Truly, apart from the one battle art Linmin knew, Edrick had basically zero access to any of the cool magical stuff, and all his system was giving him were the same things, the only true flavour being the content of all those wisps information.
So far, he had learned that the guy he was supposed to be an antagonist to was called Xiao, without any last name as commoners typically did not get that luxury, it seemed like his storyline was all about being the poor underdog who somehow always wins against all odds without difficulty, or at least, that's the impression those fragments of visions were giving.
This allowed Anoteros to get a better idea of what sort of person this reincarnated fellow was supposed to be, but most importantly, it gave insight into a very funny way to torment him, now, an exalted individual like a protagonist- An entire main character, he couldn't just hit him over the head and stomp on his spine until paralysis set in, that was too mundane, too nice, too gentle.
If this was a story, or at least supposed to be scripted, then there was probably an audience, and what did the people hate the most, when it came to bad things happening to the one serving as their eyes into the story?
Physical violence? Few are the times when that actually amounts to something, lose an arm? It regrows or is replaced by a prosthesis that's cooler than the useless flesh bit, big whoof, no one bats an eye when the severing occurs.
So instead, Edrick wanted to strike on the psyche, Mister Xiao had appeared very much certain of the plot from what he had witnessed, certain things were supposed to belong to him, some of which he was probably very expectant to get his greasy hands on.
To this end, Edrick, accompanied by his trusty servant, walked through the streets populated by unwashed baboons, which were his people, having dressed in bright white to stand out as much as was possible, carrying a hefty stick around.
"My Lord! The people are very displeased with your actions lately, is it really wise to-"
"Shhh, be quiet Linmin, I am enjoying the sight of them fidgeting around like they are severely constipated, all want to tell me a piece of mind, but none dare, why? Because the last time one tried to argue against my new taxes, I broke all of his limbs and took good care of his wife and daughters as he watched" Anoteros twirled one finger in the air like he was a conductor for an orchestra.
"Smell it, it's anger being overwhelmed by fear… And besides, I am not going to physically assault anyone today" he then added.
"Really? But why have you come down from your residence then?"
"I am seeing ahead, Linmin, you'll understand one day" stopping in front of a small, run-down habitation that did not look any different than any of the other ones, except for the fact that it was the very first to be situated along a small tunnel carved through a hill.
'Looks like the right place' truth be told, he had been walking around without actually knowing the exact location, he had just seen a few brief images of the dear hero arriving in this little shabby town and being greeted by a certain someone.
It was right this instant that the plot line involving Zixuan Elt was supposed to begin.
Gently knocking against the door could definitely be turned to splinter by a stray breeze, an old man that looked like a mummified corpse opened the door, his eyes instantly bulging out as he saw the town's lord.
"Ooh! My sincerest greetings, Lord Anoteros! What brings you here today?" If anxiety could be described with a picture, it would be with that of this crumbling elder, who looked as though he had spontaneously contracted Parkinson's disease upon visual contact of Edrick.
"Well, well, well… You already know your new lord's name, it looks like, that's good, say old man, where is your daughter?" Linmin looked to the sides as if trying to determine how 'no physical assault' and 'your daughter' could coexist in his lord's plan.
"Aherm… I don't think she is fit to be a maid, unfortunately…" the father dodged the question.
'Mmh? Ah yes, that was the pretext Linmin came up with…'
"I already have plenty of maids by now, no need for more- I just want her to marry me and bear my children, nothing relating to housework" giving the scrawny geezer a big smile with his lips pressed against one another.
"The- I…"
"Is your daughter here or not?" Linmin, as professional as always, acted like he had known that Edrick would spout this nonsense from the very beginning.
"Can she refuse?"
"Only after she comes with me"
"I would recommend not to lie to Lord Edrick"
Pressed by both the lord and his servant, the elderly father caved in and called his daughter.
Who had not been far considering that this home was more akin to a bunch of huts grafted together haphazardly, having been close enough to hear the entire conversation.
Like a collector eyeing a prized piece of art, Anoteros looked the daughter up and down before addressing her.
"Fanqia, right?" dressed in the same ragged garments as everyone was in this hole, there was still a distinct, odd cleanness to her, like she was shining compared to the rest of the peasants, definitely easy on the eye as well.
With dark hair reaching the middle of her back, velvet eyes, a rather tall stature for a woman and oddly pronounced shapes despite the clear poverty and lack of nutrition she should have access to.
Clearly, she was the one Edrick was looking for.
"Yes… Lord Anoteros" the reply was naturally subdued, anyone around would be crapping bricks at the idea of having to go up into their lord's residence.
After she showed up, Anoteros and Linmin were quick to go away accompanied by Fanqia.
Taken into the residence and then ushered to a guest room that had never seen usage until now, Linmin whispered to his lord :
"My Lord, should I prepare to deal with a body?"
"No need, I didn't lie you know? I was as honest as there can be" walking into his room and taking a seat on bed, Edrick leaned forward.
"Don't you worry, I don't intend on breaking her, now go, be nice to her, but keep an eye out, she might want to run away… At first"
"As you wish, My Lord!"
The servant scuttled away as Anoteros laid down.
Fanqia was no regular girl, she was a part of the script in some capacity.
Serving as the very first girl to fall in love with Xiao after serving as his guide throughout this slum of a town, although the exact reason was not revealed to him, someway or another, she would link Zixuan and Xiao.
Of course, Xiao here was actually a random guy from another world that should know all of this already, meaning that he was already aware that Fanqia was supposed to be his girl.
'Oh, it will be hilarious'
And just as he thought this, his system manifested itself without being told to…