The sun once again painted its light over the estate. In a quiet corner of the grand mansion, Dong sat comfortably in a chair, his legs stretched up, lying lazily while savoring a steak and a sweet fruit beer.
He thought to himself, "I know hard work and discipline are important. I know time is valuable, but I will not spend this life only in pain and suffering. I have lived that way before… no more. This time, I will enjoy life fully, without hesitation."
After finishing his meal, a maid gently stepped forward.
"May I take the dirty plates, young master?"
Dong nodded slightly. "Go ahead. I have some work to do now."
She left quietly with the plates, and Dong opened his door, stepping into the garden for a short walk. The morning breeze carried a calmness he enjoyed until a disturbance broke it.
From the path ahead, the First Prince, Sam, and the Second Princess, Mira, appeared with sharp eyes.
"Dong, you weakling!" Sam shouted. "How dare you attack our head butler?"
"And how dare you show us that insulting gesture in the council hall!" Mira added, her voice sharp with anger.
Dong stopped walking and looked at them with calm eyes.
"First," he said evenly, "I don't want to waste my breath debating with those weaker than me. Second, I have much work today. Do not disturb me, weaklings."
Their faces twisted in rage Sam fuming, Mira frozen in shock.
"You bastard! How dare you say that!" Sam roared.
"You are the weakling here!" Mira snapped.
Both lunged at him at once. But Dong moved with no effort, his hands snapping up to grab both their necks. With a single motion, he lifted them off the ground, their feet dangling in the air.
Sam gasped, "My mother… she will never forgive this!"
"You bastard! How dare you touch me!" Mira screamed.
Suddenly, a cold wind swept the garden. A dark figure approached third prince, From Shadow, had arrived
Dong's grip tightened around Sam and Mira's necks as they struggled in the air, their faces twisted with fear and rage. The garden fell into complete silence no birds sang, no servants dared to breathe too loud.
Then a calm voice cut through the tension.
"Dong," said a familiar figure walking closer, "can you leave them?"
It was the Third Prince, Kira.
Everyone froze. The Dong who never listened to anyone who even disrespected royals openly slowly loosened his grip. With a cold but composed face, he dropped Sam and Mira to the ground.
"I'm leaving them because you asked me to, Kira," Dong said, his voice flat and sharp. "But tell them this if they dare next time, that will be their last."
Kira looked at his younger siblings, his gaze firm.
"Sam, Mira, stop this foolish bullying. Dong is no longer the weak boy you remember. He is changing."
Sam bit his lip, Mira turned away in anger, but neither spoke.
Then Kira stepped close to Dong. Without a word, he took his hand out of his pocket and gently rubbed Dong's head like an older brother calming a restless lion.
Dong didn't resist. He simply looked at Kira, the corners of his mouth curling into a faint, rare smirk.
Kira smiled slightly, then turned and walked away, leaving the garden wrapped in an uneasy silence. The servants still whispered in fear, but now their fear carried a new name: respect.
Dong walked slowly through the garden, the faint morning breeze brushing against his face. His steps were calm, yet his mind wandered far beyond the palace walls, beyond the present moment, into a past life full of scars.
I left Sam and Mira alive today… not because they deserved mercy, he thought. I left them because Kira asked me to.
Respect is a rare thing in this world. It is not bought with gold, nor earned with power alone. It is carved by actions by those who stand beside you when the world turns its back.
Kira was that person. When the first queen denied me food, it was Kira who shared his meal. When they threw me in prison, it was Kira who came to set me free. When bullies pushed me to the ground, he was the one who raised his hand against them even when they were his own blood.
In a palace where love was a mask and loyalty was a trade, Kira remained a true gem. That is why I obeyed his words. Not because he was a prince, but because he was my real brother the only one who remembered my hunger, my pain, and my silence.
Sometimes, strength is not in how many you defeat.
It is in whom you choose to listen to.
Dong smirked. "Hmph! Time to execute my plan."
He walked straight to the king's chamber, where two royal guards blocked his way.
"Can I enter?" Dong asked.
"Do you have an appointment?" the first soldier asked coldly.
"But I am the Fourth Prince," Dong replied.
"No matter who you are, do you have an appointment?" the second soldier repeated.
Dong said nothing. "No."
"Then you can't go in," the first soldier said.
In a flash, Dong grabbed both their heads, his grip like iron.
"Mas–Master Dong! Please… forgive us!" the second soldier begged.
"You can go in! You can go!" the first soldier panicked.
But Dong tightened his grip until their skulls cracked slightly. Their screams echoed in pain, and they collapsed unconscious just as the king opened the door.
The king's eyes narrowed. "You bastard! I already warned you—why cause trouble again?"
"I came with a deal," Dong said calmly. "But these weaklings blocked my path. No one heard their screams except you, so don't make this big."
"A deal?" the king frowned. "Come in."
Dong released the guards and stepped inside, sitting without permission.
"I see you still lack manners," the king muttered.
Dong chuckled. "What a funny joke."
"Speak. What's your deal?"
"I want the skill scroll—The Eternal Pain of Void."
The king's anger flared. "Are you mad? Even our ancestors feared that scroll!"
"That's why I want it," Dong replied.
The king stared at him. "And what will you give in return?"
Dong smiled. "Do you know the Ancient Chinese Ice Dragon in the southern branch of our kingdom?"
"Yes. That beast is SSS-peak, almost reaching EX rank," the king said.
"Exactly. I will hunt it down and bring you everything—its teeth, blood, bones, heart, core, eyes… all worth 550 million gold coins."
The king's eyes sharpened. "So you'll kill it within 29 days?"
"Are you mad? I need two more beasts to train first: the Fire Golem and the Sunlight Gorilla King. Both are SSA rank. Their price is only 50 million combined."
"Fine. I'll have them delivered tomorrow," the king said.
Dong stood. "Good. Then I'll begin."
As he left, the king muttered, "The world will watch your performance."
"No problem," Dong replied.
Later that night, Dong relaxed on his bed, sipping tea, while the world buzzed with one shocking headline:
A 13-year-old prince will hunt the Ancient Chinese Ice Dragon.