My Father's Mission: Keep Me a Fool

Dad's temper explodes when I tell him that one plus one equals two. Frank Huxley ruthlessly kicks me in the chest and roars, "Who gave you permission to learn addition? Why won't you just listen to me?" He then grabs me by the leg and drags me to the door, shoving me out of the house. "You just love learning so much, don't you? Go then! But don't ever call me your father ever again!" I wail loudly as I bang on the door with all my might. Suddenly, I can hear Dad's thoughts through the door. "He's so annoying. Why is this villain so disobedient? He needs to be an idiot so I can complete my mission. I'll give him the cold shoulder for a couple of days and deprive him of a few meals. Let's see whether he still has the guts to learn behind my back then!" I whip my head up in confusion. I don't know what a "villain" is, but I can't shake the feeling that Dad doesn't actually love me. Chapter 1 Fear gripped my heart as I cried and pleaded with Dad, Frank Huxley. "Please don't kick me out, Dad. I'm begging you." However, Dad just scoffed and shoved me out of the house before slamming the door in my face. I could still hear him berating me even through the door. "I worked myself to the bone to raise you. I treated you so well and taught you how to conduct yourself, and yet, you've never shown even a trace of gratitude for my efforts. Even a dog would be more obedient than you!" Dad finally fell silent on the other side of the door after he tired himself out from his ranting. However, another immensely impatient voice resounded in my ears a few seconds later. "I'll teach him a lesson that he'll never forget before coaxing him. You don't understand, system. You need to give both the carrot and the stick to train an obedient dog." I was stunned. Whose voice was that? Dad suddenly opened the door before I could figure out what had just happened. He glared coldly at me, asking, "Have you learned your lesson yet?" My first instinct was to immediately admit that I was at fault, as I always did in the past. However, I hesitated after hearing that strange voice in my ears. For the first time, I defended myself in a small voice. "Mr. Walton from the convenience store was the one who taught me addition, Dad. He said that all kids need to go to school if they want to make something of themselves in the future." Dad used to always drill these warnings into my head. "Studying is the starting line of a person's road to ruin. Your duty is to listen to me and be a good child. Everything that I do is for your sake. The outside world is too dangerous." There were no phones, TVs, or computers in the house. Dad also always locked the door when he left the house every day. I was already ten years old, but I had never gone to school. I also didn't know how to read or have a single friend. Dad immediately lost his temper upon hearing my explanation. "Didn't I tell you that good children always stay at home? You snuck out just because I forgot to lock the door once. Not only that, but you also listened to other people's nonsense. I've already told you countless times that you can't trust anyone but me. They're all out to get you!" "B-But Mr. Walton isn't a bad person," I stammered, desperately explaining myself as tears welled up in my eyes. "He just taught me addition." Dad suddenly slapped me hard across my face. I was utterly stunned as my tears splattered on the floor. Why? Just because I learned that one plus one equals two? Why was Dad so angry? "I can't believe that you still have the nerve to cry!" Dad shouted, roughly grabbing my arm and dragging me toward my room. "You'll have to be punished for your disobedience. You're forbidden from having dinner today. No leaving your room until you've figured out what you've done wrong!" I was then ruthlessly shoved into my room. I stumbled forward and nearly lost my footing. The door slammed shut with a loud bang behind me, followed by the clear sound of it being locked. I hugged my knees and buried my face into them. My entire body was trembling from how hard I was sobbing when I heard that strange voice from before again. "Shut up! I know. Damn it! I took so many precautions, but I didn't take a nosy country bumpkin into account. The brat is already suspicious. I won't be able to use my previous methods anymore. I'm going to have to take some drastic measures." I was stunned as I listened to the voice. Although I was young and immature, at that moment, I was struck with the realization that I was listening to Dad's thoughts. It turned out that Dad wasn't actually my father. He was an agent from another world and was known as the most cold-blooded, top-tier strategist who cleared his missions the fastest. However, he never used