This was pretty impressive. The last transmigration only lasted seven days, yet it had granted him two skills and a feat. If he had lived longer...
Wouldn't that have been the express lane to taking off?
Basic Endurance was a rare feat that increased Constitution. Expert French Fluency wasn't particularly useful in the game, but it did grant him the auxiliary profession of Linguist, which could make things a bit smoother during simulations. As for Basic Pickpocketing...
Combined with his Nimble Fingers feat, he might be able to undo the ropes behind him with a bit of effort.
Just then, the door opened again, and three Curse Cultists entered. They roughly pulled up a young man from the floor and dragged him out.
Even Julian couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat. The young man had been taken from a spot not far in front of the chubby kid. Maybe in a few more rounds, it would be their turn.
Before long, another line of text flashed before his eyes:
[Sacrifice deceased. Current progress: 27/36]
According to the Dungeon's setting, these inhumane cultists would sacrifice 36 people in a short period. Everyone here was on the chopping block. None could escape.
The chubby kid was trembling, leaning closer to Julian and whimpering, "Hey, do you think we're dead meat?"
Julian understood the kid's need for comfort, but he never lied. Besides, everyone was in the same boat.
After a moment of silence, the honest Julian answered truthfully, "Yeah, and probably in a pretty gruesome way."
The chubby kid was speechless.
If there were a system for tracking negative emotions, a "-1000" would probably be floating above the kid's head right now.
Seeking solace only to receive the opposite, the chubby kid finally broke down, wailing loudly.
He was only sixteen or seventeen, but he must have had some training. His lung capacity was impressive. His cries were incredibly loud, almost like an opera singer. Many people in the room had been crying, but the chubby kid's outburst instantly silenced them all.
"I'm still young. I haven't enjoyed life enough. I don't want to die. I really don't want to die..." The chubby kid cried his heart out, his body shaking, rolls of fat jiggling along with his sobs.
"Don't cry. Everyone dies eventually, sooner or later. Besides, look at all these people here to keep you company," Julian said, startled by the kid's wails, quickly trying to comfort him. But his words only added fuel to the fire, and the chubby kid cried even harder.
"I don't want to die! My father is a Duke. I'll be a Duke someday, too. And... I'm engaged to the daughter of Count Harold. We're getting married in two years. Sob... Is there anyone who can save me? I want to get married..." The chubby kid's sobs grew more intense.
Julian's expression turned a bit strange. This chubby kid, despite his appearance, was actually the heir to a Duchy and already engaged. Here he was, having lived two lives and still never married. The disparity of life was truly something.
Wait, a Duke? He recalled that there were only two Dukes in the Kingdom of Bryston. The one who lost his heir at the beginning should be...
A message suddenly popped up on his interface:
[You have triggered a D-rank quest: "The Gratitude of House Vester." Accept/Decline?]
Julian understood immediately. He was right; it was House Vester.
Without hesitation, he accepted!
[Quest Details: As the banner of the Kingdom of Bryston's nobility, House Vester has only one legitimate heir: Alan Vester. His significance to House Vester is paramount. Try to rescue him from this predicament, and you will gain the friendship and gratitude of House Vester. Of course, the choice is yours. Not saving him will not cause you any loss, and no one will blame another victim.]
It really was House Vester. Julian's eyes flickered.
According to the game's lore, besides the standard Warrior, Mage, Priest Trinity, this world also had the unique class systems of Meteorologists and Lineage Knights.
House Vester was a representative of the Lineage Knights.
Lineage Knight families usually possessed prominent status, a family history long enough to fill a book, and a Family Motto they must strictly adhere to.
By adhering to their Family Motto, they could wield various extraordinary powers. But in the game, Lineage Knights only emerged about a decade ago, and their initial role wasn't in combat.
In his previous life, while browsing the game's Great Library, Julian had come across an interesting anecdote:
About seventy to eighty years ago, there was a powerful family in the Kingdom of Faric called House Bladensburg. Their Family Motto was "Fair trade, meticulous to the last penny, never suffer a loss."
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Although meticulous to a fault, their integrity and fairness quickly helped them become the largest merchant family in the Kingdom of Faric, accumulating immense wealth.
But when the Kingdom of Bryston conquered the capital of the Kingdom of Faric, this vast fortune became the root of disaster.
The then-King of Bryston, Charles V, forced the patriarch of House Bladensburg to hand over their wealth. But because of their Family Motto, the family members had to be meticulous and could not suffer a loss. They wouldn't give up their money, even at the cost of their lives.
To force a confession, the King broke the bones of the House Bladensburg patriarch one by one. Before dying, the patriarch finally awakened the power of their Family Motto and uttered a curse:
"All who take the gold of House Bladensburg shall suffer eternal punishment."
Although the patriarch of House Bladensburg died, the other family members were not as stubborn. Charles V eventually obtained the fortune. However, as the curse foretold, all who took possession of the money met with misfortune. Charles V himself died in a freak accident during a hunting trip, falling from his horse.
To this day, the mansion of House Bladensburg had become a tourist attraction, filled with gold coins, but no one dared to take even a single one.
This was the power of House Bladensburg's Family Motto: "Fair trade, meticulous to the last penny, never suffer a loss." Adhering to their motto brought them great wealth, and those who forced them to break it paid a heavy price.
Although he didn't know House Vester's Family Motto or the current level of supernatural power in this world at the beginning of the game, one thing was certain: saving the chubby kid, Alan, would definitely be a huge gain.
