With only three hours left before the system activation, Finn decided to rest. He lay on his bed, scrolling through his phone and rereading the Wuxia novel. To him, this wasn't just a distraction—it was research, a way to arm himself with knowledge for the challenges that lay ahead. He felt a thrill of excitement at the impending adventure.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Finn opened it to find another servant standing there. The servant roughly handed him a packet and walked away briskly, as if in a rush. Finn shut the door and opened the packet. Inside were instructions: avoid risks, choose the easiest dungeon, and survive. The directives were stark and restrictive, a clear mandate to play it safe. His grandfather's influence was evident, a shadow over every word.
The words on the paper seemed to taunt him: "Avoid risks. Choose the easiest dungeon. Survive." The instructions dictated a course of action that went against everything he yearned for. The idea of merely surviving, of not taking any risks, was abhorrent to him. He wanted more than just to exist; he wanted to thrive, to challenge himself, to break free from the constraints that had always held him back. The packet seemed to embody the control his grandfather exerted over the family, a control that Finn was desperate to escape.
The implications of his grandfather's new status as a herald were clear: the old man had secured advantages that placed him in a position of power and influence within the new system. These perks likely included enhanced abilities and access to exclusive resources, positioning him as a powerful figure when the system merged.
Finn read through the packet again, his frustration boiling over. "This is bullshit," he thought. "I'm not going to be confined by this." He knew that following these instructions would mean surrendering to a life of mediocrity, of playing it safe while others seized the opportunities for greatness. He wasn't going to let his grandfather's paranoia dictate his future. He wanted freedom to pursue his own path, and whoever wrote those instructions could go to hell.
Another knock on his door broke his thoughts. This time, it was his father and mother, followed by Alexander and Amelia. His father, looking stern, sat them down.
"Did you read the packet?" his father asked, his tone sharp.
Finn nodded, inwardly disgusted by what he read. "Yep," he replied. He wanted to be free to pursue his own path, and whoever wrote those instructions could literally go fuck themselves.
Noticing Finn's tone, his father asked, "What is your problem?"
Alexander interrupted. "Father, what Finn feels—what we all feel—is that we want to push ourselves. We want strength and power too, not this," he said, gesturing to the packet.
"I find the packet interesting," Amelia stated analytically, still absorbed in her Wuxia novel on her phone.
The family looked at the human computer among them. "What do you mean by 'interesting'?" their father asked.
Amelia looked up from her phone, her eyes sharp and calculating. "So, we know he is flying in his descendants, some of whom are completely useless. Grandfather only operates to gain a benefit. He isn't sentimental, correct, Father?"
Their father took in the information, nodding. "Correct." He had bided his time for years, festering over the things he found out about his father—especially the multiple affairs all over the world. The man was a sex addict.
"Now he is asking us to take less risk, again not because he is sentimental," Amelia continued analytically. "Grandfather's decision to include these individuals is purely utilitarian. Given his history and behavioral patterns, he's leveraging these people not for their capabilities but as expendable assets to fill our numbers. This suggests a prioritization of quantity over quality, ensuring the chain's completion with bodies rather than merit. If his goal was to build a strong army, he would be encouraging us to push our limits, to seek greater strength and capability."
She paused, her expression cold and methodical. "But what's particularly telling is his preference for direct descendants, even those who are entirely useless. Therein lies the unknown; why does he need more direct bloodline descendants? Why not recruit a few elite commandos from the military?"
Amelia's eyes narrowed as she continued. "Moreover, the timing and nature of these instructions suggest that Grandfather's current position as a herald likely provides him with significant advantages. He intends to solidify his power base by ensuring our dependency on him. By instructing us to take the safest path and choose the easiest dungeons, he maintains control over our actions and decisions, effectively binding us to his will."
She glanced at her siblings, her voice unwavering. "I don't know what he is planning, but I will not be in Grandfather's chain. His strategies, while effective, serve only to strengthen his grip over us. We must forge our own paths, seek our own strength, and not be pawns in his larger game." She returned to her Wuxia novel, as if the conversation had never happened.
Finn grinned after Amelia's explanation. The Wuxia novel was definitely rubbing off on her. He looked at his father. "Father, I know this may upset you, but Grandfather can take these instructions and go fuck himself."
Alexander smirked. "I agree, Father. I will not be joining Grandfather's link."
Jonathon Asper looked at his children, feeling a mix of pride and regret. Alexander was as sharp as they came, with instincts honed to a fine edge. Amelia dissected everything with the precision of a scalpel, her analytical mind always seeking the truth. And then there was Finn, who, even as a baby, had refused to give up at anything. That relentless tenacity had once frustrated Jonathon to no end, leading him to dismiss the boy as a waste. But now, in this new world, he realized tenacity would be the key to survival. His children were geniuses in their own right.
He absorbed everything they had said and sighed. He had been so close to replacing his father, playing the game without sacrificing his integrity. Sure, he had bent, but at the end of the day, he was still himself. His father had wanted to send Finn to boarding school, but Jonathon had refused. Finn was his child, and he would stay with him.
Reflecting on his choices, Jonathon felt a pang of guilt. He had been a terrible father. He had prioritized the games of power and influence over the genuine connections with his family. He had allowed his father's shadow to dictate his actions, often at the expense of those he loved most. The realization hit him hard, and he felt a deep sense of remorse. He looked at his wife, the woman he loved, who was struggling to cope with the changes. He felt a surge of determination to make things right.
"Fine," he said, his voice carrying a newfound resolve. "I have allies who will be joining us." He knew they would need all the support they could get, and he was determined to protect his family.
He turned to Finn, his tone softening. "I am sorry. I tried to find Eddy, but I cannot find him. The man is a ghost." He knew how much Eddy meant to Finn, and his failure to locate him weighed heavily on his conscience.
Jonathon then addressed the family as a whole, his voice firm. "I have a lot of work to do. Meet me in the wine cellar, northeast side. We will need more than just us, and I know others who won't like this either." He was ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead, determined to lead his family through the storm.