Rise of the Foolish Second Son

### Chapter 1: Rebirth “Ouch… my head…” Leo groaned, trying to open his eyes. His surroundings were a blur of opulence—luxurious furniture, elegant curtains, and an unmistakable air of wealth. “Where the heck am I?” He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain forced him back down onto the bed. Suddenly, the door swung open, and in rushed a young girl, about sixteen, her face full of concern. “You’re awake, Second Young Master! This is wonderful! I’ll go fetch the Lady!” Her voice was bright and cheerful, like a silver bell ringing in his ears. Leo froze for a second, and a wild thought popped into his head: **Did I… just get reincarnated?** He had been living in the 22nd century—busy, stressed, and lonely—until a freak car accident knocked him out cold. Now, here he was, lying in a fancy room, suddenly transformed into some ancient era’s young master. Moments later, the girl returned, practically glowing with excitement. “Young Master, it’s really you! The Lady is coming soon!” “What’s your name?” Leo asked, trying to sound calm despite the headache. “I’m Angela, your personal maid, sir.” She looked at him nervously, as if trying to figure out if he had lost his mind. Before Leo could respond, a woman hurried in—the so-called *Lady*—and her expression of worry immediately melted into relief. “Thank the heavens! Leo, you’re finally awake!” She rushed over, checking his temperature and scanning him from head to toe. “You’ve no idea how worried I’ve been.” As more people filtered into the room—maids, servants, even a gray-haired butler in his forties—Leo felt overwhelmed by the sudden attention. “Doctor’s on his way, Lady Isabella,” the butler said calmly. “Thank you, Montu,” Isabella replied, nodding graciously. “Everyone, please leave for now. The Second Young Master is awake, so let’s all celebrate tonight with a good feast!” Leo lay there in a daze, adjusting to the fact that he was no longer in his familiar world. Soon, an elderly doctor shuffled in, inspecting Leo closely, muttering a mix of medical jargon and something about a “miracle.” “It’s a miracle, I tell you! The Second Young Master was at death’s door, but now he’s almost completely recovered! Just a little weak—rest for a few days and he’ll be fine,” the doctor announced before leaving. Isabella sat beside Leo. “Father and your brother have been in Vito City for days. They’ll be back soon, and you can’t imagine how heartbroken they would’ve been if you hadn’t made it. Rest up, alright?” Leo lay there as his thoughts began to sharpen. It was true—he was no longer in his original world. He was now Leo Howard, the second son of an incredibly wealthy family. His father, a business tycoon, had made a fortune in grain trading, and his elder brother helped him run their sprawling enterprise. His mother had passed long ago, and his sister-in-law Isabella managed their estate with an iron grip. *Wow,* Leo thought to himself, *from scraping by in the 22nd century to living the high life in a rich family, and I even have my own maid!* Leo drifted off to sleep, and when he woke the next day, he felt remarkably better. He took a long bath and stood in front of a mirror. His body was fit, his face—handsome. *Well, at least the reincarnation gods didn’t cheap out on my looks,* he smirked. More surprisingly, he noticed he could hear distant sounds that were impossible for normal people to catch. His eyesight had also improved drastically, like he had built-in zoom lenses. *No system, but these new senses will come in handy.* As his memory of the original Leo Howard returned, he began to piece together the former owner’s tragic backstory. When Leo was just a boy, his family had been torn apart by war. His mother had taken him to find medicine for a plague that swept through their town. Years later, his father, now a wealthy merchant, found them again. Unfortunately, by that time, his mother had already passed away, and Leo had turned into a half-witted fool. His father, overwhelmed with guilt, spared no expense in taking care of him, and his brother and sister-in-law treated him with genuine affection, despite his simple-mindedness. The former Leo had lived a pampered life, blowing through money like water. When he wasn’t squandering his father’s fortune, he was a regular at the local brothels, earning a notorious reputation as the town’s most famous i***t. Everyone knew the Second Young Master as the ultimate good-for-nothing. And then there was Angela, his personal maid. She was a beauty, but had lived in constant fear of her master, who frequently bullied her. “What a scumbag,” Leo muttered to himself, reflecting on the original Leo’s behavior. “Young Master, let me help you dress,” Angela said softly as she entered the room. “You’re still recovering; don’t catch a cold.” As Angela moved close, her soft scent filled the air. Leo couldn’t help but think, *Man, this life isn’t half bad.* He let out a long breath. *Alright, let’s see where this takes me. If I’m gonna live as Leo Howard, I might as well enjoy it. I’ve got a good family, money, and even a maid.* He chuckled to himself. *Why fight it? Maybe being a shameless, rich young master isn’t such a bad gig after all.* Angela noticed his unusual mood and smiled nervously. “Young Master, you seem… different somehow.” “Oh? Different how?” Leo raised an eyebrow. “You’re still the same Young Master, but… your aura has changed. You seem… kinder. And… maybe even more handsome?” Angela blushed as she spoke. Leo chuckled to himself. *Of course, I’m different. In my past life, I was a Cambridge graduate and the CEO of a company. How could I possibly be like that brainless i***t?* Meanwhile, across town in a seedy brothel, three men were gathered in a shadowy room. “Damn it! We botched it! He’s still alive! This wasn’t part of the plan!” one man hissed angrily. “Chavez, you’d better get out of here fast. The money’s already been transferred to you, and your brothel is sold. We thought you could stay, but not anymore,” the second man warned. “I understand,” said Chavez, looking pale. The first man leaned forward, his voice low and menacing. “Remember, if anything goes wrong, you keep your mouth shut. If not, I’ll make sure you regret it.” Chavez gulped. “Understood.” --- --- --- --- --- ---