Dave woke up with the single worst hangover he had ever had, largely because his poison resistance had rendered him immune to all toxins, and couldn't even get his buzz on. As he tried to shake his head clear he called up his status display.
"O.K. so reincarnation debuff sucks. The rest checks out," he grumbled as he took in his surroundings.
The hilltop view of a valley city in a very mountainous region covered largely in trees he did not recognize.
"Dragon Eyes!" his declaration caused his irises to grow into slits and allowed him to view the city gate as if he were in line to enter. The walls were HUGE 3 stories tall and almost half as thick. The gate is so large a 4-lane highway would fit with room to spare, the colossal red doors covered in iron discs closed and guarded with no road in Dave's direction told him all he needed to know.
"Aight, dangerous forest maybe animals or another nation they ain't gonna let me in just cuz I say hi."
Dave lived as a prime example proving the difference between 'smart' 'intelligent' and 'wise'. While his stats would have one believe he was the greatest mind in all of history, he wasn't all that bright. He decided to check the woods and see how he stacked up in this new world.
Fortunately for Dave, his luck was as high as the rest of his stats. He only came across a dire wolf and his inventory still functioned so he could use one of the swords he hadn't left for his descendants, a worthless iron one. The auto disassembly provided him with unexpected items, on top of the standard meat, fangs, claws, and fur as normal he also got blood and a small demon core.
"The hail is this." Dave examined a small marble-like stone but his identity only said [small demon core $unknown] "Oh thanks so helpful, what's it for?" Dave could only sigh, Identify only worked on things he was vaguely aware of if he knew the value of any demon core it would automatically value this one and so on. "Search!" instantly a root two mushrooms and a flower began glowing orange. "K so alchemy's a thing here" Dave grabbed the items and started towards the gate.
he searched his inventory debating whether to wear armor cheap clothes or his more noble outfits, he settled on an upper-middle-class merchant with light armor and a sword. respectable by profession reasonable to be in the woods low profile perfect.
"Halt!" shouted a guard dave held up his hands but did not slow.
"Hey bud, just want a bed and some food. Not gonna start nothin'."
Years of adventuring and war had given Dave a good understanding of guardsmen. The guards lowered their weapons and one took three steps and waited for Dave.
"Why were you out in the wilds? And where is your pass token?" distrust and disdain evident in the man's voice.
"Dude, came from that way" gesturing toward the hill he had arrived on. "Never been here before"
the look on the guard's face was pure shock "But it is 10,000 miles of wildland in every direction out this gate, no human has ever come from that direction before!" the fear and distrust in his voice evident.
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"Charm!" the spell made Dave seem far more likable than a family pet and more trustworthy to boot.
"come on dude it's been a long day and I just want some grub n' zs." Dave gave his warmest smile and tilted his head ever so slightly. This was enough to appease the guard. Dave entered through the side door and began to explore the town. The first thing Dave did was to seek out the money changer. He still had trillions in various currencies but that tended to mean little in a new country or this case world.
The trade pavilion was a 7-story building with gruff-looking men standing at all points of interest. dave stood at the front counter, the sweaty pudgy grotesque man standing behind the counter. "so you seek to trade?" the fact that this man could ooze scumminess had become a new level of repugnant. Dave placed 15 gold coins on the counter, "what is this worth?" the man looked at the coins shook his head, placed 3 dumpling-shaped gold pises on the counter, and waved Dave away with notable indifference. At that point, Dave placed the 'demon core' on the counter. The man gave a heads-up gesture to the security nearest to them. "we'll just take this off your hands, as you know all cultivation resources belong to the Lee family."
Dave placed the core mack in his inventory "I think not ma man, mine is mine . . ." Before Dave could finish his sentence a sword was waving in his face. Dave slapped the sword halfway into the floor and nudged the man across the room. "This won't end well if you push your luck, give me a fair price n' the things yours." now surrounded with swords and spears.
"Anyone that defies the Lee family will be punished severely, now hand over the demon pill you thief!" Dave gave it some thought, maybe it was the law in the area but his Bullshit meter was redlining. "Push!" a wave of energy knocked everyone off their feet within a 25-foot radius. dave walked out of the building and made his way to the street market.
he found that the people would sell him things for the silver coins he had, as no one could make change for the gold dumpling things or his gold coins. he bought some odds-and-ends food for later and some meat sticks to eat now. Dave sat on a stone bench near a tree and began to eat "Obzerve!" a mini-map opened in Dave's mind he could see several homeless near him, other shoppers going to and frow and a group of men heading straight toward him highlighted in red.
Dave handed his meat sticks to the closest waif "Get out of here and take the others with you troubles a bruin" The small girl smiled and nodded giving an affirmative "mn" before scampering off. The question now was how to play this his base stats were high enough to level a small nation except Dave lived by the creed of 'Be excellent to everyone' and 'never start a fight finish them'. it was obvious to Dave the Lee family was either a corrupt noble type or the local mob. it didn't matter Dave hated bullies.
"you there hand over all your treasures and we'll forgive you." an arrogant-looking well-dressed man in his 20s surrounded by men in something similar to samurai armor with pointy iron helms and what could almost be called an exhibitionist woman in sheer silk that barely covered he more than generous figure. "excuse you?" was all Dave could manage the audacity of the man left him in near shock.
"you have insulted the Lee family so you must pay I believe I am being magnanimous only taking your treasures, now hand them over." Dave held back a laugh long enough to hold up a hand "This ain't gonna go how you think it's gonna go." the near laughter in his voice infuriated the self-righteous prick "Leave that arm behind as well while I'm still feeling generous!" at this dave took a half step forward and slapped the snob hard enough to knock out half his teeth and send him bouncing off the ground. "Kill!" shouted the trollop in silk
"Still!" everyone was frozen in place as Dave pulled out his favorite mace an evil-looking baseball bat with what looked like jagged axe blades in the four directions at the end he was debating executing this filth when a beggar ran up to him and grabbed his arm
"Come with me if you want to live." Dave could only laugh and fallow.
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