CHAPTER 255: THE WOLF AT THE DOOR

The moon hung in the sky like a watchful guardian, casting its silvery glow across the sprawling kingdom that now belonged to the Osborn family.

This wasn’t just any night; it was one that resonated deep within your bones,a night that whispered secrets of power, legacy, and an almost reverent peace that made time itself seem to pause.

Under the moonlight, the estate shimmered like a celestial city pulled from myth.

From above, it resembled a glowing silver phoenix unfurling its wings across the land, woven with threads of gold, blue, and silver.

Thousands of hidden light strips lined every building, pavement, and flowerbed, illuminating the grounds like veins of starlight.

The glass-paneled towers and crescent mansions reflected the heavens with quiet dignity.

Lakes transformed into liquid mirrors while gentle breezes carried the delicate scent of imperial garden flowers,a harmonious blend of moonvine and starlace.

Soft orchestral music floated through the air from invisible speakers scattered across this 73.4 square kilometers of sheer magnificence.

And high above it all stood Arthur at the crown of Main Palace.

He had chosen a private route away from his family, taking one of the estate’s most secure and elegant internal elevators,a vertical capsule crafted from translucent ion-glass framed in gold-threaded alloy.

As it glided silently along its sapphire-lit rails, Arthur remained silent too,his gaze fixed on what lay ahead.

Below him stretched an estate that looked like a sleeping titan under a blanket of stars.

Laughter echoed from cousins and siblings below,some still exploring the lower wings of the mansion while others raced to claim their favorite rooms.

Up here was another world entirely where silence enveloped him like a shroud.

The elevator came to a soft stop; a single chime resonated through the air.

Arthur stepped out into a corridor adorned with obsidian and phantom white hues.

At its end loomed not just any door but the gate,thirty feet tall and nebula black,with an intricately drawn wolf head roaring in stoic silence at its center.

Its ethereal silver eyes glimmered as if alive; each ridge in its fur caught moonlight like whispers from ancient times.

This was no ordinary door,it was a sentinel guarding what lay within.

Arthur paused for a moment, his gaze lingering on that fierce wolf head as echoes surged through his mind,memories from another life: cramped rooms lit by flickering bulbs in tiny rented apartments back on Earth filled with broken appliances and cold dinners; nights when walls seemed to close in around him under burdens of regret and exhaustion.

He blinked away those memories,the creaking mattress, peeling paint, moldy corners and shook his head to return to reality.

Placing his hand on the massive gate triggered a soft hum as a scanning circle of blue light descended from above him like waves greeting shorelines.

[ Identity Confirmed: Arthur Osborn ]

As the intricate locking mechanisms whirred to life, a low chime resonated like a temple bell, echoing through the stillness.

The great door creaked open with a whisper, revealing not just a room but an entire empire.

Arthur stepped inside,the Master Bedroom of Arthur Osborn, the very heart of the Main Palace.

Spanning 3,200 square meters of sacred solitude, this space was nothing short of magnificent.

The tiered rectangular layout stretched out before him in perfect symmetry.

Beneath his feet lay liquid-titanium hardwood,soft yet unyielding,warmed from below by smart-heated panels that adapted to his unique walking patterns.

With each step he took, the lights adjusted seamlessly to illuminate his path while the walls,crafted from cloud-glass composite,shifted their translucency according to his mood.

Currently set to "reflective," they displayed muted outlines of moonlight cascading in from above.

The ceiling soared overhead like a starlit dome, constellations crawling slowly across its surface and mimicking the planetary night sky in real time.

Occasionally, subtle holographic pulses revealed satellite positions or weather patterns over other Osborn territories,an ever-watchful eye on his domain.

At the center of it all stood his bed,a massive 13-by-13-foot circular slab made of Neurofoam Tech, raised 1.5 meters above the floor on a hollow-sound stone platform.

As Arthur approached, it adjusted its tension instinctively, syncing with his heartbeat and curling its edges slightly like an inviting throne.

Behind him gleamed a monowood headboard carved from ancient timber and adorned with the Osborn Crest.

Silver-framed briefing panels were conveniently tucked within reach for quick access to information.

He turned towards the pulse-reactive metal drapes that pulsed gently with each breath he took,alive and quiet,as if the room itself breathed alongside him.

Venturing further into this sanctuary led him to his sunken lounge area: midnight blue velvet sofas formed a circular perimeter around a retractable holo-glass coffee table displaying stock market fluctuations across Panterra.

With another tap, it could switch to intel feeds or even launch a 4D chess simulation.

