Kaito woke up early, sunlight gently piercing through the partially drawn curtains of his room. Unlike the abrupt shock of rebirth just days ago, this morning felt calm. For a fleeting moment, he simply lay there, breathing deeply, grounding himself in this second chance.
A soft knock broke the stillness.
"Come in," Kaito called.
The door creaked open. It was his younger sister, Aika.
"Big brother, Father and Second Uncle are waiting for you in the study," she said brightly.
"Got it. Thanks, Aika."
He rose, washed up quickly, and made his way through the quiet villa. As he passed the long hallway, servants moved gracefully through their morning routines. It was a modest home by the standards of the powerful, but it buzzed with life. Their house may not have been grand, but it was a home filled with warm people.
Grandpa Gu was already up and inspecting the side garden, his calm gaze surveying the villa like a silent protector. Though he had served their family for decades, his presence was often overlooked.
Kaito glanced at the old man, a realization stirring within. Grandpa Gu had been with the Ren family since his grandfather's generation. Kaito recalled with vivid clarity the shock he'd felt in his previous life during the fall of the Ren family—when the loyal servant had unleashed devastating martial power to protect them. A 2nd rank high-level martial artist... all along.
'It makes sense,' Kaito mused. 'No ordinary mortal could have lived this long. It's been more than 150 years since our family's foundation, and he's still here, steady as ever. That alone speaks volumes.'
He arrived at the study where his father and second uncle sat reviewing documents. The room smelled faintly of old books, tea, and subtle incense.
"Come in," his father gestured. "Sit. It's time we talk about the family's current position."
Second Uncle smiled as Kaito took a seat.
"As the new head, there are things you must understand," his uncle began. "Our logistics company remains steady. Your father manages that well. The hospital your mother oversees brings stable income too. And the Martial Arts Academy? It's operational, with 27 students."
"Twenty-seven?" Kaito repeated.
"Yes," Second Uncle said. "Some are children of our servants. Some are distant relatives or orphans we took in. We've raised and trained them as our own. Their loyalty... it's been tested more than once."
Kaito's eyes softened. In his previous life, many of these same people had stood by the Ren family even during its downfall.
"These people are our strength," his father added. "They may not be many, but they are ours."
Second Uncle chuckled, glancing at the door. "Aika's been lively lately, hasn't she?"
Kaito smiled, appreciating the change of topic. "Yeah... she always keeps things interesting."
The moment shifted again as his father leaned forward.
"Now that you've taken the seat of family head, have you decided your first step?"
Kaito paused. He couldn't reveal the true reason just yet.
"I'd like to visit our farmland in the Farming Republic," he said evenly.
His father arched a brow. "The 100 acres? That's quite a trip."
"I've been thinking," Kaito replied. "It's time I got familiar with everything our family owns. We should know our assets, our potential."
Of course, in truth, he remembered something far more important. Hidden within those lands—buried and forgotten—were the Ancient Ruins. The very place that had shifted the balance of the world in his past life.
He had to get there before anyone else did.
But he needed a logical reason to bring anything back. Claiming it as an accidental discovery during an inspection of family property was the safest route.
His father nodded slowly. "I agree. Knowing our roots is wise. I'll inform the estate to prepare for your trip."
"And..." Kaito hesitated. "There's another matter. Glory."
His uncle leaned forward. "The virtual game?"
"It's the first full-sensory system launched at a national level," Kaito explained. "It's said that the in-game currency can be exchanged for real credits. I believe it has potential—long term. I want to create a studio to explore that opportunity."
His father studied him closely. "You've already decided?"
"I have," Kaito replied. "But I'll start small. Nothing reckless. I'll handle it within a reasonable budget."
"You're the family head now," his father finally said, leaning back. "I trust your judgment. Just don't forget—we rise together."
Kaito gave a nod.
As he stood to leave, his eyes briefly caught the sunlight filtering through the curtains.
The portal technology... the secret behind the spiritual surge... the rise of countless Rank 7s, 8s, and 9s... none of it had been truly due to the ruins.
'They thought the ruins caused the rise. But it was the other way around. The portal caused the surge. The surge revealed the ruins.'
A secret known only to the highest echelons of the Earth Federation—and now, once again, to him.
