[No, Host, you have not.]
Norman heard the resolute voice in his mind, and as he absorbed the information, he discovered the concept of "transmigration." It meant that the once-famous gigolo of the nightlife had passed away and now found himself inhabiting the body of an alcoholic teenager.
;Is this some kind of prank?' Norman questioned himself, but he quickly realised that the voice echoing in his head and the vivid memories couldn't be the work of a mere prankster.
He fell silent, contemplating the situation for some time, before a sad smile crept across his face. "Haaaaa," he let out a long sigh, his expression reflecting a mix of nostalgia and acceptance. "I will miss you, ladies, but now that I have passed away in your world, it can't be helped. It seems that God has chosen to transport me to this new world to fulfil the desires of this world's ladies. So, goodbye, my dear ladies. I Hope we meet once again in some nice place, hopefully heaven."
Norman, having accepted his fate in his previous world, made a firm decision to leave behind everything associated with that life. While he didn't have much to hold on to in that world, there were women who loved him, even though his feelings for them were not reciprocated. He couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness, leaving them behind and wishing he could take them with him.
From a young age, Norman had been handsome but orphaned, which led him to endure difficult times. As he grew older and even more handsome, one day a noble lady noticed him while he was working and offered him money in exchange for a night of passion. He accepted the offer, and that marked the beginning of his journey as a gigolo.
He learned the art of captivating women's hearts and eventually found himself recruited by one of the finest brothels in his world—the Night palace. He enjoyed his life there, indulging in encounters with beautiful women who were willing to pay for his company. Many men would have envied his position. However, over time, he grew dissatisfied. While he enjoyed the physical aspects of his lifestyle, he yearned for a sense of control and agency. In that world, he felt that his life was governed by money, poverty, alcohol, and the desires of various women.
As thoughts of his previous world's memories resurfaced in his mind, Norman shook his head, rising from his chair with a determined expression. "I will live life on my own terms in this world. No one will dictate how I should live from now on."
However, his determination was soon interrupted by the mechanical voice once again.
[Now, Host, you have a clear understanding of your situation. The system will present you with your first quest.]
[Quest: First sales target
Target: Earn 500 Omni Tokens.
Reward: One Basic Material Knowledge Book.
Duration: 30 days.
Punishment: Loss of freedom.]
Norman gazed at the quest panel, frustration evident in his voice as he exclaimed, "I am the owner! Why am I being compelled to undertake these tasks? Shouldn't I have the authority to delegate them to someone else?"
[In this world, the system designates you as the owner in name only. You are bound as a servant to the system, and failure to complete this quest would reinforce your position as a slave.]
Norman's mouth opened in astonishment, but no words emerged. He stammered, struggling to articulate his thoughts. "You... you... you're a cheater... a thug... this isn't right. I have my rights! I'll take you to court. Where is your manager?" Norman, overwhelmed by shock, began to act like Kevin, channelling his own frustration.
The system didn't respond to his Kevin like tantrums, making Norman, struggling to control his frustration and embarrassment, sought clarification by asking, "What exactly are these omni tokens?"
[Omni tokens serve as the currency within the Omnistore host. Each omni token holds a value equivalent to 100 units of the currency used in the world where the host currently resides.]
Upon hearing the system's response, Erwin swiftly calculated the situation in his mind. Frustration and anger welled up within him as he exclaimed, "50,000 worth of things? Just look around! There aren't even 5,000 units' worth of merchandise in this shop. How am I supposed to make 50,000 in just one month?"
Norman's troubling discovery from his predecessor's memories revealed that this store was struggling and on the verge of closure. As a result, the young teenage owner resorted to medication to alleviate the pain of poverty that his father had inflicted upon the entire family, a pain that eventually led to his father's untimely demise.
The young kid's name was Kevin, and his resentment towards his father ran deep. It wasn't solely due to their poor state, but rather because his father was an alcoholic who would subject them to physical abuse while under the influence. Norman couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment, as he witnessed Kevin following in his father's footsteps, drowning his sorrows in alcohol and heading toward his own death.
Norman delved once more into Kevin's memories, hoping to find a way to acquire valuable items for sale. However, his search proved fruitless in terms of material possessions. Yet, within the vast expanse of memories, he stumbled upon a particular recollection that filled him with excitement. He discovered that the inhabitants of this world possessed extraordinary abilities known as superpowers, which could be attained through a process called cultivation.
In a fleeting moment of consciousness before succumbing to unconsciousness once again, Norman recalled that the system had bestowed upon him a gift to select any cultivation technique. A wide grin stretched across his face as he realized he now possessed a cultivation technique. It was a fortuitous turn of events, for Kevin's father had been a cultivator himself, with a technique he intended to pass down to Kevin. However, consumed by his thirst for power, he had lost the technique with his cultivation, plunging into a life of drunkenness.
Had Kevin's father not lost the technique, Kevin would have become a formidable cultivator. Although the cultivation technique his father possessed was of Earth Mid Rank just a bit higher from lowest, it still far surpassed his own ordinary capabilities.
With an enthusiastic smile, Norman eagerly inquired, "System, where can I view my cultivation technique?"