“Ha-ha-ha, didn’t see that one coming, did ya?” Zhong Yu felt great – awesome, in fact – at the wolf’s fate. Laying on the tree, he took his time to enjoy the feeling before glancing down at the endless meadow. Zhong Yu recalled the creek and found it to flow here. The grass closer to it grew as high as his waist.
Pondering, he stood up with caution and climbed up the cliff. The constant blood loss had him weary and his hand shaking. A couple of narrow escapes had his will tested again. ‘I just escaped a wolf and now I’m to die here? No!’ Zhong Yu gathered himself and dragged himself out of danger.
He lay on the edge gasping for breath. The serious wound wasn’t helping either, sapping his energy and feeling like he would be a goner soon.
Even twitching a finger proved to be a toiling affair. Zhong Yu had a foreboding, that his body was giving up on him. As life ebbed out of him, it took its toll on his mind. Through the haze in his head, one question lingered on, ‘What am I doing here? I don’t want to die!’
Crossing over, life was leaving him before he even got to meet glorious civilization. ‘Aren’t I the main character here? Where’s my rotten luck, my grandpa, my cheat? I’m such a loser. A lame neet who’s death will mean nothing to anyone. No one will care I’m gone, only my parents. Lady Luck is a fickle mistress. It gave me the greatest chance to a new life, only to turn it into a sick joke.’
Zhong Yu’s mind was fading and losing touch with his body when a sudden ding brought him to focus.
“Sensing host’s life draining. System restore…. done. Imperial Conquest System is now online. Loading…. done.”
The voice was music to Zhong Yu’s ears, fueling his desire for life. ‘Who’s there? I didn’t see anybody around.’
Thinking of the bizarre way he himself was spirited away, Zhong Yu asked, “Is that you, god? Whoever you are, save me, please! “
What greeted him was a monotonous voice. “Fear not, host, for I am the Imperial Conquest System created by an unknown and all-powerful existence, having heard host’s plea. I am designed to assist host in the conquest of this strange new world.”
He felt his strength coming back to him. ‘How are my wounds gone? Is a god playing tricks on me?’ Zhong Yu rejoiced at having escaped certain death. But the high was short-lived.
This day had been packed with more excitement than all his life. From a boring and stable life, he first escaped death and now found this was another world. He was spent in mind and body, unable to even question his situation.
Of all the things happening today, he was at a loss where to lament or rejoice. What came after was fear, ‘How did I just slip into this strange land? And seeing it’s some primal forest, I just went on a stroll.’
Only to end it with a deadly chase in form of a wolf on his tail. ‘At least I came out alive. Is a neet’s guard that lax? I need to shape up.’
…
Hours later found Zhong Yu hiding in a tree, dozens of meter off the ground. Finding some semblance of safety at long last and getting a rest, he recalled that voice.
Imperial Conquest System, an unknown all-mighty existence, a strange new world, all came back to Zhong Yu. With no danger addling his neet mind, he realized he was living the dream of every neet out there, to cross over.
‘I’m not so down on my luck, after all. Maybe Lady Luck smiles upon me. Exotic babes, come to daddy! And you, minnows, bow at my feet and greet Lord Zhong Yu!’
“System, are you self-aware and capable of emotion?” Among the long list of webnovels he perused, there were plenty of systems ruling against their host.
“The system is not self-aware, following strict protocols. I am no danger to host and host need not fear me.”
‘I see.’ Zhong Yu breathed easier at the mechanical and cold reply. ‘Now let’s think this through.’ He took his time formulating questions.
“System, since you are to assist me in conquering this strange world, what can you do? Do you have an exchange store or something? Can I see it?”
“My current functions are issuing quests and exchanging.”
“Quests are issued when hosts fulfills certain conditions. Host may complete these quests for system rewards.” System’s flat voice ended, giving Zhong Yu time to digest the new information before resuming.
“The exchange function uses fortune the user amassed for a wide variety of items and personnel, acquiring something that would take decades in a matter of seconds.
“Taking weapons as example, it would take months or years to make. While host just has to provide fortune and the item in question is offered. Sometimes you might need a specialist or an army. They all take decades of education and drills to reach their peak, while host has to just give some fortune to have an instant army.”
‘This is awesome!’ Why was history filled with great clans? Because of the talents they raised to rule the lands and give back resources and information. With a strict monopoly on resources and talents, a nation would ground to a halt. These clans dictated its glory and even the rise and fall of dynasties.
“System, you’ve spoken for so long but not once explained fortune. What is it? Can you tell me how I get it?”
“Fortune, the luck and fate every person is endowed with. For host to have it, you need to increase your clout on this strange world. That is how you extract the fortune of the people under your influence.”
‘Live the good life in this world might very well be within reach with this. But why do I feel excitement brewing?’
Then he exclaimed, ‘Almost forgot a crucial detail!’
“System, you said you can issue quests and can do exchanges. Currently. Does that mean there are further features in store?”
“Correct, host needs only increase his power and reach, and by offering enough fortune, the system will unlock more features to help the host. To have a much better living in this world, host has to work for it.”
‘There’s still many options blocked. I need to get to work!’