Arthur's mind raced as he faced the truth of his situation.He looked deep into the memories of thid Arthur.
Memories crashed over him like jagged waves, the previous Arthur, a young man shattered by grief, had lost both parents in one brutal stroke,a promising life turned to ashes in mere weeks.
Overwhelmed, he had locked himself away in his room, drowning his sorrow in bottle after bottle until his body finally gave out.
That was the moment Arthur's soul slipped into this new vessel,a tragic end for one… and a strange beginning for another.
Leaning back, he exhaled slowly, narrowing his eyes in contemplation. "I never imagined I'd inherit such a heavy burden," he muttered under his breath.
But then something unexpected caught his attention within those memories. "Wow… this guy's family is massive!"
The Osborn family, fifty-five members including himself! Not exactly one of the great dynasties, but far from ordinary.
They were a low-tier clan in the Aurelian Federation yet still held respect in Neo-Luminara, Aurelia's bustling capital where skyscrapers pierced the clouds and corporate predators lurked in the shadows.
Two months ago, tragedy struck: the previous Arthur's father, the patriarch of the family and his mother were killed in a car accident caused by a drunk driver or so authorities claimed.
Arthur frowned as he recalled how those memories felt,the shock, the whispers, and especially the timing. It all stank of orchestration.
On Earth, he had read enough about hostile takeovers to know that coincidence was merely a fairy tale in the world of power.
"Think, Arthur."
The patriarch dies,less than a week later? Three major contracts are withdrawn. Days after that? Their main supplier pulls out due to "logistical issues." And then banks start calling in dormant debts?
Too fast! His eyes narrowed again. No legal process moves that quickly unless someone is pulling strings behind the scenes.
Which meant… whoever moved against the Osborns had been preparing long before this so-called "accident." They didn't just exploit chaos; they created it!
"Who benefits?" he murmured thoughtfully as his mind sorted through categories, competitors? Political rivals? Even extended family?
The Osborns weren't top-tier dynasts but owned valuable real estate within Neo-Luminara's inner districts,land coveted by others for decades.
If their company went under, those assets would hit auction... and scavengers would swoop right in.
And let's not forget about that plaza project,a commercial redevelopment plan his father had quietly negotiated with the Bureau of Urban Affairs.
If completed, it could have doubled the Osborn Group's valuation! Killing off the patriarch also killed that deal and made it easier for rivals to snatch it away.
"Yes… that's it," Arthur thought as pieces clicked into place like an intricate puzzle. The death wasn't just personal; it was corporate!
In Panterra, where morality often wore a mask of silk, killings were cloaked in the guise of legality.
No assassins roamed the streets; instead, there were only "accidents" that left no trace. In a world where justice bowed to the weight of gold and influence, even murder could masquerade as fate.
Arthur inhaled sharply, realization crashing over him like a wave. This was all part of a sinister plan.
If someone had already taken his parents from him and nearly dismantled the Osborn Group, they wouldn't hesitate to come after him next.
"I just got here… I'm not dying again," he muttered under his breath, each word heavy with resolve.
Then came the system's cold, precise voice echoing in his mind.
[Host, do you now understand your current situation?]
Startled for a moment, Arthur straightened up before allowing a faint, dry smile to flicker across his lips.
"Yeah… I get it," he murmured while rubbing the bridge of his nose in thought.
"So, system," he asked with sharpened curiosity, "what exactly are your functions?"
[As my name suggests, I am The Strongest Family System. My primary function is to assist you in building the strongest family in Panterra. Tasks will be assigned periodically, and you will receive rewards upon completion.]
Arthur processed this information quickly. The mission wasn't just about personal strength,it was about elevating the entire Osborn family.
And oddly enough? He felt no resentment toward that goal.
A warmth blossomed within him as memories flooded back: the loss of his parents and the chaos engulfing their once-thriving company, yet amidst all that turmoil, nobody in this new family had turned away from him.
His uncles and aunts stepped up; some even sold their own assets to keep the group afloat.
All fifty relatives crammed into what remained of the Osborn estate,a once-grand mansion now bursting at its seams with life.
It was cramped. It was noisy,it was chaotic. But above all else? It was togetherness.
Arthur's hand tightened slightly at his side as another memory intruded,one from Earth that felt like a distant nightmare.
When his parents died in a highway accident back home, "family" vanished overnight.
Relatives arrived not with comfort but calculators in hand,arguing over inheritance and whispering about selling off their home before his parents' bodies were even cold.
He remembered standing alone at sixteen in a silent living room while they divided his life into mere numbers.
Never again would he allow that to happen.
In Panterra, when death claimed both Osborn patriarch and matriarch, no one attempted to seize control or strike backroom deals; they closed ranks around each other instead.
It felt… alien yet profoundly comforting,a unity worth protecting fiercely.
Arthur took a deep breath, letting it out slowly as a genuine smile crept onto his face.
This was what family truly meant,standing together through thick and thin, unwavering even in the darkest times.
He clenched his fist, feeling a solemn promise solidify in his chest.
He wasn't just going to protect this family; he was determined to elevate them to heights where no one could ever threaten their bond again.
"Isn't it funny?" he mused, glancing around. "I've adapted so quickly to being part of the Osborn family."
Sure, some of that came from the lingering emotions of this body he now inhabited.
But deep down, it was also him,he had tasted betrayal before and wasn't about to let go of this newfound unity.
"Yeah," he added softly, "at least I have a good family in this world."
Just then, the system's voice cut through his thoughts like a knife.
[Host, would you like to receive the Family Development Beginner Gift Package?]
His heart raced with excitement. "Absolutely!" he replied without hesitation.
Anticipation bubbled within him as the invisible package began to unlock.
What treasures lay inside? One thing was crystal clear, him and the rise of the Osborn family started right now!
!