“Marvin Rock! You’re being released on parole today. Hurry up and get out!”
A prison guard’s shout echoed down the prison corridor. Several prisoners who had been talking immediately fell silent and turned toward one of the cells.
Marvin Rock lifted his head, his eyes filled with confusion. For a few seconds, he even thought the guard was calling someone else.
“Marvin Rock!” the guard shouted again.
Marvin finally rose from his thin bed. He still couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Wasn’t he supposed to serve another two years?
Without asking many questions, Marvin walked out of his cell. More than a dozen other prisoners had been crammed into the room, which was roughly three by four meters. For the past year, that place had become the tiny world he hated most.
Hot, stuffy air filled the room. The smells of sweat, dirty clothes, and human bodies blended together. Marvin had grown used to it all, but today, he could finally breathe the air of freedom.
He would never miss this place.
After passing through several inspections, Marvin was taken to a private room. Someone was waiting for him there.
“Harven?”
His younger brother immediately stood up.
Harven Rockwell looked at his brother with tears glistening in his eyes. His expression remained serious, though. He had been waiting for this day for months.
“Brother, you’re finally out.”
Marvin sat down across from him. His body was much thinner than it had been before he entered prison. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his face looked pale. But his gaze was still the same.
Calm.
Sharp.
“What exactly happened?” Marvin asked. “How was I released early?”
Harven took a deep breath.
“The terrorist charges against you were a false accusation all along.”
Marvin fell silent.
Harven continued, “Your discovery was proven in court not to be a weapon of mass destruction. MR-25 is fuel. There’s no evidence that the compound was created to produce weapons.”
Marvin narrowed his eyes.
For the past year, he had kept thinking about the same thing. He knew he was innocent. MR-25 had indeed been the result of research to create a new energy source.
But someone had turned the results of his research into an excuse to put him in prison.
“Who did all this?” Marvin asked.
Harven stared at him for a moment before answering.
“I know who they are. I’ve even gathered evidence.”
“Who?”
“Russel Winston and Raymond Harvard.”
Marvin immediately fell silent.
The first name changed his expression.
“Russel?”
Harven nodded.
“I found a lot of evidence pointing to them. A few days ago, we brought all of it to court. The truth about your case has finally come to light.”
Marvin clenched his fists.
Russel Winston was Gennifer Winston’s older brother—his own wife’s brother.
Marvin had never imagined that his brother-in-law would be capable of doing something like this.
“Then why are they still free?” Marvin asked.
Harven sighed.
“The lawsuit against them was dismissed.”
“Dismissed?”
“They used money and influence to control the legal process. We didn’t have enough power to send them to prison.”
Marvin’s jaw tightened.
So the people who had destroyed his life could still walk free simply because they had money and power.
But before Marvin could speak again, Harven revealed something far more shocking.
“There’s one more thing, Brother.”
“What?”
“Raymond Harvard is about to propose to Gennifer.”
The room suddenly felt silent.
Marvin stared at Harven without blinking.
“What did you say?”
“Raymond is going to propose to Gennifer.”
Marvin didn’t answer right away.
Raymond Harvard.
He knew that man. Raymond was the sole heir of the Harvard Family, the richest family in Chemisland. Years ago, Raymond’s name had come up when the Harvard Family wanted him to become Gennifer’s partner.
But at the time, Gennifer chose Marvin.
Now, Raymond had returned.
“I heard that the Harvard Family has openly informed the Winston Family of their plans,” Harven said. “Our parents already know, too.”
Marvin lowered his head.
One year.
For an entire year, he had been in prison, losing his freedom, his reputation, and nearly everything else.
Now, just after being released, he had learned that his wife was going to be proposed to by another man.
Worse, that man was one of the people behind his downfall.
Marvin Rock came from the Rock Family, which lived in Gloriston City, Chemisland.
Before entering prison, he had been no ordinary man.
After completing his master’s degree, Marvin became known as one of the most talented young scientists and engineers in his country. He had numerous achievements in energy and technology. Besides working in a laboratory, Marvin had also helped develop his family’s business.
The Rock Family was not the most powerful family in Chemisland.
However, they owned Rock Electra, one of the country’s largest power-generation companies. The company had once ranked second in Chemisland’s power-generation industry.
Marvin was considered the family’s greatest hope.
Many people believed that one day, he would take the Rock Family to a much higher level.
His popularity and abilities also attracted the attention of the Winston Family.
Gennifer Winston fell in love with Marvin, and Marvin returned her feelings. Their marriage was initially welcomed by both families.
The Winston Family also owned a major business called Winsoil, an oil and gas company.
In terms of wealth, the Winston Family was not much different from the Rock Family. The problem was that Winsoil was struggling because of poor management.
Marvin and Gennifer’s marriage was seen as an opportunity for both families to grow together.
However, Russel Winston had never liked the marriage.
As the Winston Family’s eldest son, Russel had plans of his own. He wanted Gennifer to marry Raymond Harvard.
The reason was simple.
The Harvard Family was the richest family in Chemisland.
If Gennifer married Raymond, the Winston Family could receive massive financial and business support.
That was why Russel began to hate Marvin.
His hatred grew even stronger when Marvin discovered a new compound.
The compound was named MR-25 because Marvin discovered it when he was twenty-five years old.
MR-25 had the potential to transform the energy industry.
The compound could be used as fuel for power plants, with far greater efficiency than coal. Under certain conditions, MR-25 even had the potential to replace several energy sources that had long been used in the industry.
If the research could be developed for mass production, the Rock Family would no longer depend on other companies.
And that was what made the Harvard Family feel threatened.