love to reform his targets. Instead, he achieved his goals by breaking his targets' spirits and ruining their lives. I was the target of his current mission—someone who was destined to become a wicked villain in the future. Chapter 2 I was frozen in place and nearly forgot to breathe. Dad always told me that he forbade me from receiving an education, leaving the house, and having any friends because he would be able to protect me better. I thought that he loved me, but it turned out that his true goal was to raise me into a piece of trash who didn't know anything. I went hungry for a full day before Dad opened the door and dragged me out of my room with an icy expression. "I treated you too well in the past. That's why you got the idea that you can talk back to me," he said. "You need to experience some hardship. Only then will you understand how despicable all the people in the outside world are." I had already known that Dad was going to punish me severely after hearing his thoughts. An overwhelming wave of fear crashed over me. I thrashed around and pleaded with him as he dragged me into the car. "I've learned my lesson, Dad. I won't learn addition anymore. I'll only listen to you from now on. Please don't send me away. I'm begging you." Tears spilled down my face as I grabbed the door handle in a death grip. My knuckles turned white from the amount of force I was exerting. However, Dad showed no signs of stopping. He didn't even spare me a glance as he forcefully peeled my fingers off the handle. "This is for your own good," he said in an eerily calm voice. "You'll have to go somewhere else to learn the rules if you can't do it at home. You'll stay there until you've learned them." The car hummed to life a few moments later. I plastered myself against the window and banged my fists against the glass. However, it was futile. The car finally slowed to a stop in a remote and desolate place. The building was surrounded by a tall barbed wire fence. The sounds of muffled barking could be heard through the rusty iron door. A tanned man in a tank top roughly dragged me out of the car. "Let go of me!" I screamed as I desperately thrashed around. The man slapped me hard across my face, causing my cheek to swell up in an instant. He then grasped my chin, forcing me to look up. "You're pretty feisty, brat. But I promise that you'll become even more obedient than a dog after spending a few days here." I was roughly shoved through the door. A pack of drooling dogs with red eyes turned to look at me in unison. Dad had sent me to that place like a disobedient dog. Overwhelming fear gripped my heart in an instant. … My life turned into my worst nightmare for the following days. "You need to eat with just your mouth. No using your hands! You're an animal, not a human!" I nearly suffocated when my face was ruthlessly shoved into the icy paste-like food that was mixed with sand and dirt. "Who gave you permission to get up? Crawl around on your hands and feet if you haven't learned the rules yet! Bark like a dog. You can only stop when we're satisfied." They whipped my calves with a leather belt as they forced me to crawl around on the rough concrete floor while letting out humiliating whimpers. I cried and pleaded with them, but the only responses I got were icy and heartless criticisms. I heard Dad's voice during the peak of my suffering. "Tsk! This place is actually producing good results. I can see the fear in his eyes." Was Dad here? Was he watching me? I mustered what little strength I had left to look up, desperately forcing myself to act as if nothing was amiss. I spotted a familiar figure when I snuck a glance beyond the barbed wire. Dad was hiding there, standing on the sidelines without lifting a finger to help me as I was berated and tormented. "He must have learned to be obedient by now. I should be able to complete my mission soon. Don't worry, system. He's just a villain. In fact, it's even better if he's crippled. He just needs to be alive for me to complete my mission. "Tsk! It is a little dirty. This place reeks. I would have stayed in the car if I had known." Was a "villain" a bad guy? But what did I do wrong? Why was he treating me this way? A sense of loathing that I had never experienced before reared its head in my heart at that moment. I bit my bottom lip harshly until the metallic scent of blood permeated my tongue. Chapter 3 I was endlessly humiliated and tormented at the dog training center. One day, in a rare moment of mercy, Dad decided to take me away from there. The love and expectations that I used to harbor for him had disappeared over the last month. The only things that were left were the wounds all over my body and a bottomless well of hatred. Dad was wearing his