A tense silence settled over the room as Dom processed the absurdity of Ivan's casual words.
They've already tried to kill me? Multiple times? How? When? How many? Huh?
Thoughts raced through his mind, fast and chaotic.
Ivan studied Dom's stunned expression, then glanced at Roy, whose face remained unreadable. With a sigh, Ivan put on his glasses and typed on his keyboard.
A holographic projection sprang to life, and Dom froze in recognition.
The large, scaly monster before him stirred a vivid memory-- his final academy exam, the fight with the mana-reflecting lizard that nearly killed him and Dae, replayed in his mind.
"I believe you remember this magic beast," Ivan said calmly.
Dom's eyes narrowed, fists clenching. "How could I forget that ugly thing?" He grumbled, his instincts already flaring up in remembrance of its terrifying presence.
"That," Ivan said, pointing at the creature, "… was the first attempt."
Dom's eyes widened. "They…" He muttered, glancing between Ivan and the hologram. "… they tried to kill me during the exam?"
Ivan nodded, manipulating the hologram to display its deadly scales, claws, and razor-sharp tail.
"They intended to make it look like an accident, to avoid scrutiny from the Academy," Ivan explained.
Dom's eyes flashed with anger, his mind filling with memories of that day. "That thing killed a bunch of my friends." He said.
Ivan frowned. "They knew the other recruits were at risk." He said, zooming in on the beast's head. "That's why they monitored your movements and transported the beast carefully into your surroundings to reduce the casualties."
Dom looked at Ivan, confused. "How?" He asked.
"They exploited the lack of surveillance in the field and likely used a spy to tamper with the transport gates to teleport you into a specific spot," Ivan explained as he adjusted his glasses.
"From there, it was just a matter of predicting your progress and sending the beast at the perfect moment so that your paths would cross. It's an A-class magic beast that specifically targets beings with high mana reserves."
He interlaced his fingers and stared intensely at Dom.
"Based on the field orientation and level of power of your classmates, there were very few targets to direct its attention away from you, save maybe your assigned partner. Even then, it should have been powerful enough to kill you all instantly."
Dom's eyes narrowed as he recalled that fight.
That must be why it attacked me first… then started ignoring Dae when I regained consciousness. He thought.
Ivan zoomed in again, highlighting a spot on the monster's head. "They also placed a contract on it, set to destroy the beast after a specified period to prevent it from killing more recruits than necessary."
Roy raised a brow at the creature. "I heard about that." He said, drawing their attention. "When I reviewed your files from the Academy, I suspected that the Council had ties to that, but I didn't realize the method was so… intricate."
"And yet, you survived," Ivan said, smirking confidently. "Not only that-- you destroyed the beast. They severely underestimated you and the young descendant of the so-called Blade King."
Roy stiffened at Ivan's casual revelation of Dae's true identity, a secret only known to a handful of the division. His eyes narrowed at this old man with a single thought on his mind: What else does this man know?
Dom didn't notice that fact or take the compliment. Instead, he frowned at the beast in the hologram.
"But… Mr. Johan said it was just a mix-up in the beast catalog." Dom muttered.
Roy's brow twitched at the mention of the name.
Ivan adjusted his glasses, his expression calm but deliberate. "That was just his way of covering the truth." He replied.
Dom stiffened. "…You mean," He mumbled, stepping back with his feet pushing his chair back, "…he knows about me, too?"
Ivan gestured toward Roy. "Who do you think made his contract?" He asked.
Roy frowned, subconsciously rubbing his temple.
Dom's eyes glowed faintly as his fists clenched, veins tightening. "Then… does that mean he helped them?" His voice trembled with barely restrained anger.
"Absolutely not," Ivan said, shaking his head. "Colonel Johan is one of the mages the Council used to enforce contracts, but he has never supported the hunting of your kind. He's rebelled against them many times in the past because of it."
Ivan's hand waved toward the hologram, which vanished with a soft hum. "I suspect that when he saw your academy application, he took it upon himself to protect you."
"So that's why they took the long road," Roy said with a knowing smirk.
Ivan nodded.
Dom's gaze dropped to his feet, his rage fading as he recalled. During the brief interactions he'd had with Johan over the course of the training, he'd felt a strange sense of protection, like a defensive uncle--maybe that explained Johan's unusually strict demeanor toward him.
