"It's been a long time since we've spoken, hasn't it, Trixie?" Queen Isabella questioned. The gentle breeze blew on Isabella as she strolled peacefully in a grassy meadow with Trixie, who was shuffling cards like an impulse.

"Yup, it has! The last time we talked was when you accepted me as an instructor in the Enlightenment Program!" Trixie replied while simultaneously shuffling her cards. "It's not your fault, though. I understand that you're a sickly person, Your Majesty."

"Yeah, but my body feels slightly better now. As long as I don't push myself hard, my condition improves, and I can take walks like this without my wheelchair," Isabella explained. "But enough about me. So many things have happened to you in the past few months. How are you feeling, Trixie?"

Trixie ceased her card shuffling in response to Isabella's question.

"Well, I do feel torn up about everything, to be honest. I pulled off some insane tricks and performances I've never done before, and I felt pleased with myself, but it didn't finish Jack," Trixie responded. "And Altius, my fellow instructor, died along with Aiden, who I thought could have been a great assistant in my future performance. It all left a horrible taste in my mouth, I suppose."

"I see. I feel horrible about Altius's death. He went through nothing but unfairness in his life and felt pain and anger in his last moments," Isabella said. "If I knew this would have happened, I wouldn't have asked him to become an instructor and simply pardoned him. I hate the condition that I'm in, too. I could have helped if I was healthy."

"Hehe, you don't seem like a fighter, Your Majesty," Trixie teased. "I've never heard of queens going into battle."

"Your jackpot would say otherwise, though. Besides, I am pretty strong," The Queen assured. Her eyebrows furrowed angrily before muttering, "It's all Ryzen's fault, anyways."

"What did you say about Ryzen?" Trixie questioned. "I didn't quite catch that."

"Um, I said that Ryzen should have helped more when Jack and the other criminals attacked," Queen Isabella lied. "He could have stopped everything from blowing out of proportion."

"Well, maybe he could," Trixie agreed. "But things wouldn't have been as fun."

"Pfft, you're a pretty crazy girl, you know," Isabella remarked as she giggled. I wonder when things will become fun for me...Ryzen Cain...?

*

Zack and the developer stood in front of buildings and warehouses grouped like a complex. Several buildings, which resembled garages, had numerous vehicles and containers occupying them.

"This place is so much bigger than the last time I remember it," Zack stated as he gazed at the complex with surprise.

"Well, it has been a while since you've been here," The developer responded. "It's natural that they'd want to expand their business."

"Tsk, on second thought, I want to return home," Zack decided. "I don't think this is a good idea."

"What? Are you going to chicken out after coming all this way? I already assured you that nothing will happen to you," The developer stated. "Don't you want to get stronger to avenge your deceased friend?"

"...I can't believe you're talking me into this," Zack said as he had a defeated expression. "But fine...let's just go inside."

"Good, come on. Let's talk to the security," The developer suggested as he shifted his gaze and pointed to two individuals. Zack, sweating up a storm, attempted to steel his nerves before following the developer.

The duo approached the men; judging by the black suits, sunglasses, and the fact they stood and observed their surroundings proved they were the security, as the developer speculated.

"Huh? Who are you--" One of the security guards questioned but was interrupted by the sight of the developer.

"C'mon, don't you remember me?" The developer questioned. "I'm the director's friend. I want to speak with him."

"O-Oh, my bad, sir. Right this way!" The security guard apologized, which surprised Zack. The guards wasted no time and led them through the complex.

"Wait? You know the director?" Zack whispered and questioned.

"It's a long story," The developer responded. "You'll find out soon enough."

Zack's gaze shifted around the complex as they walked, where he noticed several workers in blue overalls similar to his own around the complex. They seemed to be unloading crates from trucks while some stood around with firearms as if flaunting them.

What intrigued Zack, however, was the audible explosive sounds coming from nearby building facilities. Despite the visible nervousness dripping from his face, Zack tried his best to focus on following the guards while keeping close to the developer.

In front of a modern condominium, the duo was led by the guards after several minutes of traveling. The condo was a gorgeous abode with neutral white painting on its walls and was complemented by black tinted glass panes for the windows. There was a garage at the side, which contained a black sedan.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The beauty of the home along with the plot was spruced up by several trees and neatly trimmed grass. The area was equipped with a pool with water as blue as the sky along with railings to enter the pool without fear of slippage, and black-colored outdoor lounge chairs for relaxation.

"Here we are. The director's home," One of the security guards stated as the other began knocking on the entrance.

"T-This is the boss's house?" The nervous Zack questioned.

"Yeah, he's even upgraded his living conditions," The developer responded with an impressed smile. "He's done quite a lot, huh?"

"T-That's not what I meant..." Zack muttered. Dammit...I don't want to die.

It was too late for Zack to have any thoughts of running away as the entrance opened to reveal an individual.

