Lucian's gaze swept past Mikhail and then landed on the boy standing beside the old man—straight-backed, his small face tense and serious.
He wore a bellboy's uniform, his eyes filled with the kind of nervousness that only comes with being new to the world.
Especially with those very-short shorts—those pale, slender legs, and those clear, wide eyes—he looked just like a pretty boy any shotacon would love!
"Mikhail, is this the youthful version of yourself—a fragment of your memories left behind before your death, which has now developed into its own personality?" Lucian asked calmly, looking unsurprised.
"Yes..." Mikhail replied helplessly. "I created him. I couldn't bring myself to destroy him, so I released him from the dream bubble and let him become another me—my younger self, an independent Mikhail, named Misha."
After hearing his explanation, everyone finally understood Misha's origin.
"Uncle Mikhail's younger self is way too cute. He looks like a little girl..."
Robin leaned in and whispered into Lucian's ear.
Lucian nodded in agreement.
Misha really was like a little girl—if his chest were just a bit bigger, he could easily pass for one.
"Misha, right?"
Lucian turned to face Misha and asked with a friendly smile.
"Y-Yes, sir!"
Misha jolted as if shocked, his voice loud and stiff, like he was shouting out a military slogan.
Seeing his tense reaction, Lucian chuckled and walked toward him at a leisurely pace, stopping right in front of him.
"So, would you like to work for me?"
'Here it comes…' Mikhail sucked in a sharp breath, his face turning a pale green as he wildly blinked at Misha, practically begging him to refuse. 'He's finally reaching his claws out at Misha...'
Micah, on the other hand, had his shoulders shaking as he struggled not to laugh while looking at Mikhail's distressed expression.
It was truly priceless.
Mikhail Char Legwork, known as the legendary Watchmaker, the so-called Father of Penacony, reduced to this?
"I... I..."
Misha opened his mouth, but his throat felt blocked, leaving him unable to answer.
"I was thinking of appointing you as a hotel manager..." Lucian said slowly. "You'd get to travel between planets on business trips, meet all kinds of people, and, through your own effort, become a living, breathing person in Penacony. But, well, if you're not interested, then forget it."
As soon as these words fell, Misha's eyes nearly burst with light.
Forget it?
Like hell!
One should know that when Mikhail was still a youngster, he had always longed to explore the vast cosmos, to travel far and wide. And since Misha carried the memories and emotions of Mikhail's youth, he naturally shared that very same desire.
Needless to say, Lucian's offer had struck straight at Misha's heart.
'It's over… It's over! Lucian's using a sugar-coated missile on him!'
Mikhail, seeing Misha's expression, instantly realized what was happening.
Sure enough, Misha was going to end up as one of Lucian's workers too—and, just as Mikhail feared, Misha suddenly stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Sir Lucian! I'm willing to work for you—for life!"
"Good boy. You made the right choice." Lucian nodded with a smile, then turned his gaze toward Mikhail. "Old Mikhail, you know I truly trust you, don't you?"
"Of course I do!" Mikhail quickly nodded. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have me managing Penacony for you..."
He was genuinely grateful for Lucian's ninety-nine percent trust—but if only that trust didn't come bundled with every single responsibility attached to it.
In the end, after that small interlude had passed, everyone turned to discuss Penacony's current situation.
Upon learning that Lucian had regained control and was planning to rebuild Dreamflux Reef, as well as the entire Dreamscape, Mikhail supported the idea wholeheartedly and ultimately once again became the 'grand steward' of Penacony.
Micah, meanwhile, had come to realize that the harmless-looking young man standing before him was, in truth, an Emanator—someone who could shake Penacony with ease.
"We're rebuilding again?!" Razalina knelt on the floor, holding her head in despair. "But my data and research didn't come out of the dream with me…"
In her second life, she had created so many wonderful things for Penacony within the Dreamscape, accumulating tons of research data on them, but when she resurrected in reality, all of it unfortunately stayed behind.
In other words, she had to start all over again, which meant more sleepless nights ahead.
Half an hour later, after arranging his new workers for Dreamflux Reef, Lucian prepared to visit the next target—the Alfalfa Family, the ones managing Penacony's economy.
Penacony was no longer the run-down prison it had once been.
Now, countless forces had gathered here, their connections tangled in a complex web, all waiting for a chance to take a share of the planet's wealth.
In this reality, power was monopolized by the five great lineage heads and the Dreammaster, which meant there were only six people who truly held authority in Penacony.
