Tycoon Actor C527 (Patreon)

The European tour was a completely different experience for Lucas. City after city, country after country—each place brought new perspectives. Different crowds, different energy, different faces lighting up when they saw him. Some fans cried. Others screamed. A few just stood there, stunned, like they couldn't believe he was real.

By August 29th, 2020, he reached his final European show: Dublin, Ireland—Croke Park.

The crowd was massive. The energy was electric. And halfway through the set, the sky opened up.

Rain poured down—heavy, sudden, typical Irish weather. August in Ireland was unpredictable like that. One minute clear skies, the next a downpour.

But no one stopped.

Lucas kept performing. The fans kept singing. If anything, the rain made it better—more raw, more real.

It wasn't even the first time this had happened. In Paris, it had rained halfway through the show, and the crowd just sang louder. No one left. No one complained. They stayed, drenched and smiling.

Croke Park had no roof, so everyone got soaked—Lucas included. His shirt clung to his skin, his hair dripping, but he didn't care. The crowd didn't care either. If anything, they cheered harder.

By the end of the night, he was exhausted but exhilarated.

"Go raibh maith agaibh!" Lucas shouted into the mic—Thank you in Irish.

The crowd erupted.

"I'm so grateful for this! For staying with me, singing with me, even in the rain!"

He said it in Irish—not perfect, but close enough. The pronunciation was solid. The crowd ate it up.

It wasn't even that shocking anymore. Throughout the European tour, Lucas had been doing this. In Paris, he'd spoken French. In Amsterdam, Dutch. In Berlin, German. Each time, the local crowds went wild.

Most performers learned a few phrases—hello, thank you, maybe I love you. But Lucas spoke full sentences. His delivery was smooth, natural, like he'd been practicing for months. Which, knowing him, he probably had.

"It's been incredible being here," Lucas said, switching back to English. "Thank you, Dublin!"

He said a few more things in Irish—something that made the crowd laugh—then waved and walked offstage.

---ʕ⁠ ⁠º⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠º⁠ʔ---

Backstage, Jennifer was waiting.

The moment she saw him—drenched in sweat and rain, hair plastered to his forehead—she grabbed a towel and walked over.

"Come here," she said, ignoring the staff member who'd been about to do the same thing.

Lucas smiled tiredly. "Thanks."

She dabbed his face, then draped the towel over his shoulders. "You look like you just swam across the Irish Sea."

"Feels like it," Lucas said, his voice hoarse.

Jennifer frowned. "You need to talk to the team about rescheduling when there's rain."

"Can't predict weather," Lucas said softly. "And even if we could, the fans wouldn't want us to stop."

"I know," Jennifer said, sighing. "But you're gonna lose your voice if you keep this up."

"I'll rest on the flight," Lucas said, squeezing her hand. "Promise."

She didn't look convinced, but she let it go.

Behind them, the HBO documentary crew hovered, cameras rolling.

Lucas glanced over and waved them off. "Hey, can we get some privacy here?"

The crew nodded and lowered their cameras. Jennifer shot him a grateful look.

"Thanks," she said quietly.

Lucas smiled, wrapping an arm around her.

---ʕ⁠ ⁠º⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠º⁠ʔ---

On social media, Europeans were genuinely heartbroken that the tour was ending.

Lucas had adapted to every city—learning the language, respecting the culture, collaborating with local artists. In Paris, he'd spoken French. In Berlin, German. In Dublin, Irish. Each time, it felt personal. Like he actually cared about where he was, not just treating Europe as another stop on a checklist.

Many locals felt like they were already missing him.

Professional concert reviews started pouring in from major publications:

NME - London, Wembley Stadium

★★★★★

"Lucas Knight's Wembley performance wasn't just a concert—it was a cultural event. The surprise duet with Dua Lipa showcased Knight's remarkable compositional instincts..."

Pitchfork - Paris, Stade de France

9.2/10

"Knight's Paris show demonstrated something rare: an American artist who doesn't treat Europe as an afterthought. His fluent French wasn't a gimmick—it was genuine respect. When the rain came..."

Rolling Stone - Berlin, Olympiastadion

★★★★½

"In a city known for its exacting musical standards, Lucas Knight didn't just meet expectations—he exceeded them. His incorporation of electronic elements showed artistic flexibility..."

The Guardian - Dublin, Croke Park

★★★★★

"The final European show will be talked about for years. His decision to perform in Irish wasn't performative; it was genuinely moving. When the rain came and he kept singing..."

Les Inrockuptibles - Paris

"Lucas Knight a compris ce que beaucoup d'artistes américains ignorent : l'Europe n'est pas une monolithe..."

Reddit - r/europe

Thread: "Lucas Knight just finished his European tour and I'm genuinely sad"

u/wandering_swede [3.2k ⬆️]

"the avicii tribute in stockholm destroyed me. whole stadium was sobbing. he really understood what it meant to us"

u/baguette_forever [2.4k ⬆️]

"okay i was skeptical cause hollywood actors doing music is usually cringe but this man can PERFORM. the paris rain show was unreal"

u/lost_in_dublin [2.1k ⬆️]

"if lucas ran for taoiseach id vote for him and i dont even like politicians"

Other highly upvoted comments praised his multilingual abilities, with several users noting they spoke multiple languages themselves and were still impressed by his fluency. A few mentioned bringing skeptical family members who ended up loving the shows. Others discussed flying to Asia just to see if he'd continue adapting to local cultures the same way.