"The Colonel," Ivan continued, folding his arms and closing his eyes thoughtfully, "… is one of the few mages in the South who could rival a Monarch."
Dom twitched. "…You mean…" He muttered, glancing at Roy.
"Exactly," Ivan said, with a smirk, pointing at Roy. "Just like the so-called Monarch successors, Johan possessed a strength that the Council respected and feared." He turned his gaze back to Dom. "It's that fear that made them create such a roundabout method, especially since Johan also served in General Justice's old military squad."
Dom's eyes flicked to Roy, noting the sadness in his pale gaze.
Ivan's expression darkened as he noticed it too. "The only reason they forced him to work for them and coerce his former teammates into those contracts was by holding his family hostage."
Dom watched Roy's fists clench. The tension in his posture was palpable.
Roy noticed Dom's stare, exhaled heavily, and ran a hand through his hair. "I don't blame Johan," He said quietly. "I would've done the same in his shoes."
Even calm, Roy's subtle hint of betrayal lingered in his white eyes.
Roy then turned to Ivan, curious. "Then why not use that tactic again and directly attack Dominic?" He asked.
Ivan shook his head. "Cornering the Colonel back then was too risky, especially right after the Great Fall."
Roy's expression darkened at the mention of the event, but Dom didn't notice.
"After that," Ivan continued, "…the Colonel has fortified his family's protection. Even if the Council somehow found a way, they feared his reaction… especially if the Dragon himself decides to back him up this time. They would start a war they couldn't win."
Dom slumped back into his chair, exhaustion written across his face. "Why are they so determined to get rid of us?" He asked.
Ivan sighed heavily. "That's one thing I don't know the answer to." He said, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.
"Even among the Greats, the South has always been aggressive toward your kind. It's almost as if they despise your species. And ironically, the highest concentration of your people has always been found within the South."
He tapped the keys, bringing up the image of a familiar forest and village.
"Lupus," Dom said quietly.
Ivan nodded. "The second and third attempts." He said as he changed the hologram to show a humanoid-wolf beast, instantly recognizable to Dom.
"They sent you on that mission hoping that beast-woman would kill you," Ivan said, once again drawing Roy's attention to another detail that Ivan knew too casually.
"But just like the first," Ivan said, "… you proved them wrong and defeated her. But while they were still recovering from that loss, your actions gave them another excuse to try again."
The hologram shifted to Xavier, and Dom's hand instinctively went to a large scar on his left forearm.
"This Monarch successor was supposed to defeat that beast after she succeeded in ending you. But after your rebellion, the Council changed his objective to capture your team to execute you specifically under the pretense of attacking your own countrymen."
Dom frowned, realizing that everything would have gone according to their plan until… "…And Tony saved us." He muttered.
Ivan shut down the hologram. "You're a very lucky man, Dominic." He said as he removed his glasses, smiling faintly. "You were practically non-existent as a defenseless child. And when you finally got their attention, you were protected by two of the most dangerous men alive."
Ivan wiped his glasses with a cloth, a faint smile forming.
"According to my sources," He added,
"… beyond the missions your team has been assigned--each carefully designed to basically end your life--the Council also hired independent assassins to exploit the chaos for extra insurance. However, the General has consistently deployed some of his knights to watch over you in secret."
Dom flinched.
He had deployed roughly twelve A-class missions since his sub-division was officially created. He had fought powerful criminals, deadly monsters, and survived extremely dangerous environmental hazards. But not once… in all that chaos did he sense those assassins or Anthony's protectors.
Ivan glanced at Roy with mild curiosity. "Which is likely why the General's right-hand man is here with you instead of your conventional squad." He said.
Roy narrowed his eyes, taking in the vast amount of information and secrets Ivan knew. "You really did your homework." He said, his tone skeptical.
"I was always a diligent student," Ivan chuckled fondly, despite Roy's threatening gaze.
Then, Ivan's expression shifted when he noticed Dom's distant stare.
After a moment of silence, he sat up, his old eyes narrowed with quiet tension.
"To be honest, Dominic," Ivan said, drawing his attention. "I never cared about the shipment. Those weapons are obsolete. They mean nothing to us now."
Roy's eyes widened in realization. "It's you," He said flatly. "That's why Dominic's team was forced to take this mission. You're the one who specifically requested it."
Ivan responded quietly with a charming smirk, then turned to Dom with something closer to sympathy.
