[Quest: Join the City's Detective Unit]
Objective:
* Locate the headquarters of the Aethelred Institute of Investigation.
* Pass the entrance exam and join the detective ranks.
* Your mission is to prove your worth in order to fulfill your system duties through the quest.
Miles stared, his mind reeling. "The Aethelred Institute of Investigation? How does it even work? And what is this place? It looks like two different times."
"The Institute is this city primary law enforcement agency, a merger of police work and a new-age metaphysical reality. It is the perfect place for you to hone your skills and find your footing in this new world and era," the system explained. Its voice held no emotion, only cold, factual finality. "Each detective is a host like you, and each one possesses a unique set of skills. The more you work, the more you level up, and the more powerful you become. The closer you get to solving your first case, the clearer your memories of your past life will become." He only remembers the last day of his life. "But first, you must join the institute."
Miles stood there, jaw hanging open, caught between a world of wonder and a new life of immense responsibility. He was alive, in a new world, with new powers. And he had a purpose. But what a terrifying one it was.
After the system's screen in his mind disappeared, Miles was left alone in the cold forest clearing, the silence deafening. His mind, still reeling from the surreal encounter, was now focused on the immediate. He was in a strange, anachronistic world, dressed in what felt like a modern T-shirt and jeans, a glaring mismatch for the horse-drawn carriages and old-fashioned cars he had seen on the road. "How I'm I gonna live like this?" He asked himself staring at the unfamiliar environment and it's unfamiliar scents.
He took a deep breath, the cold air stinging his lungs, and muttered to himself, "Okay, first things first. Where the hell am I? And how do I get money to eat?"
The system's voice, now a familiar presence in his head, responded instantly. "I will guide you to your residence and provide you with a means of sustenance. Follow my directions."
Miles, with little other choice, began walking in the direction the system indicated. As he emerged from the dense treeline, he felt every eye on him. People on the road stopped to stare, their expressions a mix of confusion and distaste.
A woman in a long, elegant dress hurried her children past him, pulling them closer to her side. He realized his "modern" clothes—jeans and a simple black T-shirt—were completely alien here. They looked like a costume from a cheap sci-fi movie to these people. He felt a nervous heat rise in his cheeks, the sudden attention making his skin crawl, some kept staring and whispering some still mind their businesses passing him like he wasn't there, he got agitated about the mismatch of his outfit with the era.
"Oh shit! I hate these eyes," the eyes kept tearing his clothes and body and he hurried his pace to avoid getting naked by the eyes of these onlookers.
"They're looking at me weirdly," he whispered to the system. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"Your attire does not conform to the societal standards of this era. It is a minor inconvenience. In the residence of the dead Miles Corbane, I believe they would be outfits you can wear to match the standard of this era, but what you are wearing isn't much different to what the male wear in this era but theirs is more old fashioned."
"And what about my name? My name is Xavier Carter. What was this guy's name? Who was I before?"
The system paused, a beat of digital silence before it responded. "The person you were, Xavier Carter, was a soul trapped by grief and regret who committed suicide. The person you are now is Miles Corbane. A decent, unassuming individual with a small inheritance. He was not a man of great wealth, but his resources will be sufficient for your needs, he still has similar goal as you to become a detective."
Miles Corbane. The name felt strange and hollow on his tongue, but a quick glance at the system's quest log confirmed it, his new name appearing as the user profile. Following the system's guidance, he found himself in the heart of the city, standing before a modest two-story house. It wasn't a mansion, but it was well-kept and respectable. He used the key the system had provided in his inventory to open the front door.
Inside, the house was clean and simply furnished, with no signs of excess. It felt comfortable and lived-in, confirming the system's words about its previous owner being a decent man. He let out a sigh of relief, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. He was safe. He had a home.
As he was about to collapse onto the sofa, a cold notification appeared in his mind.
[Quest Update: First Mission]
Objective: Locate and join the Aethelred Institute of Investigation.
Time Remaining: 23:00:00
Miles's jaw dropped. "Twenty-three hours?! I just got here! I need a minute!"
He looked at the digital clock on the quest log, a cold countdown ticking away. He had been so lost in his panic and confusion that an entire hour had already passed since he woke up.
[Current Stats]
Name: Miles corbane
Worth: $350 (USD equivalent)
Inventory: Wallet with cash and ID, house key.
He frowned at the small amount. Three hundred and fifty dollars? In this world, that was likely enough for food and a single night at a low-end inn. It wasn't the fortune he had hoped for.
The system's words echoed in his head: "He was not a man of great wealth." Miles let out a heavy sigh, running a hand through his dark silky hair. Looks like his new life wasn't going to be easy after all.
He went to the bedroom and opened the closet, which was filled with suits, vests, and trousers that looked like they belonged in a 1950s film. He grimaced but knew he had no choice. He stripped out of his old clothes and put on a dark suit, adjusting the vest and tie. The material felt stiff and alien, but the look was a perfect fit for the world outside. The man in the mirror was still him, but he looked like a stranger, a ghost from another time.
"So I'm supposed to live with this face, thank God it looks more decent and more handsome than my old face," He took a final,
deep breath, tightened his tie, and stepped out the front door, ready to face his first quest.