---ʕ⁠ ⁠º⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠º⁠ʔ---

It was undeniable—Lucas Knight had left his mark on Europe. The tour would be remembered for years.

Clips of him performing in the rain—drenched, smiling, never stopping—went viral. Videos from Paris, Dublin, and Stockholm racked up millions of views on Twitter and Vine.

Headlines started rolling in:

Variety: "Lucas Knight's European Tour Grosses Over $220 Million—Shatters Regional Records"

Billboard: "Knight Lights World Tour Surpasses Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour in European Earnings"

The Guardian: "How Lucas Knight Became Europe's Favorite American: A Cultural Phenomenon"

Rolling Stone: "Lucas Knight's European Leg Cements Him as One of the Greatest Live Performers of the Decade"

Forbes: "Knight Lights Tour on Track to Become Highest-Grossing Solo Tour of All Time"

The Hollywood Reporter: "Lucas Knight's $400M+ World Tour Dominates Global Markets"

The numbers were staggering. In just the North America and European legs, Lucas had pulled in over $400 million. He'd outperformed Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour, Beyoncé's Formation World Tour, and was closing in on records set by U2 and The Rolling Stones.

The tour wasn't even finished yet—Asia, Oceania, and Latin America were still ahead. But Lucas had already grossed over $400 million from just North America and Europe alone.

To put that in perspective: Beyoncé's entire Formation World Tour made $256 million across all continents. Taylor Swift's Reputation Stadium Tour grossed $345 million worldwide. Lucas had already surpassed both of them—and he was only halfway through.

That was a massive achievement, even for established artists.

But while the numbers were impressive, genuine fans were getting worried. Videos circulated online of Lucas in short interviews—his voice sounded tired, rough. In some clips, he was visibly exhausted but still smiling, still professional.

The fact that he'd performed through rain in multiple cities only made people admire his dedication more. But it also made them concerned. How much longer could he keep this up?

---ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔ---

Days later, Lucas touched down in Tokyo.

He appeared on Japanese talk shows, speaking fluent Japanese. By now, that wasn't surprising—he'd done it across Europe. But what shocked Japanese audiences was what happened at the Tokyo Dome concert.

Lucas didn't just perform his own songs. He sang a famous Japanese classic—Sukiyaki by Kyu Sakamoto—alongside a local artist. His pronunciation was perfect. His delivery was respectful, heartfelt.

The crowd lost it.

That single moment exploded across Japanese social media. Clips went viral on Twitter and Vine. News outlets ran stories about the "American superstar who honored Japanese music." Lucas's popularity in Japan, which was already high, skyrocketed overnight.

Why? Because Japanese audiences valued cultural respect above almost everything. Lucas didn't just visit Japan to perform—he learned their music, understood its significance, and delivered it with sincerity. That kind of gesture meant everything.

Next stop: South Korea.

Lucas had spent time in Korea before—for promotional tours, film projects, and even the Web3D conference. He was familiar with the country. So when he appeared on Korean talk shows speaking fluent Korean, it wasn't shocking.

Just like in Japan, Lucas didn't just perform his own songs. He sang a classic Korean ballad—Perhaps Love by Eric Nam and Cheeze—a beloved song everyone in the country knew by heart.

Then came the surprise.

Lucas brought out BigBang.

The stadium erupted. BigBang was legendary in Korea—one of the biggest K-pop groups ever. And Lucas performed a song with them that G-Dragon and the other members had co-written specifically for this collaboration. It was half Korean, half English. Lucas sang, rapped, and danced like he'd been part of the group from day one.

The energy was electric.

After BigBang, BTS came out. Unlike BigBang, who had massive South Korean appeal, BTS had exploded globally. Their fanbase—ARMY—was everywhere. Seeing Lucas collaborate with them was surreal. The performance was tight, polished, and the crowd's screams were deafening.

Then, to cap it all off, BLACKPINK joined him on stage.

Three of the biggest K-pop groups in the world. One concert. Seoul went absolutely insane.

The internet exploded.

Videos spread instantly. Twitter, Vine, YouTube—every platform was flooded with clips.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE LUCAS PERFORMED WITH BIGBANG, BTS, AND BLACKPINK IN ONE NIGHT"

"damn i need to fly to korea RIGHT NOW"

"lucas singing and dancing with kpop groups is something i didnt know i needed but now i cant live without"

"i dont even care about kpop but that performance was INSANE"

"thanks to lucas im now learning these kpop dance moves lmao"

On Vine, users were posting themselves attempting the choreography Lucas had done with each group. The audio clips from the performances—BigBang's track, the BTS collab, the BLACKPINK stage—all went viral.

Within 24 hours, all three K-pop songs saw massive streaming spikes. BigBang, BTS, and BLACKPINK were already huge, but Lucas's involvement introduced them to even wider audiences—particularly in Western markets where some fans still hadn't fully discovered K-pop.

K-pop was already huge—Hollywood couldn't deny that anymore. But Lucas gave it an extra push.

