In one of the opulent private study rooms at Von Ritcher estate, a young man named Griffin stood just outside the closed door, anxiously fidgeting with the cuff of his tailored shirt.Inside, his homeschool teacher, Mr. Davies, was engaged in yet another heated conversation with Griffin's mother, Lorraine.The teacher's voice was filled with frustration and annoyance as he complained about Griffin's persistent laziness and occasional bouts of rudeness during their study sessions. He recounted numerous futile attempts to motivate the young man, but all had fallen flat."I've had enough, Mrs. Von Ritcher! I cannot tolerate Griffin's behavior any longer. He refuses to pay attention, and every attempt to engage him has failed. He's simply not interested in his studies!" the teacher exclaimed exasperatedly, throwing his hands up in the air for emphasis.Lorraine, sitting regally behind the grand wooden desk, let out an exasperated sigh. She had dealt with similar complaints about her son n
Greg and Dylan stepped through the grand entrance of The Von Ritcher estate. The mansion’s interior was adorned with exquisite artwork, elegant chandeliers, and lavish furnishings. The grandeur of the estate left everyone who saw it in awe, yet for Greg… It just brings him a feeling of nostalgia and discomfort. As they walked through the familiar halls, Greg’s mind drifted back to his childhood years spent in this very house. The memories flooded back, some pleasant, but mostly overshadowed by the weight of the past. This place had never truly felt like home to him and the strained relationship with his father and his cunning stepmother added to the uneasy atmosphere. “Nothing’s changed,” Greg thought to himself, observing the portraits of his ancestors that were still hanging on the walls. Despite the passage of time, the mansion seemed frozen in its luxurious glory, a stark contrast to the changes that had occurred in his own life. As Greg and Dylan wandered deeper into the esta
The formal dinner at the Von Ritcher estate commenced with an air of tense silence. The clinking of silverware against fine china was the only sound that filled the opulent dining room. Greg sat at the table, maintaining his calm demeanor while his stepmother, Lorraine, engaged with his father, Austine, in a hushed conversation. "Austine, you couldn’t believe what just happened today. Griffin has been showing remarkable progress in his studies lately, and his teacher praised him. They even state that he seems more focused and dedicated than ever," Lorraine said, her tone tinged with satisfaction. Austine responded with a brief nod. "That's good to hear. I'm glad to see him taking his future seriously." Greg couldn't help but silently laugh to himself. He knew Griffin well enough to suspect that his newfound interest in his studies was merely a show for their father's benefit. Nonetheless, he kept his amusement hidden and continued to focus on his meal. As the conversation between
BLAM! Lorraine slammed the bedroom door shut with a resounding thud. Her rage simmered within her, threatening to boil over. She couldn't believe Austine's audacity to consider Greg as the sole heir once again! All her carefully laid plans to secure the position for her own son, Griffin, were now in jeopardy. "How can he do this?" Lorraine seethed, pacing back and forth in her luxurious bedroom. "After all I've done to be in this family, including marrying that old hag… He still wants to give that stupid son a second chance?! What's so hard about making Griffin an heir anyway?! All Griffin has ever done is get sent to a labor institution for selling weapons and drugs! Didn’t Austine think that that STUPID Greg could get into bigger problems if that picture is out?!" Lorraine’s anger only intensified when she recalled how Austine requested Greg to come to his study room to discuss the second chance further. Why didn't Austine just talk in the dining room? Did he think of them as ou
"Good night, Father. I'll make sure to review all the documents tonight," Greg bid his father farewell with a nod. "Hmmm..." And with that, Greg stepped out of his father's study, clutching a stack of documents in a brownish map. As he walked down the Von Ritcher’s corridor, Greg couldn’t help but replay his father’s words in his mind: "You can start from tomorrow… I want you to begin with Behav Company which is located in Struggl City. Do you still remember Behav, right?" A crooked smile tugged at the corner of Greg's lips as he remembered it. Well, of course… Of course, Greg remembers Behav. How could he ever forget the place where his father made him out from Von Ritcher, and even accused him of crimes that he didn’t commit? Behav Company, a pharmaceutical subsidiary of Von Ritcher Industries, was where Greg had once worked alongside his stepbrother, Griffin. Griffin held the title of an executive, while Greg was just an assistant, overshadowed and underappreciated. Although G
—The next morning at Von Ritcher’s estate— Greg stood in his room, looking satisfied as he surveyed his packed belongings. "Alright, I think I've got everything. I don’t think I’ve missed anything,” Greg said as he checked once more.Today was the day when Greg would embark on his second mission which was: Taking over Behav Company as the executive.After thoroughly reviewing all the documents and the information about the suspects and Bradley, Greg decided to call one of his subordinates to see if there was someone on his side that was still working at Behav.And thankfully, there was, which made Greg's task of gathering further information about the situation at the company much easier."Hm… But John mentioned that after I left, there were significant changes in the roles of the executives, and the only ones who still had their position is just Bradley and his assistant. John also mentioned that those new executives had no prior affiliation with Von Ritcher's other main subsidiar
