Three years after Chadwick died, war broke out on Westland’s western border.A neighboring country pushed thousands of soldiers across and hit several military positions at once. Westland fought back right away, but the fighting dragged on for months. They started losing men faster than they could replace them. Bases got overwhelmed. Reserves kept getting called up. Eventually the government announced a full emergency mobilization.When Soren turned eighteen, the order came down: every able-bodied citizen of age had to report. Every household had to send someone. The Anderson family was no exception.Everyone knew the eldest son was supposed to go.But the matriarch had other ideas.At a family meeting she looked straight at Soren.“The country needs soldiers. This family has more than one young man who can serve. You’re already an outsider living under this roof. You should be the one to go.”Soren’s eyes narrowed a little. “The order says the eldest eligible member reports first.”“

The ride to the Anderson Estate was quiet.The roads gradually changed from crowded city streets to a private district surrounded by carefully trimmed green hedges and tall stone walls. Marble statues stood along both sides of the road, while expensive lights illuminated the entrance to the properties. At the end of the road stood a pair of enormous gilded iron gates.Soren stared at them through the window.He remembered those gates.Ten years ago, he had left this place carrying a military bag on his back while Charles stood behind him, desperately trying to follow the vehicle.Now he was finally back.But Charles was no longer waiting for him behind those gates.The Jeep slowly passed through the entrance and continued toward the main courtyard. The Anderson Estate appeared ahead, larger than Soren remembered. The mansion stood in the center of the enormous property, looking more like a royal palace than a private residence. It was one of the four great family houses in Westland an

Creg, One of the Anderson siblings suddenly stepped forward, his face twisted with contempt.“I always knew you were nothing but a lowly bastard, Soren, but I never expected you to return after ten years and act as though you were someone important.”He glanced toward Luther before continuing.“And whatever happened to that useless blind man, Charles, has nothing to do with you anymore. He's dead. The family has already buried him, so why are you still digging into his death?”Soren's expression remained cold.Creg stepped closer, clearly emboldened by the support of the other Anderson family members.“Look around you. This family has already chosen its heir. Luther is the one who matters now. Charles was weak, useless, and incapable of doing anything for the Anderson family. You should have stayed away instead of coming back here and causing trouble.”Several Anderson siblings nodded in agreement.Cyrus sneered. “He's right. You were nothing more than an outsider whom Grandfather too

Kieran Raze slowly walked toward Soren, each step measured and deliberate as his polished boots struck the marble floor. There was something unsettling about the way he moved, as though he had already decided how Soren would die and was merely walking toward the place where it would happen. His cold eyes traveled over Soren from head to toe before settling on his face, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.“You have a rather sharp face,” Kieran said calmly. “It is a shame to destroy something like that, but I suppose there is nothing I can do about it. I was hired to kill you, and everyone has to earn a living somehow.”Several people around the hall exchanged uneasy glances, but Soren remained completely still. He had faced men far more dangerous than Kieran on battlefields where one mistake meant death, so the killer's attempt at intimidation did little more than confirm what Soren had already suspected. Behind him, however, Lucus's body tensed, and his hand instinctively moved to