My system panel opened up in front of me. I blinked a couple of times, and then I realised what this was. I looked around, got up, and locked the door.
At first, I thought why my brain felt so much better than in my previous life, but decided to think about it later.
I thought, 'How to use the panel?'
System Panel:
User: Savant Bernoulli (A descendant of the famous scientist, Daniel Bernoulli)
Body's Name:
Julius Geope Carmollen
Title:
Prince of Slamenia
Archduke of Rhine
'Rhine? Heh, like the Rhine region in Germany?' I thought.
Negative
It showed.
"Oh,"
Sync with the Owner's previous memories?
Yes / No
I click yes.
Brace yourself
And I fell...
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It took a few minutes, but I woke up.
"Ugh... I hate that old guy," I muttered as I woke up.
I had a whole memory run of the body's previous owner. The real, now dead, Julius was a wasted guy. Wasted because he was forcefully stunted by some of his siblings, the Queen and her family. But who cared? I was just some bastard born out of the Emperor's lust.
He might not have been the most evil guy... but he was pretty spoilt, and thought too highly of himself.
But now, due to a hunting accident, his left hand was severely injured. It quickly got infected. The healers amputated the hand, trying to stop the infection from spreading, but it was too late. The infection had already spread to his body, and now, it had infected his lungs. The healers told him he could die at any moment.
I quickly changed my clothes and opened the door. I had a meeting with him within a few minutes, as I could remember. Although I hate him, I can't defy his words... He is the supreme ruler of this empire, afterall...
"You are almost late," One of his guards spat out as I was about to open the door.
"Yet, I am not," I replied coolly.
He snarled, but let me in.
"Father, you called for me?" I asked as I entered.
"So you came afterall," He replied sarcastically.
I just blinked, not replying to his words.
"Look here. I am splitting the empire into 5 parts. Even though you are incapable of anything, I had to give you something. The Chief Priest told me I needed to separate the empire, or else my blood will end with you 5... I never wanted to give you anything, cough, but he told me otherwise... So I am giving you the Rhine... Just, cough, don't be a burden to your siblings," He said, throwing a it of coughs.
I nodded.
"Now leave me. I don't want to look at your face when I die," He said, closing his eyes to rest.
I nodded and left quietly.
The guard just gave me a look of disdain as I walked by.
"Ah, Prince Julius... you will be leaving tonight. I will send someone to help you pack," One of the close advisors of the emperor said as we crossed paths. I silently nodded and kept on walking.
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'Give me ideas of what I should do,' I asked the system.
You must start making money from your territories quickly. It's estimated that Emperor Johnathan would die by the time you reach your territory, meaning you will have very little time to prepare for any unforeseen problems.
'Describe the region,'
It's an impoverished region; it used to be a hotspot for mining gold, iron, copper and coal, but the surface minerals mostly ran out due to the flooding of caves deeper down. It's surrounded by many mountains, and a huge ocean to its left. Used to be ideal for trade, but now that it lost its mining output, it costs more to upkeep the region than to just completely abandon it.
'Flooding of mines? Can't I use an engine to clear it up?' I thought.
Yes, but you need to invent it first. This world is at least 300 years away from anything remotely resembling an industrial revolution.
'drat...'
However, there are a few undiscovered mine locations, just enough to make necessary advancements, allowing you to create a steam engine to clear the mines.
'Alright...'
'I have a question... why is my brain so clear now?' I asked.
The creator has reset your brain to the power it should have been. Your previous body was depressed, ate a lot of junk food, consumed illicit content, read crappy, cheap dopamine-inducing literature, and binge-watched a lot of short-form content, leading to a huge decline in brain power. Your bad habits made your genius brain into something resembling a drug addict.
'Goshhh... Did that really do that much damage?'
Yes. Your brain had its dopamine receptors completely fried. Requiring you to have more dopamine to have the same effect it had before.
'Ughh... Looks like they really screwed me up, huh.'
You back then had the power to change, but you didn't. But you do have the chance now. Don't waste it by thinking about your past.
"Hah... I guess you are correct," I muttered.
Yes. But you still would have to rest more since this body is much less addept to the changes currently undergoing. You will spend most of your travel sleeping, which is pretty ideal.
'Oh, I guess I don't mind it then,' I replied.
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