Night covered the Carter estate like a quiet blanket.
Security lights illuminated the tall outer walls, while guards patrolled the grounds in steady rotations.
To an outsider, the estate looked calm.
Peaceful.
Untouchable.
But far away, on a hill overlooking the property, a black sedan remained parked in the shadows.
Inside the car, two men watched the estate through binoculars.
The older man adjusted the focus slowly.
"That's definitely the Carter residence."
The younger man nodded.
"The information from headquarters confirmed it."
The older man lowered the binoculars.
"And the target?"
The younger man opened a tablet and studied the file displayed on the screen.
"Bruce Carter."
The older man frowned slightly.
"A child?"
The younger man shrugged.
"Orders are orders."
He turned the tablet so the other man could see.
Bruce's photo appeared on the screen.
Age: 10.
Adopted by the Carter family six months ago.
Medical report: permanent leg injury.
Weak physical condition.
No known threats.
The older man stared at the file.
"This doesn't make sense."
The younger man leaned back in the seat.
"Our job isn't to ask questions."
The older man sighed.
"Still…"
He glanced toward the mansion again.
"Why would Black Serpent want a crippled kid?"
The younger man smirked.
"Maybe someone just wants to send a message."
Inside the Carter mansion.
Bruce Carter sat quietly at his desk.
A book lay open in front of him.
But he wasn't reading.
His mind was focused elsewhere.
Ever since earlier that evening, his instincts had been warning him.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Aron Turner had survived countless dangerous situations in his previous life.
That instinct for danger had never failed him.
Bruce slowly stood up and walked toward the window.
The estate gardens were quiet.
Nothing unusual.
But Bruce knew better.
He closed his eyes.
His consciousness slipped into the space world.
The familiar green fields appeared instantly.
Bruce stood near the glowing river.
The peaceful environment contrasted sharply with the tension in his mind.
Bruce walked toward the castle again.
The archive room had already shown him one important piece of information.
Black Serpent.
A rapidly expanding underworld organisation.
And now…
Something about tonight felt connected to them.
Bruce entered the castle corridor and walked into the archive room again.
The holographic world map appeared automatically.
Bruce focused on the Black Serpent symbol.
Information appeared again.
Locations.
Influence zones.
Known operations.
Bruce scanned the data carefully.
Then he noticed something new.
A small blinking marker.
Location: near the Carter estate.
Bruce's eyes narrowed.
"They're already here."
So the threat had arrived faster than expected.
Bruce leaned against the console.
His mind began calculating rapidly.
In his previous life, Aron Turner would have immediately mobilised his intelligence network.
But now…
He was a ten-year-old boy.
He couldn't openly confront an underworld organisation.
Not yet.
Bruce tapped the holographic screen again.
The system displayed available resources stored inside the space world.
Weapons.
Vehicles.
Equipment.
Bruce studied the list carefully.
Then his gaze stopped on something.
A small device.
Compact.
Simple.
Surveillance drone.
Bruce smiled slightly.
"That will work."
He focused his thoughts.
The black ring on his finger glowed faintly.
The system responded immediately.
The drone appeared in his hand.
A small metallic device with folding wings.
Bruce examined it carefully.
Advanced technology.
Far beyond civilian equipment.
He activated the device.
The drone unfolded silently.
Bruce released it.
The machine rose into the air and hovered steadily.
Bruce's mind connected to its camera instantly.
A holographic screen appeared before him.
Perfect.
Bruce closed his eyes again.
His consciousness returned to the real world.
Bruce opened the window quietly.
The night air flowed into the room.
Bruce placed the drone on the windowsill.
Then he activated it.
The drone lifted silently into the air.
Within seconds, it disappeared into the darkness.
But Bruce could see everything through its camera.
The drone flew above the estate walls.
It scanned the surrounding hills.
Trees.
Roads.
Empty land.
Then—
Bruce spotted the black sedan.
Parked far away.
Hidden in the shadows.
Bruce zoomed in.
Two men sat inside the car.
Both wearing dark suits.
One of them held binoculars.
Bruce leaned back slightly.
"So you finally showed yourselves."
He studied their movements carefully.
Professional posture.
Calm behaviour.
Not amateurs.
Black Serpent agents.
Bruce crossed his arms.
"They're observing the estate."
Which meant they were planning something.
Bruce's mind began calculating again.
If they were only watching tonight…
Then the attack would come later.
Bruce slowly smiled.
"Good."
That gave him time to prepare.
The drone continued hovering silently above the hill.
Inside the car, the younger man suddenly frowned.
"Did you hear something?"
The older man shook his head.
"No."
The younger man looked around suspiciously.
For a moment, he thought he saw something moving in the sky.
But the darkness hid the drone perfectly.
He shook his head.
"Probably nothing."
The older man started the engine slowly.
"We'll return tomorrow."
The black car turned around and drove away.
Bruce watched them disappear through the drone camera.
His expression became serious.
"So it's really Black Serpent."
That organisation was dangerous.
In his previous life, they had grown powerful quickly.
But now they were targeting him.
Bruce closed the drone camera feed.
The small machine returned quietly to the window.
Bruce picked it up and stored it inside the space world.
Then he sat down on the bed.
His eyes looked calm.
But his mind was already preparing for the coming storm.
"If they want a game…"
Bruce whispered softly.
"I'll play."
Far away.
Inside a luxurious underground office.
A tall man stood beside a massive glass window overlooking a city skyline.
His phone rang.
He answered calmly.
"Yes?"
The voice on the other side reported.
"Target confirmed."
The man smiled faintly.
"Good."
"Proceed to phase two."
He ended the call.
Then he looked at the city below.
"Let's see what makes you so special…"
"Bruce Carter."
Inside the Carter mansion, Bruce slowly lay down on the bed.
But sleep did not come easily.
The first enemy of his second life had already appeared.
And this time…
Bruce intended to win.
Author Thoughts