Pov: Vik
Now that I've given up on starting a bus company, I need to explore other options. An idea hit me: why not start a business in the food market? So, I asked the system about it.
Vik: "Hey, system, what do you think about a business in the food market?"
System: "That's a nice choice, host, but I don't think you can cook well. We need to hire someone if you want to start a restaurant."
Vik: "No, system. I'm not talking about opening a restaurant. I'm talking about providing raw food like grains, fruits, and vegetables by growing them and selling them in this city."
System: "Host, do you have enough land to grow crops?"
Vik: "Did you forget that I own an entire forest? This world calls it the Great Fire Forest."
System: "Host, do you want to use that forest to grow crops, fruits, and vegetables?"
Vik: "That's right. I'll use it to grow many things, and then I'll sell all those items in the market."
System: "That's a good idea, host, but first, you have to remove the spiritual energy from the products of that forest. It can be harmful to people who aren't used to it."
After hearing the system's words, I nodded and began to think about what crops, fruits, and vegetables to plant first. Apples would be good since there are already some apple trees in the forest. For grains, wheat and rice would work well because the land has enough water, and for vegetables, tomatoes and onions would be good choices. I mentally planned my first batch of crops.
With everything sorted, I asked the system to find a house for me. I needed a place that could accommodate my business in its early stages. As I sat on the bus, we moved around the city without a specific destination. When the bus reached an empty station, I got out with my disciples. I looked around, and this station was quite far from the city, almost at the edge of Azure Mountain. I checked for any surveillance. After confirming that no one was watching us, I teleported us back to the Great Forest since finding and buying a house might take some time.
Back in front of the anonymous hall, I rushed inside as midnight approached. Without wasting any more time, I told my disciples to sleep in their rooms.
I went outside the anonymous hall and transformed back into my snake form. I hadn't noticed it before, but since entering the Void Traveling Realm, my snake form had become more refined. I was still the size of a giant snake, but now I resembled a giant cobra. My pure white scales had ashen white stripes that looked like faint runes. They started from my tail and ran along the back of my head, but they were almost invisible, like fading marks. Maybe as I grew stronger, these stripes would become more visible.
With these thoughts, I crawled toward my favorite tree. Just after me, Pushpa followed, likely wanting to sleep outside too. After climbing the tree and finding a large branch, I coiled around it while Pushpa fell asleep on me. I gazed at the sky and the bright moon, I don't know why but I feel like remembering my past life, even though I don't have a family to remember anymore, I still sometimes thought about my freinds maybe some of them cry after hearing about my death, thinking all this while looking at moon I fell asleep.
Pov: Louriel
In a luxurious penthouse, Louriel sat on a majestic throne, deep in thought. Surrounding her were various strange creatures and undead knights serving her. Suddenly, a portal opened, and a skeleton in dark robes stepped through. Bowing, it said, "My liege, I gathered all the information you requested."
Louriel: "Very well, Winston. At least you're not incompetent. You won't be vanquished since you completed your task successfully. Now, tell me everything you found out, and remember, if there's anything wrong, you will suffer."
Winston shuddered slightly at her words. His bony teeth clacked together from fear, but he maintained his composure. "I understand, my liege."
He began sharing the details about Lu Xiaoran and Roman, including their pasts. "My liege, both Lu Xiaoran and Roman were supposed to die at Lin Chen's hands. It was a perfect plan, but they somehow escaped. Roman has a chance to survive, but Lu Xiaoran is meant to die from his injuries. I suspect this miracle is due to their master, Vik."
Without showing any emotions, Louriel asked coldly, "Winston, what do you know about Vik, that snake?"
Winston replied, "My liege, Vik is a mystery to me. I couldn't gather any information about his past. Even the identity and records he uses are forged. I tried to use spirits to ask about his history, but I got nothing. It's as if he doesn't belong to this world. All we know is his name and race; I believe he's some kind of mutated snake beast that grows strong at a rapid pace. When we try to assess his strength, we find he is in the Void Traveling Realm, a 7th-circle mage, and in the 7th stage of body refining—all at the same time. That's not surprising for someone like you, given the various ways to achieve this. However, when I try to evaluate him, it feels like an open book written in a language I can't understand."
After hearing this, Louriel smiled slightly, a hint of madness in her expression. "That's enough, Winston. You don't need to find more information. Try to be as friendly as possible with Vik and his disciples. I have a theory about his existence, and if it's true, he might be someone like me."
Winston looked confused but didn't question her. He bowed before her throne. Meanwhile, Louriel asked an unknown presence, "System, is it possible that Vik is like me, a person from Earth who transmigrated here with a system?"
System: "Affirmative, host. There is a high chance of that being true. However, we need more information to conclude this, as many worlds resemble your previous one, Earth."
With the system's answer, Louriel gazed at the glass ceiling of her penthouse. She could see the endless night sky, and staring at the bright moon, she said, "System, I really want to go home. This place isn't my home. If Vik is like me, I hope I can find more information to help my goal, maybe even a companion."
System: "Host, I already told you that as long as you complete your assigned tasks, you can gain the strength to return. I am a system designed to make you the greatest necromancer in this world. The more you grow, the more powerful you can become."
Louriel didn't respond to the system but continued to stare at the bright moon. Eventually, she fell asleep, dreaming of her home, just like Vik did in the Great Fire Forest.