If he could control those six, he would control Penacony itself.
He had already reclaimed the Dreammaster and the head of the Oak Family, so now only four remained—and that short, old pepeshi from the Alfalfa Family was next on the list.
===
Inside the living room of the Alfalfa Family's mansion, Oti paced anxiously in circles.
On a large screen near him, a video recording from the Golden Theater in Epsilon played—a recording where Robin hugged a handsome young man.
And the problem lay precisely in that young man.
Seeing the familiar young man in the video, Oti couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.
"Wasn't that supposed to be just a nightmare? How can that man actually exist?"
Oti stroked his beard, pacing back and forth restlessly.
"He's hugging Robin—he looks exactly like the Lucian from my nightmare..."
He couldn't explain it.
It had only been a nightmare—a terrifying one where Lucian had scared him witless—yet somehow, the fear had burned itself into his mind like PTSD.
Just seeing Lucian's figure was enough to make him shiver.
"Better safe than sorry... I need to get out of Penacony for a while, lie low..."
Oti wasn't afraid of the IPC or any other outsiders.
For years, every enemy who had tried to invade Penacony and mess with him had been beaten back by him—even the IPC had eventually been forced to sit down and negotiate, simply to avoid further losses.
However, this time was different.
Others might try to talk things out, to negotiate or compromise, but Lucian wouldn't.
From what he remembered of Lucian in his nightmare, he cared nothing for appearances or consequences. If he wanted to kill someone, he would do it in that very instant, without the slightest hesitation.
Knowing this, and guided by the principle of 'better safe than sorry,' Oti decided to settle his affairs quickly and flee the Dreamscape, leaving Penacony behind for the time being.
However, just as he opened the front door, a tall shadow fell across the threshold, blocking out the sunlight.
Oti looked up—straight into Lucian's eyes.
"Old Oti, where are you going?"
As Lucian spoke, his voice—so clear, so familiar—made Oti shudder, his pupils dilating as if he were someone suffering from severe PTSD.
Now, there was no mistake—the young man blocking his way was the same one from his nightmare, the Uncrowned King of Penacony, Lucian.
"L-Lord Lucian..."
Even the richest man in Penacony, who had long grown used to commanding others, was now crushed beneath the weight of dream-born fear, as shown by the way he instinctively addressed Lucian with honorifics.
"Oh, so you remember me..." Lucian said with a smile, nodding gently. "Hmm, then do you also remember what you told me before?"
Oti froze, then immediately dropped to his knees.
"I submit!"
Hearing this, Lucian couldn't help but chuckle.
He hadn't expected even this old capitalist to be so thoroughly influenced by the script.
At least there was no need for threats and massacre now, thanks to Oti, who already knew the procedure well.
"You've always had good sense and sharp judgment." Lucian said, patting the old man's shoulder before helping him up. "No wonder you're the richest man in Penacony."
Oti, being so short, looked even smaller now that he was kneeling on the ground.
Upon being helped to stand by Lucian, Oti trembled while forcing a smile, trying his hardest to keep his composure intact.
"Reach out to the other heads." Lucian instructed softly. "Tell them to hand over their authority so I can redistribute it. As for those who refuse, note their names down. Can you do that?"
As he spoke, his tone was gentle—far too gentle for someone so dangerous.
Only those who had experienced his ruthlessness firsthand truly understood that this young man's sweetness concealed venom.
"O-Of course!" Oti exclaimed with a big smile, nodding rapidly. "I'll make sure they all submit and avoid unnecessary trouble. It's just… about the Oak Family and Dreammaster Gopher Wood—"
"Ah, they're already handled."
Lucian waved his hand nonchalantly.
"H-Hahaha…" Oti chuckled awkwardly. "Understood. I know what to do."
With both the Dreammaster and the Oak Family subdued, what was left to say?
If he didn't side with Lucian now, he might never get another chance.
Oti, ever the opportunist, knew exactly when to show loyalty.
And so, after a brief chat with Oti, Lucian left, satisfied.
A useful capitalist like Oti truly made everything easier—once he was under control, Lucian wouldn't have to lift a finger.
Right after Lucian departed, Oti immediately contacted the other heads.
"My fellow heads..." Oti said in a solemn tone. "I will host a banquet. You are all invited to discuss a matter of great importance—one that concerns your very position in Penacony, so please attend."
===
[A bonus chapter for every 500 Power Stones.]
[Support me and read next chapters early at: patreon.com/VALRRR]