13 Democracy is convenient sometimes...

Eventually, I came back to the congee shop and eventually was berated by Ling-chan. She said she was worried that something happened, asked why I didn't come back for the night, inquired if I was seeing some girl, and pleaded if we could eat a pizza together. Obviously, I said yes to the last. And didn't comment on her interest in my love life.

I took it easy that day and didn't plan on going to hunt more demon beasts, as I had enough points for now. I planned to reach silver tier cultivation and going to glory city to gather some treasures, but as I had a bit less than three years, I didn't have much concern about it.

We ate the pizza and talked a bit, she mentioned her father, and I understood why her situation is so different than in the OG version. Probably, she managed to get out of the swamp known as Loans by herself and started doing a successful business, and then her father showed up.

Hmmm, I wonder if I would help her this time, would her father show up? I would at least have something to beat up. On the other hand, if I want my brainwashing and deception to not crumble and alert her, I shouldn't let any reasonable adult that doesn't agree with me near her. I should find him and kill him.

*ahem*

Aside from such dark thoughts, I continued to drill my importance of myself into her brain, by subtly influencing her mind with my soul energy. It isn't any technique I purchased, just something that I woke up one morning with it, and knew how instinctually use it… I also remember manipulating people for my benefit in my previous life, so maybe it's something inborn that I have in my soul. Or maybe a result my soul being dragged across dimensions and having complete sensory deprivation. Hmm, food for thought.

Anyways, after making sure my daily dose of adoration was inside her skull, I helped her deal with clients and make her fabled congee. After the time neared lunch, I said I have some business I have to take care off and left to the direction of the stand. As I was walking, I noticed the slow trickle of people all holding bags of purple stones, gradually walking inthe the same direction as I. Of course, I knew that It's not that profitable for me to trade with them, as I could simply gather way bigger amount of SP by simply hunting and chucking a couple of Soul Bombs into large groups of demon-beasts. But I wasn't trading for the points in the first place. Trading, which leads to interacting with people, which leads to talking, helped me elevate the stress I endure because of imminent threat of experts coming to kill me, so it also helps to balance my mind, as well to cultivate more peacefully and with greater result.

Plus, I wanted to help the village, and if a couple of people 'mysteriously' start talking about how much of a great chief I would be…that's definitely… (Not) my doing.

*ahem*

Eventually, I sat in the stand, and started trading, talking to people, giving additional meat besides the upped ratio of meat per kilogrammes of stone, and asking them what problems they have, as I might have some measures for that. Of course, I instantly become a god-sent help. Previously, all villagers understood that this is a trade, and for an expert like me, no matter how young, meat is just a common thing. But when I got rid of problems such as severe coughing, scars, diseases or other problems, people instantly revered me, as they understood that I don't have to do that, and it's only my good heart that decided it help them. Effectively, making me the second-most important person in their eyes, first being, of course, themselves.

"So, you will trade for food or help?"- I asked a teenager with several scars on his face.

" I was wondering…if…if benevolent expert could heal my daughter?"-He asked with a hopeful expression.

"Hmm, I can't decide without seeing her. Plus, you look a tad bit too young to have a daughter."-I remarked unconcernedly about the growing line behind him. People can have a surprising amount of patience when they need to wait for something truly important.

" She's just a year old. Her mother died during childbirth. From then on.."-he started speaking.

"Ok, let me stop you right there. I don't want to listen to your life story, just show me your daughter, and I will tell you what I can do about it. There's no need to be dramatic because if every single one of these people would start telling how they got to the point they are now, I would need to sit here the whole day. So, come here tomorrow, bring your daughter, and bring plenty of stones, because if I find something wrong with her, I want to be compensated for the medicine. Now go along, don't hold the line."-I said 'good-naturedly'.

Events like these would happen every 10 minutes. A person with a problem, trying to gain sympathy by sharing it, me denying him, and telling him to bring the problem here. The first few times I thought of it like a good way to gain even more prestige and reputation, but when I realised that the people I help have a high chance of not spreading my good deeds to the rest of the village, it became more of a nuisance and maybe a way to escape the repetition that was driving me crazy.

The guy with the supposedly sick daughter walked off, and the best thing is, I don't care!

Anyone could call me a bastard, a cold asshole, or whatever words suit them best, but the thing is, even in my previous life, I didn't really care what society perceived me as. I never give much thought to how interacted with people. That may have been the result of my closed personality, or due to my sicky body at the time, but I never concerned myself with other people's problem if there wasn't anything in it for me. Of course, I was a marine, I completed the training and even got the position of a squad leader. But I achieved that on my own, and not with the strength of friendship or praises of my the-so-called friends. In the end, I only acted when it concerned me, and I plan to stick to this personality in this life too. Of course, you can ask 'then why are you helping people in the village? Why you help Yun Ling so much?'. Yun Ling is a potential love interest, plus she can be my inside person in this village. As for the help of the village? Well, I need some warriors to establish my position in glory city as fast as I can.