A flash of memory struck him,a crate-turned-coffee table back in his Earth apartment where he had typed away on an old laptop with one key missing; fingers bleeding from too much work until distant sirens jolted him awake from exhaustion.

He sighed heavily at the contrast between then and now.

"Really was living the life huh!" he muttered quietly under his breath as he shook off nostalgia and continued exploring.

To his right loomed a panoramic viewing pane made of transparent aluminum that curved slightly, offering breathtaking views over the estate toward imperial gardens shimmering even at night with bio-luminescent flora and floating orbs tended by automated caretakers.

Arthur stepped onto the terrace, and the moment he did, a world of wonder unfolded before him.

Outside, zero-gravity recliners floated serenely in place, beckoning him with their promise of comfort.

As he reached out to touch one, it shifted gently beneath his hand.

With a sigh of contentment, Arthur sank into the embrace of the chair, allowing himself to recline as the artificial starlight adjusted its glow to match his mood.

A soft breeze danced around him, making the entire Dominion Sanctum feel like a living, breathing entity.

He closed his eyes for just a moment and took a deep breath before opening them again.

Renewed and ready for what lay ahead, he stood up and turned toward the spa complex.

Inside, an indoor thermal pool shimmered enticingly under obsidian lights, its edges lined with sleek blackstone tiles.

The water was alive; it sensed his hormonal readings and adjusted its temperature seamlessly,no commands needed.

Just beyond it stood the waterfall shower cube, with vertical lights that reacted playfully to his movements.

In a cozy corner, the sauna pulsed softly with botanical oil mist,a fragrant blend harvested from the estate’s oldest trees.

As he walked forward, passing by an impressive nano-particle mirror system that reflected not just his face but also vital stats :

Cortisol: Low

Neural Load: Medium

Emotion Threshold: 12%

Suppressed Memories: High

He quickly glanced away and continued on.

Beyond another vaulted hallway sealed behind a sleek sliding titanium frame lay his dressing sanctuary,a thousand square meters of sartorial excellence waiting to be explored.

Stepping inside felt like entering a fashion dreamland. To his left, suits hovered gracefully on rotating racks.

His fingers brushed against one designed by Ashley,a striking black three-piece woven with flowing threads of royal blue that seemed almost sentient in its precision tailoring.

Next came the Watch Vault,two stories filled with timepieces encased in temperature-controlled capsules where some ticked rhythmically while others hummed softly in anticipation.

Among them shone his favorite: a Chronotech Omega adorned with a constellation dial that glowed invitingly.

The Shoewall sparkled under LED diamonds as every shoe imaginable was cataloged,from tactical Osborn Gravboots to elegant Panterra ceremonial wear.

Drawers slid open to reveal layers of accessories: neckwear, gloves, cufflinks,you name it!

Approaching the Private Grooming Theater brought forth grooming bots that sprang to life at his presence.

"Schedule facial treatment?" one asked brightly.

"No," he murmured absentmindedly.

Just before returning to his bedroom proper, Arthur paused at an awe-inspiring wall,the Timeline,a living holographic display chronicling the Osborn Family from ancient times to now.

Visual memories and audio interviews intertwined with tactical plans and sacrifices told their story vividly.

Standing before the newly updated family tree, Arthur felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him.

Memories of what Alfred told him and what he gave him about the Osborn Family a few months back, flooded his mind, leaving him momentarily dazed.

He shook his head, chuckling softly to himself. "What a hustle! More work just keeps piling up," he mused.

At the center of it all, beneath the family crest, a powerful phrase burned brightly: "Let those who rise remember why we never fall."

This mantra resonated with him deeply.

Near the base of the display rested a black-and-white photograph encased in platinum glass.

Arthur reached out, his fingertips grazing the shielded surface as he gazed at his parents,smiles forever captured in time.

A lump formed in his throat, and he closed his eyes, allowing the weight of their memory to settle around him like a warm embrace. He stood there for what felt like an eternity.

Finally, he stepped back and gently rubbed his nose, shaking off the emotional haze.

"It’s time for the most important thing," he murmured to himself.

Turning toward a seemingly ordinary corner of the room, Arthur paused.

Nothing appeared special about it,until he whispered with quiet determination:

"Activate underground elevator."

In an instant, the floor beneath him split open in a perfect circle with a soft mechanical sigh.

A tube-like elevator shaft descended into darkness below. Peering down into its depths filled him with both trepidation and excitement.

Without hesitation, Arthur took a deep breath and stepped forward into the unknown.

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More Golden Tickets guys, 58 more Golden Tickets to hit 100.

Mass Chapter release is waiting.