"You're intelligent enough to understand this," Ivan said calmly. "Staying in that country is dangerous. Sooner or later, your luck will fail--, and when it does, the Council will seize that opportunity to erase you… and anyone close to you."
Dom's chest tightened, not just for himself but for his friends-- for Pops.
Ivan sighed, shaking his head. "The truth is, the contracts exist because the royals still find us useful. Once you're no longer an asset, you become a liability." His eyes hardened. "And liabilities are disposed of. A corpse can't reveal secrets."
Silence followed…
Dom's eyes widened once he realized what that meant. "…Then my real parents…" He muttered.
Ivan exhaled slowly. "I couldn't find any record of them, no matter how hard I looked, but I believe they were hunted and killed by the Council as well."
Dom leaned back, dragging a hand over his face. "That's… fucked up." He grumbled at the thought, then something struck him. "Does Pops know?"
Even though it was more of a voiced thought than a question, Ivan answered,
"When the Council discovered you during your academy years, they interrogated your adoptive father under the guise of Academy instructors." He paused, shaking his head. "He truly knows nothing about your heritage. Combined with his years of military service, they ultimately decided to leave him alone."
Dom released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. "Good."
Ivan stared at Dom for a moment, then opened a drawer. "But I doubt that mercy will last." He said as he withdrew a file and slid it across the table.
"What's this?" Dom asked, picking it up.
"Immigration documents."
Dom's eyes widened once he confirmed it.
Roy clicked his tongue. "So that's your play." He scoffed, his gaze hardened at Ivan.
But Ivan ignored him, his focus locked on Dom. "It usually takes months to process paperwork like this," He said as he withdrew a pen from the drawer. "… especially for the great kingdoms. But for you, we're willing to expedite it. Say the word, and you'll be a North-Land citizen before you leave this office."
Dom's gaze scanned over the printed words; his eyes widened once he noticed that all his personal information was already filled in.
"You want me to leave my home?" He asked quietly.
Ivan offered a measured smile as he set the pen in front of Dom. "I know it's difficult. But look at the broader picture, Dominic." He said as he took the file and flipped through the pages. "The longer you stay in the South, the greater the risk--to you and everyone around you."
He turned another page, revealing the signature line.
"The North-Land is the only kingdom that would openly welcome a Silva. Others may be subtler than the South… but the outcome would be the same."
As he slid the file back to Dom and placed the pen over the page, Dom's eyes narrowed in realization at this so-called selfless act. "This isn't about saving me." He said, a now defiant look in his gaze. "You just want to study me. I'm just a lab subject for you guys, right?"
Ivan's smile widened, impressed by Dom's keen instincts.
"Yes." He answered, honestly. "We want to understand your physiology. And I admit that the procedures won't always be… pleasant." He met Dom's gaze evenly. "Which is why we're willing to compensate you generously."
Dom raised a brow. "Compensate?"
"Money, Women, Property, Technology, Influence," Ivan replied smoothly. "If we don't possess it, we'll simply acquire it all for you."
Dom rubbed his scarred cheek as he stared at the documents, conflicted.
"If you're still worried about leaving your friends and family," Ivan added with a professional smile. "I can convince the royals to allow them to migrate as well and grant them similar benefits."
Roy narrowed his eyes at Ivan's overly pleasant smile. "Wow. You're really desperate, aren't you?" He commented.
Ivan laughed, leaning back with folded arms. "Yes, we are." He replied, glancing at Roy. "Unlike the others, our desire for technological and human advancement has surpassed sentiment. It's almost a compulsion. Once we see an opportunity to learn, we take it."
"How very… dictatorship," Roy muttered.
"Yes," Ivan replied calmly. "But remind me--who comes begging for our technology when we create it after years of tireless effort?"
Roy sighed, conceding the point.
Ivan chuckled, then turned back to Dom, noticing his visible conflict. "Is something wrong?" He asked. "Sudden as it may be, I don't think it's a bad offer."
Dom studied the papers a moment longer, then smiled. "No, it's not. I know people who'd actually kill for this." He commented.
Ivan grinned and shifted the pen closer to Dom's fingers. "Then all you need to do is sign--"
"Did you give this offer to Ethan, too?" Dom cut in.
Ivan froze, his eyes blinking in confusion. "Excuse me?" He asked.