The songs performed at the Seoul concert had been specifically tailored for Lucas—centered around his sound, his style. But the collaborations introduced millions of Western fans to BigBang, BTS, and BLACKPINK's other music. Streaming numbers spiked. New listeners discovered entire discographies.

Even famous artists started posting themselves doing the choreography on Vine.

Then Leonardo DiCaprio posted a video.

Twenty seconds of him attempting one of the dance moves Lucas had done with BTS. He was laughing the whole time, clearly not taking it seriously, but the internet lost its mind.

Leo never posted videos of himself on social media. He was famously private. But there he was, dancing—badly—on Vine.

"LEO DICAPRIO DANCING TO KPOP WAS NOT ON MY 2020 BINGO CARD"

"this is the most unserious thing i've ever seen and i love it"

"if leo is doing kpop dances then lucas really is that powerful"

"i cannot believe leonardo dicaprio is out here doing tiktok dances before tiktok even blew up"

The Vine went massively viral. And whether intentional or not, it pushed K-pop even further into mainstream Western culture.

Lucas's influence was undeniable.

---V⁠●⁠ᴥ⁠●⁠V---

Next stop: China.

Chinese fans had already seen clips of Lucas performing across Europe and Asia—VPNs made that possible despite the country's internet restrictions. So they knew what to expect. But actually hearing Lucas speak Mandarin? That was something else.

He wasn't fluent—not expert-level. But he spoke well enough to hold conversations on talk shows, and when he sang a classic Chinese ballad at the Beijing National Stadium, his pronunciation was nearly perfect.

The crowd went wild.

Chinese social media exploded. Memes started circulating immediately. Fans began calling him "卢神" (Lú Shén)—literally "God Lu" or "Lucas the God." Some jokingly referred to him as "文艺复兴人" (Renaissance Man) because of his absurd range of talents.

"lucas knight speaks better mandarin than me and im CHINESE"

"he really learned our language just for one concert... 卢神 is real"

"at this point lucas can do anything. actor? yes. singer? yes. dancer? yes. speaks 10 languages? apparently yes."

"someone check if this man is actually human"

His popularity in China skyrocketed. News outlets ran stories. Brands reached out for endorsements. Lucas Knight had officially conquered the Chinese market.

---▼⁠・⁠ᴥ⁠・⁠▼---

Thailand was next, and Lucas followed the same playbook—speaking Thai, performing a beloved local song, collaborating with Thai artists. The reception was just as overwhelming.

Then came the Philippines.

Manila was hit by heavy rain and strong winds as a typhoon passed nearby. Fans were worried the concert would be delayed or canceled. Some even complained online, begging the organizers not to postpone.

But the show went on.

The rain poured. The wind whipped through the open-air venue. And the crowd? They didn't care. They sang every word, perfectly in sync with Lucas, voices cutting through the storm.

Lucas was genuinely amazed.

Between songs, he grabbed the mic. "You guys are insane! This is one of the best crowds I've ever performed for!"

The stadium erupted.

He spoke a few phrases in Tagalog—not perfect, but clear enough. The crowd screamed even louder.

Then he brought out Rico Blanco, the Filipino artist he'd collaborated with years ago during his very first concert. They performed "214" together again, this time to a massive stadium audience. The nostalgia hit hard. Fans who'd been there for that first small show were crying.

Lucas also invited Regine Velasquez—the "Asia's Songbird"—and other local legends. Their voices were incredible, and Lucas didn't hide his admiration.

"Regine, you just made that look effortless," Lucas said on stage, shaking his head. "I don't know how you do it."

Regine laughed. "You're not so bad yourself!"

The crowd loved every second of it.

Videos of the interactions went viral. Filipinos were proud. Lucas hadn't just shown up—he'd genuinely respected their music, their artists, their culture. And in a country where singing was practically a national sport, that meant everything.

"lucas knight said filipinos have the best crowd and HE'S RIGHT"

"regine and lucas on the same stage... i can die happy now"

"the fact that he brought back rico blanco for 214... im crying"

The Philippines leg became one of the most talked-about stops on the entire tour.

---ʕ⁠ ⁠º⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠º⁠ʔ---

The Asia leg wrapped up with concerts in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and several other countries. By the time Lucas finished the final Asian show, he'd grossed an estimated $280 million from that region alone.

Then came Oceania—Australia and New Zealand. Two weeks, major stadiums in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland. Lucas pulled in another $60 million.

By the time he reached Latin America in December, the numbers were staggering: over $740 million from the tour so far.

That figure was being talked about everywhere. News outlets ran stories comparing him to Michael Jackson's record-breaking tours. Entertainment shows dedicated entire segments to it. And naturally, late-night hosts had a field day.

The Tonight Show with Jimmy Kimmel - December 2020

Jimmy walked out to applause, grinning. "Welcome, welcome! What a year 2020 has been, huh?"

The audience cheered.

"No, seriously—the end of the year is actually full of good news for once." Jimmy counted on his fingers. "Trump is officially out of office in a few weeks—"

The audience erupted in cheers and applause.

"—and Lucas Knight just made three-quarters of a billion dollars singing and dancing around the world."

More applause, this time mixed with laughter.

Jimmy shook his head, holding up a paper. "I'm not even exaggerating. Lucas Knight's world tour has grossed over $740 million so far. And he's not even done yet. He's still got Latin America to go."

