In Washington D.C. January 2025, United States of America.
A convoy composed of four Black Escalades were driving down the road as it headed towards the White House.
In one of those SUVs was a man in a tailored suit, looking out of the window as he watched the scenery pass by.
"ETA to the White House is five minutes, Mr. Secretary," said his Chief of Staff.
Ethan simply nodded, his eyes fixed on the window. He remained silent throughout the trip as he preferred being quiet and avoiding unnecessary talk with his staff. For him, it wasn't efficient. He'd only talk to them if there are important matters that needed to be discussed.
The Chief of Staff knew that all too well, because he conducted his research before becoming his Chief of Staff after his predecessor retired due to old age.
Ethan Cross, a thirty-six-year-old single man, born into a middle-class family in Massachusetts. He demonstrated brilliance from an early age. By the time he was 18, he had already earned a full scholarship to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he pursued a degree in Mechanical Engineering. While at MIT, Ethan's intellect and drive quickly set him apart. At just 20, he designed a prototype of a highly efficient thermoelectric generator capable of converting waste heat into usable electricity at unprecedented levels of efficiency. This invention won him the prestigious Lemelson-MIT Student Prize, and his work was featured in leading scientific journals.
By 22, Ethan had completed his Master's degree, focusing on sustainable energy systems, and followed it with a PhD in Advanced Manufacturing by the age of 25. During his doctoral studies, he invented a modular robotic system for automated factory lines, dramatically improving efficiency and reducing operational costs for manufacturers globally.
After completing his PhD, Ethan founded CrossTech Innovations, a company that specialized in green technology and advanced robotics. By 27, he had developed a self-healing material for infrastructure, earning him international acclaim and lucrative contracts with the Department of Transportation and private engineering firms.
At 30, Ethan's breakthroughs in renewable energy storage and transmission systems led to the widespread adoption of his patented high-density batteries, which became a cornerstone of the renewable energy revolution in the United States. Dubbed the "King of Technology," he had earned global recognition for his unparalleled contributions to engineering and science.
Despite his achievements, Ethan grew increasingly frustrated with the slow adoption of advanced technologies due to bureaucratic inertia. Determined to make a difference, he entered politics at 32, running for Congress in his home district in Massachusetts. His campaign focused on the intersection of technology, policy, and public welfare. With a grassroots approach and a clear vision, Ethan won the election by a landslide.
As a congressman, Ethan introduced and championed several transformative bills. His "Clean Grid Act," which allocated federal funding to modernize the nation's power grid with renewable energy integration, passed with bipartisan support and led to a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions within five years. He also spearheaded the "Automation Workforce Transition Program," which provided training and resources to workers displaced by automation, ensuring that technological progress didn't leave anyone behind.
At 35, Ethan was elected to the U.S. Senate, becoming one of the youngest senators in modern history. His tenure was marked by impressive legislative accomplishments, including the "Advanced Infrastructure Resilience Act," which prioritized the modernization and protection of critical infrastructure against natural disasters and cyberattacks. This legislation allocated billions in federal funding for the development of smart infrastructure systems, incorporating real-time monitoring, adaptive response technologies, and robust disaster recovery protocols.
Ethan's ability to bridge the gap between technological innovation and effective governance earned him respect across the political spectrum. His pragmatic approach and relentless drive caught the attention of the President, who nominated him for the role of Secretary of Energy.
At 36, Ethan Cross was confirmed as Secretary of Energy, becoming the youngest person ever to hold the position. In this role, he launched the "American Energy Renaissance Initiative," which accelerated the adoption of renewable energy technologies, advanced nuclear reactors, and carbon capture systems. Under his leadership, the United States achieved energy independence while leading the global fight against climate change.
All in all, he was good on paper, and everyone working for him was pleased and honored to be a part of his team.
As the Chief of Staff was about to ask a question, Ethan suddenly shouted.
"Truck!"
Ethan's sudden shout startled everyone in the vehicle. His Chief of Staff turned to look, only to see what Ethan had already noticed—a large truck barreling down the intersecting road at an impossibly high speed. It was heading straight for their convoy.
The driver of the Escalade slammed on the brakes and attempted to swerve, but it was too late. The truck, seemingly out of control, crashed directly into Ethan's side of the vehicle with a deafening impact.
The world blurred into chaos as metal crumpled and glass shattered. Ethan's body was jolted violently against the door. The force of the collision was so immense that it left no chance for survival.
Instantly, darkness enveloped him.
***
"So this is what death looked like huh?" Ethan mumbled, and his words seemed to echo in the dark space. He couldn't see anything, not even his body.
It felt like it was just his mind in all of the vastness of space. He was not a firm believer of religion where when you die, you either would go down to hell or up in heaven. And he confirmed it just right now, that those didn't exist. It turned out it was true.
However, he doesn't like the idea of being contained in this space for possibly forever.
As he remembered, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. So Ethan strained his senses, searching for any sign of light in the overwhelming darkness. Seconds stretched into minutes, and the silence pressed down on him like an infinite weight. He clung to the faint hope that something, anything, would change.
And then, it happened. A pinprick of light appeared in the distance, faint and barely noticeable at first, but growing brighter and larger with every passing second. Instinctively, Ethan moved—or rather, willed himself—toward it. The light seemed to pull him forward, and the surrounding darkness began to peel away.
The light enveloped Ethan, and he felt an odd sensation, like his consciousness was being compressed and then expanded all at once. His thoughts blurred as the brightness consumed him, and when it faded, he found himself lying on a bed.
Ethan Cross blinked, his vision adjusting to the dim light of an unfamiliar room. The ceiling above him was vaulted, with wooden beams crisscrossing in an intricate design. The scent of salt and seaweed wafted in through a partially open window, where the gentle murmur of waves could be heard. He wasn't in a hospital, nor was he surrounded by the sterile beeping of medical equipment.
