Under the moonlight's soft glow, a grand and lavish room lay still, save for a cold wind blowing through the wide-open windows. A flickering oil lamp illuminated the scene: an overturned chair beside a young nobleman, elegantly dressed but pale and lifeless, an arrow piercing his chest, aimed directly at his heart.
Suddenly, the man coughed violently and gasped for air. Confused, he opened his eyes and scanned the unfamiliar surroundings.
"Where... am I?"
"I was just at my detective agency... What's going on?"
Memories flooded his mind in an instant, and he realized he now inhabited the body of Kain Gerald, the newly appointed baron of Eagle Castle, who had just been assassinated. The soul of Su Ming, an ordinary detective from another world, had been thrust into this situation after a fateful nap.
Struggling to his feet, Su Ming felt sharp pain in his chest and noticed the arrow lodged there. Steeling himself, he pulled it out with a wrenching effort, golden-red blood gushing from the wound as he collapsed to the floor, barely conscious. The pain was overwhelming, but an unyielding will to survive kept him awake.
Then, as if rewarded by divine intervention, a strange sensation coursed through his body, soothing his pain and allowing him to drift into a peaceful sleep.
The next morning, sunlight filtered into the room, and a knock sounded at the door.
"Baron Kain, are you awake?"
Awakening once again, Kain noticed he was drenched in blood. However, he was startled to find golden streaks in his blood, which had not dried or coagulated but flowed freely.
Removing his torn shirt, Kain discovered that the arrow wound had fully healed, leaving only a scar behind. This transformation baffled him; it was beyond the capabilities of his previous self, even as a baron with initial-level strength.
Answering the knock, Kain brought in his trusted attendant, Enchin, to clean up the evidence and preserve the arrow. He resolved to investigate the identity of the assassin, noting the distinct design of the arrow, which suggested the use of a crossbow.
Through careful observation of the room and the castle walls, Kain pieced together the assassin's entry route and deduced they must be an extraordinary individual, possibly with greater power than himself.
Realizing the assassin might strike again, Kain knew he had to act swiftly. With his new lease on life and the mysterious transformation coursing through his body, he began plotting his next move to uncover the truth and protect his newfound identity.