: The New mystery

  The powerful engines of the golden spaceship produced a low, rhythmic hum, the vibrations of which could be clearly felt on the barren land of Luna City. Arthur stood by the window, looking at the only house he had considered his world until now. As the city buildings grew smaller and blurred into the distance, a whirlwind of emotions rose in his mind.

  "Am I running away?" he asked himself softly. His own reflection was visible in the window glass—now sharper, colder, and more changed than ever before.

  "No," he thought within himself, "this is not an escape; it is a strategic shift." Arthur knew that these cramped and filthy streets of Luna City were no longer safe for his mother and Annie. A massive and ruthless corporation like Gene-X was not going to give up and disappear so easily. Their defeat would have turned their greed into a violent madness. They were hunters who struck in the dark, and Arthur could not risk letting his family be used as bait ever again. Goldwin Villa, with its private army and impenetrable security shield, was the only fortress that could give him the time he needed.

  "I have the strength to kill," Arthur clenched his fist so hard that his knuckles turned white, "but I do not yet have the reach to protect them every second. I don't just have to stop at being a powerful boy. I must become an entity whose very name freezes the blood of his enemies."

  In a nearby luxurious and soundproof chamber, Catherine sat on a velvet sofa, her body still trembling slightly. Isabella sat beside her, holding Catherine's hands with a firmness that expressed the pain of twenty years of separation.

  "Mom, this feels like a dream I'm afraid to wake up from," Catherine said in a trembling voice. "In all those years... I felt I was just a woman with a broken past, struggling to feed her children in poverty."

  Isabella wiped a tear from Catherine's cheek. "My dear Sylvie, you were never meant for that life. You were the light of our home. It breaks my heart to think you were in that cold apartment while we lived in luxury... this guilt is a burden I will always carry. But look at your children. There is the glint of a king in Arthur's eyes, and Annie... she has your soul."

  Annie, who was snuggled in Isabella's other arm, looked up with her large, innocent eyes. "Grandma, will there be flowers in the new house? and bad men with guns won't come there, right?"

  Isabella kissed Annie's head. "My child, there will be gardens there larger than your entire neighborhood. And no one will ever be able to hurt you again. I promise this on the Goldwin name."

  While the women found comfort in their reunion, Arthur was summoned to the command deck. Albert Goldwin and Silas Throne sat together, with the clear sky's clouds flying outside the cockpit. Victor stood at the door like a silent guardian. He was happy for his master; the family reunion would improve the mistress's mood, bringing a smile to his face.

  "Arthur, sit," Silas said, his voice tired but carrying an unbreakable weight of wisdom. "Now the time has come for you to understand the true nature of this world. This matter is connected to your father. This planet, 'Blue Star'—or what the ancients called the 'Great Sphere'—is divided into three nations: the Sun Empire, the Black Empire, and the Stone Empire. Blue Star is a massive planet (50 times larger than Earth)—it is no longer the stable rock it was centuries ago. Your father was a powerful man; he came from another planet. He was the one who told us that humans could become evolutionaries and powerful warriors. These are a few things your father left with your mother."

  Arthur held a watch and a strange metal piece in his hand, remembering his father. The image of his father in his memories was very blurred; he didn't even remember his father's love. Putting his father's old belongings aside, he asked, "Where is my father?"

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  Silas sighed and said, "Your father probably went to that planet to evolve. I don't know much more, but he never returned. I am an ordinary human, so I don't know which planet it is. You can ask your grandfather about this."

  Arthur looked toward his grandfather, Albert Goldwin.

  Albert leaned forward, gravity on his face. "Arthur, the energy density of the universe is changing. This is about 30 years ago. Suddenly, teleportation became active in the world. Teleportation had been discovered long ago, but it was in a completely shut-down state. Scientists were researching how to turn it on, but they only met with disappointment. Consequently, everyone assumed it was useless, and the government withdrew its hand, leaving it desolate. But thirty years ago, teleportation activated on its own. The government sent an exploration team to find out what was on the other side and if it was a habitable planet."

  "Fifty elite-class soldiers were chosen for that mission. When the soldiers returned with information, only 28 returned alive. According to the information, the name of that planet is 'Leaf Planet.' There is a system there where, upon hunting, one obtains 'Leaves' present on the prey. By consuming these, humans can evolve. They can improve their genes to unlock a special physique, awaken elemental powers, or even obtain bloodline inheritances. However, there is an order to this, such as two-leaf, three-leaf, five-leaf, or seven-leaf. A person who evolves with five leaves can be extremely powerful, while someone evolving with one or two leaves may be less powerful. Furthermore, not everyone can obtain special powers. The government made this public, yet kept the core facts hidden. However, it was completely open for wealthy and political families and academies. It was hidden so that the public would not create chaos in a rush to evolve. And there is a specific point: if the general public goes to Leaf Planet without preparation, their death is certain. Only martial artists or warriors who are good in combat can go there. That is why there is a selection in the academy to see which student is capable or not. Though people can go at their own risk, there is no information about this on TV or in newspapers."

  "In the coming time, it is possible the government may give exemptions and provide consent forms for everyone to evolve. However, there are many political and diplomatic-minded people who do not want the general public to evolve and rule over them. Arthur, when you go to Leaf Planet, you will understand. For now, knowing this much is good for you."

  Arthur was silent, lost in his past life. He didn't understand some of this; in that life, nothing like this had happened. He only wanted to become a Gene Warrior, which was only possible by applying a serum. A special serum was made to become a Gene Warrior, which was found in the place called Terra, and levels could be increased only by practicing with a special formula. His friend had expressed a desire to get him the serum, but Dr. Vamus's serum in his body acted like poison, preventing him from becoming a Gene Warrior.

  Arthur thought, "By coming back in time, I have created some butterfly effects; perhaps that is why everything has changed."

  Silas looked straight into Arthur's eyes and said, "The power within you is a raw diamond. If you do not learn to channel it with precision, it will eventually burn you from the inside. You cannot rely solely on brute force. In other words, you have much to learn and understand. Your journey has just begun."

  As the ship moved toward the capital, 'Sun City,' Albert began giving details of the family's true status. The Goldwins were not just rich; they were the backbone of the Sun Empire's political and military strength. However, with such power came a long line of enemies—internal family politics and external rivals waiting for the slightest chance of weakness.

  "To officialize your status and hone your gifts, you need a place that can provide both resources and privacy," Albert said. "I want you to enroll in the 'Royal Academy.' It isn't just a school for the rich; it is the forge where the empire's most powerful warriors and future leaders are crafted."

  Arthur remained silent for a long time. Going to the academy meant stepping onto a stage under thousands of lights. It meant becoming a target. But Albert's words were echoing in his mind. The academy possessed those ancient texts and high-gravity chambers he needed to unlock the next stages of the 'Cosmic Egg.'

  "Fine," Arthur said with grim determination. "If the Royal Academy is the path to destroying my enemies and protecting my mother, then I will go. But understand one thing: I am not going there to follow their rules. I am going there to redefine those rules."

  A satisfied smile appeared on Albert's lips. The ship suddenly pierced through the cloud layer of the capital. Below, Sun City sparkled like a sea of fallen stars. Skyscrapers and flying vehicles created a landscape that was as beautiful as it was dangerous.

  The mechanic from Luna City was now gone. The heir to the Goldwin legacy and the master of the 'Primal Egg' had arrived to take his place.