Harvard Corp was the largest energy company in Chemisland. It wielded extraordinary influence over the energy industry and had strong connections with various parties.
MR-25 had the potential to destroy their dominance.
Raymond was then ordered by his family to get rid of Marvin.
But Raymond didn’t want to do it directly.
He took advantage of Russel.
Russel personally hated Marvin and wanted to use Gennifer as a tool to save his family’s business.
The two of them eventually joined forces.
About a year earlier, they reported Marvin to the authorities, accusing him of developing weapons of mass destruction.
The evidence they used had been manipulated.
Marvin was arrested.
He wasn’t given the chance to freely explain his research. In a short time, his name changed from that of a talented young scientist to that of a suspected terrorist.
After that, his life was ruined.
Their plan was actually very simple.
While Marvin was in prison, they would destroy his reputation and make Gennifer leave him.
Once the divorce was finalized, Raymond would appear as Marvin’s replacement.
However, Raymond didn’t truly love Gennifer.
He was only carrying out his family’s wishes.
When Marvin arrived at the Rock Family residence, both of his parents immediately welcomed him.
“Welcome home, my son!”
Werner Rockstone embraced his son tightly.
Laura could no longer hold back her tears, either.
Every month while Marvin was in prison, his parents had always come to visit him. They brought food, clothes, and other necessities. Most importantly, they always made sure Marvin knew that his family was still waiting for him.
Seeing Marvin’s thin body and much paler face made Laura’s heart ache.
“Marvin, you’re too thin,” she said.
Marvin gave her a faint smile.
“I’m fine, Mom.”
That night, a family meeting was held immediately.
Werner sat at the head of the table, his expression serious.
“I heard that the Winston Family and the Harvard Family are going to hold a special meeting.”
Marvin looked at his father.
“To discuss Raymond’s proposal?”
Werner nodded.
“Yes.”
BANG!
Marvin slammed his fist onto the table.
“I have to go to the Winston Family’s house.”
Harven, sitting beside him, was startled.
“Brother, what are you going to do?”
“I want to see Gennifer.”
Marvin restrained his anger.
“She’s still my wife. Until we’re divorced, no one has the right to treat her like an object that can be passed from one man to another.”
Werner nodded slowly.
“Russel is indeed using Gennifer. Winsoil is facing serious problems. He wants to use Gennifer’s relationship with Raymond to get help from the Harvard Family.”
Marvin sneered.
“So they’re sacrificing Gennifer for the sake of the business.”
“Not only that,” Werner said.
He looked at his son seriously.
“Harvard Corp has also been putting constant pressure on Rock Electra.”
Marvin fell silent.
Werner continued, “Our company’s room to maneuver is becoming more limited. Harven has started learning how to manage the business, but he’s still too young. And I’m not as strong as I used to be.”
Harven lowered his head.
Marvin understood the situation.
Harvard Corp didn’t want other companies to grow too powerful.
If a company showed the potential to become a competitor, they would suppress it before it could develop.
“Harvard Corp even has influence over the government,” Werner said. “If they truly want to destroy us, the Rock Family will have almost no room to fight back.”
Marvin clenched his fists.
Until now, Rock Electra had depended on coal supplied by Harvard Corp.
The Rock Family wasn’t the only one.
Winsoil, owned by the Winston Family, also depended on crude oil supplied by the same company.
That meant the two families were actually under Harvard Corp’s control.
Marvin looked at his father and younger brother.
“Then this is what we have to change.”
Werner raised an eyebrow.
“What do you mean?”
“We have to end our dependence on Harvard Corp.”
Marvin stood up.
“Not just Rock Electra. I want the Rock Family to have its own energy source.”
Harven looked at his brother with intense curiosity.
“How?”
Marvin didn’t answer.
He only gave a faint smile.
That afternoon, Marvin went with Harven to the Rock Family’s power plant in the northernmost district of Gloriston City.
Behind the power plant was a vast forest.
The entire tract of land still belonged to the Rock Family.
Marvin walked toward a small hill overlooking the forest.
The afternoon wind brushed against his face.
After a year of living behind bars, a sight like this felt incredibly precious.
Harven stood beside him.
“Brother, why did you bring me here?”
Marvin didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at the ground beneath them.
Then he said calmly, “Harven, do you know what’s beneath this ground?”
Harven shook his head.
“No.”
“Glorisium.”
Harven immediately looked at his brother.
“Glorisium?”
Marvin nodded.
“There’s an enormous amount of it. Based on my latest research, there are billions of tons of Glorisium beneath this land.”
Harven fell silent.
Marvin then gazed into the distance, toward the forest.
“Glorisium is the primary element used to make MR-25.”
Harven’s expression changed.
“So…”
“Yes.”
Marvin smiled.
“All this time, we’ve been searching for a new energy source in distant places, when it was right beneath our family’s land.”
Harven still couldn’t process his brother’s words.
Marvin continued with absolute confidence.
“If my estimate is correct, the Glorisium buried beneath this land is worth no less than ten trillion dollars.”
Harven froze.
Ten trillion dollars.
That wasn’t merely wealth.
It was power capable of reshaping Chemisland’s economic landscape.
Marvin looked at the sky as its colors began to change.
A year ago, they had managed to send him to prison.
They had destroyed his reputation.
They had tried to take his wife.
They had even wanted to destroy his family.
But they had made one huge mistake.
They had given Marvin time to think.
And now, Marvin had returned.
“Harven,” he said softly.
“Yes, Brother?”
“Starting today, don’t think of me as someone who just got out of prison.”
Marvin looked at his younger brother.
“Think of me as someone who just came back to take everything.”