The Carter estate was no longer quiet.
Security teams moved quickly through the mansion corridors while guards searched every corner of the property. Bright floodlights illuminated the gardens and outer walls as the entire estate shifted into lockdown mode.
Inside the main living room, the Carter family had gathered.
Richard Carter stood near the large window with his arms crossed, his usually calm expression now serious.
Victoria sat beside him with a tablet, already analysing the security reports.
Isabella leaned against the couch quietly, while Sophia checked the condition of the unconscious intruders who had been restrained by the guards.
Scarlett stood near the centre of the room.
Her eyes were cold.
Professional.
Bruce sat quietly on the couch beside Evelyn.
He looked like a slightly confused ten-year-old child watching the situation unfold.
Inside his mind, however, Aron Turner's instincts were already calculating the next steps.
Scarlett spoke first.
"They weren't amateurs."
Victoria nodded while scrolling through the report.
"Professional infiltration gear. Suppressed weapons. Military-grade tools."
Richard frowned slightly.
"So this wasn't a robbery."
Scarlett shook her head.
"No."
She looked at the two restrained intruders lying on the floor.
"They came for someone."
The room fell silent for a moment.
Isabella crossed her arms.
"The question is who."
Bruce quietly watched the conversation.
He already knew the answer.
But revealing that information would raise far too many questions.
Sophia finished checking the prisoners.
"They're alive."
Scarlett nodded.
"Good."
Richard turned toward the guards.
"Wake one of them up."
One of the security officers stepped forward and splashed cold water across the face of the nearest intruder.
The man groaned and slowly opened his eyes.
The moment he realised where he was, his expression hardened.
Scarlett stepped forward.
"Who sent you?"
The man said nothing.
Scarlett grabbed his collar and lifted him slightly.
"You entered private property with weapons."
"You're lucky you're still breathing."
The man smirked.
"You think I'll talk?"
Scarlett's eyes turned colder.
Victoria spoke calmly from behind.
"There are many ways to make people talk."
The prisoner remained silent.
Bruce observed quietly.
The man was trained.
Breaking him would take time.
But then something unexpected happened.
Luna suddenly stepped forward.
Her silver eyes studied the prisoner carefully.
Then she smiled slightly.
"Black Serpent."
The prisoner's expression changed for a split second.
But it was enough.
Scarlett noticed it instantly.
"So that's your organisation."
The man cursed under his breath.
Richard's expression darkened.
"I've heard of them."
Victoria nodded.
"They're expanding aggressively in the underground world."
Scarlett turned toward Richard.
"Then this wasn't random."
"No," Richard said quietly.
"They targeted our family."
Bruce remained silent.
But Luna's eyes slowly shifted toward him.
Her instincts were once again whispering that something didn't fit.
She stepped closer to Bruce.
"You're very calm."
Bruce blinked.
"Should I panic?"
Luna tilted her head slightly.
"Most ten-year-olds would."
Bruce shrugged.
"I saw Scarlett knock them out."
Scarlett smirked slightly.
"That part was impressive."
The tension in the room eased slightly.
But Luna didn't look convinced.
She continued studying Bruce carefully.
Bruce simply looked confused again.
After a moment, Richard spoke.
"These men will be transferred to a secure facility."
Scarlett nodded.
"I'll handle the interrogation later."
Victoria turned off her tablet.
"I'll investigate Black Serpent's recent movements."
Sophia helped Evelyn guide Bruce toward the stairs.
"You should get some rest."
Bruce nodded obediently.
"Okay."
But as he walked up the staircase, he could still feel Luna's eyes on his back.
Later that night.
Bruce returned to his bedroom.
The mansion had finally grown quiet again.
Security patrols had doubled.
Guards remained alert.
Bruce closed the door behind him and leaned against it.
"Tonight escalated faster than expected."
Scarlett's appearance had complicated things.
Still…
The situation was manageable.
Bruce walked to his desk and sat down.
He closed his eyes.
His consciousness entered the space world once again.
The peaceful farmland appeared before him.
The glowing river flowed quietly beneath the bright sky.
Bruce walked toward the castle.
Inside the archive room, the holographic map appeared again.
Bruce zoomed in on the Black Serpent symbol.
New data appeared.
Movement reports.
Communication logs.
Then one name appeared again.
Victor Hale.
Bruce's eyes narrowed.
"So you're watching too."
In a hidden underground office somewhere in the world, Victor Hale was likely already receiving reports from the failed operation.
Bruce crossed his arms.
"If you're smart, you'll retreat."
But something told him Victor Hale wasn't the type to give up easily.
Bruce closed the archive interface.
Then he walked toward the training facility again.
His body still needed improvement.
Tonight had proven something important.
Even with all his preparation, unexpected events could still occur.
Scarlett alone had nearly exposed everything.
Bruce stepped into the training room.
The system activated instantly.
Combat training programme ready.
Bruce selected a new setting.
Multiple opponent simulation.
Five mechanical dummies moved into position.
Bruce exhaled slowly.
"Let's begin."
The machines attacked simultaneously.
Bruce moved quickly.
Block.
Step.
Strike.
His body was still young, but his experience gave him an enormous advantage.
Minutes passed.
Then the system stopped.
Training complete.
Bruce wiped sweat from his forehead.
His body was improving.
Slowly.
But steadily.
Bruce looked toward the castle window.
The peaceful fields stretched endlessly outside.
Yet the real world beyond the space system was becoming more dangerous by the day.
Bruce spoke quietly.
"This is only the beginning."
Far away.
Inside a luxurious underground office.
Victor Hale stood in front of a large screen displaying security footage from the Carter estate attack.
One of his subordinates spoke nervously.
"Our team failed."
Victor Hale remained silent.
Then he smiled slightly.
"Interesting."
The man looked confused.
"Sir?"
Victor leaned closer to the screen.
The image showed Bruce Carter walking quietly behind Scarlett during the incident.
"A ten-year-old boy…"
Victor whispered.
"…who appears exactly when everything goes wrong."
Victor turned away from the screen.
"Prepare phase three."