The following morning, the golden rays of the sun filtered through the marble gates of the Whitlock estate. Standing outside the mansion, Lucas Whitlock was flanked by his parents, both of whom wore expressions of concern.
"Are you absolutely sure you don't want us to come with you?" his father asked, his tone laced with slight worry for his son.
Lucas turned to him with a calm and reassuring smile. "Yes, Dad. I don't think there's a need for you to follow me today. I'm a Saint now. I need to start acting the part. If I want people to take me seriously, I can't keep showing up with my parents by my side all the time. I want to be seen as someone capable, not as a kid who still needs his hand held."
His mother sighed softly, her face torn between pride and sadness. "If that's your wish, I suppose we'll respect it," she said, pouting playfully. "But don't forget, no matter how important you become in this world, you'll always be my cute little baby boy."
Lucas chuckled and gave a small nod. "Thanks, Mom."
With that, he turned and entered the sleek black car waiting for him. As the door shut, he took a deep breath, feeling a slight thrill that his parents hadn't followed. His face lit up with satisfaction—he had successfully completed the first step of his plan.
He had something he wanted to do—something important. And it wouldn't have been possible or at least difficult if his parents had tagged along.
As they drove toward the palace, Lucas leaned forward and gave the driver a new instruction. "Please stop by a grocery shop on the way. I'll need a few things—snacks, some food. Just a few items."
The driver looked at him through the rearview mirror, puzzled but professional. "Yes, Young Master."
They made a quick stop at a local store, and the driver returned with several bags of snacks and ready-to-eat food. Lucas nodded approvingly and gave a small smile. They continued their journey, passing the stunning urban landscape of the human capital. The tall buildings gleamed in the morning light, and the roads sparkled clean, lined with trees that danced gently in the breeze.
Lucas sat quietly in the back seat, lost in thought.
He knew exactly what he was doing. At least, he hoped he did.
Before long, the royal palace came into view—a breathtaking fortress of golden domes, tall white towers, and gleaming stained-glass windows. It was more majestic than Lucas had imagined. A large gate stood at the front, surrounded by armored guards in blue and silver uniforms.
As the car approached the palace entrance, Lucas noticed a small crowd gathered near the gate. There was some sort of commotion happening, and the guards looked tense.
Curious, Lucas quickly told the driver to stop.
Hopping out of the car with the ease, and seemly trying to get closer to the commotion. The driver, concerned, followed closely behind.
As they drew near the commotion, they saw what was going on—an old, disheveled man was being forcibly removed from the palace gates by a pair of irritated guards.
The man was clearly drunk, his breath carrying a strong smell of alcohol, his clothes tattered, his beard wild. Despite his appearance, his eyes gleamed with an unusual sharpness.
Lucas paused. A smile curled at the corners of his lips.
It's him.
He quickly whispered something into the driver's ear. The man nodded and stepped forward to intervene.
"Hello, gentlemen," the driver greeted the guards calmly. "May I ask why you're handling this man so roughly?"
One of the guards grunted and gestured to the drunk. "This guy shows up here every day asking for money. No matter how many times we tell him to leave, he just comes back. He's a nuisance."
The driver looked down at the old man. "Is that true, sir?"
"Get your filthy hands off me, peasant!" the old man snapped with a slurred voice. "Just because I look like this doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing. And who are you calling old? I may be a few centuries on the clock, but I'm still spry! As for why I'm here—yeah, I came for some quick funds. Needed some money for a good drink, and I figured the King must be loaded. I didn't think I'd meet him personally, but I was hoping one of the palace folks might throw me a bone. These stingy guards, though... tch."
The man rambled on for another minute before stopping to huff indignantly.
"So, to cut the long story short—you want money, and if you get it, you'll stop bothering the palace?" the driver asked.
"That's the gist of it."
"Well, then follow me. My young master is actually interested in speaking with you."
The old man raised an eyebrow but didn't protest. Soon, they stood before Lucas again.
"I overheard everything you said old man" Lucas said. "And I do sympathize with your situation. So, I'll keep this simple. My driver will give you some money—and I'd also like you to have these."
He handed over the bags of food and snacks. The driver stepped forward, pressing a pouch of golden coins into the old man's hand.
The old man blinked in surprise, staring at the items. "Whoa... this is too much. I don't believe it. But then—" he looked at Lucas with narrowed eyes, "for you to give me this much even though you just met me for the first time, you must know who I really am."
Lucas nodded slightly, maintaining his calm.
The man grinned. "Alright then. Let's get this over with. Come closer, kid."
Lucas approached, and the man placed both his hands over Lucas' eyes. A soft green glow emerged from his palms. A warm, tingling sensation ran through Lucas' head, and after a moment, the man pulled his hands away.
Lucas opened his eyes—and the color of his irises had changed from ocean blue to a stunning bluish-purple.
"I just gave you the Future-Seeing Eyes," the man explained, his tone suddenly serious. "When activated, you'll be able to see glimpses of the future. However, your current strength limits your ability. For now, you'll only be able to see a few seconds ahead."
Lucas was stunned. "Th... thank you, sir," he said with a deep bow.
The man gave a small chuckle. "We're even now. Thanks for the food and the gold. And kid—use those eyes wisely." With that, he turned and sauntered away, disappearing down a side alley with surprising speed for someone so intoxicated.
The driver looked completely confused, but he kept quiet. Lucas, meanwhile, was grinning.
That man might look like a crazy beggar, Lucas thought, but he's one of the most mysterious beings in this world.
In his previous life, Lucas had seen this man behind the screen of his TV—an enigmatic traveler who wandered from continent to continent, appearing in strange places and gifting unique abilities to random individuals based on their actions or kindness. He could bestow "Eye Gifts"—special ocular powers with different and diverse mystical abilities.
In the original timeline, it had been the protagonist who encountered this man. After being rejected by his crush, the protagonist had given away his cake and snacks to a poor old man in a dirty old street. That man turned out to be this very figure, and the protagonist had received the Future-Seeing Eyes as a reward.
But this time, Lucas had gotten to him first.
This changes everything, Lucas thought to himself with a quiet satisfaction. One of the protagonist's best early-game tools is now mine. Let's see how he manages without it.
They returned to the car, and Lucas remained quiet, his mind buzzing with possibilities. The driver remained silent too, though his eyes flickered with curiosity. He knew better than to ask questions.
As the car pulled through the palace gates and into the royal courtyard, Lucas looked up at the shining towers above and clenched his fist slightly.