
"The police have officially concluded their investigation, Sir."
Gerard Hood's voice broke the silence inside the black luxury sedan.
Raiden Bolt sat quietly in the back seat, staring out the window. Only yesterday, he had watched his family mansion disappear beneath a sea of flames. His parents, William Bolt and Caren Bolt, had never made it out alive.
He had survived, but the burns covering his body still throbbed with every movement, adding to the burden of legs that had already been paralyzed for years.
After leaving the hospital that morning, the first thing he had done was hire a private investigator. He knew that the police's conclusion would come far too quickly for his liking.
"What did the police say?"
Gerard handed him a report.
"They ruled it an accidental explosion."
Raiden lowered his eyes to the document.
"The investigation concluded that the explosion originated from Mrs. Bolt's underground laboratory. They believe one of her experiments malfunctioned and ignited highly combustible materials stored inside."
His mother had indeed spent years conducting magical research in the underground laboratory beneath the Bolt Mansion. To anyone else, the explanation sounded reasonable, but Raiden wasn't convinced.
"What about the private investigator?"
"He couldn't find enough evidence to challenge the police's conclusion. But he did find two things that troubled him," Gerard answered.
Gerard placed the first photograph in front of him. It showed a traffic camera located on the main road leading toward Bolt Mansion.
"The footage covering the twenty-three minutes before the explosion was deliberately erased. It wasn't damaged by the explosion, nor was it a system malfunction. Someone intentionally deleted only those twenty-three minutes."
Gerard then laid down another photograph. It showed the remains of the underground laboratory.
"Our investigator believes the laboratory wasn't simply destroyed by the explosion. He believes someone searched the laboratory before the fire spread."
Raiden carefully examined the photograph. Several reinforced storage cabinets had been forced open. Metal drawers had been pulled from their frames. The destruction didn't look random.
Gerard's expression grew grim.
"And this morning, someone broke into the investigator's office."
"Were anything stolen?" asked Raiden.
"Only the files related to the Bolt Mansion explosion. He called me an hour ago. He apologized and said he could no longer continue the investigation."
Raiden tightened his grip on the photographs. The more he thought about it, the less he believed his parents had died in an accident.
His mind drifted to his wife, Angeline.
She had disappeared before the explosion and never returned home. Throughout the entire night, every one of his calls had gone unanswered.
"Did the investigator find Angeline?"
Gerard gave a slight nod.
"Yes, Sir."
"Where is she?"
"She is at the Randal estate. The investigator was sure she was there the whole night."
Raiden slowly raised his head and met Gerard's eyes.
"Take me to the Randal estate."
Less than twenty minutes later, the black luxury sedan came to a stop before the towering Randal estate.
Gerard hurried to unfold the wheelchair before helping Raiden out of the vehicle.
The mansion gates opened immediately. No one tried to stop them. It was almost as if someone had been waiting for his arrival.
Gerard pushed the wheelchair through the lavish entrance hall.
The moment they entered the living room, Raiden froze.
Angeline was sitting comfortably on another man's lap. Her arms rested naturally around his neck. The man casually stroked her waist before planting a kiss on her bare shoulder.
Neither of them looked surprised to see Raiden. It was as though they had expected him all along.
"Welcome, Raiden," Johny Randal said with a cunning smile.
"Yes, Raiden. We know you were heading here," he said, as if answering Raiden’s unspoken question.
Raiden's hands gripped the armrests of his wheelchair so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
"Angeline."
His voice trembled with fury.
"What are you doing?"
Angeline glanced at him indifferently before stepping away from Johny. There wasn't even the slightest trace of guilt in her eyes.
"I called you all night. My parents died yesterday. Our home exploded, and you disappeared without a word." His voice grew colder. "Tell me what you know."
Angeline folded her arms.
"About what?"
"Stop pretending." Raiden's eyes remained fixed on her. "You vanished before the explosion and ignored every one of my calls afterward. If you know anything about what happened last night, tell me now."
A faint smile appeared on Angeline's lips.
"I know plenty."
Raiden leaned forward slightly.
"Then explain it."