familiar, gentle smile. He reached out to me, looking like he wanted to pull me into his arms. I reflexively fell to my knees and whimpered, "Don't hurt me. I'll be good and obedient." My reaction pleased Dad. His eyes were full of heartbreak and helplessness when he crouched down and cradled my face. "You've lost so much weight, Isaac," he said. "I feel so upset just looking at you. But you have to understand that everything that I do is for your sake. You'll still be my dear son as long as you behave and listen to me." I looked down, using my lashes to hide the raging animosity in my eyes. I curled my hands into tight fists and used the pain to remind myself to stay calm. I then looked up and smoothly fixed an amicable smile on my face. "I understand, Dad," I said hoarsely, intentionally presenting myself as a coward who needed to rely on him. "I was wrong. I'll listen to everything that you say from now on, and I won't learn those useless things. Please don't cast me aside, Dad." I reached out to him, carefully grabbing the hem of his shirt and tugging on it gently. Dad jolted, though the movement was so discreet that it was barely noticeable. A few seconds later, I clearly heard his joyous thoughts. "I've done it! I've completely broken this villain's spirit. He's behaving just like a dog now, wagging his tail and begging me for my favor. You told me it was incredibly difficult to conquer the villains in this world, system. Well, it doesn't seem all that hard to me." A hint of contempt flickered across his eyes, but his smile grew more genuine. He pulled me into his embrace and patted my back gently, asking, "Why would I ever cast you aside, my dear son? I love you the most. I bought a lot of delicious food for you. Let's hurry home now." I was gentle and docile as I leaned against him, reminiscent of an obedient dog that had finally found its way home. … I didn't take a step out of the house from that day on. I also didn't do anything else except for eating, drinking, and playing to my heart's content. Dad still thought about testing me in the beginning, hiding in a corner to spy on me after intentionally leaving the door unlocked or leaving his phone in my line of sight. However, I didn't react at all. I didn't even spare them a single glance and only touched the things that he allowed me to. Dad also tested me by asking if I wanted to go to school. Playing along with him, I fixed a fearful and repulsed expression on my face before hiding behind him. He completely let his guard down around me after he was finally satisfied. I knew that Dad was waiting to complete his final mission. Over the past few days, I had managed to glean key information after listening in on his silent conversations with the system. I was the illegitimate son of Brenda Clairmont, the sole heiress of the Clairmont family, which was one of the top three families in Seafair. As a result of a recent attack by her enemies, Brenda could no longer conceive, making me her only child. "The original Isaac Clairmont showed extraordinary mathematical talent when he was only ten years old. He skipped several grades and showed a stellar performance at several competitions. He was also accepted into Porterson University through a special exception. "He was also a natural at handling the family's affairs after returning to the Clairmont family and became the youngest head in their history." Dad's thoughts took on a smug edge. "But I've completely broken this Isaac's spirit. When Brenda comes looking for him and lays eyes on his stupid and foolish appearance, she'll probably adopt a child from one of the branch families over acknowledging him as her son. "This way, he won't become the head of the Clairmont family. He also won't become the villain of this world." Dad's thoughts took a cruel and sinister turn then. "I'll completely eliminate him when that happens. I'll take him to international waters and squeeze what little value he has left out of him by selling his organs." Dad was going to mold me into a useless piece of trash with his own two hands before leaving me to rot in this world. Chapter 4 The days that I spent at the dog training center hadn't been a complete waste. Other than the physical abuse that they inflicted on me, the people there weren't as strict with me compared to Dad. As a result, I managed to steal a phone. I saw the outside world for the first time through the phone. My hands were shaking when I scrolled through those spectacular scenes. Students were reading in classrooms. Books, as far as the eye could see, are in libraries. People running around freely under the sun. Every scene that I came across made me shed tears. I swore to myself that I would escape to the outside world. I recalled hearing