While the rest of the Cosmos family sat in stunned silence, Adam remained calm.

He had expected Hao Jun to extend an invitation to visit Arcadia Luna—not because of the natural course of events, but because he knew what was coming due to his experience and knowledge from his previous life. He had known this, his regression again giving him the upper hand.

Hao Jun’s gratitude, following the promising progress of Isaac’s treatment, culminated in an invitation to Arcadia Luna, specifically the Lunar Resort, a place far removed from the ordinary experiences of Earth.

The family blinked, trying to make sure they had heard Hao Jun correctly. For a brief moment, the room was still, their disbelief palpable.

Arcadia Luna is humanity's crowning achievement, a shimmering beacon on the moon’s surface that stands as the pinnacle of space exploration and human ambition. It is the first true mega-city beyond Earth, where technology and luxury have merged to create a haven for the wealthiest elite. Among its many marvels, the Lunar Resort shines as the most coveted destination, the heart of Arcadia Luna's allure.

The Lunar Resort is the ultimate representation of high life on the moon. Reserved for the 1 percent of the 1 percent, it is an oasis of unparalleled luxury. Guests don’t merely visit; they are invited, handpicked from the world’s elite, to experience the finest life can offer. Sleek architecture blends seamlessly with the lunar landscape, reflecting humanity’s triumph over the harshness of space.

The moment guests step inside, Earth’s worries dissolve, replaced by the serenity of the cosmos. Every detail of the Lunar Resort is devoted to quality beyond imagination, from floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning views of Earth and the moon’s surface to AI-driven butlers attending to every need. Privacy is paramount—guests might go days without seeing another soul, the resort’s secluded nature ensuring solitude unmatched on Earth.

Dining here is extraordinary, with chefs preparing culinary masterpieces using ingredients either imported or grown in the resort’s lunar hydroponic gardens. For the adventurous, exclusive moonwalks across famous landmarks like the Sea of Tranquility, or zero-gravity entertainment offering floating parties and sports, are available.

Arcadia Luna, as a city, is a hub for exclusive business deals and interplanetary investments, with the Lunar Resort playing a key role in facilitating these interactions. The resort also offers cutting-edge anti-aging treatments, utilizing lunar minerals and zero-gravity therapies that promise rejuvenation beyond anything on Earth.

Security is absolute. AI-driven systems, drones, and robotic guards ensure privacy and safety. The Lunar Resort is not for fame, but for those whose fortunes transcend public attention. It stands as a symbol of humanity’s quest for luxury and perfection, far beyond the stars.

And so, the reaction of the Cosmos family was understandable. Even Ling, Hao Jun’s granddaughter, was rendered silent by the declaration that Adam’s family had been invited for a vacation at the prestigious land that is Arcadia Luna.

It was Isaac who spoke first. No, rather, he was the first to recover from the shock.

His voice, usually steady and controlled, carried a note of hesitation. "I'm sorry, Mr. Hao, but could you… repeat that?" he asked, glancing at Hao Jun as though he needed confirmation.

Hao Jun repeated his words kindly, fully understanding the family’s shock. “Yes,” he said with a gentle smile, “I’m inviting your family to Arcadia Luna, specifically to a one-month stay at the Lunar Resort—all expenses covered by me. It’s the least I can do for the promising treatment I’ve received.” His tone was warm, almost humble, though he knew exactly what the invitation meant to them.

“And,” he continued, “I’ll be going with you, of course. Despite being in a recovery capsule, I’ll be there. Sadly, though it’s supposed to be a vacation, I would still need Isaac’s expertise at my beck and call. You know how it is. A man can’t leave everything behind, even on the moon.” His smile widened slightly, hinting at the gravity of the situation, though his words remained gentle.

Isaac, ever the professional, simply nodded and responded, “That’s perfectly fine. No problem at all.” He paused, trying to lighten the mood. “Besides,” he added with a grin, “I don’t mind working if it means I get to stay on the moon.”