But for now, Julian needed to ensure he had the ability to escape first.
He had used one Transmigration Coin earlier and regained one after completing a transmigration. Looking at the two remaining Transmigration Coins, Julian chose to simulate again.
[Preparing for transmigration... Transmigration Coin -1]
[Matched with a parallel version of you...]
[Spend another Transmigration Coin to reroll for new Talents?]
Julian chose no without hesitation. He only had one Transmigration Coin left; he needed to use it wisely.
[You have selected Talents 3, 5, and 7 by default.]
[Your parallel self is a Doctor of Electrical Engineering with high Literary Talent and a knack for luck, often winning free drinks in promotions.]
[Current Scenario exploration progress: 0.2%. Upon reaching 66.7% exploration, you will gain the right to unlock the next simulation Scenario.]
[The game ends when you die in the simulation.]
[Boarding the Time Machine... 1%... 33%... 65%... 95%... Whoosh... Transmigration complete.]
[You have transmigrated to Paris in 1894. From this moment on, the wheels of history begin to turn.]
[December 17, 1894: As a Doctor of Electrical Engineering, you have mastered Basic French, making communication easier. You try to strike up conversations everywhere, hoping to find a partner to build a two-phase AC generator. Nobody pays you any attention. Everyone thinks you're a madman. But that's okay; genius is often lonely.]
[December 18, 1894: You didn't eat yesterday, and you haven't eaten today either. But that's okay; poverty can't defeat a giant, but hunger can. With no other choice, you find a job washing dishes at a restaurant.]
[December 19, 1894: Washing dishes...]
[December 20, 1894: Washing dishes... Today, you broke 3 plates and had to pay a compensation of 40 Pence. It actually feels like the plates washed you instead (Happiness -1).]
[December 22-25, 1894: Washing dishes... On Christmas Day, you encounter a man named Romain Rolland. Although you should have had a lot in common, the conversation ends on a sour note due to a communication barrier. You feel that you really can't waste any more time.]
[January 1, 1895: You spend your first New Year in Paris. To celebrate, you get a job at a textile factory.]
[January 2, 1895: After being away for so long, you hear the familiar hum of machinery again. You feel that this kind of life isn't bad, except for the poor air quality (Happiness +1, Health -1).]
[February 5, 1895: Your luck turns. You spend 10 Francs on a lottery ticket and win the second prize of 25,000 Francs (Wealth +2).]
[June 7, 1895: Your charm and handsome looks attract the attention of a blonde girl named Elina, the daughter of the textile factory owner. It's a beautiful name.]
[June 10, 1895: You're in love (Happiness +1).]
[July 17, 1895: Your relationship faces strong opposition from the factory owner. You really want to say the line, "The tide turns every thirty years, don't look down on a young man just because he's poor." But before you can say it, you're fired!]
[July 18, 1895: You're furious. You start building a two-phase AC generator. Once again, "The tide turns every thirty years, don't look down on a young man just because he's poor".]
[February 15, 1896: Forget thirty years, you're already dirt poor now (Wealth -2).]
[March 7, 1896: You get a job at a machinery factory. Soon after, you're promoted to engineer's assistant (Wealth +1).]
[April 5, 1896: You fall in love with a beautiful, ordinary factory worker named Maggie. That same year, Tesla invents the two-phase AC generator (Happiness +1, Happiness -2).]
[End of 1896: You and Maggie get married. Married life is ordinary but happy.]
[Early 1897: Two years of life in France and a long-term marriage have vastly improved your French. You can now read and write without difficulty, and your spoken French is indistinguishable from a native speaker. (You have gained the skill: Expert French Fluency).]
[Mid-1897: You're promoted. You are now an engineer at the machinery factory (Wealth +1, Happiness +1).]
[End of 1897: Due to your outstanding performance, you are headhunted by John Rigby & Co., a firearms company.]
[1898: With your fluent French, you start submitting articles to newspapers and magazines. Some of them receive positive reviews. Soon after, you become a part-time columnist for Le Figaro (Wealth +1).]
[1900: Although your talent is not high, your work allows you to passively master the structure and firing methods of firearms. (You have gained the feat: Firearms Knowledge. You have gained the skill: Basic Shooting Proficiency).]
[1899: Your first son is born (Happiness +1).]
[1901: Your first daughter is born (Happiness +1).]
[1923: Your son gets engaged, and your daughter marries a decent gentleman (Happiness +1).]
[1925: You have two grandsons and one granddaughter (Happiness +1).]
[1935: You start to feel old, and everything feels like a struggle (Health -2).]
[1939: Germany invades Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. The flames of war spread across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. That same year, your wife, Maggie, passes away. You sit alone at home, feeling empty inside. Looking back on your 40-plus years together, if you could do it all over again, what choices would you make? (Happiness -4). You have gained the achievement: Sense and Sensibility]
[September 1940: Germany bombs Paris. Your home is destroyed by the bombardment. As an ordinary person, you die in the air raid.]
Summary: Happiness: -1, Health: -3, Wealth: +2. A mediocre life, neither particularly poor nor particularly happy.
You have gained the achievement: An Ordinary Life
Evaluation: D. Scenario exploration progress: 29.2%. Because your exploration progress exceeds 20%, you have received 1 Transmigration Coin. You can receive this reward for every additional 20% of exploration progress.