Rhine was still reeling when the system's mechanical voice droned on:
[You traveled through the prehistoric world, only to find yourself stranded in the mortal realm. In Chaoge City, powerless and struggling to survive, you relied on your talent as a storyteller.]
[Fortunately, you consumed a strange fruit that cleansed your impurities. From then on, fate opened its gates—you entered the Chan Sect as an immortal disciple.]
[But the Conferred God Tribulation is fast approaching. None in the Three Realms, Six Paths, or even the Chan Sect can escape its grasp.]
[You are only a newly initiated disciple with mediocre talent. Your sole goal: survive the tribulation.]
[This is the Prehistoric Connection System. By forging bonds with others, you will earn rewards. Connections are your greatest weapon.]
[Main Quest: Make connections, participate in the Conferred God Battle, and survive.]
Silence.
That was Rhine's only reaction.
After a long pause, he rubbed his forehead and let out a groan.
"…This system must be broken."
"This is supposed to be the magical world—Harry Potter! What prehistoric chaos? What Conferred God Tribulation? What Chan and Jie sects?!"
"Fruit? Cleansing impurities? That was a magical riot, thank you very much!"
"And this—this is London! Not Chaoge!"
"System! Wake up!"
But no matter how much he ranted, the system remained cold and unresponsive. The prompt about "joining the Conferred God Battle and surviving" lingered stubbornly in his vision.
Then, a translucent light screen appeared before him.
[Current Connections: None]
[Connection Level: 0]
[Rewards: None]
A bright red warning pulsed at the center:
[The Primordial World is perilous. The Tribulation draws near, slaughter is endless. Please connect with powerful beings of Chaos to gain rewards and increase your strength!]
Rhine slumped back in his chair, helpless.
This is the wizarding world! Where the hell am I supposed to find prehistoric figures to "connect" with?
"…Forget it. I'll just pretend the system doesn't exist."
But just as disappointment washed over him, a knock came at the study door.
"Sir Rhine?" came Butler Flanders' worried voice. "You've seemed… unsettled these past days. Sighing more than usual. Has something happened?"
Hearing the concern in his tone, warmth stirred in Rhine's heart. Stubborn as he was, Flanders had always been devoted. In truth, he was the closest thing Rhine had to family.
"It's nothing," Rhine called back. "Just a creative block. Come in."
The door creaked open, and Butler Flanders entered, pushing a dining cart stacked with warm milk, sausages, and fresh bread.
"Sir Rhine, you've hardly eaten all day. Please, have something before you retire."
Rhine was about to thank him when the light screen flickered again.
> You are in Chaoge, capital of the Shang Dynasty. There, you meet Bigan—the King's uncle, a man of upright integrity. For some reason, he treats you kindly, even hosting a banquet in your honor. Seize this chance and befriend him!
"…Huh?"
Rhine blinked, staring at Flanders.
"…Bigan? Him?"
Aside from being older, stubborn, and overly upright—how exactly did his butler resemble Bigan?
Before he could protest further, new messages flooded the screen:
[Become a casual acquaintance with Bigan: Gain 1/10 of the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart]
[Become a close friend with Bigan: Gain 1/2 of the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart]
[Become a lifelong friend with Bigan: Gain the full Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart]
[Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart: Genius and wisdom—able to grasp the essence of all things.]
Rhine's eyes widened.
"…Wait. System, are you serious this time?"
The Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart! Just the name reeked of transcendent brilliance. More importantly, it meant piercing insight—understanding everything down to its essence.
He vaguely remembered from Investiture of the Gods that Bigan had used this very gift to expose the Nine-Tailed Fox's disguise. A mortal seeing through a demoness! That alone showed how terrifying this ability was.
Rhine wasn't particularly gifted in magic. But with such wisdom? Potions, herbology, alchemy—he could rise above all others.
Understand everything. Grasp the essence of all things. Isn't that exactly what I need?
His eyes lit up.
"Flanders," he began suddenly. "You've served me for three years, haven't you? Ever since I became an author, you've managed my daily life with such care. I've always been grateful."
The butler blinked, uncertain where this was going.
Rhine went on. "Soon, I'll be attending a special boarding school. They don't allow personal attendants, so I'll have to part with you for now."
Flanders' face fell, his voice pained. "Sir Rhine… are you dismissing me?"
"What? No!" Rhine shook his head vehemently. "How could I ever fire you? Age may separate us, but in my heart, you're already my closest friend. Without family, you are my family."
He pressed a pair of keys into Flanders' trembling hands—the keys to his study and his safe filled with drafts of unpublished manuscripts.
"These are yours to safeguard. Keep the study clean while I'm gone. You said you liked my books, didn't you? Read the drafts if you're ever bored. This house is yours until I return."
Tears glistened in Flanders' eyes. He knew what these keys represented. Publishers would pay fortunes for even a hint of Rhine's upcoming novels. To be entrusted with full drafts? That was a trust beyond price.
He gripped the keys tightly, voice trembling. "Rest assured, Sir Rhine. I swear upon my honor and my life—I will protect your study and your works with everything I have."
At that moment, the system chimed again:
[You and Uncle Bigan shared wine and lamented the corruption of the court. Moved to tears, he declared he would risk life itself to shield you from treachery.]
[Your bond with Uncle Bigan has reached the level of life and death!]
[You have obtained the complete Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart!]
---
End of Chapter...