one of Dad's thoughts that revealed a bit of my true character. "The villain is extremely intelligent to the point that it almost feels supernatural. I can't give him any chances to come into contact with the outside world." Dad had been right to think that way. He shouldn't have given me a chance to look at the light—shouldn't have given me a chance to distance myself from his control. … The days passed in the blink of an eye. Dad was getting more and more excited. One day, a group of men in black suits came knocking on our door. "Mr. Huxley, we are here on Mr. Clairmont's orders to invite Mr. Isaac to the Clairmont residence as a guest." "The day has finally arrived," Dad thought to himself. "Brenda has discovered that she can't conceive anymore and has no choice but to seek out her illegitimate son." On the surface, he maintained a calm and composed expression on his face. Instead of answering them directly, he leaned down and asked me softly, "Do you want to leave the house and meet your mother, Isaac?" I was just about to answer when I caught a glimpse of a sinister glint in his eyes. My heart skipped a beat. He was testing me for the last time. I deliberately presented myself as being completely dependent on him and timidly threw myself into his arms. "I don't want to leave the house. The outside world is full of bad guys." As expected, a satisfied smile stretched across Dad's face. "The Clairmonts won't like it when they lay eyes on his stupid and cowardly appearance. My mission will finally be completed!" Only then did he look up and say, "Let's meet them then." He then pulled me toward the door. "My apologies," one of the men said, holding out his hand to stop Dad in his tracks. "Mr. Clairmont's invitation only extends to Mr. Isaac." Dad's expression darkened in an instant. Meanwhile, I immediately clung to his leg. My voice was thick with tears when I shouted, "I won't go if Dad's not going too!" The men stepped to the side to discuss their options. In the end, they had no choice but to let Dad tag along. Dad shot a smug look at them before taking my hand and getting into the car that would take us to the Clairmont residence. … I felt two scrutinizing gazes on me the moment we arrived at the Clairmont residence. A middle-aged man sat in the main seat, while a young woman with a gloomy expression sat next to him. I kept my eyes on the floor to give off the impression that I was timid and cowardly. As expected, Brenda frowned, not even bothering to hide the displeasure in her eyes. "Is he a mute?" she asked. "Does he not know how to speak even a single word?" Dad swiftly stood in front of me, putting on an act that made it look like he was protecting me. "Why are you scaring him? He's afraid of strangers and won't speak in front of them." Brenda scoffed. "As I thought, he's utterly unpresentable." She turned to look at her father, Xavier Clairmont, and said, "I already told you that we shouldn't have looked for this child, Dad. We should just adopt someone and nurture them." Meanwhile, Xavier was regarding me with a curious look. "He looks quite smart. How are his studies?" Dad interjected before I could say a single word, saying, "Just say so if you want to bully my son. You're intentionally humiliating him just because he's not that bright and struggles with his studies." He glared at them with bloodshot eyes. "So what if my son is stupid? He can just live a pure and happy life for the rest of his days." Xavier looked a little disappointed, but there was still a hint of hesitance on his face. Meanwhile, Brenda could barely keep her disdain in check. "Stop wasting your time, Dad. A useless piece of trash like him doesn't deserve to be the successor of the Clairmont family. We should just kick them to the curb." A hint of relief flashed across Dad's face, but he still deliberately raised his voice and exclaimed, "We don't care about joining the Clairmont family either! Let's go, Isaac. You can change your last name to mine from now on." He opened his arms, waiting for me to throw myself into his embrace like I always did. "Mr. Clairmont, the Garrick family is suddenly causing trouble for our projects." Just then, Xavier's secretary rushed into the room while clutching a thick stack of reports. "Something has gone wrong for the projects. Everyone is demanding compensation for breaching the contracts." He recited a long string of complicated numbers before continuing, "These are the compensation fees that the 15 business partners are asking for, respectively." "Just tell us the total!" Brenda snapped impatiently, interrupting him. "How much did we lose?" The secretary was just about to read the number aloud when a clear and young voice cut through the air. "28.96 million dollars."