Hidden Story

Elias, no, he was now Arric Cross, needed to save himself from his fated death, and what he lacked at the moment was the power to struggle. And the answer to his problems were within his reach. He had to use his father's wealth and build his own power.

Before that, he had to earn his father's approval. What should I say to my father to earn his approval. After all, he was incapable of cultivating, and he was also quite naughty, no it was beyond naughty, he was a bully. He have to show that he had the edge to reach his promises.

'What is my edge? If it were before I would say that it's my ability to see through one's potential...'

A sudden realization hit the current Arric. Arric stood up and walk towards the large mirror inlaide with gems. Arric covered his left eye with his left hand and activated his ability. When he saw that his right eye changed color from red to golden, he knew that his ability came with his soul.

'If it's others, they might have been lost right now. But, definitely not me, because I have the ability to see others potential.'

Arric couldn't help but smile. Now, he had a bargaining chip. What excuse should he use to make his father believe in him. As a reader, he knew that the power when it came to money was in Baron Cross' hands. And Arric has a suspicion that there was something wrong with his mother.

While he was thinking deeply, the old butler entered the room and saw that his young master was fine. He was right where he was before when he first found him and made the biggest blunder in his entire butler life. The old butler sighed and walk towards his young master.

When Arric didn't notice his presence, he wanted to check if his young master was fine. But, he remembered that the reason why the young master fainted was due to stress, he could only stop himself and wait for his young master to snap in his reverie.

A few minutes later, Arric finally noticed the old butler waiting for him. A sudden heat rose from within him, making his face blush. He couldn't help but lament that his habit when he was on Earth was seen by someone in the short time since his transmigration. It was embarrasing!

Arric cleared his throat and nonchalantly turned towards the old butler, "Why are you here, Devis?"

"Young master, the Baron told me to notify you about your mother's condition when you woke up."

"I see. Then lead the way, I want to see my mother."

The old butler was surprised, but he collected himself after a second. He couldn't let his thoughts show on his face, but he couldn't help but feel glad that his young master was worried for the mistress.

The walk wasn't short nor long, after a few minutes Devis brought him in. The only people he saw inside the room was his father sitting near the bed, and a silhouette of a person lying on the bed, which should he his mother.

"Father."

"S-Son!"

"..."

Now, Arric felt that his parents were walking on eggshells around him. The reaction of Devis and his father was dead giveaway. Arric didn't waste time playing mind games with them and walk straight towards the bed. When he saw the woman on the bed there was an unexplainable heartache which made the current Arric uncomfortable.

He might have accepted his new identity but he wasn't quite accepting of his new parents, after all, for him they were still strangers, he was just calling them their title as a form of politeness both for the original Arric and his parents. Anyways, it was not the right time to explore this uncomfortable feeling. The time he had was short, so he had to prioritize building his own power.

"How was mother?"

After a long silence, Arric still need to show that he cared. What kind of son would go straight to ask for money? Definitely not him.

"Same as always. You know."

"Father, both of us know that I don't know what you're talking about."

The original Arric wasn't aware of his mother's situation, nor him the reader. Thus, he could only show that he cared.

"Your mother... Your mother... Sigh..."

"If you can't talk about it then never mind."

"No. You should know her condition. Thirtren years ago, your mother was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl. As you can guess, the boy I was talking about was none other than you... and the other was your twin sister... Marie. She... didn't make it. She..."

"Died."

Baron Cross couldn't finish the sentence so Arric helped him. Arric felt the depressing atmosphere in the room, even the old butler, Devis was sniffing. Unlike him, who felt nothing, both men was emotional.

"Yes, she died. At that time, I thought your mother was fine. She was still like before. Although her other child died, she still had you. She showered you with unconditional love, even I was forgotten sometimes. Thinking back, I should have seen the signs. If your mother's family didn't show up, I wouldn't have find out that there was something wrong with her. As you know, the Langley Family earned the wrath of his majesty, the Emperor, thus their family fell. So, they could only look for help, and the help that they thought was your mother. Since your mother was loving and forgiving, she easily forgave her family and begged me to help them."

'This... isn't this a hidden story?'

