Inheritance

"Mr. President." With a sharp bow, the bodyguard opened the car door.

"Mr. Moreaux, there's a suit in that box," Shan said from the front seat, pointing at a neatly packaged box. "Will you change in the car or...?"

"I'll change here," I said flatly.

"Okay. We'll be waiting outside."

A few minutes later…

"All set. I've changed," I said, tightening the mask. "Where are we going, Shan?" I asked, eyes closed, leaning back like a man preparing for either a mission... or a nap.

"We're going to our usual place, Mr. Moreaux," Shan replied with suspicious enthusiasm.

Our usual place? My thoughts echoed louder than intended. I started digging through Lucien's memories like a detective in a crime show rerun. Nothing. Not even a half-rotted breadcrumb of a clue. Disappointing.

The car drove out of the city and headed toward the outskirts. Two and a half hours of road, trees, and a growing sense of dread later...

"Mr. Moreaux," Shan said, opening the door.

I stepped out of the car.

In front of me stood a massive house—or, to be more precise, the kind of place you'd expect to see in a horror film right before someone vanishes. Not a normal house. It looked abandoned. Quiet. Almost like the house had secrets... and probably a hidden armory.

I didn't ask questions. Just followed Shan's lead.

Inside, it was a different world. Guards stood at attention in matching uniforms—probably standard issue—but what really got me was the interior. Extravagant. Luxurious. My jaw nearly dropped. Chandeliers. Velvet. Mahogany everything. It was like Versailles got dumped in the middle of nowhere.

As soon as the guards spotted me, they formed two rows and bowed in perfect sync.

"Welcome back, Leader."

I blinked. Then slowly turned to Shan, hoping he'd offer some context before I fainted or accidentally declared war.

Shan caught the hint. He nodded solemnly, then cleared his throat. "Our leader was discharged not long ago, and due to... some damage, he's experiencing temporary memory loss. We hope you all understand. No one is to leak this information to any third party."

"Understood," they chorused, bowing again.

Then—thud. Thud. THUD.

"BOOOOSSSSS!"

Before I could react, someone tackled me into a hug. Strong arms. Slightly sweaty. Sobbing.

"I knew Leader wouldn't abandon us!" said a young man, maybe 22 or 23. Sharp energy. Built like a tank. Loyal. Probably deadly. He is the kind of man who will snap a neck with a smile on his face.

I stared at him for a few seconds, and before I could stop myself, the words slipped my tongue: "Starry Night?"

He gasped, and the tears turned to joy. "You remember my name!" he cried like a rom-com heroine.

A memory—clear, crisp—flashed in my head. Starry Night. The left-hand man of the original Lucien. Fiercely loyal. Sharp-minded. A little dramatic. Totally unaware that the Lucien standing here now was a Lucien from another universe.

I patted his head like an older brother dealing with an emotional puppy. "Silly kid. Stop crying. I'm too young to die. Besides—I'm not even married yet."

That got a few chuckles. Tension, released.

Then I looked at Shan, unimpressed. "You really should've told me we were coming here."

"Oops! My bad, Mr. Moreaux," he said, not looking the least bit sorry. "I thought you'd remember."

"If I'd known, I would've brought something nice. You know. Snacks. Cake. Fried chicken."

Starry Night turned to Shan, narrowing his eyes. Then put a firm hand on his shoulder. "Shan… what kind of medicine did the President take? He's a saint compared to the volcano he used to be. I want to personally thank those doctors."

"You're single," Shan said, smirking and stroking his chin like a philosopher. "You wouldn't understand. It's the potion of love."

---

"Leader," Starry Night said, eyes locked on mine. "We couldn't catch the mastermind behind your assassination, but we've detained several who were involved. They're in the underground prison. Do you want to see them yourself?"