"The Mage Emperor," Dom pressed, gesturing at the portrait behind Ivan. "Did you offer him the same deal?"
Roy smiled faintly at Dom's calm expression.
"No," Ivan said, adjusting his glasses with a slightly shaken smile. "The war made a discussion like this impossible to have with him."
"But if you had," Dom asked, a smirk forming on his lips, "… do you think he'd take it?"
Ivan's gaze quickly sharpened at Dom's expression. "Dominic," He said, his voice now uncharacteristically low. "… this is the most logical choice. You gain safety, wealth, and freedom. You gain everything and lose nothing. Staying in the South is illogical."
"I'm sure Ethan knew that too," Dom replied.
Ivan narrowed his eyes as Dom tapped the paper with a finger.
"He was hunted like me, right? Even with the war, he must've been," Dom continued. "But instead of running, he stayed. He built a squad strong enough to protect the same country that hunted him--and ended the war."
Roy nodded calmly.
"So," Ivan said coldly, "… you intend to do the same?"
Dom folded his arms, confidence steady. "I always wanted to. Even before I knew we were related." He replied. "In fact, knowing that Ethan's some kind of distant uncle or something, I'm even more motivated to surpass him."
Ivan's smile finally vanished, his gaze now akin to that of a deadly predator rather than a friend. "The war has been over for decades." He said, his fingers tightening on the paper between them. "The South doesn't need you to fight."
Dom's grin widened, his confidence unfazed.
Ivan crushed the document in his hand, visibly irritated by Dom's reaction. "Are you really willing to die for that ambition?" He asked, his purple eyes glowing beneath his spectacles.
Dom paused. He took a moment to really think about his words and their implication. Then--
"I remember reading about the Monarchs when I was a kid," He said quietly, a memory surfacing in his mind. "I thought they were fairy tales. Stories I would never see." He then remembered the attack at his hometown and touched his cheek, the scar throbbing in response. "Then I met Tony."
Roy smiled, remembering a similar moment as his hand unconsciously touched the scar on his face.
"They became real," Dom continued, meeting Ivan's glowing gaze with his blue eyes. "And if some kid looks up to me the way I looked up to them… then yes. I'm willing to die for it."
Silence…
Ivan gritted his teeth, frustration and anger simmering through his aged eyes. It took him some seconds before he finally recomposed himself.
"I have to say… I'm a little disappointed. I thought you were smarter than this." He sneered before his expression softened just as quickly. "But as a fellow ambitious man, I respect your wishes."
Dom smiled. "Thanks." He said, while Roy frowned suspiciously at the speed of Ivan's recovery.
Ivan gathered the partly crumpled documents. "In fact, seeing the kind of man you are," He said calmly, "…only makes me more determined to get you on our side."
Dom let out a short laugh.
Ivan slipped the papers into his drawer and glanced at his watch. "How time flies." He commented.
"The unloading should be finished by now," Roy said as he stood stiffly.
Dom rose as well.
"Then let's call it a night," Ivan said as he stood and immediately offered Dom his hand. "This didn't go as planned, but it was still a pleasure meeting you, Dominic."
Dom smiled as he took his hand. "Yeah. You too."
They shook firmly.
Ivan then turned to Roy. "And you as well, Roy Michael."
Roy responded with a simple, respectful nod before walking away with Dom right behind him.
Just as they reached the door--
"One last thing," Ivan said, drawing their attention. "You're staying in the capital for two days before traveling back for your birthday, correct?"
Dom stiffened, then turned to him in shock. "Yeah. How did you know?" He asked.
Ivan smirked boldly. "I told you. I've always been a diligent student."
Roy's gaze hardened at those particular words.
"As a gesture of appreciation," Ivan continued with a friendly gesture, "…you and your team may enjoy all of the capital's services--completely free of charge--for those two days."
Dom grinned. "Seriously?" He asked.
Ivan nodded. "Consider it a birthday gift," He said, smiling devilishly. "And a taste of what you're refusing."
Dom chuckled. "Still trying to convince me?"
"I'm not a man to give up easily." Ivan chuckled confidently.
"My answer is still no," Dom said with a shrug as he turned away but stopped to smirk over his shoulder. "… but I'll enjoy the gift. Thanks."
"You're welcome," Ivan replied, his smile as friendly as ever.
Dom waved as he left, while Roy cast Ivan one last skeptical look before following, the door sliding shut behind them.