The Light That Follows Darkness

"Well then, Ryu, how would you describe this state?" I asked with a curious tone.

"Depression, I guess," Ryu replied.

"Correct, my good sir. Now, how do you bring someone out of this state?" I inquired further.

"Well, comforting them is one way. However, in this place where you don't know who your friend or foe is, I don't think that would work or be a possible option," Ryu explained.

Just as we were discussing, Hana interjected, eager to contribute.

"Isn't it anger, Xeno? Even though it's not a standard method, I once read in a psychology book that anger can help bring a person out of depression. Am I right?"

With a smile on my face, I replied: "Bingo! That's the way to go, Hana. Anger is the only way in this situation to make a person focus and pull them out of their depressed state. That's why I sent her that ambiguous letter with only one sentence. I wanted her to be fully conscious during our conversation, and it worked. However, too much anger can lead to more problems. That's why I told you to wait for her to vent all that repressed anger and sadness before continuing the conversation."

"Yeah, that's exactly right, boss. But she cried at the end, which doesn't fit the anger approach. How do you explain that?" Ryuji asked.

Before I could continue my explanation, Ha-Eun chimed in, offering her perspective. "Ryu, it's always been known that women are more emotional than men. So, with her crying, she just shifted her anger to frustration and sadness, which is much better for the conversation than anger. If it were a man, this approach wouldn't have worked. Am I right, Xeno?"

Impressed by the twins' critical thinking, I patted them on the head and continued my conversation with Ryuji.

"It's just as Ha-Eun said. Women are more emotionally involved than men. That's why her crying is a good thing. If it were a man, approaching him with this method would have led to a direct attack. His anger would have been directed at you, Ryu. Do you understand where we're going with this?"

"I think I do. So, when you told me to tell her that everything in the letter was true, it made her focus on our conversation and become involved," Ryuji concluded.

"Correct, my dear Ryu. That's exactly what happened. Now that the scientist was fully aware and engaged, what would be the next step?" I asked.

"It would be skepticism and then denial, right?" Ryuji guessed.

"That's true. I mean, think about it. Who in their right mind would just accept that I have this fantasy-like power and that I can give it to others? I wouldn't accept it if I were told that, right?" I explained.

Ryuji nodded, and I continued: "Well, Ryu, what happened next was that you told her that everything you said was true and that you had other witnesses to support your testimony, right? Then you told her that she wouldn't even begin to imagine my power, and you said it very seriously. So, what transpired after that was her inner conflict between skepticism and the faint hope that she could do something. However, skepticism won, leading her to deny everything she heard from you as a blatant lie or joke orchestrated by the chief."

"Yeah, that's true. She said something along the lines of you being sent by the chief to mess with her and see her despair. She declared that our conversation was over," Ryuji recalled.

"Here's where the serious and fun part comes in, Ryu. Do you remember the two words I asked you to intentionally emphasize at that time?" I asked.

"I remember. They were 'target' and 'revenge'," Ryuji replied.

"That's it exactly. When you said that you would never work for a scumbag like the chief and that you would rather commit suicide, and that the chief was just a target for revenge, do you know what happened in her brain? Answer me this, Ryu. When you lost your loved ones, what did you seek? Did you seek to gloss over it or seek revenge?" I questioned.

"I sought revenge, and that's still all that's running through my mind to this day," Ryuji admitted.

"That's true, and that's what's running through my mind and Albert's mind as well. We're not that forgiving that we would gloss over or forgive whoever put us through this hell. And I'm sure the same goes for the scientist. That's why the moment she heard you talk with utmost conclusiveness and seriousness, and then turn around to leave, her brain went into hyperdrive. She thought, even if this is a lie, if I can get my revenge on that bastard, then it's all worth it. At the same time, she thought, 'Oh shit, I messed up big time. I'm about to lose the only chance to get what I want.' And that would lead a person to do what, Ryu?" I asked.

Ryuji, struck by a lightning bolt of realization, quivered with a mix of fear and amazement. He answered, "Bargaining. It would lead to bargaining."

"And when you laid out the conditions to her and she understood what I wanted from her, she was quick to agree, right, Ryu? Do you know why? It's because I satisfied her every need. The need to feel loved, cherished, and to belong somewhere. The need to innovate and create which she has as a scientist. And the need for a newfound purpose after losing everything, including a smidge of power. And there you have it. And all I asked for were three simple things: loyalty, her talent, and respect. To her, this was a bargain she wouldn't want to lose, and she accepted it immediately," I explained.

Hana and Ha-Eun couldn't contain their curiosity any longer and asked the question I had been waiting for. "Then, Xeno, how do you know that she will stay loyal and not betray you later on?"

With a wide smile, I nodded and asked everyone present, "What, in your opinion, is the most important thing to a human?"

Hana and Ha-Eun answered, "Family," while Ryuji answered, "Word or promise."

"You are all correct, but you missed the most important thing for a human," I said, looking at them intently.

"The most important thing for a human is their soul. A human without a soul is like a cup without liquid. The existence is there, but it has no meaning. So, when a human wagers their soul for the price of power, what does that mean? It means they have nothing more to lose. It means they would forsake heaven, hell, and the cycle of reincarnation to get what they want. It means they would never betray. If their answers were anything else, I would have ended the conversation right then and there."