The Heir Of The Thunder God

3. The Inheritance Box

A sheet of pristine paper was attached inside.

[Your grandfather has passed away. The surgery failed, and his life could not be saved. This is the only item he left for you. There is no need for you to come back, as your grandfather has already been buried immediately due to concerns about the spread of the cancer virus after it ruptured.]

Oscar was utterly stunned.

His grandfather was dead?

How could it happen so quickly?

He had only sent the money one day ago.

Too many questions and inconsistencies flooded his mind, leaving him completely shaken.

Oscar loved his grandfather dearly.

Even though none of his uncles had been willing to pay for their father's treatment, Oscar had borrowed money just to save his grandfather's life.

So how had things ended up like this?

Oscar had never met his parents.

His grandfather was the one who had raised him from childhood to adulthood.

His grandfather loved him deeply.

They had even shared the same room.

Whenever Oscar faced difficulties or problems, his grandfather was the only person he could confide in.

His grandfather had been the pillar supporting his entire life until he met Geyssa.

And now, after everything that had happened today, his grandfather had left him forever.

After this...

What reason did he even have left to keep living?

Silent tears rolled down Oscar's cheeks.

Both hands tightly embraced the box his grandfather had left behind.

He still could not accept this cruel reality.

After calming down a little, Oscar finally opened the box.

Inside was a worn piece of paper and a black circlet.

The circlet looked old and weathered.

<<<Oscar... this talisman is for you. If this talisman has reached your hands, it means your grandfather is no longer in this world. Take good care of it, because one day it will be useful to you.>>>

Oscar picked up the black circlet with trembling hands.

His grief still gnawed at him.

Tears continued to flow endlessly.

'Isn't this Grandpa's favorite circlet?'

A memory suddenly surfaced.

This was his grandfather's treasured talisman.

When Oscar was still a child, he had accompanied his grandfather to the rice fields.

A violent storm had struck that day.

Thunder roared endlessly while lightning repeatedly lit up the sky.

The storm lasted from morning until night.

They had been unable to return home and were forced to take shelter inside a rundown shack that looked ready to collapse.

Fortunately, the shack survived the storm.

Late that night, while lightning flashed constantly and thunder shook the world outside, a bolt of light suddenly entered the shack.

His grandfather immediately embraced him to shield him from the lightning.

Throughout the night, Oscar remained wrapped in his grandfather's warm arms until dawn arrived.

The next morning, his grandfather discovered the black circlet lying beside them.

From that day onward, his grandfather had treasured it like a priceless artifact.

Oscar raised the circlet again.

It looked like nothing more than a simple black cord.

There was nothing special about it.

But because it had belonged to his grandfather, Oscar cherished it deeply.

In his heart, he vowed to protect it.

He placed the talisman around his neck.

Then tucked it beneath his shirt until it disappeared from sight.

---

Meanwhile, at Ahmad Gentara's residence, a celebration was underway.

Everyone was drinking and laughing as they celebrated the payout from their father's life insurance policy, which had made them even wealthier.

"It wasn't a waste pulling out his IV tube. Not only did we receive the insurance money, but we also got an extra ten billion from that idiot. We were already rich, and now we're even richer!"

"Hahaha!"

"Good thing Father wrote a will for that fool. Otherwise, who would have wanted that garbage box? Instead of throwing it away, we gave it to Oscar. At least he inherited something. Hahaha!"

"And it's only an old rubber cord! He'd be a complete idiot if he actually kept it. Hahaha!"

The room echoed with laughter.

Laughter filled with victory and satisfaction.

---

That night, Oscar fell asleep while hugging his grandfather's box.

As dawn approached, loud banging suddenly erupted at the door of his rented room.

"Oscar! Get out here!"

"Come out right now!"

"If you don't open this door, we'll break it down! Open up!"

Startled awake, Oscar hurried to open the door.

The moment he did, his face turned pale.

Several large men with vicious expressions stood outside.

Debt collectors.

Damn it.

He had forgotten that his loan payment had already been overdue for a week.

The money he had borrowed yesterday was already gone.

Every last cent.

It had all gone toward his grandfather's surgery, Geyssa's birthday gift, and the venue rental for the party thrown by the woman who had betrayed him.

And now that they were standing here...

How could he possibly escape?

"Where's our money?! Pay up now! Seventeen billion!"

The sarcastic voice came from the fiercest-looking man among them.

Oscar's eyes widened.

His original loan had only been around fifteen billion.

That meant the interest alone had reached two billion.

Oh God.

Oscar felt desperate.

And terrified.

"You've delayed long enough. Pay us now!"

This time the voice was even harsher, as though it wanted to devour him alive.

"Pay up now, or I'll slit your throat!"

The next threat was even more savage.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I-I don't have the money yet."

Oscar stammered in panic.

He had no idea what to do.

He owned nothing valuable enough to sell.

Nothing he could offer as collateral.

At this point, he truly believed they were going to kill him.

And he had already accepted it.

"What did you say?!"

The men began drawing weapons.

One slowly rubbed the blade of a knife he had pulled from his waist.

Another casually swung a sickle through the air.

The buzzing sound made Oscar's ears ring.

A third debt collector grabbed Oscar by the collar while the knife's tip moved closer and closer to his face.

"What are you trying to do?!"

Oscar snapped.

Though he was trembling with fear, anger had begun to replace his panic.

Besides...

He was no longer afraid of dying.

"We want our money. And if you can't pay right now..."

The most vicious-looking man stared directly into his eyes.

Then he leaned close and whispered beside Oscar's ear.

"We'll kill you."

Just as Oscar was preparing to accept his fate, he suddenly felt a strange sensation in his chest.

Warm.

Then cold.

Warm.

Then cold again.

For a brief moment, a faint glow shone from beneath his shirt.

Then it faded and disappeared.

Oscar almost thought he had imagined it.

And then...

He heard a voice.

It sounded hoarse.

Ancient.

As though it had traveled across countless years.

Could it be his grandfather's voice?

'Stay calm, Oscar. You can handle this. Believe in yourself.'

The whisper seemed strangely powerful.

Almost magical.

Oscar's heartbeat steadied.

His fear disappeared.

And slowly, he straightened his back and stood tall.

...