For the people of the Empire's Riverside Star Sector, this was the second time within a month that the name "Haizhou-12" had surfaced in public discourse.
For a garbage planet on the Empire's remote frontier, nearly forgotten by the rest of civilization, this was as rare as two meteors crashing into the same crater.
The first time was, of course, a month ago—the infamous Haizhou-12 Incident, where twelve mechs from the Empire's Norman family crashed on the planet, reportedly leaving only one survivor.
Just as the dust from that affair had barely begun to settle, another bombshell broke with shocking speed: Lord Lin Wei, head of the Lin family and chairman of the Riverside-based Wayne Industrial Group, had reclaimed the illegitimate son he had abandoned on the garbage world of Haizhou-12.
The first piece of news had stirred regret, but the second spread through the upper circles of Riverside like cattle ticks in a plague.
Cattle ticks were the bane of local farmers. The climate of Riverside Star was especially conducive to their breeding, and in times of mass reproduction, they became a nightmare for the fields. Hence, "cattle tick" became a euphemism among gentlemen and ladies for a scandal that spread like wildfire.
And now, the "tick" at the center of this scandal—Lin Hai—had boarded a ship from the slums of Haizhou and arrived at the Lin estate.
The garbage planet was black, the spaceship was black, and even the car waiting at the airport was black.
Black evoked solemnity, reverence.
Sometimes... it was also a symbol of discretion.
Traveling in this somber procession through a bustling metropolis he had never seen before, Lin Hai sat rigid, lips pressed together, never bothering to enjoy the comfort of the leather seats. He seemed like someone completely out of place in this world.
Surrounded by grim-faced men in black suits, Lin Hai stared silently. As a bastard who had spent twenty years in a slum, this modern society felt like an alien realm.
To leap from a garbage planet into this world was like a fish gasping on land, suffocating.
Nervousness lingered in Lin Hai's chest.
His hands trembled slightly from the uncertainty. He didn't know what awaited him.
He had no idea what kind of people his biological family—whom he hadn't seen in twenty years—were. What were their personalities? How did they truly feel about him?
His entire life had been lived on that garbage planet. That was his world, his knowledge, his friendships. He had never left the place that mainstream society had discarded. He had no concept of paternal love or brotherhood. The idea of "relatives" made him tense.
He was lonely. Insignificant.
Now, that insignificant young man from the slums of Haizhou was sitting in a black car, heading straight for the heart of this magnificent city.
...
Ring Sector 2 of Riverside Star was the premier enclave for the rich and powerful. Though much smaller than the sprawling districts of ordinary citizens, it glittered at night with the brightest lights on the planet.
The Lin estate sat here.
The unassuming black car carrying an equally unassuming person pulled up at the side entrance of the estate. When the stern-faced steward and the black-clad guards took the battered wooden box from Lin Hai, they paused ever so slightly before accepting it. At that moment, the main circular driveway of the manor was full of luxurious cars—Wayne Group was holding an important gathering of executives and family members.
Escorted by the guards, Lin Hai passed through a grand hallway reminiscent of a royal palace, heading toward the room arranged for him.
The manor's front hall was bustling. Lin Hai, aware of the ongoing gathering, caught glimpses of it as he walked by: handsome young elites, elegantly dressed women, and cigar-puffing, potbellied middle-aged men.
Unfortunately, these people had already noticed him.
"That lucky slum rat is named Lin Hai? I heard his mother was quite pretty. Ha, no wonder she once caught the attention of Lin Wei."
"Indeed. Too bad she didn't have the fortune to match the opportunity. A woman of no background could never become the Lady of the Lin family. In the end, she died in bitterness. Only recently did we learn she had fallen to Haizhou. Her death last week finally confirmed it."
"Hmph… That woman raised that bastard boy alone. Especially a pretty woman… you can imagine the kind of life she led. Who even knows how she managed to raise him."
There were some deep, knowing chuckles among the older men.
"She's dead now, and that bumpkin boy's been brought back. Does Lin Wei really intend to compensate him, even grant him a legitimate status?"
"The Empire would never let a bastard inherit a lord's title. The Lily Aristocracy would oppose it."
"Not just the Empire—here on Riverside, it's a laughingstock. No matter what that boy does, he'll always be branded a bastard."
...
Bastard. Slum. Bumpkin.
These whispers floated through the manor like a foul breeze.
But Lin Hai felt no hatred, no anger.
He simply looked at those gossiping elites in the front hall with a faint smile of pity.
"These pampered fools… that's all they've got? Their gossip isn't even half as cutting as the nosy widows back in Haizhou. Compared to my neighbors in the garbage piles, they're a bunch of worthless bumpkin cowards."
Those socialites, oblivious to the scorn they were receiving, continued chatting.
Just then, Lin Hai's escort and the steward named Lian, who was carrying his box, suddenly stopped in their tracks.
Across the corridor appeared a young man—slightly chubby, about sixteen, wearing a beret and riding boots. He strode forward arrogantly, snorting disdainfully through his nose.
