Pitch dark void. That's all I see. Where am I?

"You are in your sea of consciousness," Morja says. A young boy with crimson hair and eyes appears from thin air and gazes at me. He seems to wear a luxurious leather coat and long pants, a casual outfit in his mansion.

Morja turns his attention to the darkness.

"Sea of consciousness. Or at least it should be a sea." Morja says. "The trauma, the impurities, the sins. All piled up into this massive empty land."

...

"You are lucky you met me. If it was anyone else, they would have taken over your body."

!

"My body?"

"Your soul is too weak."

...Is he really a villain?

"I am," Morja replies. "To explain everything, I am the innocence and kindness Morja buried deep in his heart."

That explains his child-like appearance.

"You speak as if you understand my pain."

Morja nods. "I do. You've inherited part of my knowledge and memories and the opposite applies as well. I know all about your powers and secrets."

"Wow...guess I've been pretty lucky to meet you."

"And hard work too. Both crafted the current you."

...

"Is there anything you want?" I ask.

Morja sighs and looks away. "The real me outside is blinded by revenge and you've taken his kindness, his last remaining humanity, away. Things will never end well for him. Kill him, that's all I request. In return, I will teach and impart as much as I can."

"...I will do so if our paths cross, saving my father is my top priority."

"To save your father, you need to kill Morja." He says. "He is mostly likely the assassin that killed your father in your first life."

!!

"Alright."

Morja dips his hand into the black void, it submerges into rippling waves, revealing the liquid present.

"For now, I will try to purify your sea of consciousness. My advice for you is to not use full extraction for the time being. In particular, only use full extraction after you cultivate your soul and don't use it on anyone too strong."

...

"You don't resent me? For just...kidnapping you into my soul."

Morja looks at me. "If I do, I would have killed you from within. Besides, the real Morja locked me in the deepest depth of his heart, not even he could bring me out. I was in great despair as Morja...slowly descends to insanity."

He smiles. "In fact, I'm grateful. I was lucky too."

"Haha...by the way, I saw a martial artist at the burning mansion-"

"Give up." Morja interrupts me. "You are too weak."

...I can't refute that.

"Rest for a bit, your performance was splendid indeed."

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The last sentence throws me out of the void.

==============

"Ngh..." a comfortable surface, a bed.

"Loi..."

My name rings in my ear. I open my eyes to find my family huddled anxiously around me.

"Bastard!!" My mother pulls my ear.

"AH AH AH IT HURTS!!" I groan.

"M-Ma'am!" Uncle Eric and Kasler stop my mother.

My siblings stare at me with concern etched in their faces. The usually timid Christina grabs my hand and says softly "A-Are you okay?"

"Yeah...I feel alive," I reply.

"Damn brat, why would you fight to that extent? It's not a life-and-death duel!" My father nags.

"Ah...haha...a-anyways, what is the final result?"

"You...haah." My father sighs and shakes his head. "It was deemed a tie since both contestants fell. However, Mina forfeited her position and thus granted you the champion."

!

"Phew..." I relax as I heave a sigh of relief.

I should thank Mina at a later date.

My family stays with me for some time in the room as my mother bombards me with food. I seem to be in the royal infirmary of The Holy Light.

We are shortly interrupted by knocks after a while.

"Greetings, His Majesty Prince Julius Linux requested a private audience with Sir Loi Krist, may the esteemed family please vacate the room?"

They throw me a glance and I nod.

"Understood," My father says and guides everyone out.

Julius arrives not long and gazes at my current state. His appearance sickens me, that condescending gaze boils anger.

My glare alerts his servant behind but Julius orders him to leave the room.

"But-"

"Leave."

...

"This servant will obey."

And the two of us stay. He scrutinises my state imperiously, his posture erect and haughty, accentuating the disdain in his cold and calculating eyes.

He pulls out Aiden's servant contract. "I know you intend to trade the contract for the prize." he tears the contract in front of me. "There is no longer a need for that. I apologize if I offended you before and I will cut to the chase, I want you to support me in the succession war. I can provide you with any materials for your growth and guarantee the protection of your family."

...

"Don't take me for a fool," I say.

"What?"

"Do you think I will just become your servant when you threatened me with my friend?"

"That's why I plan to compensate you-"

"Kneel."

!!!!!

"P-Pardon?" His brows narrow as his features contort with bewilderment and a hint of disbelief in his eyes.

"I am someone who takes grudges very seriously and I hate those who use me the most," I say, a scar from my mercenary days.

"Impudence!" He exclaims.

"An illegitimate child of the emperor with a lowly maid of the palace. Despite his talents, he has always been shunned as the bastard of the royalty. Sounds familiar?" I say.

!!!!

Julius' background is a secret only servants of royalty and royalties themselves possess. He went to great lengths to hide his bastard status and prevent hindrance.

"How did you-"

"I'm not sure how you can provide me with resources. I think it will be better to support your brothers instead," I say.

I turn my attention to the roof. "And hey, if you want to kill me, you can try."

A murderous pressure explodes from my gaze. Myriad blades impale his soul as our eyes lock, conjuring an illusion of excruciating anguish. Julius grasps his chest and falls to the ground.

"W-What...swords...? S-Since...when?!" Julius mumbles, glancing down at nothing.

"M-My lord!" The assassin above reveals himself and snaps Julius back to reality.

"Hah! Huff huff..." He haphazardly inspects his torso.

"Julius, send that guy away," I say.

A royalty trembles from the aura of a mere peasant, a situation impossible to fathom. That is the power of sword intent.

"Leave!"

"Y-Yes sir..."

Julius presses on despite a visible quiver. "C-Can you handle the consequences?"

"If anything happens to me or my family, I will pay it back tenfold." My eyes maintain a steadfast gaze with determined persistence as if my words will be reality.

The fact that confidential information is within my palms sends Julius' thoughts in jeopardy. What is my true identity and background? How did I grow so strong? Such questions claw at his brain.

I am certain he investigated my background and found nothing out of place. In short, I'm making Julius paranoid.

...

"Are you a spy sent by another kingdom or my brothers?" He asks.

"You know the answer to that."

Julius has exclusive connections to "Golden Exchange".

...

Julius decided to back off in the face of uncertain adversity and value his life. "P-Pardon me some face please, I sincerely apologise for my actions before but to kneel as a Prince...I will cut contact with Aiden and send compensation. Request anything, I will get it for you."

His arrogant demeanour vanishes, now replaced by fear and confusion.

"Anything? Even the Tears of The World?" I say.

"T-Tears of the-...those are a bit..."

Tears of The World is an ancient treasure with legends rumoured to grant immortality and immense power to anything. It is also the ultimate goal of adventurers and explorers.

"Let's settle with this. Your previous condition but I want a partnership and the right to reject a request."

Julius ponders the proposal. He realises he may have bit off more than he can chew.

...

Fortunately for me, the current Julius is inexperienced.

"Your success will benefit me. Unless you become useless, I won't betray you. I expect the same vice versa and will exceed your expectations."

Julius nods.