TING! "Attention all passengers, the gate for flight T1RE8 to Struggl City is now open. We kindly ask all passengers to proceed to the gate for boarding. Thank you." The announcement echoed through the bustling airport terminal, catching the attention of passengers who were waiting to board their flights. Greg and Dylan, along with the other travelers, promptly made their way toward the front gate in anticipation of their departure to Struggl City. Navigating through the crowd, Greg kept a composed demeanor, his strides purposeful while Dylan, on the other hand, seemed slightly annoyed by the prospect of the upcoming flight. As they settled into their seats, Dylan's frustration with the domestic flight process became palpable. "Man, I thought I was going to die out there. Did you see the lines at the security check? It was like a never-ending nightmare," Dylan lamented, rubbing his temples before looking at his boarding pass. “And seriously? UglyPlane 2000? Why on earth did they c
The UglyPlane 2000 descended with a shudder, its wheels making contact with the runway of an unfamiliar airport. Passengers braced themselves as the aircraft jolted slightly upon landing, their faces a mix of surprise and concern.The cabin was filled with a collective exhale, a mixture of tension and gratitude, as the plane came to a stop.TING![Attention, we have made an emergency landing at an alternate airport due to technical difficulties. Please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened until further instructions are provided. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your cooperation.]Confusion hung in the air as passengers exchanged uncertain glances. Outside, airport personnel moved swiftly, their purposeful actions a stark contrast to the unexpected turn of events. The overhead bins creaked as passengers retrieved their belongings, uncertainty etched on their faces.TING![Attention, we kindly ask that you follow the crew's instructions to disembark the aircraft i
At The Faith's Company.The imposing wooden door of Charles Faith's office had a distinct rhythm as it received three sharp knocks, echoing through the hushed corridor."Come in."The door swung open, and his impeccably dressed secretary entered with a respectful bow. She carried a folder and a map, her demeanor exuding professionalism."Good morning, Mr. Faith," she greeted. "I just wanted to inform you that the Faith Company's market is experiencing rapid growth. The score was higher than last month, and the number held a new sales record for our company, so our marketing team decided to set a higher score so that we can achieve higher success. Charles Faith, seated behind his polished mahogany desk, was engrossed in reviewing a stack of documents. He glanced up from his work, intrigued by the news."Oh really? Is that so?" he inquired, his piercing gaze focused on the secretary. Then, with a calculated curiosity, he asked, "And how is Von Ritcher doing? Have we surpassed them, and
Months had passed since the chilling night at Bluebell Inn, and the air of uncertainty still clung to Greg. The events that unfolded during the banquet remained etched in his memory, and the questions surrounding Griffin and Behav's secrets continued to haunt him. [Breaking news flashed on the screen, interrupting the usual morning routine. "In a shocking turn of events, it has been months since the youngest heir of Von Ritcher, Griffin Von Ritcher, died mysteriously of poisoning and now, another blow has struck the Von Ritcher family as one of their main subsidiary companies, Behav, has been revealed to have been hiding a significant secret. The company was linked to the water disposal incident from Bluebell years ago, a scandal that has sent shockwaves through the corporate world and---"PIP!] "Another day, and the news seems unending, huh?" Greg mused as he stared at the blank screen. CKLEK!“Hey, Greg. Sorry for bothering you, but I just want to remind you that minutes from n
Greg's thoughts swirled with uncertainty, the weight of the situation heavy on his shoulders. And just as he was wrestling with the question of how to navigate the unexpected presence of Griffin and Mara, a sudden knock at the door disrupted his contemplation. It was one of Bluebell Inn's servants."Good afternoon," the inn servant began, "I'm sorry for bothering you, but I wanted to remind you that the banquet is now available, and you are welcome to join if you wish."Greg nodded, acknowledging the information. "Thank you. We'll head to the banquet shortly."As the servant left, Dylan turned to Greg. "Looks like the banquet is already open. Shall we go now?" he asked, and Greg nodded."Sure. Let’s head to the banquet," he said.+++TIME SKIPAs they had arrived at the banquet, the room was already full with the executives.The room was adorned with elegant decorations, giving it the air of an official gathering rather than a simple dinner."Wow... the banquet is quite full," Dylan