He quietly left the room, a storm of thoughts beneath his calm expression.
The study doors slid shut behind Kaito as he stepped out, the distant hum of indoor airflow following him into the bright corridor. Servants bowed slightly as he passed, their footsteps quiet against the polished floor.
A short while later, at the villa's transport bay, Kaito stood before one of the family's main ground transports — a sleek, low-profile vehicle crafted from reinforced nano-alloy, its dark surface refracting morning light with an iridescent sheen. Not flashy, but efficient. Futuristic, yet discreet.
Two men waited beside it: Jin and Lei, twin drivers who had served the family for over twenty years. Orphans taken in by his grandfather's generation, they were now trusted aides — both at Rank 2 mid-stage, known for their silence and precision.
"Ready when you are, Young Master," Lei said, opening the door.
Kaito nodded silently and stepped in. The car interior adjusted to his presence — pressure sensors recalibrating, navigation modules booting up with soft chimes.
Inside, Kaito took a deep breath.
He wasn't going for leisure.
His mind wandered as the vehicle began gliding toward the skyway exit, engines almost inaudible.
A memory flashed — a headline from ten years ahead. "Massive Ancient Library Ruins Discovered in Outskirts of Farming Republic." And the images: broken stone gates, forgotten technologies, forgotten cultivation techniques... and an avalanche of secrets that altered the course of human strength.
Kaito's fists clenched lightly.
I'll go. I'll find the location. And I'll bring it back before anyone realizes what lies beneath.
As the landscape began to shift from city perimeter to rural terrain, Kaito exhaled and tapped the armrest lightly.
Six days until Glory's launch.
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The drive lasted a little over an hour. As the countryside spread open, the air grew cleaner, laced with the faint, earthy scent of cultivated soil. Rows of terraced plots and automated irrigation channels shimmered in the rising sun.
As the vehicle rolled through the entrance of the Ren family's farmland, a man in his mid-forties stepped forward to greet him. He wore a worn uniform, a wide-brimmed visor, and a practical aura of discipline. His name was Shen Riku — the land supervisor, and an old childhood friend of Kaito's second uncle.
"Welcome, Young Master Kaito!" he said with a warm, genuine grin, clasping his hands in greeting.
Kaito offered a small nod, his voice steady. "Thank you, Uncle Shen. I'll be conducting a short inspection today."
Shen's eyes twinkled with respect. "We've been expecting you. Everything's ready."
The tour began with a walk through the central plots — acres of pale green spiritual grass, known as Level 1 Spiritweed, swaying gently in neat rows. While it wasn't rare or highly potent, it was still an effective aid for Rank 1 and early Rank 2 practitioners. It enriched breathing techniques and stabilized energy channels during cultivation.
Kaito knelt briefly, brushing his fingers over a blade of the spiritweed.
Low-tier, but well-maintained. It'll be useful if we begin training a proper force later...
To the west of the fields, a smaller section was reserved for medicinal herbs. Shen explained that these were primarily used for making nutrient potions, and occasionally exported under the family name.
"These herbs take longer to grow," Shen said, "but they've kept a steady yield. We've got Windroot, Yellow Lotus, and some Dust Peppers — not much, but it's good for internal potions."
Kaito nodded.
Eventually, Shen led him into a compact but clean office building where records were stored. Kaito browsed the data logs, tracking harvest reports, transport records, and expenditures.
Everything was in order.
"I'll go on a short walk alone," Kaito said suddenly. "Just want to... get a feel for the land again."
Shen bowed slightly. "Of course, Young Master. This land is yours."
As Kaito stepped away from the facilities and moved toward the outer edge of the farmland — where the rocky embankments curved gently into a forested incline — his steps slowed.
It should be right around here... behind those ridge layers.
He glanced once behind him. Shen had already returned to his duties, trusting, unaware.
Kaito's eyes narrowed.
This is where history began to change. Where the greatest ruin on Earth remained buried, silent — until it wasn't.
A flicker of anticipation ran through his veins.
And with it, the ghost of a plan.
He knew that one day — far in the future — this very field would be burned to the ground, not by enemy hands, but by Uncle Shen himself, to protect what had been found here. A final act of loyalty before the farm was seized.
But not this time.