Idle Money System - Chapter 40

Chapter 40: Chapter 40 Knowledge about the world.
In front of him were ten men standing before him, clad in thick leather armor. Their boots, also of leather, thudded heavily on the ground. Each man held a weapon – a gleaming metal sword in one hand, and the others are an axe.

Their eyes, narrowed with greed and were fixed on Alexander figure. He couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows in surprised. This world, he thought that it was going to be different.

He’d imagined the inhabitants would be green skinned, with six hands and oversized eyes. Instead, he was facing a group of men who looked surprisingly like the people from his world.

Their characteristics and features were just the same as those in his world: human-like bodies, hands, legs, and faces. You know what I mean, so no need to explain further. Alexander looked at them with a smile, realizing how lucky he was.
He wasn’t even threatened by the weapons in their hands or their menacing looks. The leading man, tall and big, holding a large axe, took a step forward and looked at Alexander with a wide grin.

“Kid, if you want to live, you better give us everything you have and we’ll let you go,” the big man growled, his axe pointed menacingly at him.

Alexander narrowed his gaze, with a smirk playing on his lips. Is this guy an idiot.

“Can’t you see I’m not carrying any bags? I don’t even have anything valuable on me. What am I supposed to give you if I have nothing in the first place?” he replied, enjoying the man’s frustration.

Hearing this, the man realized the kid in front of him was shirtless and without any storage like bags to carry treasures. He clearly had nothing on him, but the man’s eyes lit up when he saw Alexander’s appearance.
This was a jackpot he could sell Alexander to some rich fat woman and become rich. Seeing how handsome he was, this kid in front of him could be sold for a very high price.
“Boys, go ahead and catch this kid! He can help us earn a big sum of money, that can provide as at least 10 years to rest” the man laughed gleefully, his eyes gleaming with greed.
The ten men then slowly approached Alexander, their smiles were wide and predatory.
“Kidnapping in broad daylight, huh?” Alexander thought inwardly, a flicker of amusement in his eyes.
“Do you know where the village, ‘Ariana’ is located?” he asked, his voice was calm despite the approaching threat.
The leader with the big axe scoffed at him and replied, “Of course I know! I, Vladimir, am the most knowledgeable person here on Mistveil Island. There’s nothing I don’t know about this place,” he said arrogantly.
Alexander just looked at him and smiled, realizing he had hit the jackpot, just as he thought. “Then I will need you for a while,” Alexander said calmly.
Vladimir’s expression shifted from arrogance to confusion. “What do you mean, need me?” he asked, his grip tightening on his axe.
His buddies, who were close to Alexander, looked at him as if he were a mentally unstable person.
“Kid, you seem to not know your situation. Let this brother help you understand what’s going to happen,” one of them said, extending his hand to apprehend Alexander.
Alexander’s gaze grew cold. Before the man’s hand could reach his neck, Alexander caught it with his bare hands. The guy scoffed, but when he tried to pull his hand back, it wouldn’t budge. Alexander’s grip was unyielding, like an iron clumper.
Fear flashed across the man’s face as he realized he had severely underestimated his opponent. The kid strength was unlike he had imagined.
He tried to exert more strength, but Alexander’s grip was like an iron clumper, it wouldn’t budge no matter how much he struggled. He looked at Alexander with a reddened face, from using his strenght.
“You asshole, let go of my hand!” the guy shouted as he punched Alexander with his other hand.

Alexander, with no hint of panic in his eyes, raised his leg and delivered a powerful kick to the man’s abdomen. The impact reverberated with a sickening crunch, as if flesh had collided with iron. The man’s face turned ghostly pale, his expression frozen in shock, as if the very soul inside him had been knocked loose.

His body shot through the air like a broken kite, slamming into a nearby tree with a bone-jarring thud. The force of the impact caved the trunk slightly, pinning him in place like a torn poster on a wall. His eyes were dull and lifeless, blood streaming from his nose and mouth. The fabric of his clothes, where Alexander’s kick had landed, was shredded, hanging in tatters as he remained motionless, a grim testament to the overwhelming strength he had just tooked.

The rest of them looked on, bewildered and afraid, as if they had seen a devil rise from the earth itself.
“Shit, he’s a warrior,” the big man with the axe muttered, fear was evident in his voice. He was scared out of his wits, realizing he had offended someone with real-life superpowers. As just a normal person, challenging a warrior like Alexander was akin to courting death.