As Greg continued to ponder the familiarity of the bag, Alan's voice abruptly brought him back to the present.“Hey, Greg. I’ve been searching for you everywhere," Alan said with a friendly smile. "We need to get inside the lab building. Everyone's already gathered inside since Mr. Smith has already arrived.""Alright, I'll come in," Greg said, as he followed Alan.Inside the Old Behav Lab Building...Greg stepped into the old Behav lab building and found that everyone had already gathered inside. The room buzzed with whispered conversations as the executives engaged in hushed discussions. There was a certain nostalgia in the air, a reminder that many of them had started their careers in this old abandoned lab when they were young scholars. Some of the executives were reminiscing about the past, discussing their memories of working in this very building."Everyone must be feeling nostalgic, considering it's been a long time since they set foot in here," Greg mused as he observed thei
The morning sun bathed the Bluebell Inn in warm, golden light as the executives of Behav Industries enjoyed a grand breakfast. As everyone was eating, Greg, who was sitting on the corner couldn't help but observe Jason, who was now sitting at a table, laughing heartily with Bradley. It was a stark contrast to his furious demeanor just the day before. "Hm, that was weird, how come Jason suddenly changed his mind in one day? Wasn't he still angry yesterday?" Greg mused as he silently drank his coffee."Is Bradley perhaps saying something to him? He must have said something to Jason since he was still mad yesterday. "What did Bradley say that managed to change Jason's mind in one da—” "Hoh, newbie, so you're joining our trip to the lab, huh? What did you say to Karel that made him suddenly let you? You didn't tell what Dr.Lou tells right?" Greg, who heard someone call his name, shifted his gaze and he immediately met with Alan's smiley face. Returning his smile, Greg said, "Nah
Greg now stared in disbelief at the sight before him. Under the bed, there was…“Dylan?” Greg exclaimed, his voice betraying his astonishment as he looked at his subordinate who grinned mischievously before slowly getting up from his hiding place."Hey, Greg," Dylan greeted with a smirk. "Phew, I was relieved to no longer be down there. It's pretty dirty under the bed."Greg scoffed, still bewildered by Dylan's sudden appearance. "Weren't you just out with your belongings minutes ago?"Dylan chuckled as he brushed off some dust from his clothes. “Well, about that… Let’s just say, I didn’t really go out since I was kinda curious about what you and Karel are about to discuss so I decided to eavesdrop for a while before going back to Maria and the teen room,” said Dylan, making Greg roll his eyes.“Anyway, Greg, about Karel’s question…” Dylan's grin faded, and his expression turned serious. "It was strange, don't you think? Like, why would he suddenly ask about Bradley and forgiveness? I
BRAK!The suite room's door swung open, and Karel stepped inside, his eyes scanning the spacious and luxurious surroundings. "Oh, so this is the room, huh? It's pretty big," Karel remarked as he began placing his belongings on the floor. "It's almost as big as the city's hotel suite room. Bluebell Inn should try to advertise more about this place. It'll definitely elevate their income."Greg followed Karel into the room, placing Karel's other belongings beside his own. "Well, yeah, I agree with you. Bluebell should try to advertise this place more" Greg replied, keeping his tone casual. 'Tsk, how come he and Dylan had the same thought?' Greg mused.Karel continued his assessment of the room. "And also, I think they need to fix the connection too. You know, even though this is an inn based in nature, this world is already modern, so Wi-Fi and a good connection have become primary needs, just like food and drink."“Yeah, I agree with you,” Greg briefly said.As they settled into the ro
Karel sighed as he heard what the receptionist said, his mind racing to find a solution to his predicament. "Hmm… So the only option that's available is just an extra bed, huh?" Karel said, a hint of frustration in his voice. The receptionist nodded, her eyes sympathetic.“Yes, sir, the only option available right now is the extra bed. But don’t worry, even though you'll be sleeping on an extra bed, we will give you a free breakfast as our apology for any discomfort you might experience—”As the receptionist talked about the inn's apologetic service, Karel, on the other hand, fell silent as he contemplated this option. Sharing a room with the executives wasn't his idea of a peaceful night's sleep given his personality as a picky person who had zero tolerance to someone else's habit."Hm… who should I sleep with? Alan and Mr. Anderson, or Dr. Lou?" Karel thought as pondered about the sleeping candidate. "It will be troublesome if I sleep with Alan and Mr. Anderson remembering how talka
"I know that exposing the lab and Bradley's activities will tarnish the company's reputation, but seriously, destroying Behav... Should we really just stay silent and let them do it?"***The tension in the room was palpable as Greg and Dylan exchanged thoughts about the executives' plan to expose Behav. Greg's brow furrowed as he considered Dylan's words, the weight of their conversation sinking in before saying, "Well, yeah. I guess so...?" Greg said, raising an eyebrow. "I mean...Why should we stop them? Just like what you said, by exposing the company, it will automatically tarnish its reputation. So what's the difference with letting the executives do that instead? Won't it be good since it didn't dirty our hands?"Greg asked, and Dylan nodded thoughtfully as he acknowledged the validity of Greg's points."Well, you're not wrong about that," Dylan admitted before continuing, "However, our purpose is different from theirs Greg. Our purpose in revealing Behav's illicit activities