480: Chapter 475 I am in

"I am fighting for my life."

"My older brother, Andrew Hosen, wants to kill me."

Kevin's words seemed to freeze the air around them.

"He has always been the first in line for succession in the family, and I am just a backup."

"Before, he simply ignored me, treating me like air. But ever since last year, when my father publicly expressed his admiration for my business talent during a Board of Directors meeting, everything changed."

"The way he looks at me is as if he is looking at a dead man."

"Six months ago, he shot me on the family's hunting grounds."

Kevin lifted the sleeve of his left arm, revealing a hideous scar prominently displayed on his forearm.

"He claimed publicly that the gun accidentally discharged."

"Everyone believed it, including my father."

"Or perhaps, they simply didn't care what the truth was. A qualified heir cannot have a 'stain.'"

"And I am that 'stain' about to be erased."

"I overheard him talking with his confidant. They plan to stage an 'accident' at my birthday banquet next month to make me disappear completely."

"So, I ran away."

"I took all my cash and hid along the way, finally being tricked by that couple into that damned cabin."

"They robbed me of all my money and locked me up. They are probably waiting for the bounty to increase a bit before they sell me."

Kevin looked up at Shen Yan, his eyes slightly red.

"I don't want to die."

"I also don't want to go back to that cold, heartless home."

"I just want... to live like an ordinary person."

The boy's clear eyes reflected Shen Yan's calm, undisturbed face.

The moment Kevin finished speaking,

A crisp electronic tone, audible only to Shen Yan, sounded in his mind.

Ding—

[Random Quest Triggered: Freedom for the Caged Bird]

[Quest Description: Assist Kevin Hosen, the youngest son of the Hosen Family, in escaping the fatal threats and control within his family, helping him obtain true personal freedom.]

[Quest Completion Methods (Choose One):]

[Option One (The Path of Iron and Blood): Assist Kevin Hosen in returning to the Hosen Family, eradicating his brother Andrew Hosen and his cronies with swift action, helping Kevin seize family succession rights. Difficulty Rating: S-Class.]

[Option Two (The Path of Rebirth): Forge a completely new identity for Kevin Hosen, severing all his ties with the Hosen Family, and escort him to a safe third country to begin a new life. Difficulty Rating: A-Class.]

[Option Three (The Path of Negotiation): Collect evidence of Andrew Hosen's attempt to murder Kevin and submit it to the ruling powers of the Hosen Family, using it as bargaining chips to secure Kevin's freedom and safety guarantees from the family. Difficulty Rating: A+-Class.]

[Quest Reward: advanced wealth intelligence x 1.]

[Intelligence Synopsis: This intelligence involves major changes in the global new energy landscape over the next five years, and the embryonic stage of a patent technology for a disruptive energy storage material.]

Shen Yan's eyebrows twitched almost imperceptibly.

He looked at the boy before him, who had just finished recounting his tragic experience and was now gazing at him with a mixture of expectation and trepidation.

He had only one thought in his mind.

He had originally come only to claim the settlement reward for the 'Lost Route.'

Unexpectedly, before he had even brought the boy down the mountain, he triggered a new random quest.

And the reward was 'advanced wealth intelligence.'

This felt like opening a Russian nesting doll.

Opening a large one revealed another one that was equally exquisite, perhaps even more valuable.

Shen Yan's mood became quite subtle for a moment.

Is this high-level rewarding high-level?

And has the system upgraded? There are strategy options now.

His expression remained as placid as ever.

It was as if the priceless 'advanced wealth intelligence' in his mind was just an insignificant text message.

Interesting.

He had initially only intended to follow Kevin's lead, pacify this startled bird, and bring him down the mountain safely.

He hadn't expected that in just a few words, he not only uncovered the entire truth behind the boy's escape but also casually triggered an S-Class difficulty quest.

Since the quest objective was standing right in front of him, there was no reason to let it go.

Shen Yan's gaze quickly scanned the three options in his mind.

The Path of Iron and Blood?

Help Kevin seize power?

It sounded tempting.

Controlling the heir of the Hosen Family was equivalent to indirectly embedding one's own nail into the top tier of wealth circles in the country.

But the risk and investment involved were geometric multiples.

This was tantamount to directly engaging in an open war with a behemoth that had been entrenched in North America for a hundred years.

With his current standing, it was still too strenuous.

The Path of Rebirth?

Forge an identity and send him to a third country.

It sounded the simplest and required the least effort.

But the word 'luck' never existed in Shen Yan's dictionary.

He was well aware of the Hosen Family's power.

How long could a forged identity last?

One year?

Three years?

Or five years?

Once found, it would be the end for Kevin.

For himself, it would leave behind a hidden danger that could explode at any moment.

He disliked dealing with messy loose ends.

Therefore, only the third option remained.

The Path of Negotiation.

Find evidence of Andrew's attempt to murder his brother and negotiate with Old Hossen.

Use the family scandal to exchange for Kevin's freedom.

This sounded more like precise surgery.

The risk was controllable, and the return was clear.

It perfectly matched his style of operation.

However...

Shen Yan's gaze returned to the boy trembling slightly before him.

Ultimately, the path must be chosen by him.

"Let's go."

Shen Yan's voice broke the silence of the forest.

He did not offer any sympathy or comment on Kevin's sorrowful accusation.

He merely turned calmly like a guide and continued walking down the mountain.

Kevin paused for a moment, then followed silently.

Silence fell between the two again.

But this time, the atmosphere was completely different from before.

Previously, it was the wariness and distance between strangers.

Now, it was a subtle nascent trust built upon the exchange of secrets.

"Why... why are you helping me?"

After walking a few steps, Kevin couldn't help but ask.

This question confused him even more than 'Who are you?'

"I told you, it's a quest."

Shen Yan's reply was simple and direct, without any embellishment.

"A quest?"

Kevin was confused.

"You can think of it as a business deal."

Shen Yan did not stop walking.

"Someone pays, I do the job."

This explanation actually made Kevin feel a bit more secure.

Compared to vague goodwill, a cold exchange of interests could give him a sliver of security in this cruel world.

"Is the payment from my father?"