Zero to Peak: Ascension Online

Alone in the corridor, standing outside Daiyu's apartment door, Daiyu and Ivan quietly gazed at each other. Daiyu felt utterly devastated, realising that she was the one who had let down her partner. Ivan, on the other hand, felt a complex mix of relief and pity for Daiyu.

'How will she deal with this? How do I deal with this? How do we progress from this point?' Ivan wondered.

"We are here, aren't we?" Ivan sighed, finally breaking the heavy silence.

Before Daiyu could even formulate a reaction, Ivan leaned forward and gently kissed her forehead. Daiyu was utterly dumbfounded, her throat suddenly dry. She gazed fixedly at the floor, too deeply ashamed to meet Ivan's gaze.

"Let's go into your living room and talk," Ivan said.

Daiyu was so consumed by shame that she barely registered Ivan's words.

"Daiyu, look at me." Ivan gently used his hands to raise Daiyu's gaze to meet his own. "Stop blaming yourself so harshly. I completely understand your reaction back then. Let's go inside and talk."

Daiyu wanted to articulate something, but the words caught in her throat. She gently nodded, acquiescing to Ivan's suggestion. The couple entered the living room. Daiyu felt a surge of anxiety and nervousness about the impending conversation. She desperately hoped that Ivan wasn't about to end their relationship.

The couple shared the same sofa. Ivan gently clasped Daiyu's trembling hands.

"I'm truly sorry that I couldn't be transparent with you," Ivan began. "The work was highly confidential for Bangyu Restaurant, so I couldn't reveal any specific details about the assignment."

Ivan's conscience stung him as he spoke the fabrication. He had no option but to lie, given that the 'legal representative' from Bangyu Restaurant had provided a narrative that conveniently justified Ivan's absence yesterday and explained the culprit's role in the misunderstanding.

"I undertook that work simply to sustain myself. I had genuinely believed it would proceed without any hitches, but the outcome proved quite the opposite. I didn't receive payment, I endured a difficult experience which wasn't the employer's fault, and our relationship suffered significant harm.

"For a moment, I thought our relationship couldn't be salvaged. I'm relieved that my employers were willing to help rectify the situation. I'm glad that I didn't let you down twice, and in the most devastating way possible."

Daiyu took a deep, shaky breath, bracing herself and fully expecting Ivan to declare that he was ending their relationship. Her heartbeat rate skyrocketed, and her vision began to blur at the edges.

'She is already displaying signs of intense worry. She must be convinced that I intend to end our relationship. Daiyu, I'm not a heartless animal. But we need to take a pause so that we can both grow. At this moment, I don't believe we are truly ready to be together,' Ivan considered these crucial facts.

"Daiyu, please relax," Ivan urged, attempting to soothe her. "If you continue like this, you will pass out before we can conclude our discussion."

Daiyu nodded and desperately tried to calm herself, but anxiety held a tenacious grip on her. She eventually managed to compose herself.

"You look even prettier when you are worried." This observation was undeniably true.

Daiyu blushed deeply in embarrassment. Ivan now knew he could continue the discussion.

"Daiyu, we aren't breaking up. That would not end well for either of us. But I think that we should stop seeing each other for a while."

"What?" Daiyu's mood plummeted instantly.

"I don't mean stop seeing each other in the sense of a permanent break-up. I meant that we should give ourselves space to heal. For instance, I believe I should seek advice on how to treat my partner more effectively. I feel I'm not doing enough. Do… you understand?"

Daiyu nodded, her gaze fixed firmly on her feet. She remained in that contemplative pose for a brief moment before slowly raising her gaze to meet Ivan's eyes. She then offered a small, hesitant smile and gently hugged Ivan.

"I love you so much. I'm so sorry for ever doubting you. I feel utterly disgusted with myself, for what I did…"

Ivan gently interjected, "Don't mention that. That happened in the past. Dwelling on it would only open old wounds. We will consider that a mistake that should not be revisited.

"I think we should visit a therapist. We need someone impartial to help us sort ourselves out."

Daiyu understood the subtle hint Ivan was giving her. She clearly needed to sort out her turbulent emotions and chaotic thoughts. She was, in essence, a train wreck of bottled emotions and impulsively expressed thoughts.

The discussion topic eventually shifted from how to mend their relationship to more trivial matters. They enjoyed each other's company before she left for work around 11 a.m.

At 2 p.m. at Airport 1, Section 2.5, Brainboss_7 sat patiently at the arrival terminal, awaiting a passenger plane carrying Mr. Desmond Cleverly's son, Eliot. Just two minutes later, a colossal plane, akin to a Boeing 747, majestically landed at the airport.

