Chapter 41: Unearthing the Past

Isaac stood in the private vault of the Netlixie estate, his fingers tracing the edge of his hourglass pendant. Around him, the hum of security systems filled the space, but none of it mattered to him. The wealth he needed wasn't locked away in this room—it was waiting for him in the past, where he had hidden something far more valuable than gold or gemstones.

Mara leaned against the wall, arms crossed as she watched him. "Are you sure you don't need anything before you go?"

Isaac glanced at her, amusement flickering in his eyes. "You always assume there's a dramatic process to this."

Mara sighed. "It's just… strange. You disappear for no time at all, but for you, it could be years. It's unsettling."

"I won't be gone long," he assured her. "I'm simply retrieving something I put aside long ago."

Before she could say anything else, Isaac focused his mind.

Time unraveled around him, folding backward in an instant.

He was no longer in the vault.

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### A Treasure Beyond Time

The moment Isaac reappeared, he found himself in the heart of an ancient forge, deep within a mountain that had once been the source of legend.

The forge roared with an ethereal blue fire, fueled not by conventional flame but by a rare celestial ore that had long since been lost to time. This was not just a place of metal and heat—it was a sanctum where materials beyond human understanding had been worked into artifacts of immense power.

And Isaac had once been its patron.

The artisans of this forgotten civilization had crafted tools, weapons, and artifacts that would be considered priceless even in the distant future. But there was one creation among them that Isaac had hidden away for a time when he would need it most.

A crystalline ingot, forged from a substance that no longer existed in the modern world.

He stepped forward, his boots echoing against the stone floor. The chamber was abandoned, just as he had expected. The civilization that had built this place had faded from history, leaving behind only ruins and forgotten knowledge.

He reached a pedestal where the ingot had been sealed away. The stone around it was marked with inscriptions—words of protection, warnings to those who might try to take what they did not understand.

Isaac reached out, pressing his fingers against the cold surface of the crystalline ingot.

It pulsed faintly beneath his touch, reacting to his presence.

This was no ordinary treasure. This was a fragment of something greater, something that, if refined properly, could become the foundation of an energy source beyond anything available in the present day. In the right hands, it could power entire cities, ships, or even planetary defense systems. In the wrong hands, it could be used as a weapon far more dangerous than anything currently known.

And in his hands—it was leverage.

Leverage against anyone who thought they could oppose him.

With a breath, Isaac lifted the ingot. It was heavier than it looked, yet he carried it with ease. Time responded to its presence, as if recognizing its significance.

He had what he needed.

And then, in the blink of an eye, he was back.

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### The Future Reclaimed

Isaac stood once again in the vault of the Netlixie estate, no time having passed.

Mara didn't react at first. Then, her gaze dropped to what he now held in his hands.

"That," she said slowly, "is not what I was expecting."

Isaac let the crystalline ingot rest on the vault table, its surface reflecting the artificial light. It seemed almost alive, pulsing with a faint glow.

"What is it?" Mara asked, stepping closer.

Isaac watched it for a moment before answering. "Something that doesn't exist anymore."

Mara's eyes widened. "You mean—"

"Yes." He met her gaze. "This is worth more than any amount of gold, diamonds, or stock holdings. It's a power source beyond anything modern technology can produce. Controlled correctly, it could run entire fleets, terraform planets, or give whoever holds it an unshakable position in any negotiation."

Mara exhaled, pressing a hand to her forehead. "And you just… had this sitting in the past?"

Isaac smirked. "I think ahead."

Mara let out a short laugh. "You really do."

Then, her expression turned serious. "This is dangerous, isn't it? If the wrong people find out we have it…"

Isaac nodded. "Which is why they won't." He tapped the surface of the ingot. "This is how we regain control of Chronos Holdings. Not through slow acquisitions, not through risky deals, but through something so rare and valuable that no one will be able to argue against us."

Mara studied him. "You're planning to use it as collateral?"

"In a way," Isaac said. "Some of the company's most influential shareholders aren't driven by stock prices—they're driven by power, by access to technology that no one else has. If they know that I have something that could shift the balance of power across entire systems, they'll align with me. Quietly, but decisively."

Mara slowly nodded. "This is bigger than I thought."

Isaac smiled faintly. "That's because you're thinking in terms of a company. I'm thinking in terms of history."

Mara shook her head in disbelief but smiled. "You really never stop playing the long game, do you?"

Isaac lifted the ingot slightly, watching the way it refracted the light. "No," he said. "And I never will."

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**End of Chapter** 

### **Author's Note:** 

Thank you for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, please consider leaving a review and voting with Power Stones. Your support helps keep the story going! 

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