The attempt at humor hung in the air for a moment before the family, still in shock, slowly broke into smiles and chuckles, the surreal nature of the situation sinking in further.

Cassandra’s hand fluttered to her mouth, her eyes wide with disbelief. She could hardly imagine what it would be like to live on the moon, but the very thought left her awestruck. Keira’s breath hitched as she exchanged glances with Selene, whose usual confidence was momentarily replaced by wide-eyed wonder—a rare state for her. Even Nathan, usually quick to respond with skepticism, was uncharacteristically quiet, his mouth half-open in surprise. A trip to the moon was far beyond anything he’d ever dreamed possible, and it left him momentarily speechless.

Amidst all of this, Adam calmly sipped his coffee, observing the whirlwind of emotions swirling around the table. He had known this was coming, so nothing about it moved him. It was merely another step in the path he had already foreseen. Or rather, witnessed, in his first life.

Breaking the silence, Hao Jun added, “Of course, such an invitation will take some time to finalize. You should expect anywhere from a year to two years before everything is arranged. The process of organizing a trip to Arcadia Luna is… intricate, to say the least.”

The Cosmos family didn’t seem to mind the wait. In fact, the prospect of visiting the Lunar Resort, no matter how distant, filled them with excitement. Cassandra leaned toward Isaac, eyes still shining, whispering, “A year, two years—can you believe this? We’re going to the moon.” Isaac smiled softly in response, his earlier composure giving way to quiet excitement. Keira was already daydreaming, her eyes lost in the vision of a world far beyond her reach, while Selene couldn't help but grin at the sheer magnitude of what was unfolding. Even Nathan, though still somewhat skeptical, was clearly intrigued by the idea.

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Adam remained silent, as he had from the very beginning. Inwardly, however, his thoughts were far from still. 'A year from now,' Adam calculated. 'A month-long stay, with Hao Jun's treatment still in progress. Everything in its expected place.'

But Adam knew more than just the timing of their trip to the moon.

He knew that a series of unexpected events would soon unfold—events that would bring more attention to his family than any of them could imagine. Arcadia Luna would soon take note of Isaac’s extraordinary talents, particularly his groundbreaking work in medicine. The eyes of the moon’s elite would fall not only on Isaac but on the entire Cosmos family, and in time, an offer would come.

After all, saving the life of a billionaire tends to get the attention of the rest of the billionaire crowd. Who wouldn’t want a doctor like that where they reside?

Soon, it wouldn’t be just a vacation—not anymore. Arcadia Luna would present Isaac—and the rest of the Cosmos doctors—a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They wouldn’t just visit the heart of the moon’s most prestigious city; they would be asked to stay. A job, right in the heart of Arcadia Luna, would be offered to them. The family would be given a choice to uproot their lives and relocate to the moon, to become a part of this world they had once only dreamed about.

This is the image that Arcadia Luna is known for—a heaven outside Earth. And, for the Cosmos family, a dream come true.

As the conversation at the dinner table erupted around him in excitement, Adam’s mind wandered back to how this moment had unfolded the first time.

In his previous life, he hadn’t been present at this dinner. Back in 2020- the first time he lived it, Adam had just started med school, still trying to navigate the overwhelming pressure of balancing studies with a sense of unfulfilled potential. While his family had been present for this very dinner, Adam couldn't make it as he's still adjusting to the life of a medschool student.

Later, in 2021, Adam’s family left for the moon, having been invited to Arcadia Luna. When he heard about their visit to the prestigious Lunar Resort, it sparked something in him—a motivation to push harder, to finally become the successful med student he had always aspired to be. The thought of joining his family on the moon, in a place so far removed from Earth, made that dream feel almost within reach if he just worked a little harder.

But that drive could only last for so long. By 2022, the pressure, the endless cycle of studying, and the weight of expectations took their toll. His passion for medicine faded, and he found himself drawn to something entirely different—World of Pangea, the popular MMORPG. The escape it offered was too tempting, the allure of becoming a professional gamer too exciting. In the end, Adam made his decision. He quit med school and left behind the life he thought he wanted.

