 years ago by the famous gaming company—Ruckonet, great players from all around the world could easily access the world of fantasy with just the use of a Head Gear, and an Identity Card small as a normal Memory card.
One Identity Card was worth twelve-thousand. While the NerveGear was seperately valued as fifteen-thousand worth. It is greatly supported by nanomaterials. With strictly manufactured factories and self-employed nanorobots.
Some have connectors. And some were wirelessly used for travel and contests matter purposes.
It is a game of a generational upgrade. The first image of a successful country in terms of developing a technology's better potential. All was known to the public. Contests' gameplays, dungeon raids. Live-streaming tactics. Famous faces joining the world of fantasy into its epic tournaments. Strong guilds and expert gamers. Emerging at the same time. Money goes around in the circus of entertainment.
But on the 8th Year Anniversary of this game.
By the name of a mysterious player known as 'Lazarus'. Everything change.
Winning a tournament alone.
Creating havoc alone.
Dealing with the battle unimaginable and yet no one knows the man behind it.
This shifted the minds and eyes of a lot of people. Especially the media.
Even businessmen, companies, even official Ruckonet company was interested to find out who really is the person behind Lazarus.
"Why are you still hiding it, Mid?" I returned back to reality when Mr. Douglas asked me.
We were just sitted oppositely by a corner of a cafeteria. Everybody's too busy eating their lunches and laughing with each other so it's not a problem for the both of us.
I sighed. Looked down at my own half-eaten portion of the spaghetti. Mr. Douglas wasn't eating anything. He just said hours ago on the phone that he wanted to talk to me urgently. I know where this conversation is going to. But as much as I respected him from keeping up with me for so many years, I want to give him the honor and opportunity to say it from his own words and time.
"You know what I've been going through these days, right? But look here, Mid. I'm still your greatest fan and the way you handled that Rumble War Championship yesterday was truly an amazing performance. Probably one of my personal favorite battle, If I may add."
I smiled. But it never reaches my eyes. A long silence ensued. Right before he showed me a picture of his 8-year old daughter, Fatima. "I don't want to alarm you before I say this but. Three days before that Championship was even held, Fatima's nanny called me in the middle of my busy hours and told me that Fatima was almost kidnapped when my baby talked to a stranger on the park."
I frozed for a moment. Looked at him with the most sincere and flabbergasted eyes. But he gestured to me immediately that it's not me to blame about it.
"Thanks to her nanny's quick intuition and judgement. My little girl was safe when they got home," he continued, as he keep the picture away with his wallet. "But this is not the first time it happened."
My eyebrows furrowed. "What do you mean?"
He was a bit hesitant to say it but took the courage to do so, in the end. "It was exactly six months ago when my baby almost got ran over by a truck while on a city tour. And a week by the next month also. My wife almost got killed by a stranger on the street—but I know for a fact that it is purposely done by those dangerous haters out there."
"I'm sorry." I clasped my hands together. Looking at Mr. Douglas with such sympathy. "I actually didn't know that—why didn't you even tell me that these things happened?"
He just smiled. "Because those days were Lazarus—the unknown player was supposed to show up in a big-time event of the city."
My jaw clenched the moment I heard his reason. "You don't want me to worry about your family's safety."
"Because your performance might get disturbed by it. Thinking that it's your fault."
I slammed the table. "But that's the whole point! It is my fault and I can't bear to deny it."
Some were startled. Mr. Douglas tried to shushed me. "You can talk to me without shouting."
I reclined on my sit. Totally devastated of the news. After all those times of keeping my self hidden in public. There was this man. Being my face and voice. Trying to defend my identity no matter how cruel everybody is. "I'm sorry, Mr. Douglas."
Am I too selfish already?
Maybe Azmael was right. I'm becoming more arrogant and egotistical about this attention. And not even noticing that many lives are getting more endangered because of my own self interests.
We are already walking outside the cafeteria. None of us were talking. But this silence was even enough to explain that everything's really falling apart between us. Not being as a friend. But just being Lazarus and a manager.
When we arrived almost at the front gate. I faced him as soon as he also faced me. Hands hidden in his jacket's pocket. His small smile truly reminds me of my father, but this man's totally different from that monster in so many levels.
I bowed down right before he offered me his hand. "I know this is not enough. But I'm truly sorry for all the troubles I've made in you and your family, Mr. Douglas. I hope by this day onward. No one will bother you anymore. I promise. I will never let things like this happen ever again."
Then I felt his warmest hug. A loving dad could ever do to his son. Patted my back a few times before chuckling like it's just a simple goodbye. "We will be fine. Mid. And that apology was already enough for me. You are a sincere child so I know you are really a man of your words. Just promise me this one thing: don't let the world change you."
After that very same day.
On a night. As I opened my laptop, browing through the news. I happened to scroll down a latest posts of a Media Platform: stating that the brave manager of the unknown Lazarus—Mr. Douglas officially retired his full duties as my manager. Further news stated that he and his family flew to the other country as soon as that interview was released.
And the question followed below it;
"WHAT WILL BE LAZARUS' NEXT MOVE AFTER LOSING HIS MOST TRUSTED MANAGER?"