“A warrior?” Alexander pondered, wondering what he was talking about.

Alexander shifted his gaze to the large man wielding an axe. The instant their eyes met, terror gripped the man, his bravado crumbling. His accomplices, sensing the danger, fled without a second thought, they are desperately trying to distance themselves from the monster in front of them.

The big man with the axe was no different, his instinct screamed at him to run. But before he could take a single step, Alexander vanished from sight.

A cold shiver ran down the man’s spine as he realized the kid was no longer where he had stood. His heart pounded violently in his chest, panic clawing at his mind as he felt a presence behind him.

With a wild grunt, the man stepped back and swung his axe in a wide arc, twisting his body with all his strength to gather momentum. His muscles bulged as the axe cut through the air, aimed to cleave Alexander in two.

Alexander watched as the massive blade of the axe swung toward him with deadly force, but with a casual flick, he raised his hand and caught the axe between his two fingers.

The man stared in disbelief as Alexander smiled and quipped, “Oopsies.”

Panic gripped the big man. His fingers trembled as he released the axe, abandoning it to flee for his life. He spun on his heel, desperately trying to run. Alexander who was unfazed, crouched down and picked up a small pebble.

With a relaxed yet calculated movement, he placed the pebble between his fingers, aimed as if holding an invisible gun, and let out a soft ‘phew’.

The pebble shot through the air like a bullet, striking the back of the man’s head with a sharp thud. The man stumbled forward, his legs giving out beneath him, before crashing face-first into the ground.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Alexander’s lips as he admired his handiwork. He never expected his aim will be that good.

“Is this the effect of dexterity?” he mused deep down, his voice laced with curiosity as he approached the fallen man with slow and steady steps, while his fingers brushing against the heavy axe that now lay at his arms.

“Don’t move, or I’ll kill you right here, right now,” Alexander warned, his voice was cold and unyielding. This time, his killing intent was fully focused on the man.

The pressure was suffocating. It was no joke, it was like being stared down by a predator ready for the kill. The man froze, his body locking up under the crushing weight of Alexander’s presence. He couldn’t breathe, his heart was racing as if it would burst from his chest.
He didn’t stand up, instead, he turned his head towards Alexander, kneeling on the ground and hitting his forehead against the earth. He was sweating profusely, as his face was pale as a sheet of paper.

“Please, don’t kill me! I’m sorry if I offended you. I will never do it again,” the big man with the axe whimpered, his voice breaking between sobs.

Tears streamed down on his face, mixing with the snot running into his mouth as he choked on his words, utterly consumed by fear.

Alexander stared at the man, momentarily speechless at the pathetic display of surrendering. He sighed, his hand still casually gripping the large axe.

“You’re already a big man. Stop crying, or I swear I’ll drop this axe and chop you in two,” he warned, his voice was cold but laced with a hint of exasperation.

The man sobbed harder, shaking uncontrollably, but made an effort to stifle his cries, desperately trying to avoid further provoking the one who held his fate. He then raised his head and looked at Alexander with great fear.

“So, if I’m right, your name is Vladimir?” Alexander asked, looking at him.
“Yes, yes, master, I’m Vladimir,” he said with a broken smile.
“You said you’re the most knowledgeable person on Mistveil Island. Do you know where the village Ariana is located?” Alexander inquired.
“Yes, yes, master, I know the way. But the place is so weird that any traveler is afraid to go there, are you there for a mission master?” Vladimir replied, scratching his head.
Alexander furrowed his brows and sat down, looking at Vladimir in the eye. “I’m the one who ask questions not you understood”
“Understood master” Vladimir hurriedly replied.
“What kind of weird things are happening in that village?” he asked again.
“Well, I can’t explain it fully, but that village is a magnet for bad luck. About three weeks ago, beasts started appearing and killing the villagers. It’s like they’re attracted to something, but no one knows what it is. That’s why no travelers, and even we bandits, are afraid of the mysteries surrounding that village,” Vladimir said, clearly confused.
Alexander nodded thoughtfully, “But aren’t there any warriors on this island? Why don’t they help the village solve this problem?” he asked, perplexed by the apparent lack of assistance.
Vladimir scratched his head, looking even more puzzled, “Master is wise, but for some reason, no warrior has come forward. It’s as if they’re deliberately avoiding the place. Some say there’s a curse, others whisper about a hidden power drawing the beasts. Whatever it is, it’s keeping everyone away.”
“That is the problem. Not only is the village is weird, but even the dangers are hard to see. I heard that more than three warriors already tried to stop this problem, but they didn’t come back, making it a dead zone on this island,” Vladimir said towards Alexander.
Alexander couldn’t help but wonder what kind of mysteries the village was hiding., “You keep mentioning warriors. Are these warriors are people with abilities like mine? And what’s the differentiation of levels for these warriors?” Alexander asked, curiosity evident in his voice.

