My first life was spent pursuing greatness, living as though life were a race to know everything about anything. After completing my education, I chased my passion for the white coat and the laboratory. Science called to me—uncovering the very essence of matter was what I loved most. I became so absorbed in that pursuit that I ignored my own body, brushing it off as a mere hindrance to my work.
But years of neglect took their toll. My body weakened, and by the time I discovered I had cancer, the damage was done. My neglect only made it worse. Then, one day, I opened my eyes not in a hospital, but in a place that felt medieval. I had been reborn as the child of a baker. Growing up in this new world wasn't bad at all; having a loving family made all the difference. My knowledge, oddly enough, helped my family make the most delicious bread. If my past self had heard that, he would have laughed it off, but I was happy.
Yet, those peaceful days did not last. Now, I find myself held captive by a group of children—one of whom speaks my old world's tongue.
Rinella snapped his arms back. The mysterious person took that man in arm agian, while he stared at Darian, shocked.
"Time's up, Darian, it's time to fulfill your part of the deal' she crossed her arms and eagerly waited for Darian's answer. "Ah, fine, I guess it's only fair to return the favour received!"
"What is it? that you said that could 'guarantee' the position of empress." Rinella waited eagerly for Darians anser.
He lowered his voice, and his tone became serious, "Sister, have you kept on Count Bretus lately?"
Rinella stiffened. "Count Bretus? Why ain't he one of the most trusted nobles in the empire aint he?"
Darian smirked, "loyal! Huh..... he is selling the empire's confidential information and military ciphers to the vexarians."
Her face became pale. "To vexirian kingdom ?"
As expected, the hostility between both the kingdom and the empire is more than I thought. The novel just vaguely explained the reason itself i guess redaing aint give a full context than experiencing with eyes, Darain thought to himself for a min.
"Unbelievable, Bretus is one of the most loyal nobles in this land, ain't he? Darian, also his .....his hate for vexirian's is famous in the royal circle."
"That makes him a perfect mole rinella," Darian replied without flinching.
"I see I never thought count bretus will stab us in the back," she answered, bristling with rage." I will inform the emperor to arrest him."
"Don't be hasty, sister. All we have are rumors and unconfirmed information. None of it can be considered valid without proper proof. Besides, if you inform the emperor, the count might somehow find out and cover his tracks—or worse, eliminate the evidence himself."
"Watch him carefulkly his workers, his travels, shipments, even the prostitutes visiting and leaving his castle, gather the proof for within the next year, so that he may not slip out from our web."
To be honest, it's not that hard to catch the pervert count. In the novel He was caught because he kidnapped Elaine, and Kayle, being him raided his mansion, saving Elaine, and catching him in the process after getting beaten by the protaganoist the pervert simply answered everything to him to save himself. Also, many of the novel's plots are tied to him, so catching him too quickly may disrupt the story and could cause some random paradoxes, which even I wouldn't be able to predict.
Rinella would have ignored his request if it had come in the past, but the current Darian's words are simply too much to be completely ignored.
"Fine i will wait for a year and gather proof," she ansered complaying to Darian's words.
Rinella signaled to her guard, and they exited the room, leaving Julian and Darian alone. The door clicked shut, and Darian turned his attention to the man on the floor.
"Who are you ?" Julian asked with a loud voice.
Darian sat close to him and spoke to him helmic "I am Darian, the third heir to the empire."
"How do you understand English?" he paused for a second." Wait! dont tell me."
"BINGO! I am a reincarnate like you, Julian,"not in a way like you are. You are a part of the novel, while I am not.
"Did you kidnap me just to find out about me? "Julian asked Darian with a harsh tone.
"Julian, or should I call alchemist, since both chemist and alchemy are related?"
"Wait, how do you? I was a chemist in the past." He glared at Darian with shock.
Think about it as my speciality.
"Ughhh........ shit !, what you want me to do, prince?"
Darian Smerked and continued. "Work for me for 8 years. You can take a break as long as you like, and you will get paid a hefty amount for your service. After the contracted 8 years over, you can do whatever you want. I won't pry into your personal life."
Julian looked at his stained hands, then back at Darian. He too knew it was hard for someone to go against an enemy who swell aware of every trap in the field reluctanatly he opens his mouth. "Fine. It seems you really do know what my profession was, and running away is impossible. What do you want me to do prince?"
Darian smirks, like he had something planned in his mind, said, "I want you to make Gunpowder, Julian."