A powerful foreign family full of a warriors having me as a young master would be a powerful illusion. And I can create that illusion by using recruited warriors and other necessary people from here. Simple as that.

Now, maniacal thoughts aside, finally the person I was waiting for decided to show up. Chief, riding a horse but just with scales and an extra pair of legs, was storming here like an angry house-wife. His entourage and other political figures were riding similar animals and following chief like children.

"STOP! STOOP! I ORDER ALL PROCEDURES INVOLVING TRADING TO STOP THIS INSTANT!"-he shouted with froth coming out of his mouth.

I internally grinned, anticipating the move this imbecile is going to use to destroy his whole career.

" Mister Edo! I demand an explanation! I thought we had an understanding between us. I thought we had an agreement that you wouldn't try to usurp the economy of Purple Smoke Stones! You must understand that it is a recourse that is very important to us. You shouldn't do this..this...this madness."-He babbled.

"But chief, the law clearly indicates that only traders within village borders must pay the tax. There never was a clause that indicated that I must pay tax even when not in your village. And as you can clearly see, I am not currently in the village, so I see no reason to uphold that promise, as I'm not violating any law."-I justified myself with a smile playing on my lips.

The chief must have seen this, as he instantly reddened. And reddened more. And even more. His eyes started to bulge. Veins on his face were wriggling. His breathing became erratic. Finally, he grabbed his chest and plopped on the ground. Dead. Ah well, he probably didn't feel so good in the first place.

Everyone's talking suddenly stopped, and all their eyes gathered either on the chi-*ahem* former chief's body, or me. Some special individuals managed both.

" ah, he must have had a heart attack."-I murmured.

Truly, I didn't even know that in this world someone can die from it. I guess even soul force can't solve everything.

"H-H-He murdered him! Run!!!"-someone shouted and started running. I think I remember him as one of the people who tried to monitor me on the first day.

Besides him, no one moved. Just looked at him, or me. Or both. Seriously, what the hell is up with her eyes?

*ahem*

" Mister Edo, from your expression it would seem you know what happened, would you mind…telling us?"-Asked one burly middle-aged man. He was quite similar to Xiao Kuang. Wait, does that mean this is his father, and when I met Kuang, he still didn't have a father in the chief's position, but was one of his lackeys? Hmm..well doesn't really matter.

"Ah, yes. You see, there is this…disease. A very dangerous one, called Hearth Attack from where I came. It usually manifests in people that have high level of darkness in their hearts, causing their spiritual force to become cursed, eventually causing a backlash. So, as I can see that chief check-marked all of those, I believe he fell victim to the disease. But you don't have to worry, as it's not spreadable."- I answered simply.

"Plus, I believe the reason why the chief died is of the least concern now. As I see it, the village needs a new leader. There must be someone who is used to leading people, yes?"-I questioned with a smile.

" ah, well, no. But I myself…"-started the burly man.

"As you don't have one, I suppose we should let the people decide. From where I came, there was a thing called democracy, where the masses would select their leader through a vote. I suppose we should do the same here!"-I said loud enough for simple people farther out to hear.

'Why do you sound like you plan to be selected?'-every politician thought when they heard my speech.

" I myself has run several companies of my family in the past, all successfully by the way. So I propose myself to become the chief. Not only I am strongest here, but I also am enough to provide significant help to those people in trouble, alone. From food to medicine to cloth, I have it all. I don't suppose any of you could say the same. And would you be willing to separate yourself from your recourses? Without any reward?"-I said loudly, and the last bit shat up the politicians, as they didn't want to lose whatever recourses they had.

Muahahaha, my plan is coming all along. But I must say the sudden death of the former chief was a very nice surprise to me.

"I promise, every single one of you, that you won't need to fear hunger or cold at nights any longer. I promise every single of you, to make it so the demon-beasts themselves will give tribute, in due time. Hmph, with me, you won't need to fear them, as we will able to rear them like the beasts they are!"-at this moment I asked Mister Fluff to show himself from behind the stand.

When people saw him they instantly panicked. But I continued-" With me leading you all, each of you will be able to have a mount for yourselves and live like the kings we all are.!"-at this moment I hopped on Mister's Fluff's head.

People, seeing me standing on the head of mister fluff without any problems became astonished, then fearful, then anticipating, and finally greedy. Good, greed will make them do whatever I want.

"So what do you say, people of Heavenly Fate? Will you continue to be forced behind walls by some beasts, or will you rise up with me to become the rulers and make this world our bitch!"-I must admit that in the end, I became a bit over…hot-headed.

" YEAH!"-The people screamed.

And I grinned.