The audience clapped.

"For context," Jimmy continued, "Michael Jackson's Bad tour—one of the biggest tours in history—made $125 million. Adjusted for inflation, that's about $300 million today. Lucas is at $740 million. And he's still touring."

The audience gasped and applauded again.

"This man is out here making Michael Jackson money while also being an Oscar-winning actor. Like, pick a lane, Lucas! Leave some success for the rest of us!"

Laughter.

Jimmy leaned on his desk. "And if that wasn't enough, earlier this year, Lucas helped take down Diddy. Remember that? The FBI investigation, the whole thing. Lucas Knight literally helped put a bad guy in jail."

The audience clapped and cheered.

"So let me get this straight," Jimmy said, ticking off on his fingers again. "Lucas Knight: actor, singer, dancer, multilingual, philanthropist, and crime fighter. What's next? Is he gonna run for president?"

The audience laughed.

"Honestly, at this point, I'd vote for him," Jimmy said, shrugging. "At least we know he shows up prepared."

The crowd roared with laughter and applause.

---ʕ⁠´⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠`⁠ʔ---

Lucas's first stop in Latin America was Brazil.

Before the tour even landed, his team had already been in contact with local authorities. Brazil wasn't like Europe or Asia—security was a different beast here. Cartels, factions, territorial disputes.

Neil and the security team coordinated with Brazilian federal police, ensuring every venue had extra protection, every route was cleared in advance.

It was stressful, but necessary.

Meanwhile, in a villa on the outskirts of Rio, a powerful cartel boss sat at his dinner table, watching his three kids argue over their concert outfits.

His daughter—16 years old—was practically bouncing in her seat. "Pai, we got front-row tickets! Can you believe it?"

Her two younger brothers were just as excited, showing their father videos of Lucas performing in Seoul, Tokyo, Dublin.

The cartel boss chuckled, shaking his head. "You spent that much on tickets?"

"It's Lucas Knight, Pai!" his daughter said, rolling her eyes. "This is once in a lifetime!"

He smiled. His kids were good kids—despite everything, despite the world he lived in, he'd kept them away from the business. They went to private school, had normal interests, loved music and movies.

And right now, they were obsessed with Lucas Knight.

"Alright, alright," he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. "You go. Have fun. But you take security with you."

His daughter groaned. "Pai—"

"Non-negotiable," he said firmly. Then he softened. "But you'll have a good time. I promise."

She grinned and hugged him.

---Ꮚ⁠˘⁠ ⁠ꈊ⁠ ⁠˘⁠ ⁠Ꮚ---

The concert in São Paulo went off without a hitch.

Security was tight—local police, private contractors, Lucas's own team. Fans poured into the stadium, electric with excitement. The cartel boss's kids were there, front row, screaming along with everyone else. Their security detail blended into the crowd, invisible but vigilant.

Lucas performed for three hours. He spoke Portuguese—his songs were still in English, but everything between them was in Portuguese. The crowd loved it. He sang a classic Brazilian song, and the stadium went wild. He brought out local artists, collaborated, danced.

As the concert neared its end, Lucas paused, looking out at the massive crowd.

"São Paulo, vocês foram incríveis esta noite! (São Paulo, you've been incredible tonight!)" he said in Portuguese.

The crowd roared.

"Before we finish, I want to try something," Lucas continued, switching between Portuguese and English. "I'm gonna bring two people up here. One from the front row, one from way in the back. You ready?"

The stadium erupted.

Lucas pointed to the front. "You. Right there. Pink shirt. Come on up!"

The cartel boss's daughter froze. Her brothers shoved her forward, screaming. Security helped her up onto the stage, and she stood there, shaking, tears already streaming down her face.

"Qual é o seu nome? (What's your name?)" Lucas asked, holding the mic to her.

"M-Maria," she stammered.

"Nice to meet you, Maria. You good?"

She nodded, still crying.

Lucas laughed. "Don't worry, I won't make you do anything crazy. Just sing with me, alright?"

He gestured to the back of the stadium. "And you! Way up there in the blue jacket! Yeah, you! Come down here!"

A guy from the nosebleeds started making his way down, the crowd cheering him on.

Once both fans were on stage, Lucas started playing "Perfect" on acoustic guitar. He sang the first verse, then handed the mic to Maria.

She sang—nervous at first, but her voice was actually pretty good. The crowd cheered her on. Lucas nodded along, smiling.

Then he passed the mic to the guy from the back row, who belted out the next line. The stadium went wild.

By the end of the song, all three of them were singing together—Lucas, Maria, and the other fan. It was messy, imperfect, but incredible.

When it ended, Lucas hugged them both. "You guys were amazing. Thank you."

Maria was sobbing. "Obrigada, Lucas. Muito obrigada."

He smiled. "No, thank you. This is what it's all about."

Security helped them back to their seats, and Lucas finished the show.

Nothing bad happened. No incidents. No threats. Just music.

It was a massive relief.

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

After Brazil, Lucas kept moving through Latin America, city after city blurring together in the best way possible.

Buenos Aires hit different. Two nights at River Plate Stadium, and the crowd didn't just sing along—they took over. Their voices drowned out the sound system. Lucas would start a line, and sixty thousand Argentinians would finish it for him, louder than he could ever be. They weren't watching a concert. They were in it.

