Their journey was quiet.
The interior of the vehicle remained incredibly stable, with little to no jerking. If one didn't know better, they would think the car was sitting completely still, unmoving, unless they looked through the window.
The convoy flew high above the ground, only a few meters beneath the clouds, giving them a view that normally belonged only to those standing on the highest floors of skyscrapers.
Perhaps the family had spoken enough during their time in the hospital.
For a while, they were content simply staring at each other.
"So," Jul asked casually, "is there any family member I should watch out for?"
Jada's brow rose in surprise, then she spoke,
"I'll just tell you about all of them. First, you should understand something. There are a lot of people who carry the Mercer name, though not all of them are important to you."
She raised one finger. "The people you need to worry about are the core family members. The Core Family consists of those directly related to the head of the Mercer family.
"Now, Grandfather, the previous chairman, Eddard Mercer, had five children before he died. The eldest was named after him, Eddard Junior Mercer. He's a doctor and currently oversees the largest portion under the Mercer flagship. He runs the family's hospitals and pharmaceutical businesses."
Jul nodded slowly. He knew that already.
'Eddard Junior Mercer. One of the most respected doctors in the region. A man with an impeccable public image, a medical genius. And, according to the media… the most likely successor.'
Jada continued, repeating his words, "Of all the children, he's currently considered the favorite to become the next family head. Several members of the extended family have already begun aligning themselves with him."
Jul remained calm despite hearing it. He remained silent and listened.
"He has two children, Krone and Dominic, and if their father becomes the next head, they'll automatically become the next successors."
Her eyes hardened. "So don't underestimate them."
Jul nodded.
Jada raised another finger. "The second child…" Her voice slowed. "Our father, Reagan Mercer." The atmosphere changed.
Katelyn lowered her gaze silently.
"He…" Jada swallowed. For a moment, she couldn't continue. It wasn't until Katelyn gently placed a hand over her daughter's.
"It's alright."
Jada took a breath and continued, "Our father was different. He never cared much about taking over the family, even after he did. He just wanted to live peacefully with us."
Something inside Jul stirred. Faint memories flooded his mind. A man's face, blurry and faint, but the smile was unmistakable.
"And that's why…his death changed everything."
Katelyn's expression soured slightly.
Jul calmly watched them.
'…I see'
A very short puzzle had already begun forming in his mind. He didn't push them to say more. He already knew about it. All of it.
Hearing it only felt like getting confirmation from the source itself.
"The third child, Mer Mercer. She heads the group's genomics division. She is the most reclusive of the five, only appearing when needed before disappearing again. She has a single daughter, Peach."
She raised another finger. "The fourth child is Dune Mercer. She's the only one who still actively chases the family head position with Eddard. She is the secretary of the family's empire and also in charge of the family's foundation, which serves as the family's public face. She has three children, Libra, Juliet, and Jamie."
She paused. "Finally, there's Dune's twin brother, Duke Mercer. He heads the family's response network."
'Ahh… Duke!' Jul's brow rose slightly. 'I was wondering when I would hear about him.'
Duke Mercer wasn't an unfamiliar name at all.
'He is the only one I will have to be mindful of.'
Unlike the others, Duke had regularly interacted with the people Jul once worked alongside, though Jul himself had never met him physically.
"He has two sons, Baron and Merak." Jada continued, going on to describe the children of the five siblings.
Jul remained silent for a while, piecing everything together in his mind. 'In total, including Jada and me, there are fourteen of the core family members. There are five main branches, meaning five sets of interests, and one position at the top.'
"So," he finally asked, "who actually decides who becomes the next head?"
Jada looked at him. "Grandfather left the position to the family."
Jul's brow furrowed slightly.
"The family?"
"The core family. The final decision belongs to them."
"So it's a vote?"
"Something like that."
Jul nodded. That made things much more interesting. But there was something else?
"And Rose? What about grandmother?"
Jada sighed. "Grandmother is the interim chairman, and that's why I said something like that. She has authority over the family for now. Even though it isn't the permanent head, it's obvious she gets the majority deciding power on who will eventually inherit the position."
Jul leaned back slightly, thoughtful. "So, Eddard Junior and Dune are the only ones competing?"
"Yes."
"And everyone else?"
Jada paused. "No one else has openly entered the race. But that doesn't mean they aren't choosing sides. Like it's obvious Duke will support his sister; however, Mer remains silent."
There was a short silence, then Jada spoke again.
"And now you are back."
Jul didn't answer immediately. He only smiled faintly. "How much trouble did I cause by coming back?"
Katelyn looked at him, worry flickering across.
"Jul."
"I'm serious."
Jada sighed. "You disappeared for fifteen years. Everyone believed you were gone, and now you are suddenly alive."
Katelyn chimed in, "Not only that, but you are Reagan's son."
Jada nodded.
Jul glanced toward the window. "So, my return gives Father's branch another member?"
"More than that," Jada said. "You aren't just another member of the family anymore. You're now Reagan's surviving heir."
Jul understood immediately.
His father's branch had been reduced to two children. Jada had built her own position outside the family structure, ultimately signifying her disinvolvement with the succession race.
Now the missing son had returned.
"So my existence affects the succession."
"Exactly." Jada folded her arms. "If you wanted it, you could become a candidate."
Jul raised an eyebrow. "Me?"
"You're a core member; have you forgotten? And now, your existence basically restores Father's branch." She paused. "Whether you want the position or not, people will consider you."
Jul almost laughed. 'I disappear for fifteen years, come back half-dead, and somehow I'm already involved in a succession battle.'
"Do you think I should compete?"
Jada stared at him, serious. "No."
The answer came immediately.
Jul looked at her in surprise. "Why?"
"Because you just came home." Her expression softened. "You don't know these people anymore. You don't know how the family works. You don't have the proper foundation to lead the family; you don't know what happened while you were gone."
She paused.
"And I don't want you dragged into their politics."
Jul was silent. That answer was more interesting than anything she'd said before. Jada wasn't simply warning him about the family. She was protecting him from it.
'And besides, she's right about one thing. I don't know them anymore. I know their names, their businesses, their public identities... but that's different from knowing them as family.'
"Then what should I do?"
"Nothing." Jada and Katelyn responded together.
"Nothing?" Jul raised a brow, amused.
"Stay out of the succession," Jada said quickly.
"Yes, let them fight over it." Katelyn chimed in.
Jul eventually smiled. "That sounds easy enough."
Jada gave him a doubtful look. "You only say that now."
Jul turned toward the window again.
'Well, She's right.'
He had no interest in becoming the head of some massive family. He had spent an entire lifetime fighting for survival; then he survived and reigned at the top.
He had no desire to spend another fighting over a chair.
But then another thought surfaced.
'Still...' His eyes narrowed slightly. 'If my existence changes the balance of the family this much, someone is bound to be unhappy about my return.'
That was worth remembering.
Silence settled over the vehicle once more.
Eventually, hours into the journey, the black-tinted partition separating the driver and guard from the passengers rolled down.
A voice followed.
"We have arrived."