Vladimir’s eyes flickered with confusion, “Aren’t you a warrior? Why don’t you know anything about this?” he muttered to himself, afraid of offending cruel man in front of him again.

“A warrior is a kind of person who can feel the energy in the surrounding area. They harness this energy to strengthen themselves, giving them a boost in strength and powers. For the levels, we have: Beginner Stage, Initiate Stage, Adept Stage, Warrior Stage, Battle Master Stage, Grandmaster Stage, Ascendant Stage, and Saint Stage. This is what differentiate a warrior by their status.” Vladimir explained recounting the structure of this world.

Alexander nodded, still pondering because of the system’s lack of clarity about his actual standing in his world. It displayed his level, but he had no real point of comparison, as it seemed detached from the rankings that governed even this world. He wondered if there were others like him, strong, hidden figures lurking in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves.

“So, if I may ask, what level am I right now?” Alexander repeated, his gaze shifting toward the big man.

Vladimir, the man who was kneeling, pondered. He furrowed his brow, clearly thinking hard, before finally answering, “I—I don’t really know, Master. I’ve never encountered warriors like you before. They’re rare, the kind of people you hear stories about, but never see. And if we ever did meet one, we’d be running for our lives. Your presence and identity… well, they’re far beyond what a small gang like us could ever dare to offend.”

Alexander sighed, already knowing the response he was about to receive. “Alright then, last question, where is the village of Ariana located?”

Vladimir, still shaken, pointed toward a narrow path. “This road leads straight to Village Ariana. Just keep going, and you’ll find it, but… it’ll take about two days on foot. The place is really far, and you don’t have a carriage or even a Veil Essence Lamp to mask your scent from the beasts lurking in this forest.”

“Veil Essence Lamp?” Alexander asked, curiosity was clear in his voice.

He felt like a newborn calf in this world, constantly needing to ask basic questions just to get by.

Vladimir blinked rapidly, speechless for a moment, “Isn’t this just common knowledge? Even a kid knows what it is…” he thought but didn’t dare voice his frustrations.

“Veil essence lamp It’s a small, ornate lantern infused with special herbs and crystals. When lit, it emits a subtle mist that not only conceals the scent of the person but also masks the presence of any living beings within. Merchants used this to attach it to their carriages, ensuring a smooth journey without attracting unwanted attention from beasts. Its soft, glowing light is said to soothe even the most restless spirits.” he explained again.

Alexander nodded, feeling that his understanding of this world was slowly expanding. “Do you have this lamp?” he asked, his gaze sweeping over Vladimir, as if searching for hidden treasures.

Vladimir quickly shook his head, “No, I don’t. Beast attacks are rare during the day, so I keep mine at our base. We mostly use it at night when it’s more dangerous.”

“I see. Well, that’s about it. You can leave now,” Alexander said, rising to his feet and turning his back on the man.

Vladimir on the ground wasted no time. He scrambled to his feet, with heart racing but starting to calm down now that the danger seemed to have passed. Just as he was about to run, Alexander’s voice cut through the air once more, it was cold and sharp.

“Also, if I ever see you involved in this kind of practice again…” Alexander’s voice trailed off as he slightly turned his head, his gaze was dark and menacing at the same time, like that of a grim reaper.

“You’ll be the first human I kill.”

Vladimir stood frozen, his body trembling uncontrollably. The weight of Alexander’s words pressed down on him, the cold promise of death seeping into his bones. Without another thought, he bolted, not even daring to glance back.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he darted into the dense forest, weaving between the trees, his heart pounding in his chest.

“Hekk…” he muttered under his breath, nodding to himself as if to confirm that he had narrowly escaped with his life.

Meanwhile, Alexander turned his gaze toward the long road ahead. The path stretched on, leading him toward the village of Ariana, where his mission awaited. Without hesitation, he took his first step forward, his pace was steady and purposeful, leaving the chaos behind as he continued his journey.