"So, you've arrived."
This was Lin Hao, Lin Wei's legitimate son.
Lin Hai had imagined meeting his half-brother before, but not quite like this.
This was clearly a spoiled young master.
No, it wasn't that simple.
Lin Hai noticed the gleam of calculation in Lin Hao's eyes. Beneath the chubby face lay a cunning mind—this was no fool.
If he wasn't stupid, why antagonize his half-brother and risk damaging their relationship?
Then Lin Hai saw Lin Hao subtly glance toward the crowd in the front hall.
Ah. He wants to establish dominance—publicly.
Lin Hao's mocking voice continued, "So you're the country bumpkin they've been talking about. Life on Haizhou must've been rough. I hear you survived by scavenging trash? Caring for that sick woman too? Must've been tough… Well, she's dead now. No more burden. And you're finally here. Freedom, right?"
He raised his nose and added with dramatic flair, "But let me warn you—there are rules here. If you don't follow them—"
Lin Hai frowned. He was unfamiliar with this environment, and instinct made him wary. There was no way he'd let someone posture like this in front of him.
So he reached out and shoved Lin Hao aside.
There was a raw force in his movement—born of twenty years fighting to survive in the slums.
Lin Hao stumbled against the wall, caught off guard, while Lin Hai walked past him as if he didn't exist.
Fury flashed in Lin Hao's eyes.
He could tolerate coldness—but not contempt.
What did that bastard think he was? That he, Lin Hao of the Riverside nobility, was beneath notice?
His temper flared. He jabbed a finger toward Lin Hai and shouted, "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you're my brother? You're just a bastard from a whore!"
Crack!
Lin Hai's hand closed around his throat.
Lin Hao's words cut off like a goose strangled mid-honk.
Then came the slap.
It landed hard across Lin Hao's cheek. His pudgy face wobbled under the blow.
Lin Hai remained calm. Upright. Even his slap was dignified.
Lin Hao's hat flew off. His haughty expression froze, replaced by blank shock.
Silence fell over the front hall.
A trembling voice broke the stillness. "That's… assault…" then came a scream, "You dare assault me? I'll kill you!"
The crowd gasped.
No one had expected this quiet, modest-looking bastard from a garbage world to strike Riverside's most notorious troublemaker.
The guards stiffened. They knew Lin Hao was a wild one. That this little show of dominance had backfired so badly was shocking.
A lanky bodyguard growled, "Let's all calm down!"—but launched a punch at Lin Hai's chest.
They weren't deescalating. They were attacking.
Lin Hai had seen this too many times in the slums. Fake peacekeepers who throw real punches.
These were Lin Hao's dogs, seizing a chance to teach him a lesson.
The lead guard feinted, then kicked low under cover. If Lin Hai reacted, no one would see the truth.
Lin Hai sneered, stepped inside the kick, and buried his elbow deep into the man's ribcage like a spike.
Another guard, monkey-thin, swung at Lin Hai's head. Lin Hai ducked, twisted, and slammed into his armpit.
The man screamed and flew back—right into Lin Hao's path.
Lin Hao stumbled but dodged the worst of it, barely keeping his balance.
Then he looked up.
Right into Lin Hai's eyes.
Lin Hao flinched. Turned to flee.
Too late.
Smack!
Another slap. Clean. Precise. Like Lin Hai picking through trash on Haizhou—steady and efficient.
Lin Hao's cheeks swelled. His pride shattered.
He couldn't understand. He had the numbers. How had he ended up humiliated?
A woman's gasp pierced the silence.
Then a deep, commanding voice: "Enough!"
Lin Hao froze.
Lin Hai turned to see a richly dressed, elegant woman and a stern-faced man with a copper lily badge—Lord Lin Wei.
The father he'd never known.
Even Lin Hao crumpled like a scolded child.
Lin Wei barked, "This was an important meeting. You embarrassed yourself. Get out!"
Then he turned to Lin Hai—his first true look at his son.
Lin Wei's body was frail from illness, but his eyes were sharp as a hawk's.
He was cold. "Go to your room."
His tone was icily dignified. "Don't make a spectacle of yourself again."
That night, long after the meeting had ended, Lin Hai stood in Lin Wei's study, staring out the window. His black eyes were calm but deep.
Lin Wei sat behind his grand desk, his voice sharp in the cold air.
"You know how important today was. Do you know how many people will mock us for what happened? This isn't Haizhou anymore. Why did you hit your brother?"
Lin Hai met his father's eyes without flinching.
"She was my mother," he said. "Technically, his too. She's dead now, but if he dares speak of her with disrespect… I'll remind him what respect means."
Lin Wei didn't respond at first.
Then he let out a long breath, the anger fading.
"He's your brother," he said. "I don't ask for affection. But at least coexist. Don't let this happen again. You may go."
Lin Hai left the room.
Behind him, Lin Wei sat alone in a gray-toned silence—like an aging man unsure how to repent.
And as he watched his son's departing figure, he felt a strange sense of loss.