Shan looked at me, concern flickering behind his sharp gaze. **"Mr. Moreaux, if you're unsure, don't worry. Leave it to me. I'll handle everything."**

But something twisted in my chest. A strange curiosity… or maybe something darker. The idea of facing those who wanted me dead—it gripped me. And somewhere deeper-an unknown craving stirred, I don't want to admit

"Let's go," I said, a devilish grin pulling at my lips, I barely recognized.

They led me to a sealed, steel door. It looked like it have been use frequently. But groaned as it swung open, revealing a staircase spiraling down into darkness. From above, it looked like a tunnel to hell. Just a void.

"Mr. Moreaux?" Shan handed me a flashlight to go down the stairs.

I took it, nodded once, and stepped inside. My feet brushed against the old wooden steps, the faint friction of my slippers the only sound in the oppressive silence. I didn't know what I expected down there. But I knew—whatever it was—it wouldn't be normal.

We descended.

At the bottom, a narrow corridor stretched ahead. Two rows of cells, one on each side. Inside—people. Pale. Broken. Shackled. Some barely breathing. The sight made me sick to my stomach.

**Lucien… what kind of man were you?** My thoughts whispered the question into the void. No answer came. Nor did I expect one.

**"Boss, we're almost there,"** Starry Night said, finally breaking the suffocating silence.

We stopped before another door. Heavily reinforced. Armed guards stood on both sides. As soon as the guard saw me, they straightened and opened the steel gate to the prison room with worry written all over their face. The creak metal door sound echoed through the corridor, a sound that can make anyone's skin crawl.

Inside, a man sat tied against the far wall. Barely any clothes. Skin white as ash. Eyes hollow. He looked like he'd already died—just waiting for the body to follow.

Shan flipped on a dim red light overhead. The room was soaked in crimson, shadows twitching and twisting on the walls.

"Perfect place for torture," Shan muttered, eyes gleaming. "Mr. Moreaux, you were a genius when it came to this kind of thing."

I didn't know how to respond. Or better say I couldn't. This wasn't just a different life in transmigrated body—it was a different world, a multiverse. I didn't know if I wanted to scream or run.

But I didn't. I couldn't. Why?

Why did the heavy air feel so familiar? Why did the stench of fear not repulse me, but… pull me in?

Starry Night stepped infront of the prisoner and slapped heavily across the head. The sound echoed in the corridor from wall to wall. The man jerked awake, trembling violently.

"Please... let me go… I beg you..." The voice was very low, barely audible. "I don't know who the mastermind is… please…" he said shaking.

I stepped closer, narrowing my eyes. I studied his face. Blank. I didn't recognize him.

**"Who is he?"** I asked.

"One of the major culprits responsible for your accident," Starry Night growled. **"He tampered with the brakes on your car. The plan was to kill you. We caught him at the airport, trying to flee. I wanted to execute him immediately, but I waited for your command, boss." And added, also we found his phone, notes, he was following your moves over a months.

And then— Something clicked. A fragmented memory. A man in a hoodie. A hand twisting something beneath a car.

My head spun. My breath caught in my throat. Something deep inside me *shifted*.

I let out a cruel laugh and took the knife Shan handed me. I stepped toward the prisoner, watching him collapse into a sobbing mess.

**"Please—please don't kill me!"** he cried. "I don't know who he is! I just got a call and money! No contact name, no face! We were just following orders he gave us. That's all I know! I swear!" Please let me leave, he begged.

I turned to Shan with an unreadable smirk. "If I stab him… will I be caught?"

**"No, Mr. Moreaux,"** he said smoothly. "This place is locked down tight. And even if someone finds out, you'll still walk free." Who dares to question a tycoon!

I laughed again, darker this time. Then I passed the knife back to Shan.

"Keep him alive. A few more days. Make him talk."

"Yes, Leader." They answered together. Their voices eerily in sync.

Leader, do you want to check the other culprits behind the bar? Asked Starry Night.

May be later. You handle those. They are just some small fry.

I turned to leave.

"Let's get out of here."

---