Chile was next. Santiago's Estadio Nacional packed to capacity. The crowd was disciplined, almost military in their precision, but the intensity was wild. Every lyric perfectly timed, every chorus sung in unison. It felt like the entire city had decided this was their night.

Colombia came with complications. Bogotá required triple the usual security, extra checkpoints, coordination with local authorities. But once the show started, none of that mattered. Lucas brought out Colombian artists, and the crowd went insane. The energy was raw—no polish, no pretense. Just people who'd been waiting years for this moment.

Lima, Peru, was similar. Fans had been flooding his social media for months, begging him to come. When he finally did, they made damn sure he felt it. The stadium shook. Not metaphorically—literally shook from the noise.

Then Mexico. Three cities—Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey—five shows total. Lucas's Mexican fanbase was enormous, and they proved it. Every venue sold out in minutes. The crowds were some of the loudest, most passionate of the entire tour. By the time he wrapped the final show in Mexico City, Lucas was exhausted but smiling.

It was January 15, 2021. The tour was over.

The numbers came in a few days later.

Latin America: $180 million.

Total World Tour Gross: $920 million.

The headlines started rolling out immediately.

Billboard: "Lucas Knight's World Tour Becomes Highest-Grossing Tour of All Time at $920M"

Variety: "Knight Lights Tour Shatters Records—Surpasses U2's 360° Tour as Top-Earning Concert Series Ever"

Rolling Stone: "The Knight Lights Tour Will Be Studied for Decades"

The Knight Lights World Tour was officially over.

And Lucas Knight had just cemented himself as one of the greatest live performers in history.

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

Now Lucas was back in the States. The moment he stepped into LAX, reporters swarmed from every direction.

"Lucas! How does it feel to have the highest-grossing tour in history?!"

"Are you planning another tour?!"

"Nine hundred twenty million—what's next for you?!"

Security immediately formed a wall, but the questions kept coming. Lucas stopped, raising a hand.

"Alright, alright. One at a time."

The crowd quieted slightly.

"First of all, I have to thank my team," Lucas said. "This tour wouldn't have happened without them. Neil, my security, the crew—they've been with me every step of the way. It was exhausting, but they stuck it out."

He paused. "And especially my wife, Jennifer. She couldn't be there for the whole tour, but she visited me when she could—Ireland, France, a few other places. Just having her there, even for a little while, made all the difference."

A few reporters actually nodded. Some even clapped.

One reporter jumped in. "Lucas, you've just made history. How does that feel?"

Lucas smiled slightly. "Honestly? Right now, I'm just tired. Ask me again in a week."

Laughter rippled through the crowd.

Another reporter pushed forward. "Do you think you've reached Michael Jackson's level?"

Lucas shook his head. "I don't think about it like that. Michael was Michael. I'm just trying to do my own thing."

"But the numbers—"

"Numbers are numbers," Lucas said calmly. "I'm grateful people showed up. That's all I can ask for."

It was humble, but there was confidence underneath. He knew what he'd accomplished.

Before they could ask more, security moved in. "That's enough. Let's go."

Outside, fans were waiting—screaming, holding signs, trying to get close. Security pushed through, forming a tight circle around Lucas. He waved, signed a few things on the move, but didn't stop.

They made it to the SUV. The door shut, cutting off the noise.

Lucas exhaled.

Inside, Jennifer was waiting. The moment she saw him, she pulled him into a hug.

"You're home," she said softly.

"Yeah," Lucas said, wrapping his arms around her. "Finally."

They stayed like that for a moment. Then Jennifer pulled back, looking him over. "You look exhausted."

"I am," Lucas admitted. "But it's done."

"Good," Jennifer said. "Because I'm not letting you disappear for nine months again."

Lucas smiled. "I missed you too."

Neil, sitting in the front seat, glanced back. "Hate to kill the moment, but we need to talk."

Lucas's expression shifted. "About?"

Neil hesitated. "The shooting. Two years ago."

The car went quiet.

"We've been working with the FBI this whole time," Neil continued. "And they've finally got enough to move forward. Diddy's already locked up on other charges, and they're adding conspiracy to commit murder to the list. Harvey too—we already knew he was involved, but now they've got solid evidence to make it stick."

Lucas nodded slowly. "Good."

"But there's more," Neil said. "They dug deeper. Found more people connected to it."

Lucas frowned. "Who?"

Neil looked uncomfortable. "Your stepmother. Myla."

Lucas went still.

Jennifer's face twisted with anger. "Are you serious?"

"She wasn't the mastermind," Neil said quickly. "But she was involved. Wrong crowd, bad decisions. The FBI found messages, financial transactions. She knew what was happening."

Jennifer's voice was sharp. "I don't care if she was the mastermind or not. She tried to have him killed."

"We don't know if she knew it would go that far—"

"She knew," Jennifer snapped. "She's always hated Lucas. This is just her taking it to the extreme."

Lucas still hadn't said anything. His face was unreadable.

Neil shifted uncomfortably. "There's also... the possibility your father was involved. Vince. The FBI's looking into it."

Jennifer looked at Lucas, waiting for his reaction.