By the time he officially dropped out in 2022, his family had long since been offered full-time jobs and relocation to Arcadia Luna. He still remembered the disappointment in his father’s voice when he told him he was leaving med school. Isaac had been devastated, but there was nothing that could change Adam’s mind.

Ironically, it wasn’t the end of his opportunities. Hao Jun, just as grateful then as he was now for Isaac’s role in his recovery, took Adam, his savior's son, under his wing. Even though Adam had chosen a different path, Hao Jun found a place for him in the Hao Wei Guild. A spot opened in the guild’s Alchemy Division, where Adam found decent work managing in-game resources and helping the guild grow in World of Pangea.

At the time, it didn’t seem like much—a detour from what his father had hoped for him. But that detour would end up becoming a lifeline. Because, in 2023, everything would change. The world would face the beginning of the apocalypse. Earth would become a place of chaos and death, and Adam’s unexpected experience in the World of Pangea would become his edge in surviving the desolation that followed.

And while the apocalypse begins to dawn on Earth, Adam’s family, along with humanity’s elite, remains secure on Arcadia Luna.

Now, seated at the dinner table with his family, Adam knew better than anyone how the paths they were on would soon intertwine with something far more catastrophic. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes again. The Cosmos family’s invitation to Arcadia Luna was just the beginning of a larger picture—one that would demand far more than skill or status to survive.

Of course, not everything was the same. As Adam sat at the table, sipping his coffee and observing the flow of events, he couldn’t help but notice the subtle, yet significant, differences between this moment and how it had played out in his previous life.

The first and most obvious difference was his own presence. Back then, he hadn’t been invited to this dinner at all. In his previous life, his family had attended as part of his father’s "plus one," while Adam stayed behind, engrossed in the early stages of med school. This time, however, things had shifted. He had been invited directly by Hao Jun—no longer just an afterthought or someone brought along by his father’s invitation. Adam was a central part of the evening now, a recognition that felt both strange and validating.

But there were other, more unsettling changes. Most notably, the assassination attempt.

In his previous life, Adam knew that no such event had occurred. His family would have told him if it had—there was no way they would have kept something like that from him. The dinner had gone smoothly before, with nothing to mar the pleasant evening. Yet, here they were, and Hao Jun had nearly been killed.

Adam could only attribute the shift to the Butterfly Effect—the idea that a minor change, even something seemingly insignificant, could ripple outward and lead to entirely new outcomes. He hadn’t expected things to be identical, but an assassination attempt? That was a development he hadn’t seen coming.

For now, Adam could only assume that Hao Jun’s recent movements within World of Pangea had triggered someone in the real world to initiate this attack. The game had always been more than just entertainment—it was a cornerstone of business for people like Hao Jun, and Adam knew that well. His reasoning was based on what he knew from his previous life. Hao Wei Global, the company Hao Jun headed, had made massive investments in the VR industry. It had been no secret, even back then.

The difference was the timing.

In his previous life, Hao Wei Global hadn’t made its big move into the VR industry until later—about a year from now. By then, an assassination attempt had been made on Hao Jun’s life, but it had occurred just as he was preparing for the trip to Arcadia Luna, not during this dinner. The attack had failed, of course, but Adam hadn’t been involved in preventing it.

This time, though, things were different. The attempt had happened earlier, and he had played a direct role in preventing Hao Jun’s death.

It was a surreal thought. In some ways, his presence here had already changed the course of events. The Butterfly Effect was real, and Adam was starting to realize just how significant even the smallest differences could become.

He would have to tread carefully. The changes made were already setting new paths into motion, and he could no longer predict the future with the same certainty he once had.

As if to reinforce Adam’s growing sense of uncertainty—caused by the Butterfly Effect—Hao Jun made an unexpected announcement, one that rendered even Adam speechless.