Seated comfortably on a long, plush seat and garbed in a classic pinstripe blue-on-white shirt, matched with deep green trousers and a pair of pristine white sneakers, Brainboss_7 effortlessly caused heads to turn with his strikingly handsome features. His true identity remained unrecognised, largely due to his altered hair style and the distinctive circular, thick-rimmed glasses he wore.

Apart from authorised airport staff, people were strictly forbidden from approaching passengers until they had formally entered the arrival terminal. However, expansive, tall glass windows offered a clear view of passengers as they descended from the aircraft and subsequently approached the arrival terminal.

Brainboss_7 had received a digital picture of Eliot from Cleverly, who had sent it via online messaging. Brainboss was momentarily puzzled as to how the formidable mafia leader had acquired his contact details. He quickly dismissed the thought; after all, the man was a notorious gang leader.

Eliot was among the first twenty-five passengers to descend from the aircraft. An obvious expression of profound disgust was plastered across his face. Brainboss_7 immediately recognised this tell-tale expression; it was the familiar look of a privileged rich kid forced to mingle with ordinary people and engage in mundane activities alongside them. Uninterested, Brainboss_7 settled back into his seat, turning away from the view of the newly arrived aircraft.

The expression of disgust soon gave way to one of utter confusion. He stood bewildered on the airstairs. He was clearly expecting something specific, but it was conspicuously absent. Soon, his confused demeanour morphed into raw anger. He ascended back into the aircraft and unleashed his frustration upon the unfortunate air hostess overseeing the passenger disembarkation.

The poor air hostess was given no chance to explain why there was no passenger transfer vehicle awaiting them. Eliot's mouth continued to rage and rage. His selfish, utterly oblivious self was effectively blocking other passengers from exiting the aircraft. The waiting passengers soon grew utterly fed up with the obnoxious rich kid. They collectively pushed him down the stairs and swiftly exited the aircraft.

Airport security had to intervene, swiftly stopping the obnoxious mafia scion from physically assaulting the passengers. Like the other individuals waiting in the arrival terminal, Brainboss_7 stood up to observe the unfolding commotion. His expression remained cold, meticulously analysing the mafia scion's brazen and entitled attitude.

'Just as I predicted, I was to watch a spoilt brat. Hopefully, he dies before he can become a big headache,' Brainboss_7 mused darkly.

He intended to integrate this shameless mafia scion into Wanyama's team, as it was the specific team he was currently overseeing.

Eliot was not the only adventurer from Section 1 to arrive in Section 2 on this flight. There were a host of other adventurers, primarily young individuals like Eliot. The security personnel successfully escorted Eliot into the waiting terminal.

"Hello, young master Eliot," Brainboss_7 said calmly to Eliot.

Eliot did not perceive Brainboss_7's silent approach.

"And you are?" Eliot demanded, his tone imperious.

"Your supervisor."

Eliot meticulously examined the 'supervisor's' appearance from head to toe. The man did not appear simple, a fact that certainly favoured the initial impression Eliot had constructed about him. Eliot then grudgingly followed 'the supervisor' to the car park.

"You didn't bring any luggage with you?" Brainboss_7 noted this peculiar anomaly.

Eliot glared at the man with undisguised disdain. 'Another pauper. Why does my father wish me to associate with such impoverished individuals?'

Brainboss_7 remained remarkably patient with the obnoxious fool. He meticulously observed the scion's features; the young man strikingly resembled his father, possessing handsome features and long, dark hair that elegantly cascaded down his neck, covering his ears, precisely like his father's. The young scion was casually dressed in a brown sweatshirt and beige trousers.

After waiting for a reply to no avail, Brainboss_7 spoke again, his voice dangerously low. "You should be aware that I am a very dangerous man. I do not tolerate insolent individuals like yourself. I asked you a simple question, much like a concerned father, yet you chose to ignore me as if I were a fool. Congratulations, you have now definitively established the foundation of our future interactions.

"To inaugurate this newly established interaction model, I will now ask you a question. Why did you not bring any luggage with you?"

Instantly, Eliot felt an intensely uncomfortable aura emanate from his 'supervisor'.

'What is this? Why does this sensation feel so similar to the aura I perceived from that terrifying creature I couldn't defeat? Is this the enigmatic quality about him that I couldn't previously discern? This man is truly terrifying.'

"My luggage will be flown in on a private jet and delivered directly to my apartment once I have secured one," Eliot answered truthfully, his voice surprisingly subdued.

For the very first time in his life, he felt the same potent mix of fear and respect for another person that he reserved solely for his father. For the very first time in his life, he desperately hoped that his answer would satisfy a stranger.