Finally, Lucas spoke. His voice was cold, flat. "Make sure they don't get out of this. I don't care who it is. Myla, Harvey, Diddy—if my father's involved too, lock him up with the rest of them."

Neil blinked. "Lucas—"

"I'm serious," Lucas said. "No deals. No leniency. They tried to kill me. They tried to kill Jennifer. I want them in prison."

Even Neil looked surprised by how cold he sounded. Jennifer just nodded, her expression hard.

"Understood," Neil said quietly.

It wasn't an overreaction.

Tupac and Biggie were both killed in conspiracies involving people they knew—industry figures, rival camps, people they'd trusted. Marvin Gaye was shot by his own father. Sam Cooke's death was surrounded by suspicious circumstances and people close to him. When the threat came from inside your circle—from people who were supposed to be colleagues, even family—it was a different kind of betrayal.

Lucas had survived an attempt on his life orchestrated by people in his own industry, possibly even his own family.

Most people would've wanted blood. Lucas just wanted justice.

Cold, absolute, no-exceptions justice.

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

Besides the drama, Lucas finally had time to actually relax with Jennifer. Though "relaxing" for Lucas still meant checking in on ongoing projects.

He visited Maggie Kang's animation studio with Kobe to check the progress on their K-pop demon hunter series. The animation was nearly complete—just needed some final refinements. Another few months and it'd be ready for release.

Originally intended as a Netflix exclusive, Lucas had worked out a deal with Warner Bros for a theatrical release as well. Maggie had been pushing for it, and since Lucas now had equity in Warner, it made sense to leverage that. Netflix would still get streaming rights, but the project would get its moment on the big screen first.

Beyond that, HBO had been making solid progress on Invincible. After nine months of production, several episodes were already fully animated. Steven Yeun—who Lucas had personally recommended—was voicing Mark Grayson.

He loved Steven’s portrayal of Glenn when he watched The Walking Dead, and it was a shame what happened after Glenn left the show. After that, the soul of it just faded.

If Lucas had been producing it himself, he would've kept Glenn alive. Carl too. Even Sophia, who in the comics became Carl's wife. But that wasn't his call to make.

Speaking of voice acting, Lucas was also invited to guest star on Rick and Morty.

The show was under Warner's Cartoon Network and HBO umbrella, so setting it up wasn't difficult. He met Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon at the recording studio in Burbank.

"Dude, thanks for doing this," Justin said, grinning. "This episode's gonna be insane."

Dan handed Lucas the script. "We wrote it specifically with you in mind."

Lucas flipped through it. The setup was classic Rick and Morty chaos: Morty and Summer were obsessed with going to Lucas Knight's concert. Morty was so hyped he didn't even want to go on adventures anymore. Rick, naturally, was pissed.

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

They started recording. The opening scene was Rick and Morty in the garage.

Justin did Morty's voice: "Come on, Rick! Lucas Knight's concert is tonight! I've been waiting for this for months!"

Justin-as-Rick: "Oh, URRRP—oh wow, Morty. Lucas Knight. Yeah, real impressive."

"He is impressive, Rick! He's not just lucky—he's talented! He became a billionaire because he worked hard and he's good at what he does!"

Rick laughed—cold, mocking: "Oh, Morty. You really bought into that 'self-made' myth, huh? You think Lucas Knight is rich and famous because of talent? Morty, he got lucky. Right place, right time, right system that allowed him to become a billionaire."

"That's not—he worked hard!"

Rick: "Sure, sure. Lots of people work hard, Morty. You know what the difference is? Most of them don't live in a country where that hard work actually pays off. You think some kid in a village without clean water has the same shot? They don't even get to choose who they become. But billionaires? They love pretending they're masters of their own destiny. 'Oh, anyone can do what I did!' Ignoring the fact that the entire system had to allow it. Lucas Knight didn't pull himself up by his bootstraps, Morty. The system gave him a ladder."

Morty, quieter: "I just... I like his music."

Rick: "Yeah, well, URRRP—have fun at your concert, Morty. I'll take Jerry. Or better yet, a rat."

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

Lucas read through the script, chuckling. It was peak Rick—cynical, cutting, but not entirely wrong.

The scene shifted to the concert. Lucas on stage, massive crowd.

Justin did Morty's voice again, screaming: "OH MY GOD, SUMMER, HE'S RIGHT THERE!"

Then Lucas points at Morty.

Lucas read his line: "You. Yeah, you in the front. Come on up here."

Morty loses his mind. Security helps him onto the stage.

Lucas: "What's your name?"

Justin-as-Morty, stammering: "M-Morty! Oh my god, I can't believe this is happening!"

Lucas: "You good, Morty?"

"I'm—yeah—I'm amazing!"

Lucas grinned. "Alright. You know the words to 'Perfect'?"

Justin-as-Morty, hesitating: "Uh, actually, I—I don't really like 'Perfect' that much. I'm more of a 'Viva La Vida' guy."

Lucas laughed. "Fair enough. 'Viva La Vida' it is."

They started the song together—Morty nervous but excited, Lucas keeping the energy up.

Then, mid-performance, explosions.

Rick crashes through a portal with aliens chasing him. The crowd screams. People run. Some die. It's chaos.

Lucas and Morty are left standing there alone, dumbfounded.

Lucas: "What the fuck just happened?"

