Alex walked the long gravel drive toward the Rosenheim Mansion, his footsteps echoing against the iron gates that guarded the estate.

Two military-grade androids stepped forward, their movements crisp and synchronized.

"Sir Alex," one said. "You are advised not to enter this residence."

Three years ago, those same machines would've opened fire the moment they saw him. But time-and skill-had changed everything.

For three long years, Alex had lived like a dog under Rosenheim's roof-tolerated, watched, and barely human in their eyes.

But while they looked down on him, he worked in silence. Bit by bit, line by line, he slipped into their systems, rewrote their code, and bent the mansion's sentinels to his will.

Now, the same machines built to protect the Rosenheims could obey him with a single word.

Yet Alex never gave the order. He let them stand there, loyal and silent- pretending nothing had changed.

"Tell me the reason."

The android tilted its head slightly, sensors whirring as it spoke. "Master Otto issued standing orders three years ago," it said.

"But after your separation from Miss Katarina, those orders were expanded. Additional android units and security cameras have been installed throughout the estate."

"Every camera is active and linked to the central station. If you commit any harmful act toward the Rosenheim family, it will be reported instantly."

"Your citizenship could be canceled permanently. Given your current stance, my recommendation is that you refrain from hostile actions-for your own future's sake, Master Alex."

Alex stayed silent for a long moment. The android was right-and he knew it. In Prussia, someone like him, half-Prussian and half-outsider, never truly belonged.

Citizenship was a privilege, not a right. One wrong move, one accusation, and the government could tear it away without a second thought.

That was why Alex had swallowed his pride and stayed silent for three long years, no matter how deep their insults cut or how far they pushed him.

And clearly, the Rosenheims had been ready for this moment all along-waiting for the day he'd come back.

He turned away, his coat flaring slightly in the wind, and lifted off into the sky.

In Estoria, he was a king-untouchable, above the law.

But in Prussia, he was just another name on a list. A "new citizen" under surveillance.

Watched. Judged. Controlled.

When he landed on his penthouse, he moved quickly-through the quiet halls, down a hidden corridor, into an unmarked elevator.

The doors slid shut, and the it sank deep underground.

At the bottom level, a heavy door opened into a cold, humming chamber. The walls glowed faintly blue. A massive machine stood in the center, alive with quiet energy.

The screen flickered to life—and three

Samuel. Keaton. Logan.

Estoria?" Alex

Logan's voice came through the screen, steady but charged with

an entire vault of data through Kingswell. With Bella's IQ breaking two-fifty, she used it to build

she completed the neutrino channel. Those ghost particles can move

his words sink in. "That breakthrough made Prussia blind to our communications. And with your Eden Company quietly diverting their data streams for the past two years, we've been siphoning Prussian

been copying, improving, and rebuilding everything we can

way, we're close to breaking past Prussian tech entirely. Give

said. His voice was low, steady. "Samuel, how are things

said it came from the Xia. We've implemented it among both soldiers and civilians. The results are astounding. Health, stamina, mental clarity-all up nearly

the true

in their schools. What we have is just the foundation. Someday, I'll visit the Xia's Country myself and

"Sire, we owe you. Without that cultivation, Estoria wouldn't be where it is now. I used to think we were advanced-strong

"Keaton?" Alex prompted.

security across every state," Keaton reported, his tone steady but laced with

rollout

crime has surged. People

mover

black-market

stabilized most regions. If we can maintain this

slowly. "Good work. I'll depend on all of you. Remember this-the future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. Raise our country from

firm, echoing with conviction through the comm

the room-thick,

with a soft pulse. A message from Sofina appeared in glowing text

where are you?

in the Wolfsbane territory. A year of stillness in a life built on chaos-a fragile peace in the eye of a

has its reasons which reason does not

mechanical voice of his onboard Al,

Alex said. "What

as my adopted daughter.

softened

were still alive. But I said you

unable to be contacted

while. She misses you, sir.

Alex didn't

to piece together his past. If he'd let go of

have a family. A

tell her?" he

her that once Estoria rises

see you again."

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