Chapter 147: Not As Easy As it Seems

Nathan started playing Valley of Lilies almost immediately after everything had been prepared. He had originally intended to play for only a few hours. That plan lasted less than thirty minutes.

"This isn’t right," Nathan muttered as he stared at the screen.

Emily, sitting nearby, looked over.

"What isn’t right?"

"The game."

Nathan leaned closer to the monitor.

"I played this before. I remember the opening stages, the map, the puzzles, even some of the dialogue. But this version feels different."

Liliana looked up from the documents she had been reviewing.

"Different how?"

"Some of the clues aren’t where I remember them."

Nathan navigated through another section.

"There are changes in the environment too. Some doors that used to be decorative are now interactive. A few puzzles have different sequences."

"Could the game have been updated?" Robin asked.

"Maybe."

Nathan frowned.

"But it’s an old game. There shouldn’t have been a major update."

He continued playing.

The family soon discovered that Nathan was taking the investigation far more seriously than they had expected. He played during his rest days. He played whenever he had free time, between Pulse practices and even while eating.

One afternoon, Liliana walked into the room and found Nathan sitting in front of the television with a bowl of food balanced on one knee, completely absorbed in the game.

She stopped at the doorway.

"Nathan."

He didn’t answer.

"Nathan."

"Wait."

"You’re supposed to be resting."

"I am resting."

"Playing a game for six hours isn’t resting."

Nathan finally looked away from the screen.

"I’m trying to solve something."

Liliana sighed.

"You’ve been saying that for three days."

"I’m close."

Emily walked past them carrying a glass of water.

"Don’t bother."

Liliana looked at her.

"What?"

"My brother gets like this whenever he wants to finish a game."

Nathan pointed at her.

"Exactly."

Emily shook her head.

Liliana laughed softly.

"Just promise me you’ll rest."

Nathan looked at her seriously.

"I promise."

Then he turned back to the screen.

"And I promised you I’d finish this."

Liliana smiled.

"I’ll hold you to that."

Nathan nodded.

"Good."

What Liliana didn’t know was that Nathan had already become obsessed with one particular part of the game.

The mansion.

He had reached the final section that previous players had discovered, but the massive iron gates remained locked.

There was no obvious keypad. No visible combination. No written clue. Nothing.

Nathan examined the surrounding area.

"Come on."

He moved the character around the mansion.

"Where did they hide it?"

While Nathan continued his search, Victor and Sarah were investigating another part of the mystery. Benjamin Reed, Creed X and the original creator of Valley of Lilies.

Their research eventually uncovered something unexpected.

Sarah stared at her tablet.

"I found him."

Victor leaned closer.

"Benjamin?"

"No. The creator."

She turned the screen toward him.

"Jasper Anderson."

Victor’s expression changed.

"Anderson?"

"Yes."

They immediately contacted Matthew.

Within minutes, the entire family gathered in the study.

Sarah displayed the information.

"Jasper Anderson was the original creator of Valley of Lilies."

Matthew stared at the name. "James Anderson’s son."

Sarah nodded.

"He died approximately one year before Edward and Vanessa."

The room became silent.

Lucia slowly sat down. "James never mentioned this."

"He probably didn’t know what Jasper’s work would eventually become," Victor said.

Sarah continued.

"There’s more."

She displayed another file.

"James Anderson wasn’t simply Edward’s friend."

Matthew looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"They were planning to build a gaming company together."

Lucia’s eyes widened.

"Edward wanted to help Jasper?"

"Yes."

Sarah explained that Edward had been impressed by Jasper’s ideas and had agreed to support his dream of becoming a game creator.

"Jasper had already started developing several concepts," she continued. "Edward was willing to provide financial backing and business resources."

Matthew stared at the screen.

"But Jasper became sick."

Sarah nodded.

"According to the records, Jasper was diagnosed with cancer."

The room fell silent again.

"He died before the company could be established."

Matthew slowly closed his eyes.

"Edward never told me."

James had apparently kept his son’s illness private. The project was postponed after Jasper’s death. Then Benjamin Reed entered the picture.

"Benjamin offered James one million dollars for Jasper’s unfinished work," Victor explained.

Matthew frowned.

"One million?"

"At that time, Benjamin was also struggling. Creed X was still a relatively small company. Their first major project was a racing game, but it didn’t earn enough money to become successful."

