In order to cover most of the kingdom faster, the trio resorted to more public means. But given Ren's reputation, he had to travel disguised— a simple mask that covered his lower face and a pair of dark sunglasses. Though his chains were exposed, he wasn't too worried about anyone recognizing them. After all, they looked like ordinary jewelry when not in use.
The first six hours were an eye opener for Ren. He had thought this new world was the same as Earth in terms of technological advancement but now he saw he was wrong.
From the levitating super speed underground trains to the floating street lights, a group of teenagers that seamlessly moved using a pair of levitating skates that left a purple trail behind, and some that traveled by using a pair of high jumping shoes, moving from lamp post to pole to building with agility that Ren could only dream of.
And now, he sat in a restaurant with David and Kael at his table, blanking staring in awe at a square holographic display floating above the counter ten meters away.
"This is all sci-fi!" he exclaimed beneath his breath, voice barely a whisper. He had already lost count how many times he had said that statement.
David's jaw ticked subtly, a sign he was irritated, arms already crossed over his chiseled chest. He was assigned as a guard to Ren when he was only ten years old, and since then he only grew to dislike his duty. An unruly kid with no manners whatsoever. Ren indulged in all sorts of pleasures, even those morally implicating and hurt others.
The only reason he remained Ren's guard was because of his loyalty to Prince Martin. After numerous clashes, lectures and verbal fights with the young prince, he decided to take on a passive role, staying out of his way, only stepping in when his life was in danger.
But now with prince's current vulnerability, it appeared he would have to step in a lot more. The prince's weakness was an insult to his status yet he had to stay.
Kael, as if tuning out the world, played his violin with his eyes closed, the red circles around his lids becoming more visible. He had ignored Ren and the world the whole time, taken up by the melody of his sound. Even when Ren complained about his tattered overcoat flapping in his face when he was admiring the city, he blocked out his voice and Ren eventually had to step out of the overcoat's reach in frustration.
Ren having come to terms with the current world, shifted his focus to what was actually playing on the holographic display— an intense battle. For the first time he could see the full combat might of this world's inhabitants.
The fight seemed to be happening in a giant colosseum.
Swords flared with fiery might, gales of wind spreading out whenever the swords parried, the ground split and rocks flew. The fighters moved with such speed that they looked like after shadows, sometimes even disappearing off the screen only to appear in a clash somewhere else on the arena floor.
He was completely taken up by the beauty of the battle, fantasizing when he would be able to surpass the limits of his body. But then, the fight turned bloody, arms severed, legs severed and finally one of the fighters had their heads decapitated.
"What the hell?!" he almost rose from his seat.
David, who had been watching Ren the whole time, raised one brow in question.
"Anything the matter, Prince Ren?"
"YES! Everything the matter!" the urgency in Ren's voice as he leaned in closer, trying his hardest to whisper, made Kael momentary look.
"Tell me, David. Did that really happen, or is it a movie?"
David's jaw ticked again.
"It's no movie Prince Ren... "
"What the hell? So killing is completely legal in this kingdom but theft is not?! What irony!"
"No, Prince Ren. Killing is not legal. That's why we cultivators are given these restricting bracelets to wear in public. Unleashing such combat power on a civilian is a serious crime. Such fights are only allowed among cultivators and are completely legal if both parties consented to the fight. The fear of death is a real one though, that's why that fight happened in a virtual landscape. No real lives were lost..."
David sighed, the long-suffering sound of a man explaining gravity to a child for the tenth time. "The Aethel Network—the virtual landscape—isn't just for fights, Prince Ren. It's the foundation of modern cultivation, economy, and law. Duels settle debts. Guilds hold meetings across continents in secure virtual chambers. The greatest treasures aren't in vaults; they're in dungeon instances that spawn in the Aethel. That," he nodded at the hologram where the victor was now kneeling, "is the Virtual Colosseum. It's the most popular spectator sport in the kingdom. They gamble fortunes on the outcomes."
The horror on Ren's hidden face changed to bliss.
"You're telling me there's an entire secondary world—a virtual one—where the laws are different, where people trade, fight, and gain power?"
David nodded.
Of course why not... With what I've already seen, it only makes sense for the virtual reality industry to be this advanced also.
A virtual world... a virtual mine field. If I'm quoting David right, people here gamble lots of money on such fights.
Ren couldn't help the smile running wide behind his mask.
Making money here might be easier than I had anticipated.
"David, what are the most valuable commodities traded here?'"
David blinked, thrown by the sudden shift. "For a common user? Rare crafting materials from high-level dungeon instances. For the elites? Information. Maps of uncharted pocket dimensions. Prediction algorithms for market fluxes. Proprietary cultivation simulators."
Information, Ren felt his heart skip a beat, remembering the dream he had that morning, I have a perception here that can gather information in ways no one can conceive. All I have to do is master it... it will translate into my wealth. And with wealth I build an empire.
Ren's plans didn't end with Jerald, nor with this virtual world, nor with acquiring wealth... he wanted power and authority.
Yes, he explored the kingdom since morning but he wasn't doing it as an aimless tourist only wishing to take in the sights. He was looking for potential startups he could venture in. As per Ren's request, David introduced him to a lot of brokers and he checked out multiple lands and property for where he could start his empire and he was pleased with quite a few options, all located near the heart of the city. His only concerns were the exorbitant prices that started from one hundred million gold coins. He had already checked his bank account and it contained only one million gold coins— a far cry from what he needed to secure one of the properties.
After assessing the way currency moved here, he estimated all that money would be used up in starting and running the dummy shop to distract Jerald. But with this... virtual world, the solution had presented itself.
Now all that was left was selecting a location for his dummy shop. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the list of cheap estates he had visited earlier.
He confirmed the best for his goal— obviousness and publicity, and wired the funds. It was an old small guild house closing down from bankruptcies at the edge of the city.
"Alright gentlemen, we've had our fill. I have everything I need now. Enough sightseeing. I'm exhausted..." Ren said, standing up and fastening his neck-tie. "Let's head home."
David informed me all my things were sent to the apartment. I can't wait to try on that Virtual Reality helmet....
I wonder whether my crippled state will be carried into the virtual world. Or will my virtual character remain as strong as the previous Ren was?
These chains, they're physical items, can the virtual world replicate them and their abilities? And my ESP abilities, they're rooted in my consciousness... How will they react to the virtual world that will also carry my consciousness?