Johan opened his eyes and found himself lying in the same hospital room where everything had begun.
Everything's the same, only this time he wasn't alone.
A beautiful young woman in a formal gray dress was sitting beside his bed, asleep.
He recognized her face. She was the last person he saw before losing consciousness at Lavender Main Hall.
"Uh... hi?" Johan called quietly.
She woke instantly. Her eyes snapped open, sharp and alert, scanning the entire room in a flash. Only after realizing Johan was awake did her gaze soften.
Master Archie, you're awake!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "How do you feel? Does anything still hurt? Should I call a doctor?"
Johan waved her off. "Who are you? And why are you calling me Archie?"
"Your memory is truly gone, Master," she said calmly. "My name is Frieda Schneider, the head maid of the Archie family. I can't explain much this time, but I will take you to Germany then someone there will help you recover your lost memories. Only after you've fully recovered."
Johan pulled the IV out of his arm without hesitation. Frieda flinched.
"See? I'm fine."
He stepped down from the bed and stood in front of her, his gaze serious. Frieda swallowed, slightly intimidated.
"Listen, Miss Schneider. I don't have much time. My enemies are still hunting my head as we speak. I need to keep moving and finish them," he said calmly but firmly. "But if those lost memories can help me, I'll be thankfull."
Frieda nodded.
"As Great Master Archie once said, your personality is exceptionally strong," she replied. It was hard to tell whether it was praise or sarcasm. "Let's head to the airport. The Archie family jet is waiting."
"I'm not leaving without my mother," Johan added.
"Mrs. Fox is already waiting for you in Nürnberg," Frieda answered. "Her safety is guaranteed by the Archie family at any cost."
Seeing the doubt in his eyes, Frieda showed him her phone.
A photo. Matilda gardening in a quiet backyard with a huge-wide smile on her face.
"Can you trust me now?"
After a moment, Johan nodded.
"Now we're leaving."
***
Nürnberg, Germany.
Johan stood in front of a small orphanage at the corner of the city. A strange sense of familiarity brushed against his mind.
"I've been here before?" he muttered.
Frieda led him inside, straight to the director's office.
The room smelled of old books. A bit quite. An elderly man stood by the window, staring at the forest behind the building, only when he sensed Johan's presence, he turned around.
"Johan," he called, his voice trembling. "Son… I finally see you again."
He walked over and hugged him tightly.
"Time has truly shaped you. Why did it take me so long to find you?"
Johan stood stiff. Awkward.
"Sorry. Who are you?" he asked.
Instead of answering, the old man took a photo album from a shelf and handed it to him.
"My name is Dieter Archie. And you are my eldest grandson. Johan Archie," he said calmly. "When you were three, your parents were brutally murdered by one of our enemies. To protect the last bloodline of the Archie family, we faked your death and hid you here."
He continued.
"Three months later, a massive fire destroyed this orphanage. Several children disappeared. Including you. I refused to believe you were dead. I searched across Germany. Nothing. No trace of yours."
He opened the first page of the album. A photo of a sleeping little boy in his mother's arms.
"I was about to give up. Then my loyal soldier accidentally found you in a building during the Eastern War. That was Frieda; she's the who saved you. You were barely alive. After she rushed you to the hospital, you remained in a vegetative state for five years. That ended when Greg Gonzales broke through our hospital defenses."
Johan held his breath as everything clicked, the pieces finally fitting together with the strange familiarity he felt for this place.
"Matilda never told me any of this," Johan said. "Not about the orphanage. Not about Nürnberg. Not about the Archie family."
Dieter sighed.
"She has always been loyal to our family, but you should ask her yourself," he replied. "Anyway, you are back. I've prepared a welcoming ceremony at our mansion in Berlin. You must meet your cousins."
Before Johan could respond, a man and a woman barged in.
"No need. We refuse to welcome a street beggar into sacred family grounds," the man said harshly. "We represent the family's decision. This trash should be expelled!"
Dieter's voice turned cold. "Julian, Alina. I'm talking to Johan. Leave this room."
"Do I need to repeat myself, grandpa? We've voted. This is the family's decision!"
Dieter slammed his hand on the table.
"Julian! Show some respect! Johan is the eldest grandson. He will inherit the Archie family leadership after me. You should speak to him with the same respect you show me!"
"Grandfather, have you finally lost your mind?" Alina said coldly. "The Archie family isn't just Johan's parents. Our parents are part of this family too. Why not give it to Julian? He's educated. He's worthy. Not some scavenger named Johan."
Julian sneered, "She's right. We live with honor, wealth, and education. He? A poor soldier who only knows how to kill."
Dieter's face turned red.
"I am the head of this family! I don't need opinions from greedy brats like you!" he roared. "You've failed to see Johan clearly. He is the only one capable of saving this family during crisis!"
Johan frowned.
"Saving the family? What crisis is this?"
"..." Dieter hesitated.
Julian answered instead, mockingly.
"The entire Archie business empire is collapsing. We're finished. No one knows how to fix it. Our advisors resigned. They're smart people. But sure, you, who didn't even finish college, can somehow save us."
Johan looked at Dieter. Disappointment was clear on his face.
"People who only call when they need something don't deserve to be called family," he said coldly. "Thank you, Mr. Archie, for all this nonsense."
He turned to leave.
"Wait," Dieter said. "Before you leave, there's something more important I need to tell you."
Dieter opened a video on his phone, played a CCTV footage from long time ago.
"This is the moment your parents were killed," said Deiter.
Johan froze. His eyes trembled.
A ballroom. A grand party. This was his third birthday celebreation.
His parents stood on stage, smiling warmly. They were giving the guests a speech of happiness.
Then a man jumped up.
Gun drawn.
Four shots.
Straight to their heads.
Johan's body shook violently.
Yes.
He had seen this before.
The killer's face was not unfamiliar.
Dieter Archie lowered his voice, "Johan... your father-in-law is the man who murdered your parents."