So after receiving all the information, Xue Yuan's first reaction was to leave.
But just as this thought appeared, the voice of System 92 echoed in his mind.
"Ding. The Host cannot abandon this body because the national fate of the Kingdom of Claris is connected to your vitality, Young Master. Since you are linked, the Host's internal injuries are extremely severe. If the Host insists on leaving, once the Kingdom of Claris collapses, your life will also end, and you will fall into an endless half-dead state of pain."
Xue Yuan paused and replied in his mind, "What do you mean?"
System 92 answered quickly and briefly, "The Host's life is bound to the destiny of Claris. Only if the kingdom becomes strong and prosperous again will your health improve. The reason you are so weak now is because Claris is broken in every sense, so your internal organs are also failing badly."
"The life of one person is linked to the fate of a country?"
Xue Yuan had never heard of something so strange, but since he had already arrived here in such a mysterious way, nothing surprised him anymore.
He thought for two seconds, then asked the most important question directly.
"Do you want me to save this country?"
System 92 replied coldly, "That is the mission assigned to the Host."
Xue Yuan refused immediately. "No."
Even though his life was tied to it, he did not want to.
He had been forced to come here without any reason. He knew nothing about this world, and now they expected him to risk his life for it?
This was not Xue Yuan's family, nor his world.
His time and energy were precious. This body's internal organs only had about one month left. Even if he worked desperately, it would make little sense.
More importantly, what he wanted to know most right now was how to go back.
He was the only heir of his grandfather's company. He had to return, or the huge corporation would fall into chaos. His grandparents were already very old; he did not want them to return to work when they should be enjoying retirement. His parents had died when he was young, so he was their only hope.
He wondered, if he died now, could he go back?
Thinking of this, Xue Yuan asked, "Why did I come here?"
He had heard of time travel before.
But his health had always been good. No matter how busy he was, he never stayed up late. He had regular checkups and no reason to suddenly die and be sent to another world.
So he must have been brought here by force.
Was it the work of System 92?
System 92, having sensed his thoughts, fell into a deep silence.
After a while, it replied, "Although the Young Master has reason to doubt, my system has also informed me that the Host originally belongs to this era. According to the records, your soul traveled to another world, while your body here was being controlled by a wandering spirit."
Seeing that Xue Yuan did not speak, the system continued, "Host, this is indeed one of your legitimate lives. Although we do not know why you possess one soul across two bodies and two timelines, if you do not resolve the cause and effect in this world, I regret to say that your wish to return will not be fulfilled."
"Not only that, when Claris is destroyed, your health will be fatally affected. You will fall into a half-dead state. The pain that the system now suppresses will be doubled and will not stop until your soul completely dissipates."
"And according to my report, as this world tries to hold you back, before your soul disappears, you will remain in that state for three years."
Xue Yuan frowned, but he was not afraid. Instead, a mocking smile appeared on his face.
"So you are telling me that if I do not save this kingdom, I will suffer worse than death. Is that a threat?"
The system replied, "Honorable Host, I am a system that will accompany you in the process of saving the Kingdom of Claris. My intention is not to threaten you. This is your predestined cause and effect. You were destined to be born. System 92 will assist you at all times. Once the mission is completed, the world will grant you a reward."
Xue Yuan laughed softly and looked at the system in his mind with a half-smile.
After a few seconds, he asked, "What is the reward?"
System 92 answered quickly, "The Host may make any wish."
"Does sending me back count as a wish?"
"Yes, dear Host."
Xue Yuan sneered again. "You brought me here for no reason, made me spend all my effort saving a ruined kingdom, and now you tell me the reward is sending me back?"
"Isn't that the same as kidnapping someone, forcing them to do a task, and then offering to take them home as a reward? What's the difference?"
"What do I gain? Nothing but being dragged here, made to exhaust myself, and then you act as if taking me home is a gift. Isn't that shameless?"
The system fell silent again, as if it could not find the right words to respond.
Although Xue Yuan's words were blunt, he was right. They had never asked for his consent and had simply brought him here. Even if this was one of his true timelines, no one had asked what he wanted. How was that any different from being kidnapped in broad daylight?
In the past, most people were eager for time travel. System 92 had not expected Xue Yuan to be so stubborn and cause such trouble.
They had brought him here, given him such a difficult mission, and the only reward was sending him back. He would work desperately and receive nothing in return. Even the return, which should have been guaranteed, was now treated as a gift.
System 92 did not understand human emotions, but it could at least report to the Central System so things would not become even more complicated.
Thinking this way, the system made a decision and asked, "What does the Host desire?"
Xue Yuan smiled slightly. "A return ticket for myself, plus three wishes, and your full support."
The system fell silent again. It had never seen such an experienced Host. A single wish was something most people would dream of for a lifetime. Granting a wish required the world to adjust all related causes and effects, consuming an enormous amount of energy.
If the system were human, it would have taken a deep breath. But it could not decide on its own or make promises. After pretending to hesitate for a while, it said, "I will consult the Main System."
Xue Yuan felt his mind suddenly go quiet.
He did not know how much time passed. It felt both long and short. Then the system's voice sounded again.
"Very well, Host. The Main System has agreed. However, to maintain the balance of this world, I can only assist you within the limits of what is possible in this era. Do you agree?"
Xue Yuan finally smiled sincerely. "Deal."
After reaching an agreement with System 92, Xue Yuan returned to the hall.
Everyone in the estate had long been accustomed to the strange behavior of the original Host.
Even when Xue Yuan remained silent for a long time, no one dared to question him. The servants kneeling on the ground did not even dare to raise their heads, their bodies trembling slightly.
The man in black who was restraining the girl also remained completely still, keeping the posture from when he had asked the prince whether he should cut out her tongue.
Only the girl continued to struggle, her eyes still burning with hatred as she looked at him.
Xue Yuan met her gaze. From the memories in his mind, he already knew who she was and understood why she had shouted so angrily earlier.
Claris was already filled with disaster because of the reigning emperor. He was cruel and reckless. Many loyal ministers had been exiled or executed. The few good officials who remained had long fled the country.
Now the entire Kingdom of Claris was drowning in corruption and decay. Under Xue Yan's leadership, the court cared only for luxury and greed.
No one took responsibility for famine, rebellions, or bandits.
The only people still willing to fight for the country were the Qi family, known as the House of Loyal Valor. They had lived here for generations and had once helped the royal ancestors establish the kingdom.
The Qi family had always been loyal and brave warriors. From the founding of Claris until now, they had been its strongest shield and sharpest sword. No one knew how many battles they had fought or how many invasions they had repelled. Their blood had soaked into the soil of the kingdom.
Unfortunately, the royal family grew more useless with each generation. Under the influence of scheming courtiers, they became arrogant and indulgent, and gradually began to distrust the Qi family.
For many generations, they had been stripping the Qi family of military power.
By the time of Xue Yuan's father's generation, the royal court had completely removed the Qi family from authority, turning the former pillars of the nation into outcasts.
Even so, the previous generation of the Qi family still loved their homeland. During the last foreign invasion, they fought to the death and repelled the enemy at the cost of their lives, winning Claris a few more decades of survival.
Before General Qi died on the battlefield, his final message was a plea to the court to protect the only two children left in the Qi family.