"Strength isn't always about combat. Sometimes, it's about changing the game before anyone else realizes they're playing it."
Tianhai City – An Unexpected Meeting
Joshua walked through the lively streets of Tianhai City, his mind already focused on the next step in his Architect of Power quest.
He had just secured Han Zixuan, the struggling agent who would one day become one of the greatest guild leaders in the country.
Now, his system quest had updated:
[Architect of Power – Progress: 1/5]
Objective: Form alliances with five influential figures before they rise to power.
Next target: ???
"One down. Four to go."
He had planned to spend the rest of the day searching for his next future investment, but then—
A familiar figure caught his attention.
Standing near an elegant café, her violet hair catching the sunlight, was Lee Sung En.
Joshua immediately noticed something was off.
She wasn't just browsing the city—she looked deep in thought, tense.
And then—a sleek black car pulled up in front of her.
A man in a formal suit stepped out, his gaze sharp and authoritative.
"Sung En," the man said, his voice cold. "Your father is expecting you."
Sung En tensed slightly, her fists clenching for just a moment before she sighed.
Joshua's smirk faded.
"Lee Sung Min."
The head of the Lee Family's Mage Division.
And Sung En's father.
Joshua had never met the man in his past life, but he knew his reputation—ruthless, calculating, and obsessed with family honor.
And right now, Sung En clearly wanted nothing to do with him.
She glanced around, as if looking for an escape.
And when her gaze landed on Joshua—
She walked straight toward him.
"Joshua," she said, her voice calm but firm.
Joshua blinked. "…Princess?"
Her violet eyes held something different this time.
A silent request.
Joshua grinned inwardly.
"Oh? This might be fun."
The Lee Family Estate – A Noble's Burden
Joshua found himself seated in an extravagant lounge, surrounded by luxurious furniture and walls lined with ancient magical texts.
Across from him sat Lee Sung Min, a man whose presence alone carried unspoken authority.
Sung En sat beside Joshua, her posture composed, but her tension was unmistakable.
Joshua could tell—she hated being here.
Her father studied Joshua carefully before finally speaking.
"So," Sung Min said, setting down his tea. "My daughter has brought a guest."
Joshua smirked. "Not by choice. More like a last-minute decision."
Sung Min's expression didn't change.
"You already know why we are here."
Joshua glanced at Sung En, who remained silent.
But he already had a strong guess.
"Arranged marriage."
Lee Sung En was the heiress of the Lee Family, one of the strongest mage bloodlines in the country. It was only natural that her father would want her to secure a political marriage alliance.
And if Sung En's attitude was any indication—
She wasn't accepting it.
Sung Min turned toward his daughter.
"You've had enough time to think. The Zhao Family has made their proposal."
Joshua's smirk disappeared.
"The Zhao Family?"
Sung Min continued.
"Zhao Feng is a talented fire mage, a strong candidate with the backing of a powerful family. This union would strengthen both houses."
Joshua's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Zhao Feng? That arrogant idiot?"
In his past life, Zhao Feng had been nothing but a self-entitled elitist, obsessed with his own status.
If Sung En was forced into a marriage with him—
Joshua glanced at her.
She looked calm, but he knew her well enough now.
Her Aura was unstable—controlled frustration.
She didn't just hate this idea.
She despised it.
Joshua leaned back, thinking.
Sung Min clearly wasn't going to back down.
And Sung En?
She wasn't willing to let her father dictate her life.
Which meant—
Joshua had an opportunity.
A crazy one.
But one that might actually work.
So, before he could think twice, he casually said—
"…Why not me instead?"
Silence.
A long, heavy silence.
Sung Min's hand froze mid-sip of his tea.
Sung En's head snapped toward Joshua.
"…What?"
Joshua shrugged. "If you need a strong candidate, why not me?"
Sung Min's eyes sharpened.
"And what exactly makes you a suitable choice?"
Joshua smirked and leaned forward.
"5-Star Aura user. Mage Hybrid. Recognized by the Academy Principal. The youngest prodigy in recent history. And more importantly—"
His gaze didn't waver.
"I have the potential to surpass everyone else."
A faint shift passed through Sung Min's expression.
Joshua saw it immediately.
"He's considering it."
Sung Min wasn't an emotional man. He was logical. Calculated.
And if Joshua was a better long-term investment than Zhao Feng…
This wasn't about family honor.
This was about power.
Sung En finally snapped out of her shock.
"…You're insane."
Joshua smirked. "You already knew that."
She sighed, rubbing her temples.
But—
She wasn't rejecting the idea.
Instead, she crossed her arms and muttered,
"…Better than Zhao Feng."
Joshua grinned.
Sung Min slowly exhaled, staring at Joshua with a calculating expression.
"This is ridiculous."
But he hadn't said no.
Instead, he finally set his tea down and said—
"…I will consider it."
Joshua's smirk deepened.
"That's good enough for now."
Aftermath – A Shift in the Game
As they left the estate, Sung En turned to Joshua, exasperated.
"…What the hell was that?"
Joshua chuckled. "A solution."
Sung En glared. "You can't just casually suggest engagement like it's a business deal."
Joshua grinned. "That's exactly what your father was trying to do. I just gave him a better deal."
Sung En huffed, frustrated.
But deep down—
She felt relieved.
Joshua noticed.
For all her complaints, she hadn't actually rejected the idea outright.
Instead, she had considered it.
Joshua smirked.
"This is going to be interesting."
Just then—
The system chimed.
[Hidden Quest Progress: The Flameborn Legacy]
Sung En's fate has shifted drastically.
Reward Pending…
Joshua grinned.
"Looks like I'm not the only one rewriting the future."