From Pathetic Loser To A Potent Legend

Chapter 009: New Status

Gilbert sighed deeply, his head hung low as painful memories flooded his mind. He thought of the years of suffering—his mother’s illness, his sister’s struggles, and his own helplessness. And now, the revelation that he was the heir to the Hayes family. It all felt too overwhelming, and before he could stop himself, tears began to flow freely down his cheeks.

Seeing the sudden breakdown, Mr. Hoffman stood up immediately and moved toward Gilbert, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. “Hey, it’s alright,” he reassured him. He sat down beside him, handing Gilbert a handkerchief, his actions deliberate, knowing this wasn’t the time for words.

After a few moments, Mr. Hoffman opened up, ''We did everything we could to find you, Gilbert. It took us years because you were nearly impossible to track. It wasn’t until recently that we finally started getting real answers.''

Gilbert wiped his face, his breathing still shaky. ''Why now? After all this time?''

Mr. Hoffman exhaled deeply, looking as if he too had wrestled with the question. ''Our search led us to something... interesting. We found out you were once part of the Elite Fighter Squadron in the Air Force. That wasn’t easy to discover, by the way. Your personal records were heavily restricted.''

Gilbert, a bit confused, looked up sharply, “How do you know about that?”

Mr. Hoffman met his gaze, his face stern. ''We don’t have the full story. But we know enough. You served with distinction, but you left the Air Force... abruptly. What happened, Gilbert?''

For a moment, Gilbert said nothing, his mind flashing back to that time—back to the pain and the shame. He sighed, his voice low. ''I was imprisoned. For three months, you know.''

Mr. Hoffman raised an eyebrow, but said nothing, letting Gilbert continue.

''I was held responsible for the loss of lives... and valuable resources. I didn’t follow orders, and it cost me. They stripped me of my job.''

Mr. Hoffman listened quietly, nodding as the weight of Gilbert’s words hung in the air. ''I see. That must’ve been a heavy burden to carry.''

Gilbert nodded, his words glum. ''It was. But what hurts more is that nobody cared about the circumstances. I disobeyed orders because I was trying to save my team. But all they saw was failure.''

The room fell silent for a few seconds, both of them processing the weight of what had been shared.

Mr. Hoffman broke the silence with a heavy sigh and gentler tone. ''You did what you thought was right. That’s not a failure, Gilbert. And now, your grandfather wants to help set things right. You have the chance to reclaim the life that was taken from you. You just need to get along with him, understand?''

Gilbert looked at him, the anger that had once been so strong now fading into something else—perhaps understanding, or maybe just exhaustion. He nodded slowly. “Maybe you’re right.”

Mr. Hoffman chuckled. ''Ah .... I know I’m right. You’ve been carrying all of this alone for too long.''

After a few moments of silence, Gilbert took a deep breath, this time calmer. He finally spoke, ''Alright. I’m ready. I’ll meet him.”

Mr. Hoffman shouted energetically, and he clapped Gilbert on the back. ''That’s the spirit, Gilbert. Trust me!”

The next moment, Mr. Hoffman and Gilbert left the hotel in a custom-designed luxurious Mercedes-Benz, a car far beyond anything Gilbert had ever experienced before.

The drive was short, barely a mile, and before long, they pulled up in front of the grand mansion where Gilbert’s grandfather lived.

Not long after, they found themselves inside the mansion’s lavish living room where Gilbert’s lips parted in awe as he took in the opulence surrounding him. Everywhere he looked, the space oozed wealth—his grandfather wasn’t just rich; he was beyond wealthy.

Before Gilbert could fully take in the luxury, footsteps rang out from the hallway. Moments later, an older man appeared—tall, sharp, with silver hair and intense eyes. He paused in the doorway, his presence filling the room. This was Gilbert's grandfather.

Initially hesitant, Gilbert stepped forward and embraced his grandfather. After a brief moment, they pulled apart, and his grandfather smiled, expressing how happy he was to finally find him.

“Welcome, Gilbert,” his grandfather said softly, motioning for him to sit.

He then turned to him, choosing his words carefully. ''I’m so glad we found you, Gilbert. It hasn’t been an easy task, you know. I put a lot of pressure on Mr. Hoffman to locate you.''

Gilbert, unable to hold back any longer, asked what had been haunting him for years. ''Grandpa, what really happened to my father? Is he still alive? Why did he leave my family?''

''Well, Gilbert, your father didn’t leave you or your mother by choice. He died in a tragic road accident eleven years ago,'' his grandfather began, his voice heavy. ''But before that, he had already separated from the family. Up until the day he died, he never gave a reason for leaving. What you need to know is that his actions caused a lot of pain for you and your mother. You both suffered because of it.''

The words hung in the air, and Gilbert felt the weight of the truth settling in.

His grandfather straightened, his tone shifting to something more formal. ''Yes, it’s time you knew who you truly are. I’m not just your grandfather, I’m the head of the Hayes family, a name with a great legacy and responsibility. And now, you are the rightful heir. You’ve inherited not just the family fortune, but the title of commander in our private legion, a force built by the family.''

Gilbert raised his hands in excitement, then quickly fell to his knees, trying to process the weight of his grandfather’s words. His whole life was about to change, and he felt it deep within.

His grandfather, the old master, then reached into his pocket and pulled out a sleek black card—an American Express. ''You’ve been authorized to use this, Gilbert. I’m still the primary owner, but you now have access to the funds. Spend as much as you need.''

Still overwhelmed, Gilbert took the card.

“How much is on the card?” he asked, his curiosity getting the best of him.

His grandfather, the old master, smirked slightly before responding, “There’s about fifty million dollars in the account tied to that card.”

“Wow! Fifty million? This is unbelievable!'' Gilbert's jaw dropped in disbelief.

He quickly turned to his grandfather, a hint of gratitude in his eyes, ''Uh, thank you for finding me. I can't believe all of this is happening.''

“You're welcome, Gilbert!” his grandfather replied, a proud smile on his face.

Still processing the magnitude of what was unfolding, Gilbert clutched the card tighter, his heart racing. He couldn't suppress his excitement; it felt as if he had just won the lottery.

“Wait, so what about transferring management of the private legion and the other investments to me?” he asked, his voice a mix of eagerness and uncertainty.

Before Gilbert’s grandpa could respond, Mr. Hoffman cut in. ''I’ll guide you through the steps, Gilbert. We’ll get you up to speed on how to take over as commander of the private legion. You’ve got a lot to learn, but don’t worry, we’ll handle it.''

The discussion wrapped up quickly, and not quite long after stepping outside, Gilbert struggled to gather his thoughts. He was led by the butler and Mr. Hoffman to a large park where a fleet of luxury cars were lined up.

The butler urged him, ''Choose whichever one you like, Commander Hayes.''

Mr. Hoffman chimed in, a grin on his face as he patted Gilbert on the back. ''You’ve earned this moment. Pick something that reflects your new status.''

As he scanned the area, his eyes locked onto a sleek, vinous Aston Martin DB9. Its polished surface glimmered, pulling him in. He smiled, excitement filling him as he ran his hand across the car. “This one,” he affirmed. However, he could feel the weight of his new life settling in, and this car felt like the perfect start to it.