"Long time no see."
A gray-haired man bowed to greet Zain. His secretary followed suit. Zain turned to him, but he didn't stand up and nodded in response.
Without waiting for Zain to speak, the gray-haired man sat down next to him, and his secretary followed suit.
"The weather is fine today." Evan Dante struck up a casual conversation with Zain.
"Yes, quite nice," Zain responded casually.
Zain turned to Evan and saw the young man beside him.
"Ah yes, let me introduce myself to my son, Rian."
The young man immediately stood and politely reintroduced himself.
"Good morning, sir. I apologize for not properly greeting you earlier. My name is Rian Dante."
He was a young man with a small mole at the tip of his left eyebrow. His black hair was neatly combed back, giving off a neat and determined impression. Zain smiled and nodded.
"You have a good son."
"Of course, I'm proud of him."
Rian sat back and listened to their conversation. Two people who seemed to have a large age gap were chatting like close friends of the same age.
"Have they known each other for a long time?" Rian couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"Shouldn't I leave so I don't interrupt their conversation? But Dad insisted on me staying here? Why?" These thoughts swirled in Rian's head. He couldn't express them.
The wind blew gently, rustling the fallen leaves. Evan's gentle yet determined eyes stared at the fallen leaves.
"This place feels quite comfortable. It's very peaceful and serene here." Evan said.
"Yes." Zain nodded.
"When we're in a quiet place, our thoughts wander. It's a comfortable place, but it can also be frightening."
Evan stared at several tombstones. His ocean-blue eyes stared deeply.
"No one can stand silence."
"After death, silence is eternal," Zain said without a change of expression.
Evan's blue eyes stared sadly at Zain.
"Then, what about you?"
Zain's green eyes glanced at Evan.
"I don't know," Zain replied with a faint smile.
A cool breeze blew gently, rustling the branches and leaves of a large tree that provided shade behind them. Rian, who sat and listened to their conversation, felt slightly taken aback.
Although he tried not to show any change in expression, his dark brown eyes betrayed his surprise. During his time as a secretary, he had met all kinds of people. Listening intently to people's conversations had become a habit for him. Therefore, he could understand someone's intentions not only from what they said but also from their tone.
Talking about death, especially at a funeral, is not uncommon. The living are inextricably linked to death. But what surprised him was that not only did he discover that Evan and Zain had known each other longer than he thought, but they also shared a secret.
Although their ages seemed vastly different, they spoke casually, but somehow Rian felt like Zain was much older than Evan.
"Humans fear silence and darkness. No one is immune to death. Because of that fear, they try everything to stay alive."
"Even if the world is destroyed." Evan's expression relaxed again.
"But what if that life were gained through the death of another?" Evan's face tensed.
"What kind of 'immortality' would people think of when they heard that? Having a healthy body, not aging, without wounds, and not having to fear death."
"When everyone heard that, they would want it."
"And there would be people looking for a way to achieve it."
"That sounds blissful. Everyone would rejoice if they could attain immortality."
"They would use any means to achieve it."
"But what if immortality is limited to only a few people? And others are used to create that immortality?" Evan's expression was mixed.
He sounded as if he were mocking himself and others. But there was also sadness in his voice. Zain, who had been listening silently, began to speak.
"All living things want to live. Even the dead might want to live again."
"Sacrifice is necessary in life. But only sincere sacrifice is permissible in life."
"Death is the most terrifying thing for everyone. Not just humans, but for everything."
"But death is also necessary for everything."
"There is death, there is birth. Those who have died are replaced by new life."
"Some sacrifice their lives to protect the lives of others. Others sacrifice the lives of others to protect their own lives."
Hearing Zain's words, Evan and Rian were stunned. Inwardly, they simultaneously came to a conclusion from Zain's words. That was the cycle of life that made the world turn.
"Nothing can truly be said to be wrong in this. But everything has its time."
"Every moment in life is precious. Even if their lifespan is short, they should cherish the moments in their lives."
"But when something is said to be eternal, everything becomes sad."
Listening to Zain, Evan and Rian still had the same expression. However, unlike Evan, Rian's expression was more surprised.
"How can someone say that without the slightest change in expression? As if he's lived a very long life. Yet he still looks young?" Rian thought.
Evan sighed and smiled as he looked up at the clear sky.
"Sorry, maybe because I'm old, I've forgotten a lot." Evan's ocean-blue eyes seemed to reminisce about the past.
Rian opened his mouth several times, but he chose to remain silent and listen.
In the silent cemetery, they sat in silence.
Rian had many things he wanted to ask Zain. But because of his role as secretary, he had to respect Evan, who knew Zain better. Rian calmed himself and continued listening.
A cool breeze blew. Amidst the silence between them, the sound of dry leaves falling could be heard. Evan began to speak.
"There are some people who are researching immortality. They are running a project called the 'Eternity Project'."