The fire crackled softly in the cabin.
But the warmth no longer comforted Luca.
His mind was spinning.
"My father is alive?" he repeated quietly.
The old man nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Luca shook his head.
"That's impossible. If he's alive… then why didn't he come back for me?"
No one answered immediately.
Even Adrian stayed silent.
The old man finally stood and walked toward the window, looking out into the storm-covered forest.
"Because he couldn't."
Luca frowned.
"What does that mean?"
The old man turned back toward them.
"Fifteen years ago, when the Syndicate realized your father had stolen the master key, they declared war on him."
He paused.
"And not just the Neon Syndicate."
Luca's chest tightened.
"What do you mean?"
Adrian answered this time.
"The Russian mafia families."
Luca looked at him.
"The Italian underground."
The old man added quietly.
"And even governments."
Luca stared at them in disbelief.
"So the entire world started hunting him?"
"Yes," Adrian said.
"For years."
The old man walked back toward the table.
"But your father was never an easy man to catch."
Luca's voice lowered.
"What happened to him?"
The old man leaned forward slightly.
"He vanished."
Luca frowned.
"You mean like… hiding?"
"No."
The old man's eyes darkened.
"He built something new."
Adrian's expression changed slightly.
"…No."
The old man nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Luca looked between them.
"What are you talking about?"
Adrian finally spoke.
"The Underground."
Luca blinked.
"What?"
Adrian leaned back in his chair.
"A hidden empire," he explained. "Stronger than any mafia organization."
"An army built in the shadows."
Luca's heartbeat quickened.
"And my father created it?"
The old man smiled faintly.
"He didn't just create it."
"He rules it."
The words felt heavy in the air.
Luca whispered slowly.
"The Underground King…"
"Yes," the old man said.
"That's what they call him now."
Luca leaned back, stunned.
His omega father… the man who had supposedly abandoned him…
…was the most powerful figure in the criminal world.
Before Luca could say anything else—
Knock. Knock.
Three sharp knocks echoed from the cabin door.
Everyone froze.
Adrian immediately stood up, despite his injured shoulder.
Luca whispered, "Who could that be?"
The old man's expression turned serious.
"No one should know you're here."
The knock came again.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Adrian slowly reached for his gun.
"Stay behind me."
He carefully opened the door.
Cold wind rushed inside.
Standing outside was a tall figure wearing a long dark coat.
Snow covered his shoulders.
His face was partially hidden by shadows.
But his voice was calm.
"Good evening."
Luca felt a strange chill run down his spine.
The man stepped inside slowly.
Then his eyes landed directly on Luca.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"So…"
"…you're the heir."
Luca frowned.
"Who are you?"
The man removed his gloves slowly.
His voice was quiet but powerful.
"My name is Sergei Volkov."
Adrian's eyes widened slightly.
"…Impossible."
Luca looked at him.
"What?"
Adrian's voice dropped.
"He's one of the Underground King's generals."
Luca's heart skipped.
Sergei looked at him calmly.
"Your father sent me."
Silence filled the cabin.
Then Sergei spoke the words Luca never expected to hear.
"The King wants to see his son."