The story that Ethan Caldwell recounted truly caused Julian Sterling to pause and fall into deep thought. He suddenly wanted to re-evaluate the period since he had transmigrated into this novel.

Julian realized that many things had deviated from their original path. The original plot points of the novel seemed like distant memories to him, as faded as an old dream. The characters who possessed perfect settings, who were supposed to become dazzling and wield immense power in the original storyline, had now been reduced to wretches scurrying in the shadows. They acted with extreme caution, terrified that Ethan might suddenly remember their existence and immediately come to cause trouble, or even completely wipe them off the chessboard.

Truthfully, Julian did not remember too many intricate details about this novel. He had not even finished reading the book initially, it was mostly just something to entertain himself and kill time. However, regarding some crucial information outlining the main plot, Julian could still vaguely recall it. The problem was that the current events had strayed too far from the original trajectory, almost completely breaking free from the control of the original narrative. At first, Julian did not pay much attention to this discrepancy. He simply thought that the time was not yet ripe, that Aaron Sterling had not yet truly matured to the stage of becoming a genuine heartthrob, the moment when countless talented and powerful individuals would willingly fall to their knees at his feet to offer him everything.

But looking back calmly now, things did not seem to align with what he had previously predicted.

Like the familiar tropes of countless standard transmigration novels, a character’s development usually fell into one of two basic scenarios. In the first scenario, the transmigrator harbored malicious intentions, always seeking ways to bring down the protagonist, but ultimately it would backfire. Their attempts to harm others would only ruin themselves, turning them into a pathetic clown in the eyes of everyone else, looking even more miserable than before they crossed over. The second scenario involved the transmigrator being constantly provoked and oppressed by the protagonist, eventually being pushed to the brink and forced to stand up and rebel. They would utilize the core plot points they knew in advance from reading the book to overthrow the protagonist, step by step snatching away the halo and turning themselves into the new central figure of that world.

Given the current circumstances, Julian... Julian honestly did not know which of these two directions he was developing toward either.

Initially, he thought he was definitely heading down the second path, meaning he wanted to overthrow Aaron’s dominance. But the more he interacted, the more he realized that Aaron’s throne as the protagonist did not seem nearly as unshakeable as he had once thought. Or at least, up to this stage, he had not accumulated enough strength and influence to manipulate a vast domain as described in the book. However, if one were to analyze things according to the familiar motifs of this genre, then logically speaking, no matter how much difficulty or hardship Aaron faced right now, the powerful harem backing him should have swiftly reached out to help him weather the storm.

Considering the practical situation, it could be because the Sterling family was currently too insignificant, their roots not deep enough, lacking entirely the power and foundation to oppose a colossal entity like the Caldwell family. But matters were not that simple, because standing behind Aaron was not just the Sterling family. He also had Cedric Harrington , the representative of the Harrington family’s power, and especially Gabriel Cole , the man currently holding direct supreme command over the Cole family. With the backgrounds and resources at their disposal, these two men fundamentally had no need to be overly anxious or fearful of the Caldwell family. Or suppose the Harrington family might be slightly hesitant due to commercial interest calculations, but the Cole family in particular, given their longstanding nature, possessed the absolute capability to engage in a fair, head-on confrontation.

The question then arose, why did they decide to turn a blind eye and leave Aaron adrift in such a miserable predicament? What plan were they harboring? Did they want him to quietly take refuge and wait for a more favorable opportunity to mount a powerful resurgence?

Julian slightly narrowed his eyes, his gaze revealing deep contemplation.

Or perhaps...

He suddenly recalled the continuous string of troubles that he and Ethan had been incessantly caught up in recently. Could it be that this was the method Gabriel Cole was covertly employing to exact revenge for Aaron’s grievances? Yet, upon closer inspection, this hypothesis did not seem quite right either. The events that transpired were far too sophisticated and intricately linked together, it did not resemble a simple act of personal vengeance at all, but rather felt like the foundational groundwork for some massive and sinister conspiracy.

While Julian’s mind was still busy pondering numerous different theories, Ethan, sitting opposite him, maintained absolute silence. It could be that the observant man noticed and knew he was lost in his own train of thought, or perhaps he understood that Julian truly needed a little more quiet time to slowly absorb and digest the massive influx of information from earlier. Thus, Ethan deliberately refrained from saying anything further, offering only his silent companionship. A moment later, that seemingly frozen, tranquil atmosphere was broken. In the room where previously only the sound of gentle breathing could be heard, the man’s steady voice echoed once again.

"CORE controls the medical and pharmaceutical networks of more than half of the key regions." Ethan’s voice was even, as unhurried as if he were narrating a true horror story: "They enrich themselves on human illness. But they do not stop there; it could be said that what they are targeting is something far more advanced than my mother’s project. As for the project she participated in... it was inadvertently set up by a traitor to CORE."

Julian drew in a breath... which meant that from the very beginning, Ethan’s mother’s research was not heading in this direction. Or perhaps she had originally been safe. It was simply that one of the architects behind that final project wanted to take the very thing CORE was researching, something that transcended the bounds of life and death, and make it their own. And inadvertently... it dragged many innocent people into this vortex. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

"Actually, from the very beginning, everything was already a trap. A trap within a trap."

Julian snapped his head up, looking at the man: "Let me guess..."

Ethan nodded.

"Initially, CORE targeted your mother’s capabilities within the medical field. They surmised that with her on board, this developmental project could pivot to another path with a higher probability of success. But they could not reel her in, so they wanted to shift to an alternative plan. Among the professors acquainted with your mother, they planted someone to instigate this project."

"In the end, they succeeded in dragging her into participating, wanting to seize the results of this research."

"I am guessing... the research must have made very promising strides. CORE was pleased, and that spy was equally pleased. Then his ambition flared up; he wanted the outcome of this project to belong solely to himself."

"He betrayed CORE."

"When those people realized this, they gradually recognized that everything had slipped beyond their control, so they needed to seize the research results and eliminate anyone who knew the truth."

"I guess... besides your parents, the other people involved in this project would all ’accidentally’ perish."

"As for the one who was originally from CORE and then turned traitor... it must be the mentor your mother respected the most."

Ethan stroked Julian’s hair, gently pressing a kiss to his forehead: "Truly clever."

"Perhaps she also never expected that the person she always respected, even revered, was actually someone who climbed to power by trampling upon the lives of others."

Julian reached out, gently wrapping his arms around the firm waist of the man in front of him. He pressed his cheek against Ethan’s chest, listening to his steady and composed heartbeat. He knew that behind that calm and seemingly emotionless demeanor lay a raging storm, the agonizing loss of his loved ones buried beneath cold calculations for so many years.

"No matter what schemes they harbor, or how powerful CORE might be, we won’t let them have their way this time." Julian said softly, his gaze resolute as he looked up directly into Ethan’s deep, dark eyes.

The man wrapped his arms tightly around him, resting his chin lightly on the top of Julian’s head. The corners of his lips curved up into a dangerously sharp smile that was yet incredibly gentle when directed at Julian.

"Of course." Ethan replied in a deep voice, his fingers slowly threading through Julian’s soft hair: "What they owe the Caldwell family, and the troubles they dared to bring to you, I will make them repay a hundred thousand times over. This chess game... has only just truly begun."