"Sigh, what's the problem now--Hmm?" The one who opened the door said before his gaze shifted to Zack and the developer. He was a middle-aged man donning a cream dress shirt and size-fitted black pants. He never had any shoes on and only wore black socks, likely because he was in his home.

The sight of this individual greatly intensified Zack's nervousness and fear. This was the director who Zack remembered.

"Hey, long time no see," The developer remarked. "I've come with something good."

"Is that...Zack Isaac?"

*

The developer and Zack continued their discussion with the director in his home's interior. The living room was just as gorgeous as the outside of his abode, as several sofas, a coffee table, and a cozy fireplace were seen. The walls were painted with neutral colors of tan and beige, which complemented his furniture.

On the walls was a mounted flat-screen television, which was turned off.

"So, what do we have here? I didn't expect you to show up, Zack Isaac." The director questioned as he gazed at Zack with narrowed eyes. "I was pretty angry when you escaped, you know."

Zack held his head down in fear as the director spoke. The only things that ran through his mind were how stupid it was to return here and how he'd talk his way into staying alive.

"I-I'm sorry--"

"Hey, can't you just forgive him? He is here now, right?" The developer remarked. "We have a good relationship. You can do this for me, right?"

"...I don't want to be seen as a soft director, you know," The director stated before pulling a cigarette box and a lighter from his pocket. "But my organization has flourished because of you two. I'll forgive him this once for running away."

"W-What? D-do you...know the developer...from somewhere?" Zack muttered out of fear.

"What? Has cat caught your tongue, Zack?" The director questioned as he lit his cigarette and began smoking it. "Speak up if you're saying something!"

"D-Do you know the developer?" The frightened Zack loudly repeated.

"Oh, is that what you call this guy too?" The director asked as he held the cigarette between his index and middle finger. "Yeah, I've known this guy for a long time."

"To keep our identities secure, we have kept our true names a secret to everyone," The developer explained, which caused Zack's eyes to widen. "But, yes. It has been a long time since we've met. I was the one who informed the director that you were the blessed human who caused the explosion at your school all those years ago."

"W-What!?"

"Yeah. I saw how horrible your life was and thought about making you one of my game characters, so I've been watching you from a young age," The developer continued. "I met the director and became a trusted partner around the same time, so I told him about you as soon as I found out what your blessing was."

"Yes, I was pretty angry that you took Zack, developer, but because you killed those super soldiers and sowed chaos, I started to forgive you," The director said. "Because of you and the other S-Class criminals' misdeeds, there were no super soldiers to get in the way of my business, Zack."

"I-I see," Zack said. I went through a lot of suffering in this organization because of the developer...but there's no point in being mad, I guess. Zack pondered. I learned how to activate my blessing...and met the game characters. Just let it go, Zack.

The scent of the cigarette filled the area as the three men conversed, but none seemed the least bit uncomfortable by this. The smell of smoke was not unfamiliar among them.

"I'm sure you've seen how large this complex has become," The director bragged. "I wouldn't have got this far without your help. I'll look the other way so you can return as one of my soldiers. I'll even give you better living conditions for your hard work."

Phew, thank you," Zack thanked as he let out a sigh of relief. Looks like I'm finally being seen as a person.

"Zack also wants to learn how to use his blessing more proficiently," The developer added. "He wants to become even stronger, you know."

"Oh? Do you want to become stronger? So you finally became ambitious, huh?" The director stated as he smirked. "Well, that does sound exciting!"

The director suddenly took up a telephone on his coffee table and began tapping several buttons, attempting to dial someone. Zack and the developer watched as the director placed the handset at his ear.

"See? That wasn't so hard? Right?" The developer teased Zack as the director's telephone rang.

"...I guess so," Zack muttered.

"Yeah, I need you to come here quickly," The director stated as he conversed on the phone. "There's someone who you know very well."

"Huh?" Zack uttered in response to that.

"Don't worry, it's nothing bad," The director assured. "You don't need to be on alert."

The entrance of the director's home opened as an individual entered. Like Zack and everyone else, that individual wore blue overalls.

"I'm here, director. Who's the person I know--" The unfamiliar individual remarked before catching a glimpse of Zack. His expression quickly turned to surprise upon seeing him. "Huh? Zack?"

"Wait, Octavius?" Zack questioned as his expression matched the other's surprise.

Octavius, as referred to by Zack, seemed to be a fairly young man, and around similar ages to Zack. He had mid-length black hair kept in a curtain mullet hairstyle and faded at the sides. He had no facial hair, but his dark brown pupils complimented his hair color.

He also was quite tall, around the same height as Zack.

"Heh, Zack has returned to our organization, Octavious," The director explained. "He also wants to get stronger, so show him around and help him. I know you guys are friends, after all."

Well, I'm glad things are going well for Zack. He's going to become stronger, I hope. The developer pondered. At least things are going well on one side.