"James refused to sell."

Sarah nodded.

"And that was when things became complicated."

She looked at Matthew.

"James told us the truth."

Matthew immediately understood.

"Invite him."

"He’s already agreed to come."

James Anderson arrived at St. Claire Mansion discreetly that evening. He entered through a private entrance and was taken directly to the study. He looked older than he had at Arthur’s party, but his eyes remained sharp.

Matthew greeted him personally.

"James."

James shook his hand.

"Matthew."

They exchanged a brief embrace.

"I appreciate you coming."

James looked around the room.

"I assume this is about the note."

Lucia stepped forward.

"Yes."

James looked at her.

"I’m sorry."

"You don’t have to apologize."

"I should have told you years ago."

Lucia shook her head.

"You didn’t know."

James sighed.

"I didn’t know what it meant either."

Matthew placed the numbers on the table.

"Jasper wrote these?"

James nodded.

"They were in his diary."

Everyone leaned forward.

"Why?" Liliana asked.

"I don’t know."

James looked at her.

"But Lucia’s name was written beside them."

Liliana froze.

"Grandma’s name?"

"Yes."

James reached into his coat and removed a copy of an old diary page.

"The numbers were followed by the name Lucia Sterling."

Lucia stared at the page.

"Why would Jasper write my name?"

"I never found out."

James looked troubled.

"But when I heard you would attend Arthur’s party, I realized it might be my only chance to give you the information. I thought they might be important."

Matthew sat back.

"Tell us about the game."

James nodded.

"Valley of Lilies was Jasper’s creation."

Liliana’s heart began beating faster.

"But the original idea wasn’t entirely his."

"Who came up with it?" Matthew asked.

James looked at Liliana.

"Edward."

The room became completely silent.

Liliana stared at him. "My father?"

James nodded.

"Edward wanted Jasper to create a game based on a story."

"What story?"

"About a girl who died and wished for another chance at life."

Liliana’s breath caught.

James continued. "The game was created for you."

Everyone turned toward Liliana.

"For me?"

"Your father wanted something special made for his daughter."

Liliana couldn’t speak.

James shook his head. "I never understood why he wanted that particular story. He never explained it to me."

Matthew’s expression darkened.

"And why was the game released under Creed X?"

James’s face became grim.

"Because it was stolen."

Victor leaned forward.

"Stolen?"

"Benjamin wanted Jasper’s work."

James’s voice hardened.

"I refused to sell it. Then Benjamin and Arthur approached me."

The room went silent.

"They threatened you?"

James nodded.

"They told me they would use everything they had to destroy my company and my business relationships if I refused to cooperate."

Matthew’s jaw tightened.

"Arthur was involved?"

"Yes. I don’t know how they met."

James looked toward Lucia.

"But both of them were particularly interested in Valley of Lilies."

Liliana felt a chill travel through her.

"Why?"

James shook his head. "I don’t know." He looked at the numbers. "But now I’m wondering whether Jasper knew."

Nathan suddenly appeared at the doorway.

"I think he did."

Everyone turned toward him.

Nathan held up his phone.

"I found something."

He walked toward the table.

"The mansion."

He showed them the game screen.

"There are no random numbers in this game. Every code means something."

He looked at the sequence.

"I think the numbers James gave Grandma are the mansion’s code."

Liliana stared at the screen.

"What happens if you enter them?"

Nathan smiled.

"That’s what I’m going to find out."

He turned toward the television. Everyone followed him. The game loaded. The character stood before the enormous mansion gates.

Nathan entered the numbers.

17.

04.

21.

09.

33.

08.

The screen remained frozen.

Nathan frowned. "Come on."

Nothing happened. He tried again. Still nothing.

Emily looked worried.

"Maybe they’re not the code."

Nathan shook his head.

"They are."

"How do you know?"

Nathan stared at the screen.

"Because the game just changed."

A faint sound came from the speakers. Metal grinding against metal. The mansion gates slowly began to open.

Everyone froze. Nathan’s face went pale.

Beyond the gates was a dark pathway leading toward the mansion. And above the entrance, carved into the stone, was a single word.

LILIANA.

No one spoke.

Liliana stared at her name.

Her father’s unfinished game had just opened a door that had remained locked for years. And somehow, the game had been waiting for her.