The convoy of cars arrived at the ancestral Lee estate, a sprawling property that had stood as the foundation of the family's legacy in Busan for generations. The estate, with its traditional yet imposing architecture, exuded an air of both history and authority. As the vehicles came to a halt, a team of butlers and maids promptly attended to the passengers, unloading the luggage of Hyun-Seok Lee and his son, Rheon.
At the entrance of the grand estate, Min-Sik Lee, the current CEO of Hae-Seong Group, stood waiting. His posture was relaxed but composed, exuding the quiet confidence befitting the head of a powerful cadet branch. Nearby, Hwan Lee and his wife, Ji-Soo, had already entered the estate to oversee the preparations for lunch and to ensure that the rooms designated for the chairman and his heir were properly arranged.
Min-Sik stepped forward with an easy smile as Hyun-Seok exited the vehicle. "Ah, cousin, you've arrived. How was the flight?"
Hyun-Seok gave a curt nod, his expression neutral. "Uneventful, as expected," he replied, his tone carrying the weight of someone who had long grown used to such travels.
Beside Min-Sik, his wife, Seo-Yeon Lee, inclined her head slightly in a respectful bow. "Chairman, we're glad to see you've arrived safely."
Hyun-Seok waved a hand dismissively, his sharp eyes softening slightly. "Enough with the formalities, Seo-Yeon. We're family here."
Min-Sik, ever the diplomat, chuckled before gesturing towards his children, who stood a short distance behind him. "Speaking of family, let me introduce my children. All three have awakened, with the youngest just recently manifesting his abilities."
The eldest, Ji-Hye, a poised young woman of twenty, gave a graceful bow, her confidence evident in the way she carried herself. The middle child, Do-Yun a sixteen-year-old boy, stood with his hands in his pockets, offering a polite nod but showing little emotion. The youngest, Tae-Jun an eleven-year-old boy, looked up at Hyun-Seok with barely concealed awe, as if meeting a legendary figure in person.
Meanwhile, a few steps away, Rheon stood with Seongha, Yu-Jun, and Ha-Yoon, engaged in casual conversation. Yu-Jun, now more at ease with Rheon, was enthusiastically listing off places in Busan that he believed Rheon should visit. It was a stark contrast to his previous guarded demeanor, and for the first time, there was no trace of insecurity in his voice.
Their conversation, however, was cut short when Hyun-Seok called out in his usual authoritative tone. "Rheon, come here."
Rheon immediately turned and walked towards his father. In the background, Hwan's children disappeared inside the estate after briefly asking a maid where their parents were.
Hyun-Seok placed a firm hand on his son's shoulder before directing his attention to Min-Sik. "This is Min-Sik Lee, your uncle. He oversees Hae-Seong Group."
Rheon inclined his head respectfully. "A good day to you, Uncle."
Min-Sik gave a nod of approval, his sharp gaze appraising the boy. "And to you as well, Rheon. It seems you've grown a great deal since we last met."
Before any further conversation could take place, Hwan Lee's voice called out from within the estate. "Come inside! Lunch is ready."
With that, they made their way inside. The estate's grand halls stretched before them, and the scent of freshly prepared cuisine wafted through the air.
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As we stepped inside, I couldn't help but feel the sheer history pressing down on me. Every corridor, every carved pillar, every ornate detail in the architecture spoke of the generations that came before.
The walls were adorned with paintings, some depicting breathtaking landscapes, others battles where our ancestors had led with valor. Then, of course, there were the portraits—rows upon rows of notable Lee family members, their oil-painted eyes staring down at me with what I imagined was a mix of pride and silent judgment.
"Your hair is too messy." I could almost hear one of them say. "Stand straighter, boy!" another might have barked.
I tried not to meet their gazes for too long. I was already under enough scrutiny from the living members of this family—I didn't need to feel it from the dead ones too.
Aside from the paintings, the estate was filled with priceless artifacts—vases so old that a single sneeze in their direction might turn them to dust, antique furniture that looked like they belonged in a museum rather than a house, and decorative calligraphy scrolls with wise words from our ancestors. Or at least, I assumed they were wise. For all I knew, one of them just said, "Eat more kimchi for a long life."
Despite the overwhelming grandeur, there was something comforting about the traditional architecture. The house had been rebuilt and renovated over the years, especially after it was destroyed during the Japanese invasion. The thought of it being painstakingly restored by generations of Lees, only to now serve as a vacation home, was almost funny.
