Lynn's heart shook violently, and he nearly cried out.
He forcibly suppressed the emotions surging within him.
Is this… a belated cheat?
He quickly realized that as long as he picked up a book, it could be scanned by this "Memory Library." Moreover, the contents of any scanned book could be accessed directly through his retina at any time, even if he had never actually read it.
Lynn suppressed his excitement, keeping his face completely expressionless, and began rapidly scanning book after book into the Memory Library.
Elementary Literacy. Continental Common Language Teaching. An Unspeakable Story with Succubus Lilith. Basic Herb Illustrated Guide. Ancient Language Dictionary. Ogre's Delicious Recipes. Knight Training Outline. Heraldry of the Kingdom of Hest…
Lynn "scanned" every book he considered useful.
The bookstore owner and Skinny Monkey stared at Lynn's strange behavior in confusion.
Was this kid having some kind of episode?
What exactly was he doing?
Lynn ignored their looks, his hands continuously brushing across book after book.
Having already taken Lynn's money, the bookstore owner couldn't scold him and could only watch helplessly from the side.
It wasn't until evening that this farce finally ended.
Satisfied with the Elementary Literacy and Continental Common Language Teaching books he had purchased, Lynn returned to the gang headquarters with Skinny Monkey.
Back in the woodshed, he took advantage of Skinny Monkey going to the outhouse and excitedly summoned the light screen.
On it, the contents of all the books he had "read" were stored clearly and neatly categorized.
Below the screen was a single word: Analysis, clearly another function of this cheat.
Lynn immediately used Analysis on Continental Common Language of the Kingdom of Hest.
A progress bar appeared above the book:
[Basic Analysis in progress: Continental Common Language of the Kingdom of Hest… 0.7%]
So it seemed this function could analyze and teach him the written language of this world, allowing him to truly understand its content.
This greatly reduced the difficulty of reading and learning, removing the need to painstakingly study each book character by character.
Although this seemed a tinge lacking, as it provided no direct combat power, quests, lucky draws, or attribute points, it was more than enough to allow Lynn to become a "scholar" or "teacher"-type of cultured individual.
When the initial excitement faded, an indescribable sense of loss welled up.
Alright… I admit it's still pretty underwhelming.
But having it is better than nothing. What more do I want?
Thus, while consoling himself, Lynn began "browsing" the books in his mind to understand the world.
In the following days, he played the role of the shrewd and ruthless "Abacus Snake" during the day, acting as a tyrant's accomplice.
He coldly watched as the Blood Hand Gang's thugs used the more brutal debt-collection methods he had devised, listening to the victims' wails without a flicker of emotion.
His heart was as cold as iron.
The path of the strong is destined to be paved with mountains of corpses and seas of bones.
At night, he trained frantically in the woodshed while eagerly learning the written language and knowledge of this world through the panel.
Under the dual effects of reading and Analysis, his rate of absorbing knowledge was terrifyingly fast.
From the Knight Training Outline, he learned that acquiring power required massive resources and systematic training.
For systematic training, one could either pledge allegiance to a noble, starting as a Knight Squire and signing a service bond in exchange for access to Breathing Techniques and Combat Skills..
..or enroll in a Knight Academy to receive formal education.
But academies required money. Vast sums of money.
The saying "poor in scholarship, rich in martial arts" was no exaggeration, especially for professions dependent on physical cultivation.
And becoming a noble's thug? how was that any different from his current situation?
Entering a Knight Academy was the best path he could see to escape his lowly fate.
Thus, his goal became clear: accumulate wealth, study, train… then find a chance to leave the Blood Hand Gang and enter a Knight Academy.
That night, Lynn closed the Hest Kingdom Regional Chronicles and rubbed his temples.
Through this period of frenzied reading and Analysis, his understanding of this world was no longer blank.
The Kingdom of Hest, where he currently resided, was merely a moderately weak northern kingdom dominated by nobles. Knights wielded a power known as Life Energy and ruled the battlefield.
The strongest individual in Black Marsh City was only a Great Knight.
Even more mysterious were the Wizards, beings who appeared and vanished like dragons.
Books described them vaguely, filled with awe and fear. They possessed powers incomprehensible to mortals, capable of manipulating elements, peering into souls, and even extending life.
They were transcendent existences, living above mortals on the Wizard Continent.
Those few words alone were enough to stir Lynn's heart.
"Wizards…"
Lynn murmured softly, his eyes burning with desire.
Compared to knights, wizards appealed far more to him.
But wizards were far too distant, how would he ever come into contact with them?
Some books said that a Wizard Academy held a Disciple Recruitment Assembly every five years, open to anyone aged ten to fifteen.
Lynn's current body appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen, perfectly within range.
However… the last recruitment had taken place just last year.
The next wouldn't be for another four years.
By then, he would be seventeen or eighteen, completely ineligible.
For a moment, Lynn felt lost.
Forget it. I'll aim for a Knight Academy first.
Once I see more of the world, I'll find a way to learn about wizards.
Just then, an argument erupted outside.
It was the voices of One-Eyed Wolf and the Deputy Gang Leader, Ghost Fox.
Being in the same gang, Lynn inevitably had dealings with Ghost Fox.
This man was a true "smiling tiger." Though not particularly strong, he possessed endless schemes.
He controlled most of the gang's illicit operations and had profited enormously.
Lynn had offended him on the very first day. Since then, they had barely interacted, clashing only during account audits.
"Jack! For some unknown brat, you're going to move against me?!" Ghost Fox's voice was sharp, filled with anger.
"Move against you?" One-Eyed Wolf's voice rumbled like thunder. "I'm cleaning house!"
"All the books are clearly tallied, four hundred gold coins! Do you think I'm blind, you bastard?!"
"That's slander! It's all that little bastard's doing!"
"I've risked my life for the gang for years, and now you want to deal with me? Ask the brothers if they agree!"
Many voices echoed in response.
Ghost Fox had clearly won over a large portion of the gang.
One-Eyed Wolf scanned them one by one, his expression dark, until each man lowered his head.
"…Go. Don't come back."
One-Eyed Wolf sighed heavily, ultimately unable to strike.
They had fought side by side for years. There was still sentiment.
If he forcefully moved against Ghost Fox now, internal conflict would tear the gang apart.
The Blood Hand Gang would likely cease to exist.
Ghost Fox snorted coldly and left, taking those willing to follow him.
He firmly believed that one day, he would return in glory.
Lynn watched the confrontation unfold through the cracks of the woodshed.
This outcome was exactly as he had expected, one could even say he had orchestrated it.
The meticulously "organized" ledgers were the fuse that ignited One-Eyed Wolf's long-suppressed fury over Ghost Fox's embezzlement.