Justin-as-Morty, panicking: "I—I can explain! My grandpa does these crazy adventures and sometimes—"

Rick's voice cuts in: "Morty! Quit yapping! We got—URRRP—we got aliens to kill!"

Lucas, still in character: "Wait, who the hell are you?"

Justin-as-Rick: "I'm Rick, dumbass. Rick Sanchez. And you're Lucas Knight, the billionaire everyone worships for some reason."

Then Rick paused, squinting at Lucas.

Rick: "Huh. Weird. You ever feel like you don't belong here? Like maybe you're a soul from another universe or some shit?"

Lucas froze for a second—genuinely.

Internally, his mind went blank. 'What the fuck?'

But he recovered, delivering the line with perfect timing: "...What?"

Justin-as-Rick, laughing: "Nah, I'm just messing with you. URRRP—You're fine. Probably. Anyway, grab a weapon before these assholes kill us."

Lucas: "This is insane."

Rick: "Yeah, well, welcome to my life."

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

They recorded a few more takes. Lucas nailed the timing on the "soul from another universe" line—his brief real confusion looked exactly like scripted shock.

Justin cracked up. "Dude, that pause was perfect. You looked genuinely freaked out."

Lucas forced a laugh. "Yeah, well, it's a weird line."

Dan nodded from the booth. "That's the take. We're using that one."

When they finished, Justin walked over, grinning. "Man, you crushed it."

"Thanks," Lucas said. "That was fun."

Dan shook his hand. "You've got good instincts."

Justin also said, "We were actually nervous about that whole billionaire roast Rick does. We thought you might get offended or something."

Lucas shook his head. "Nah. I'm good with it. Honestly, what Rick said makes sense. I made it here because of a lot of different factors lining up."

He paused, thinking. "It's kind of like human evolution, right? We only exist because of perfect circumstances. The right planet, the right distance from the sun, the right atmospheric conditions. Change any one of those variables and we're not here. Success is similar—right timing, right opportunities, right system."

Dan and Justin exchanged glances and laughed.

Dan nodded. "That's a damn good comparison. Yeah, without all those circumstances, maybe humans never evolve and Earth's just another rock floating in the Milky Way."

Lucas smiled. They talked for a bit longer—shop talk, upcoming episodes, ideas for future collaborations.

As Lucas listened to Justin talk, he couldn't help but think about what he knew was coming. In a few years, Justin would face accusations and get forced out of Adult Swim. The whole thing would blow up publicly.

But that wasn't Lucas's business.

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

Time flew by.

The Rick and Morty episode featuring Lucas aired in late January 2021.

It was titled "Knight's Out" and fans loved it. The alien invasion interrupting Lucas's concert, the chaotic fight scenes, Morty freaking out on stage—it was classic Rick and Morty chaos.

But what really got people talking was Rick's rant about billionaires.

"rick absolutely roasting the 'self-made billionaire' myth while lucas knight is right there is peak rick and morty"

"the part where rick says billionaires only exist because the system allows it... yeah that hit different"

"morty getting to sing with lucas was wholesome but then everything went to hell lmao"

"that soul from another universe joke was random as hell but somehow worked"

"lucas knight voicing himself getting called out by rick sanchez is the most 2021 thing ever"

"respect to lucas for doing this episode. most celebrities wouldnt let themselves get roasted like that"

The episode was rated 9.1/10 on IMDb—one of the highest-rated episodes of the season.

"Knight's Out is already in the top 10 rick and morty episodes. lucas knight can ACT act"

"i've watched that billionaire rant scene like 15 times. rick went OFF"

"rick calling out lucas for being lucky instead of talented was brutal..."

Around the same time, HBO Max dropped a teaser trailer for the Knight Lights documentary. Just ninety seconds—concert footage, behind-the-scenes clips, glimpses of Lucas learning languages, rehearsing with artists from different countries. The caption read: "Coming Soon."

No release date. Just the tease.

Fans went crazy.

"HBO PLEASE GIVE US A DATE I NEED THIS DOCUMENTARY NOW"

"The production quality already looks insane. worth the wait"

"If this documentary doesn't show lucas writing that dua lipa song in 5 minutes im rioting"

The hype was real. People wanted to see the full story—the exhaustion, the triumphs, the cultural moments that had defined the tour.

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

By February, Lucas and Jennifer decided it was finally time.

Hawaii. The sixty-four-million-dollar estate Lucas had bought two years ago. They'd talked about this for months—waiting for the right moment to start a family. The tour was over. Their schedules had aligned. And now, away from the world, they could finally focus on what mattered most.

This wasn't just a vacation. This was the vacation. The one where they would try to bring a new life into the world.

For three weeks, they stayed completely off the grid. No phones. No social media. No distractions. Just the two of them in their private paradise, doing exactly what they came here to do.

Back in the States, tabloids started speculating. "Where Are Lucas Knight and Jennifer Lawrence?" TMZ ran a piece saying sources confirmed they'd left the country. Fans on Twitter were curious but understanding.

"let them live honestly"

"after that insane world tour? they deserve it"

"paparazzi mad they can't find them lmao"

But here, tucked away on fourteen private acres with no neighbors in sight, Lucas and Jennifer were blissfully unaware. The estate was untraceable. Exactly how Lucas wanted it.