Angeline glanced at Johny before letting out a soft laugh.
"Why should I?"
"Because my parents are dead! If you know anything about what happened last night, you will tell me."
Angeline looked at him as though he had said something ridiculous.
"Your parents are dead, Raiden." She shrugged. "That's your problem, not mine."
Raiden froze.
"What...?"
"Once you're dead, I'll be free. I'll be Angeline Wood again... or perhaps Angeline Randal."
Johny chuckled as he walked closer.
"Raiden, did you honestly believe a woman like Angeline would stay with a cripple forever?"
The surrounding bodyguards laughed.
"I've loved Johny from the very beginning. You were nothing more than a stepping stone," Angeline said.
Johny laughed loudly.
"You two... I'll make you pay for this!" Raiden cried.
"Really? What exactly can you do? You don't even realize what happened yesterday," Johny asked mockingly.
Raiden frowned.
"What do you mean?"
Johny casually picked up a thick stack of documents from the coffee table. He tossed them into Raiden's lap.
"They're yours."
Raiden opened the first page. His expression instantly changed. It was an Ownership Transfer Agreement of Bolt Group, and it was signed. His hands began to shake. He hurriedly flipped through the remaining documents.
It was the documents of everything he had. It was all transferred to Johny Randal.
"No..." Raiden muttered. "This is impossible."
Johny smirked.
"Is it?"
Raiden looked toward Angeline.
"You had access to all of my accounts... You..."
Angeline didn't deny it. Instead, she smiled proudly.
"Five years. It only took me five years to obtain everything."
Raiden felt as though the world around him had collapsed.
“You slut!”
Angeline shrugged. She didn’t even care what Raiden just called her.
Rage exploded inside Raiden. He slammed both hands against the wheelchair and tried to stand.
"I'll kill you both!"
The moment he forced himself upright... His crippled legs gave out beneath him. His body crashed heavily onto the marble floor. Pain shot through every wound on his body. The wounds when he miraculously survived from the fire last night. Fresh blood slowly stained the polished white floor.
Laughter erupted throughout the mansion.
"Hahaha! The cripple fell again! What a joke!"
Gerard immediately rushed forward.
"Sir!"
Before he could help Raiden, a bodyguard kicked him violently in the stomach. Gerard was sent crashing several meters away. He groaned in pain, unable to stand.
"Gerard!"
Raiden struggled desperately to crawl toward him. Johny looked down at him as though he were looking at an insect.
"What a pathetic sight. You should've died with your parents," she said.
"Finish him," Johny ordered.
The bodyguards immediately surrounded Raiden. One kick landed against his ribs, another struck his back.
The beating continued without mercy. Kicks and punches rained down on him from every direction, reopening the wounds he had suffered in the explosion. Blood stained the polished marble floor beneath him, yet no one showed the slightest intention of stopping. The mansion echoed with laughter as if his agony were nothing more than entertainment.
Raiden curled instinctively, trying to shield his head, but every movement only invited another blow. His consciousness began to fade, and even the pain slowly turned numb.
His trembling fingers instinctively reached the old silver ring his mother had made him swear never to remove. Warm blood slowly flowed across the ring's surface.
For an instant, the dull gemstone embedded within it emitted a faint golden glow.
A mechanical voice echoed inside his mind.
[Compatible Host detected.]
[Bloodline Verification Complete.]
[Initializing Legacy Inheritance System...]