This entire place was a symbol of power, but at the moment, it was just the backdrop for our lunch.
We finally arrived at the dining room, and my stomach rumbled in appreciation.
The long dining table stretched across the room, lined with elegant chairs that looked like they were designed more for aesthetics than comfort. And at the side? The real highlight of the room—a grand buffet table stacked with dishes so colorful and meticulously arranged that it could've been the set of a cooking show.
Butlers stood attentively beside it, dressed so impeccably that I wondered if they were trained to make even breathing look formal.
My eyes scanned the options—various Korean dishes, luxurious seafood platters, finely cut steaks, and even a selection of desserts that made me reconsider my entire meal strategy.
I glanced at my father. Was this his definition of 'keeping it simple' when there were no outsiders around?
Still, I wasn't about to complain. History, tradition, and grandeur aside—food was food. And after that flight, I was more than ready to eat.
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I set my chopsticks down with a satisfied sigh, leaning back slightly as I took in the aftermath of my meal. The food had been great—a variety of well-seasoned fish and pork dishes with rice, something I had grown accustomed to in this life. A far cry from the bland, barely edible rations I had in my past life, but that was a memory I preferred not to dwell on while savoring a good meal.
As I was eating earlier, Grandfather arrived, flanked by Elder Seung-Ho and the head of security for the upcoming family gathering. Their expressions were serious, which meant only one thing—they had been reviewing security details for the event happening in two days. Judging by the tight furrow in Grandfather's brow, he wasn't fully satisfied with the preparations yet.
I quickly stood up to greet him, offering a respectful bow. "Grandfather."
His sharp gaze softened slightly when he saw me. "Rheon," he acknowledged with a small nod before cutting straight to the point. "How's Subin?"
I smiled. "She's doing well. Healthier every day. Mom's with her now."
Grandfather hummed in approval, but before I could return to my seat, Elder Seung-Ho gave me an assessing look, as if sizing me up.
"You're growing well," he remarked, his deep voice carrying the weight of experience. "Tell me, how's your progress in cryokinesis?"
I straightened. "I'm progressing well, Elder. I refine my control daily."
He nodded approvingly. "Good. As the future patriarch and chairman of the Union, you'll need the power to back it up." His gaze was sharp, but there was an underlying hint of expectation. "You awakened at only five years old. You're already on the right track."
I simply nodded in response. I didn't need to be reminded of the weight of expectations on my shoulders, but hearing it from an elder still made the responsibility feel a little heavier.
With that, I quickly greeted the security head before returning to my seat, letting the adults resume their serious, world-shaping discussions.
Meeting cousins from both sides of the family was always a mixed bag. Some were easygoing, like Seongha—who, honestly, was unrecognizable compared to his future self in the manhwa. The difference between his childlike enthusiasm now and the hardened, stoic adult version of him was baffling. But then, there were also the ones with inflated egos, especially the awakened ones.
At the moment, I was talking to Tae-Jun, and Seongha about their training. Tae-Jun was still freshly awakened, so his excitement was understandable, while Seongha—being Seongha—was just happy to have another reason to talk about training.
Ha-Yoon, on the other hand, was in a corner with her headphones on, seemingly uninterested in the conversation. A textbook middle child.
Yu-Jun was engaged in a separate conversation with Do-Yun, but before long, Uncle Hwan called him over. Father, grandfather, the elder, Uncle Min-Sik, and the security head were all gathered, their voices a low murmur of strategic talk. Ji-Hye, Min-Sik's eldest, was also called over to join them, probably because she was being groomed to take over Hae-Seong Group in the future.
A small, amused smirk pulled at my lips. It seemed Yu-Jun was finally being brought into the inner circle as his father's heir.
That left me with the younger ones.
It wasn't long before Do-Yun approached me, hands casually in his pockets. I could tell by his expression that he was about to say something borderline annoying.
"You know," he started, eyeing me carefully, "Yu-Jun just praised you for your abilities."
I raised an eyebrow. "Did he?"
"Yeah." Do-Yun tilted his head slightly. "Said your talent is the real deal. And let me tell you, I've never heard him praise anyone before."
I could already tell where this was going.
"So," Do-Yun continued, a small smirk forming on his lips, "let's have a spar. I'll give you a handicap knowing you're younger than me"
I sighed internally. Here we go.
I studied him for a moment, my lips pressing into a thin line. Do-Yun had that look—the kind of look people get when they think they can 'test' me.
Kid, you're just going to embarrass yourself.