They spent their days together—mornings on the beach, afternoons in the pool, evenings watching the sunset from the terrace. And their nights... well, those were dedicated entirely to their goal.

Three weeks in, Jennifer woke up feeling different. She didn't say anything at first, but she had a feeling. She slipped out of bed while Lucas was still asleep and found the pregnancy test she'd brought with her.

Five minutes later, she was staring at two lines.

Her hands were shaking. Her heart was racing. She sat down on the edge of the bathtub, letting it sink in.

It worked.

She laughed softly, tears streaming down her face. Happy tears. She wiped them away, took a breath, and walked back into the bedroom.

Lucas was awake now, sitting up in bed. He looked at her expectantly. "Well?"

Jennifer held up the test, smiling through her tears. "Two weeks."

Lucas froze for half a second. Then his face broke into the biggest grin she'd ever seen. He jumped out of bed and pulled her into his arms. "Are you serious?"

She nodded, laughing. "We did it."

Lucas lifted her off her feet, spinning her around gently before setting her back down. Then he threw his hands up and shouted at the top of his lungs. "I'M GONNA BE A FATHER!"

His voice echoed across the estate, out toward the ocean.

Jennifer burst out laughing, playfully slapping his arm. "Lucas! Stop! You're crazy!"

He grinned, completely unbothered, and wrapped his arms around her waist. His hand rested gently on her stomach. "We finally did it." He looked down, already thinking ahead. "What should we name them? If it's a boy... maybe John?"

Jennifer smiled, leaning into him. "John Knight. That's solid."

"And if it's a girl..." Lucas paused, thinking. "Dora?"

Jennifer blinked. Then she laughed. "*Dora?* Like Dora the Explorer?"

Lucas grinned sheepishly. "What? It's a nice name."

"Absolutely not," Jennifer said, shaking her head. "We are not naming our daughter after a cartoon character. We need something elegant. Something that fits with Knight."

She thought for a moment. "What about... Eleanor? Eleanor Knight."

Lucas repeated it slowly. "Eleanor Knight." He smiled. "I like that."

"Or Charlotte," Jennifer added. "Charlotte Knight. Or maybe... Vivienne Lawrence Knight."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "Vivienne Lawrence Knight? That's a mouthful."

"It's elegant," Jennifer said, grinning. "It sounds like royalty."

Lucas chuckled. "I like the sound of that." He nodded thoughtfully. "But we've got time to figure it out."

Jennifer smiled, resting her head against his chest. "Yeah. We do."

---…⁠ᘛ⁠⁐̤⁠ᕐ⁠ᐷ---

Later that afternoon, Lucas's phone rang.

Neil.

Lucas answered. "What's up?"

"Hate to interrupt your vacation," Neil said, "but the Grammys are in two weeks. When are you coming back?"

Lucas hesitated. He glanced at Jennifer, who was lying on the couch reading. "I might not go."

There was a pause. Then: "What do you mean you might not go? We already talked about this!"

"Well, something came up," Lucas said carefully.

"What could possibly come up that's more important than the Grammys? You're nominated, you've got a performance slot—"

Lucas decided to just say it. Neil was his manager. He could be trusted. "Jennifer's pregnant."

Silence.

Then: "Wait. What?"

"She's pregnant," Lucas repeated. "Two weeks."

More silence. Then Neil's voice came back, louder. "Are you—are you for real? Oh my god!" He laughed in disbelief. "Congratulations, man! That's incredible! I can't believe you guys are actually doing this."

Lucas smiled. "What do you mean 'actually doing this'? I'm already thirty. Almost thirty-one."

Neil chuckled. "Yeah, but you still look like you're in your twenties. Doesn't matter." Then he added, more seriously, "Well, I get it now. I'll call the Grammys and let them know you're pulling out—"

"You should go, Lucas."

Lucas turned. Jennifer had put her book down and was looking at him.

"Are you sure?" Lucas asked, frowning. "I want to be here with you. What if something happens?"

Jennifer smiled. "I'm two weeks pregnant, not dying. I'll be fine. Besides, I'll check in with our doctor while you're gone." She walked over and took his hand. "This is the Grammys. You don't want to miss it."

Neil's voice came through the phone. "She's right, you know."

Lucas looked at Jennifer for a long moment, then sighed. "Alright. I'll go."

Neil perked up immediately. "Great! I'll see you in LA. Oh—and for your performance slot, you're doing a brand-new song, right? What are you thinking?"

Lucas thought about it. He'd been planning to perform one of his recent hits. But now... now he wanted to do something different. Something about becoming a father.

A song from his previous life came to mind.

"I'll figure it out," Lucas said. "Give me a few days."

"Alright. Just don't leave me hanging."

"I won't."

They hung up.

Jennifer looked at him. "You okay?"

Lucas nodded, pulling her close. "Yeah. I'm just... still processing."

She smiled. "Me too."

They stood there for a while, the ocean breeze drifting through the open doors.

Lucas rested his hand on her stomach again. "This baby..."

He trailed off, thinking. He'd accomplished so much. Oscar-winning actor. Record-breaking musician. Global superstar. But none of that compared to what was coming.

This baby would be his fresh start. Not as an actor. Not as a global superstar. But as a father. And that was all that mattered.