Chapter 42: Conquest { II }
The room descended into more intense silence after his question. Rowan's eyes furrowed as he couldn't believe what he had just heard.
"I think I misheard, what did you say just now?" he queried, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Maybe you haven't heard about transmigration before, so let me explain in simple terms; You were suddenly transported to this world while playing Emperors Domain, am I wrong?" D'andre asked, raising an eyebrow.
Rowan's expression crumbled at once. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Another transmigrator? How was that possible?
Rowan had only been in this world for less than a week and had already concluded in his mind that he was the only one, but now there was another? It was really confusing.
Though it all made sense now; Rowan wasn't able to copy D'andre's skills in the beginning with [Copy] and D'andre also has a title which was strange for the real characters of this world to possess.
But...
'But how did he know that I am also a transmigrator? Even with my God Eyes, I couldn't tell he was one,' Rowan wondered and he didn't hesitate to ask.
"How did you know?"
D'andre laughed out loud after hearing his question.
"It took me some time to confirm it with my system to be honest. But before that, you raised my suspicions in many ways, when you came to the border, the way you observed me was way too unnatural, and I started to suspect if you were a weird one or someone who has inspecting skills."
D'andre went on giving points of how he became suspicious, he mentioned how Rowan was always twisting his words in order to make him divulge his own identity and how Rowan's experience and knowledge about kingdom building was too much for someone who is said to have just recovered from a six-year-long coma and doesn't possess knowledge of how to handle his own village.
"I'll be honest, the way you argued baffled me, it made me feel less of myself thinking I was being outsmarted by an FF-rank village Lord but it all made sense now," D'andre concluded with a smile.
Rowan couldn't help but look at him at this moment with a deadpan expression. It turned out both of them were playing the mind game with one another all along, one was trying to decipher the other's true identity while the other was fighting hard to see why he suddenly became inferior.
"Now that you know who I truly am and I know your true identity, can you cut the bullshit and cut straight to the actual reason you came to my village?" Rowan asked without wasting time.
He was amazed that there was another transmigrator like himself, but he couldn't let that distract him from keeping his village safe.
"Come on, Rowan. Why are you still acting distant and cold despite knowing we are from the same world? If it were the others, they would run and hug me and cry their heart out about how they felt so lonely and missed earth and plead for my help."
"There are others?" Rowan asked with shock.
It was already a big surprise that there was one transmigrator but the fact that there are others made him really confused.
"Of course, and I have met with three of them already, you are the fourth one. I believe there are more than one thousand players in this world who were transmigrated like us. My main goal aside from completing my mission is to get to meet all of them and build a strong connection with them," D'andre responded almost immediately.
He told Rowan almost everything he knew and even went as far to tell him the different people he met, their profession, and even told him he made out with one of them as though he was speaking to his long-lost brother.
Rowan didn't understand why someone would divulge so much information about themselves without hiding anything, it was just too unwise. The only saving point D'andre has is that he is already powerful enough to defend himself from most people.
On the other hand, while D'andre's information was too excessive and personal, Rowan was able to get more details about the world and the other transmigrators.
"I got along with the other three just fine and we made a lot of progress, and I see no reason why we shouldn't build a good relationship as well. If not as friends, then as business partners," D'andre let out.
Rowan only nodded slightly as he found the statement true and logical but it didn't take him from his main concern, "You still haven't told me why you came to my village," he said.
D'andre could only let out a loud sigh.
"I found five of your villagers on my way through the forest and brought them back with me," he finally told Rowan the real reason he was here.
"Dude, can you stop the bullshit and tell the truth? No woman has left the village in a long time, and you claim to have five of them in your possession," Rowan retorted, frustrated by the constant lies.
Dishonesty is a passive skill all businessmen possess, but using it too much is really annoying.
For all Rowan knew, no woman had left the village, and no one had traveled past the north border in a long time due to the dangers lurking along that path. It was almost as intense as the southern forest but with more versatile monsters than goblins and ratax.
This time, D'andre didn't bother to defend himself with words, as he already knew Rowan wouldn't buy any of it.
"Inventory," he called out.
His inventory appeared before him.
If any of the captains were there, they would think he was crazy, but Rowan wasn't fazed, as he already knew D'andre possessed a system. Sadly, he couldn't see his inventory.
D'andre brought out a golden slip from his inventory and closed it. He held the golden slip and tore it, causing a small vortex to appear in front of him.
The small vortex quickly transformed into a portal, and from the portal, five women walked out.
The women had been briefed beforehand about the portal, so none of them were fazed by its extraordinary appearance.
Elara was the first to walk through the portal, her eyes immediately darting toward Rowan as she entered the room. Her gaze was cold, and Rowan felt the chill instantly.
The other women followed, their eyes fixed on Rowan as well. Some of them frowned, while others seemed genuinely surprised at how much Rowan had grown.
With the help of the floating crystal ball, Rowan was able to observe their faces and recognize them from the memories of the original Rowan of this world. He also noted their expressions, which were far from friendly. There was unmistakable hatred and disappointment in their eyes, and the system even confirmed it.
[ Your follower Elara is pissed at you ]
[ Three of your followers feel disgusted by your calmness ]
[ Two of your followers are confused about what to feel ]
....
AUTHOR NOTE: Thanks for reading! One chapter coming up in the 2 hours!