The Vladimirs' castle, formerly known as the Hearth of the Shadows, was a wonder in the modern age.
Constructed by the second head of the Vladimir Clan, Jorge Vladimir, the castle was constructed on a destroyed volcano.
During the third World War, when the different countries in the east and west fought for power, and when the Vladimirs were using this as a chance to vie for more power taking advantage of the situation, this volcano was the result of one of the orbital weapons launch by a large power at that time.
The orbital strike was sent from the atmosphere of earth, launching a heavy pillar made of the toughest alloy that was 500 meters in diameter straight into the side of the volcano.
Due to the efforts of the opposing nation, the coordinates of the strike were scrambled and thus the dormant volcano erupted with blazing fury, covering the whole region in ashes.
After the war, the Vladimirs found this region and decided to construct their impregnable fortress on the remains of the pillar, stuck embedded inside the volcano.
The volcano was surrounded by mini volcanoes formed due to the collision and subsequent eruption on one side, making the other side easily defensible. The huge pillar also made the magnetic field around the fortress unstable, making it hard for outside disturbance to penetrate the networks of the fortress.
Harvesting the vast amount of thermal energy from the volcano under the fortress, the fortress is self-reliant and is not susceptible to any energy attacks plotted against the fortress.
In order to alleviate the concern of the volcano erupting again, devices that drill through the crust of the earth were dispatched around the region to release the pressure that is being built up over time, decreasing the chance of a sudden eruption.
Another benefit the Vladimirs have gained is the overflowing amount of resources they can harvest from the nearby regions surrounding the volcano.
From fertile lands to abundant mines and sulfur pockets, this is what the Vladimirs' rise to power was founded on. The vast amount of wealth.
...
Of course, it was not called the 'Hearth' for no reason.
The number of weapons created using the technology derived from research on geothermal energy and magnetic forces has allowed the Vladimir to stay in power, with them holding the blueprints to many weapons beyond the modern age.
The unique environment the Vladimirs have found themselves in had attracted many scientists to pledge their loyalty to them, thus creating a monopoly and deterrence with their unique weapons.
...
The castle is separated into two parts, the Upper and Lower.
The Lower is where all the production and headquarters of the clan are located. Training facilities and research labs are also found there.
Whilst the Upper is where the main members of the clan and their protectors live.
...
In one of the wings of the Upper area, Bright was in his bedroom once again.
After the display his father showed during the execution, he had lost the mood of playing a prank on him, for the time being.
He does not want to go through another hellish training or be issued another neigh impossible mission.
He was now in one of the rooms of his room. Yes, his 'room' is as big as a mansion, which has multiple rooms.
Each wing in the Upper is as big as a mansion that is protected by guard towers and walls, with the only way in being from the center wing.
In one of the rooms, Bright was attentively cleaning his favorite sword.
He had fond memories of this sword, which was gifted to him by his mother, his dear mother.
Although his mother is often busy managing in the shadows of the entertainment industry, on his fifth birthday she presented him with this sword, which was then used by him to sever the neck of a criminal earning the approval of his father and mother.
It was sharp enough for the head to fall in one clean slash, and although he had puked a lot afterward he was proud of himself.
Growing up as the Heir to the Throne hasn't been easy for Bright. He had learned about the ugly side of humanity from a very young age and was aware of all its vices.
Therefore, due to reasons like this and his killing of many more criminals after that, he is averse to making the acquaintance of any human that is not family or close to them.
Until he found online novels, that is.
...
If being the Heir had taught him the dark side of humanity, then reading online novels had taught him the wrong side of humanity, and some occasional good side.
What started out as a joke by his brother Ethan when he gave him his first romance novel, thinking that it would creep Bright out, turned into an obsession for novels and him exploring other genres.
He was no stranger to harems as he was expected to have his own for political or other purposes in the future. However, novels have enlightened him on the culture of lolicons and siscons, which had to be beaten out of him by his own sister, May, when he tried a pickup line on her he learned from a novel.
From then on, he would be more cautious when researching stuff like that but at the same time, the two different but equalling disturbing sides of humanity laying themselves bare for him to slowly digest had made him a somewhat introverted and unique individual.
The only time when he is truly acting like a proper human is when he was talking to his weapons...
"Hey buddy, how have you been? I see you've been as sharp as ever huh? I don't think you have aged a day since I met you that day, what is your secret? The texture of your skin is still so smooth and bright. It should be the regular massage I've been giving you. You have to thank me for that." Bright said in a satisfied manner as he gaze lovingly at the blade of his sword, exclaiming in wonder. Over and over again.
'What the fuck am I doing.' He sighed, as he sheathed the sword back into his scabbard. He knows that there's something wrong with himself, but how can the Heir to the most powerful clan in the underworld, and also an avid reader of online novels ever be a 'normal' human being?
To make matters worst, he had no friends. Either people refuse to be comfortable around him due to his status, or they could not stand being gazed at like how a predator size up their prey. A habit that Bright acquired whenever he meets people, always trying to figure out the best way to end them.
He placed his 'Buddy' on the wall rack and then stood up to gaze around the room, greeting all his 'buddies' with his eyes.
Weapons of different shapes and sizes align the walls of the room, showcasing the vast amount of weapons he had mastered.
For the Vladimirs, one can only own a weapon he or she has mastered. Thus, one might be surprised at the sheer amount of weapons Bright has in store, which could easily be in the top 5 most equipped personal armories in the castle.
...
Bright was seated in his chair as he listened to the butler inform him about what his father has prepared for him next.
Since he was young, he had gone through many lessons about military combat and espionage, survival in the woods, and other knowledge enough to topple a country, so feeling like he has learned it all, Bright is looking forward to how his father would plan his next lesson.
"Young master, your father has requested of you to attend school."
...
"Huh?!"