Shalenpore Country; Melbrise City
A man could be seen seated on a chair in front of a closed metal door, waiting in silent anticipation.
He is William Melbore, the formidable head of the Melbore keeper family.
Normally, he should be engrossed in the development of his territory, meticulously drafting plans alongside government officers while ensuring his own interest alongside it, paving a path for the future growth of both society and technology.
But today is different.
Today, everything else fades into insignificance.
He has neglected his territorial duties, dismissed every servant from the palace, canceled crucial meetings with government officials, and heightened security across his domain. Because today is no ordinary day—it is a turning point, one that will determine the fate of his family.
Step. Step.
The sound of footsteps echoed from behind him, crisp and deliberate. But William did not flinch; his unwavering gaze remained on the door. He knew precisely who could enter this restricted area—except himself and David.
And true to his expectation...
"Father," Anora's voice rang out, steady yet laced with concern.
He did not turn his head to face her.
"What happened, daughter?"
His tone was light, almost indifferent, as though there was nothing to worry about. Yet the stillness of his form betrayed him.
"Father, you don't have to worry about David. I know he will succeed. I believe in him."
"Of course, I completely believe in him," William replied with practiced ease, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I am not anxious in the least.
Anora let out a small chuckle, her eyes shining with knowing amusement.
"Yeah, as if I would believe that," she muttered, rolling her eyes internally.
Her gaze lingered on William, carefully observing the subtle tremor in his leg, the tension coiled beneath his composed exterior.
Yet, she chose to stay silent, sparing him the embarrassment.
After spending enough time with William, Anora had come to a rather amusing realization—this stern, intimidating father-in-law of hers was, in essence, a tsundere. It wasn't something most would dare to say aloud, but to her, it was glaringly obvious.
Beneath his rigid demeanor, behind the carefully measured words and cool composure, existed a man who cared deeply, perhaps more than he allowed himself to admit.
Shifting her focus, Anora looked toward the heavy door, the threshold beyond which David was fighting to break through—from the second level to the third, striving to stand at the same rank as the family head.
A flicker of worry surfaced in her eyes, but she immediately shook it off, choosing instead to trust in her husband's capabilities.
The silence stretched, thick with tension, until William finally spoke, his voice cutting through the weight of their thoughts.
"How far are you from reaching the peak of the second level?"
"I am still quite far from reaching it, Father," Anora admitted with a composed tone.
"Take your time. Unlike David, you have no need to rush."
"Yes, Father."
Anora understood that William's words carried only goodwill.
Unlike her, David needed every ounce of strength to face what was coming.
She still found it hard to believe—how had David managed to reach the peak of the second level so quickly when they had both entered it around the same time? But then again, she was painfully aware of the grueling, near-unbearable training he had endured after losing his best friend, Kevin.
Otherwise, how could he have reached this point within just three months after Kevin's kidnapping?
Just then, the metal door groaned open.
A thick wave of smoke seeped through the widening gap, curling and swirling before dissipating into the air.
From the haze, David emerged. His body was drenched in sweat, the moisture clinging to him despite the bathrobe he wore. His breathing was steady but heavy, his frame marked with exhaustion—but his expression?
Smug.
He flashed a small smile, attempting—rather poorly—to feign humility.
William observed him, his expression unreadable. And yet, the twinkle in his eyes made his true feelings obvious.
"Good, Very good. You succeeded."
His voice was firm, neutral, yet carrying the weight of an unspoken approval.
Anora beamed, stepping forward.
"Congratulations, my love!" Her wide smile radiated warmth, pride evident in her tone.
David, naturally, couldn't resist.
"Of course! How could such a small breakthrough possibly stop the great me?"
He declared, lifting his chin just a fraction higher than necessary.
Anora let out a sigh, shaking her head.
"Yeah, yeah," she muttered, rolling her eyes at his antics.
William, however, was quick to cut through the moment. His sharp gaze settled on David with quiet authority.