"I love your mother so much, and promised her that I'll grant anything that she wanted. So, even if I hated her family, I helped them like family. I gave them money, gave them resources, and even allowed them to enter the Dungeons our family manages. It wasn't until we found out that you were incapable of cultivating that the first sign showed up... Your mother... couldn't take it and blame herself for your misfortune and she also blamed herself for you twin sister's death. She was losing her mind so I had no choice but to knock her unconscious."

"What happened next?"

"After she woke up, everything seemed normal, she forgot what happened and she back to her old self. But, since you became reticent, your mother's emotions became unsteady. Before I could look for a cure, your mother's family visited again. Introducing your cousin who have the bearings of a genius. When your mother saw your cousin... she..."

"Did she saw my dead sister as her?"

"Yes..."

"..."

"And I didn't stop it. I'm a bad father and husband. I..."

"That's why you neglected me."

"Yes. There's no excuse for it. I... I thought that everything would be alright but you started to show your naughty side."

"You mean my bad sides? Hmph, as a neglected son who would be happy? You didn't even console me when I found out I don't have the ability to cultivate. Not only that, after three months of my tenth birthday, you brought a stranger, a stranger who was deemed as a genius. What do you think would I feel? I hated you two. I hate you so much and at the same time I love you. Do you know how I felt? I felt so disgusted with myself that I..."

'That Arric took his own life to stop the suffering. I feel so shitty.'

He didn't continue his words. He already knew that the words he had said was enough to feel how much pain they had caused to their son. The son who only knew how to smile and laugh innocently had no choice to become bad because of his irresponsible parents.

If it was the original Arric, he might not have found out the reason why his parents neglected him. Even though the reason was not good, it was not the worse like what he had thought. Time heals anything even their pain. They could still rebuild their broken relationship as long as they lived, but the Author decided that the cannon fodder didn't need those moments. It was hateful.

He collected his thoughts and turned towards his father. He needed his help, it was enough to let the original Arric's pain be in the open, so he had to set aside the hate he was feeling and plant a way for them to redeem themselves, and there was no better way than to help their son to survive the ordeal he would face.

"Father can I talk to you privately?"

Baron Cross was shocked that he had stopped crying. He looked at his son, he couldn't find any emotions on his face. He could only swallow the words that were left unspoken. The time wasn't right.

"Alright. Let's go to my office."

Baron Cross stood up. The man who was just crying had changed, replaced by a man that even the original Arric could not recognize. No one talked while they were walking towards the Baron's office. When they arrived, the Baron walked towards the leather couch where he would deal with official business.

"Sit down. Do not worry, my office is build with formations. No one could eavesdrop."

"Baron Cross."

When the Baron heard his official title, he couldn't help but sit properly and focus on his son, recognizing it as an official business. They were not father and son but two people who were businessmen.

"Baron Cross, I recently found out an ability of mine. An ability that can help you find people with extraordinary talents."

"And this ability is?"

"This..."

Like before, he covered his left eye with his left hand and called his ability in his mind.

Baron Cross saw the change in the color of his son's eyes. He couldn't help but be surprised. As the sucessor of the Cross Family, he knew some secrets about cultivation world, and one of them were these special abilities and physiques. He never thought that one of these people would be his son. He couldn't help but gripped his hands tightly, his son was not unlucky like he had thought, it was just not the right time for him.

"Baron, with my eyes I can determine one's current cultivation and their potential. All I need was to glance at them once and their secrets will be exposed without noticing it. Father, isn't it time for our family to show their ability. We should show them that our House of Cross are not only wealthy, but also strong."

Although there were brewing emotions on his eyes, the Baron never interrupted his son. He listened on his proposal while thinking it through if it was feasible. He wanted to protect his son, but he also wanted to let other know that his son was not a waste. He was blessed with an ability that no cultivation genius could have, but at the moment he didn't have the confidence to protect his son if it ever happened.

"Father, I know your worries, that's why we have to strengthen ourselves secretly, when the right time comes, then that's when our family will show them that we are not only wealthy but also scarily strong."

"I'm convinced. So, what do I have to do?"

"You only need to support me in the dark. Give me money and support my ideas. Just let them think that the Young Master has woken up and planned to take over the family business."

"Good. Very good. You are your father's son after all. How much money do you need?"