Latest Chapter
A Place Above Her Expectations
The appearance of Raiden Bolt immediately changed the atmosphere around the table.Mileena looked up at him with genuine surprise, having never expected to encounter her employer during her day off. She had come to the restaurant simply to enjoy a quiet afternoon, and the last person she had imagined meeting was the owner of Aurora Hotel.“Mr. Bolt? What are you doing here?” she asked.Raiden smiled faintly. “I could ask you the same question. I did not expect to see you here.”“I am enjoying my day off,” Mileena explained. “I thought I would have lunch somewhere nice.”“I see.” Raiden glanced briefly at the people around her before turning his attention back to her. “I hope I am not interrupting anything.”“Not at all.”Brielle had been watching their exchange with growing curiosity. She recognized Raiden from the news, particularly the reports about Aurora Hotel and his confrontation with Leonard at Blackwell Grand. More importantly, she knew exactly who he was in relation to Angeli
An Unexpected Encounter
Mileena had decided to spend her afternoon away from the hotel, something she rarely allowed herself to do. After several demanding weeks at Aurora, she wanted a quiet meal and a little time to herself, without having to think about reservations, staff schedules, or the endless stream of reports that usually occupied her attention.The restaurant was located inside one of the city's most prestigious shopping centers, known for its elegant interior and exclusive clientele. Mileena had just finished ordering when she heard someone call her name.She turned around and found herself looking at a familiar face.“Ethan?”Ethan Caldwell stood a few steps away, dressed in an expensive shirt and tailored trousers. He looked slightly surprised to see her, but before he could say anything, the woman beside him slipped her arm through his.“Do you know her?” the woman asked.“Yes. This is Mileena, my ex-girlfriend,” Ethan replied.The woman looked Mileena over with open curiosity. She was dressed
An Offer Worth Considering
The door closed behind Raiden as he entered the private room with Sebastian. Unlike the main hall, where conversations and business introductions had filled the atmosphere, the smaller room was quiet and designed for private discussions. A folder had already been placed on the table, accompanied by several documents that appeared to contain preliminary information about the investment project."Please, have a seat, Mr. Bolt," Sebastian said, gesturing toward the chair opposite him.Raiden sat down, while Sebastian took the seat across the table and opened the folder."I appreciate you taking the time to speak with me. As I mentioned earlier, the project we are preparing is considerably larger than most of the business opportunities currently available in this region. We are planning to develop an integrated commercial district that will include business properties, hospitality facilities, retail spaces, and supporting infrastructure."Sebastian briefly explained the general scope of th
A Misguided Confidence
Leonard Blackwell was becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the attention Sebastian Valmont had given Raiden throughout the gathering. He had come prepared to introduce Blackwell Group as a strong candidate for the investment project, yet Sebastian had spent considerably more time discussing business matters with the owner of Aurora Hotel.Leonard was unwilling to let the opportunity slip away without making his own case."Mr. Valmont," he said as Sebastian was preparing to return to the private room, "would you have a few minutes to discuss something with us? I believe there are several matters concerning our company's capabilities that might be worth discussing in greater detail."Sebastian glanced at him before nodding."Certainly. You may come with me."Leonard immediately motioned for Gideon to follow. The two men entered the private room, where Sebastian invited them to take their seats. His expression remained composed, giving little indication of what he thought about their
Beyond Financial Strength
Raiden remained seated for a moment, considering how to respond to Sebastian's question. Several businessmen in the room were watching him with curiosity, while Leonard sat with an expression that suggested he was not expecting anything particularly impressive from the younger man."From what I understand, this project will require a substantial investment and long-term commitment," Raiden began. "However, I believe the first thing a potential partner should consider is not how much money they can put into it, but whether the project can be managed sustainably once it begins."Sebastian nodded, encouraging him to continue."Large investments often attract businesses because of the potential returns, but the greater the scale, the more important it becomes to evaluate the risks involved. A company might have sufficient capital to begin construction or establish operations, but that does not necessarily mean it can manage the project successfully over several years."A few attendees exc
The Real Competition
The atmosphere inside the conference hall gradually settled after Sebastian welcomed Raiden personally. Although several guests were still curious about the young hotel owner, the gathering soon returned to its original purpose as the attendees took their seats.Leonard sat beside Gideon, his expression carefully controlled despite the irritation he felt. He had not expected Raiden to receive such special treatment, and the fact that Sebastian had personally waited for him was difficult to dismiss. Nevertheless, Leonard reminded himself that being invited did not necessarily mean Raiden had any real advantage in securing the project.After all, Blackwell Group possessed financial resources and business experience that Aurora Hotel could hardly match.Sebastian eventually stepped onto the small stage at the front of the hall. He waited until the remaining conversations had faded before addressing the guests."First, I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to attend this gath
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