"Don't get too excited," he warned. "You have only met the bare minimum requirement to enter the competition."
"There will be several individuals with strength similar to or even higher than yours."
David froze.
His moment of triumph dulled slightly.
David knows what his father wants to convey.
A competition organized by the watcher of Shalenpore country.
It's more than a competition; it's a chance to achieve what other people can only yearn for.
A chance to reach a stage higher than just a keeper family.
To become the successor of this whole country's watcher, an individual whose power can only be experienced through history records and through rumors. the one who can decide the fate of a keeper family whenever he wants.
"Let's go. I need to assess your progress in the training room."
Suddenly, William said.
David's body stiffened. He opened his mouth, then closed it. Eyes darting toward Anora, he grasped at one last lifeline.
"I just remembered—I have an incredibly important task to handle! Right, Anora?" He threw her a desperate look, pleading with wide, hopeful eyes.
Anora took her time responding, tapping her chin thoughtfully. Then, with deliberate slowness, she spoke.
"Let me think.... NO. You are completely free."
The devastation on David's face was priceless.
Anora barely held back her laughter, watching as the reality settled in.
"Ah! My heart is so fragile! I can't believe you would betray me like this!" He clutched his chest dramatically, his voice full of exaggerated despair.
William rolled his eyes.
"Enough. Let's go." His command was final.
David wanted to protest.
"I am also on the same level as you!" he screamed internally, frustration flaring within him.
But his protest never surfaced.
Because no matter how strong a son becomes, a father will always remain a father.
****
Melbrise City is not the only place where an heir of the Keeper family is trying to advance his strength.
Several incidents similar to David's advancement are either happening or have already happened in all other keeper families of Shalenpore country.
Shalenpore Country, Capital City
Inside the main government building, a high-ranking official sat in rigid silence, his piercing gaze fixed on the young man standing before him.
This youth was more than a soldier; he was the culmination of decades of blood, the product of relentless effort and unimaginable sacrifice. He was the final hope for all who still believed in true government rule.
For the first time in history, a window had opened. The Watcher of Shalenpore—the solitary entity capable of shaping destinies and erasing bloodlines—had initiated a competition. It was a trial of ascension, a brutal battle to select a successor.
The victor would earn a power that transcended the Keeper families themselves.
To prepare for this exact moment, the government had spent decades gathering orphans. They trained them in absolute secrecy, slowly infiltrating them into the Keeper families as servants, laborers, and low-level employees.
These orphans acted as human bridges, bleeding and dying in the shadows to siphon knowledge, extract advanced technology, and build a foundation strong enough to sustain this final gamble. Countless lives had been laid down to fuel this long-term strategy.
And now, at last, the singular chance had arrived.
The government had poured every ounce of its remaining strength and stolen resources into nurturing this single candidate. Standing before the official—a man answering directly to the President—was their ultimate creation.
"You understand the weight of this task." the official finally spoke, his voice uncompromising.
"I do."
The young man responded without a fraction of hesitation. His stance was immovable, his expression carved from quiet resolve.
The official leaned forward.
"If you fail, it will not merely be your own loss. It will be this government's final attempt. Decades of effort, every sacrifice, every stolen resource... we have poured it all into you."
"I know." The youth's jaw tightened but his eyes bloomed with confidence. "That is why I will not fail."
The official hesitated, his unreadable gaze locked onto the boy. Out of hundreds of highly trained spies, this young man was the absolute only one who had successfully climbed into the bed of a Keeper family's heiress. Her family was new to their power, but they held the legitimate right to participate in the Watcher's succession challenge nonetheless.
With quiet certainty, the official answered, "I believe in you."
A heavy silence stretched across the dimly lit room. Outside the fortified walls of the government building, the capital of Shalenpore buzzed with vibrant life, entirely oblivious to the storm brewing in the shadows.
This was no longer just a competition for succession.
This was the climax of a centuries-old Cold War.