Instead, he was in a spacious yet rustic chamber, furnished with ornate but slightly worn furniture. A large, wooden wardrobe stood against one wall, and a faded rug covered the stone floor. The bed he was lying on was enormous, draped in silk sheets that felt luxurious against his skin.
Confusion swept over him. He instinctively glanced down at his hands and froze. They weren't his hands. These were softer, paler, and... younger. He scrambled out of bed, his legs wobbly beneath him, and staggered toward a nearby mirror.
The face staring back at him was not his own.
"What the—" he muttered, his voice catching in his throat. His reflection showed a young man, perhaps no older than twenty, with striking blond hair, delicate features, and piercing blue eyes.
As panic began to set in, his head throbbed, and suddenly, memories that weren't his flooded his mind.
He was Prince Bruno de Elysea, the youngest son of King Aldred of the Elysea Kingdom. A notorious troublemaker, Bruno was infamous for his ineptitude in everything he touched—politics, swordsmanship, diplomacy, and even court etiquette. The court gossiped about his scandals endlessly, from botched royal decrees to public embarrassments. His father, frustrated and exasperated, had sent him to govern the remote island of Corse, hoping the responsibility would shape him into something resembling a competent heir.
But Corse was no paradise. The island was isolated, its people disillusioned, and its economy stagnant. Bruno had been here for months, achieving nothing of note. His mere presence was seen as a punishment by the locals, who regarded him with disdain.
And to add, he wasn't sent alone to this island. They brought with him advisors that would help him govern the island, and they were the only ones keeping the island running as Bruno delegated the task to them.
Suddenly—there was a knock on the door.
"Your Highness, are you awake?"
The voice seemed to belong to a middle-aged man, and surprisingly, he recognized the voice. It came from his Chief Advisor, Antoine Leclerc.
Ethan composed himself and then spoke in a composed manner. "I am awake, come in."
The door creaked as it opened and then Antoine stepped in. His guess was correct, he was a middle-aged man with greying hair. He was wearing a suit that is similar to what was used in the French aristocracy in the 19th century, the usual tailcoat, waistcoat, breeches, and cravat.
"Your Highness, good morning. I hope you are doing well," Antoine said formally.
"Good morning," Ethan replied in a usual manner. He doesn't know how the Prince would react in this scenario but he was sure that this was a proper one when receiving someone.
"Your Highness, as you know, our island was recently bought from a foreign country, and most of the locals are still loyal to their former ruler. Yesterday in the evening, they ambushed one of our garrisons in the south, killed a lot of our soldiers and took our rifles, gunpowers, even cannons. My fellow council members believe that they are going to mount an offensive soon and it will be dangerous for us to stay here."
Ethan analyzed what Antoine had just said and then cross-referenced them to his memory. He was right. The Kingdom of Elysea had bought the island of Corse from the country of Genova because the Kingdom of Genova couldn't maintain holding it and it offers a strategic advantage as it sits in the middle of the Ligurian Sea.. But the actual reason was that there were revolutionaries in the island that wanted to be independent from the Genovan rule.
After all, Corse was an island, and the Kingdom of Genova was a maritime country located on the mainland continent. It's 138 nautical miles away from the Genovan mainland, making it difficult for them to maintain control and supply lines.
The people of Corse didn't see the Elysean government as liberators—they viewed them as another colonial power, no different from Genova.
The revolutionaries were well-organized and fiercely loyal to their cause, fueled by years of neglect and a desire for self-rule. Which made Antoine's report all the more troubling. The ambush meant the revolutionaries were becoming more audacious. If they had acquired Elysean cannons and rifles, they were preparing for something larger than sporadic skirmishes.
Ethan realized how troubling his position is: if the revolutionaries succeeded in pushing Elysea out, it would not only humiliate the Kingdom of Elysea but also himself. If he were to fail in quelling a rebellion, that would possibly be the end of his legitimacy as a member of the royal family. And he wouldn't want that.
This was his second life, and he wanted to live longer. He was still unsatisfied with his previous life. He wanted to build a family and retire. He couldn't do that if he died in this world, and there is no guarantee that he'd be reborn.
The only way for him to solve this is to fight.
"Antoine. How many soldiers do we currently have on the island?"
Antoine looked hesitant. "Your Highness, we have approximately two hundred soldiers stationed here, most of whom are inexperienced. Many were reassigned here as punishment for insubordination or incompetence in other posts. Morale is... poor."
Ethan nodded grimly. That explained a lot. Sending undisciplined or disgraced soldiers to a volatile region was a recipe for disaster.
"And the revolutionaries? Do we have an estimate of their numbers?"
"We believe their forces range between three to four hundred men, though they lack formal training and heavy weaponry—at least until now. With the cannons and rifles they've stolen, their advantage grows."
"What's the state of our supply lines? Food, ammunition, reinforcements?"
"Our supplies are limited. The nearest Elysean port is over a hundred miles away, and bad weather often delays shipments. As for reinforcements... I fear the court in Elysea sees this island as a low priority. So there's not much to expect from them."
Ethan clicked his tongue after hearing that. He was really in a tight spot. Then—an idea came up.
"What about our navy?"
"We have a two ship-of-the-line ship at the Port of Loretto," Antoine replied.
Ethan smiled. "Good, I want you to assemble the officers at three o'clock in the afternoon, preferably those who have fought the rebel army, the captain of those two ships, and the rest of the advisors."
Antoine was taken aback from the prince's words. He didn't expect that the prince would be so hands-on in this matter. He anticipated that the prince would immediately evacuate the island and give it to the rebels but he was wrong. It seemed that the prince had turned over a new life, but this change was still unexpected.
"As you wish, Your Highness…"