Reinhardt stared at the glowing holographic screen hovering before his eyes, particularly the casual, almost playful note at the bottom that carried the unmistakable tone of that mysterious old man from the subway.
For a long moment, he found himself utterly speechless, the weight of the confirmation settling over him like a heavy cloak.
"Looks like I was right," he murmured softly, leaning back into the grand throne-like chair as he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "It really was that old geezer who sent me here."
The memories from the train ride replayed vividly in his mind — the late-night venting about taxes, the strange conversation about running a country better, and that knowing smile just before everything went black. Seeing the note now only solidified what he had already suspected.
That eccentric old man possessed power far beyond anything imaginable, capable of plucking a soul from one world and depositing it into another as casually as one might move a chess piece.
Reinhardt ran a hand through his hair, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips. "Ah, Reinhardt, you really had a big mouth, didn't you? What happened to never talking to strangers? Mom was right all along, talking to strangers is dangerous. Now look where it's gotten me."
The irony wasn't lost on him. In his previous life, he had been an ordinary man complaining about a broken system, and now he had been thrust into the very heart of one, bearing the crown of a collapsing empire. What caught him most off guard, however, was the revelation that the system itself was essentially an experiment.
The old man had seen the concept of a "System" from his old world, found it interesting, and casually created one as a little gift to test its effects.
"Damn, what a flex," Reinhardt thought with a mix of awe and amusement.
The ultimate protagonist cheat in all of fiction was being treated as nothing more than an interesting experiment by some cosmic old man. It was the kind of thing you didn't come across every day, even in the wildest stories.
He took a deep, steadying breath, pushing aside thoughts of the old man for the moment.
There would be time to ponder that mystery later. Right now, survival and rebuilding came first. With focused determination, Reinhardt turned his attention back to the status panel, carefully examining each line of information.
When his gaze landed on the MAH Rank, a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, and his eyes narrowed with satisfaction.
"I didn't expect the previous Reinhardt to be quite talented," he mused silently. "Already at Tier II - War Knight. That's not a bad starting point at all."
From the fused memories, he understood that the Arkenheim bloodline carried a superior affinity for magic. Had the previous Kaiser not been constantly overwhelmed by the endless crises of governance, he likely would have advanced even further.
This was a significant advantage. Unlike many unfortunate protagonists in the stories he had read, he hadn't been dumped into the body of a complete weakling or trash talent. His starting foundation was solid, excellent, even, and with proper training and resources, he could push much higher. It was a small mercy in an otherwise dire situation, and Reinhardt felt a quiet gratitude toward the old man for at least giving him a fighting chance.
Shaking his head slightly to clear his thoughts, he continued scanning the panel. When he reached the Development Points section, he raised an eyebrow and called out clearly, "System."
The mechanical voice responded instantly. [At your service, Master.]
"System, what exactly are Development Points?" Reinhardt asked, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.
The cold, emotionless voice explained in precise detail.
[Development Points, or DP, represent the accumulated potential and progress of your nation. They are generated through tangible development, building infrastructure, implementing new technologies, expanding territory, improving the lives of citizens, achieving military victories, and enacting successful reforms. You can use these points in the System Shop to purchase advanced Magi-Tech blueprints, both military and civilian, that will accelerate Brastovia's growth. Currently, due to the nation's unstable condition, you generate 85 DP per day. As you stabilize and develop the country, this generation rate will increase significantly, rewarding effective governance and bold actions.]
Reinhardt nodded slowly in understanding, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. So DP was essentially the system's currency — a measure of national progress that could be converted into real power. It wasn't a bad mechanic at all.
It aligned perfectly with his strategic mindset from years of playing management and empire-building games. The better he performed as Kaiser, the more resources the system would provide. It created a clear path forward, one that rewarded smart, decisive leadership rather than simple luck.
His attention then shifted to the Nation Overview section. When he saw the Country Rank listed as Tier III - Established Nation, his eyebrows furrowed deeply into a frown. The situation looked far from promising. In this vast world, Brastovia was still considered relatively weak,barely strong enough to stand on its own, let alone compete with more powerful nations.
It felt almost insulting, like comparing a struggling village to mighty empires. Yet, as he reflected further using the fused memories, his disappointment eased somewhat.
When measured purely by landmass, Brastovia was enormous,larger than Australia from his old world. That alone provided a solid foundation to build upon. Size wasn't everything, but it was a starting advantage he could work with.
The next line hit harder. Military Strength: 5%. A sharp pang of pain twisted in his chest. A strong military was the backbone of any nation worthy of respect and safety, yet Brastovia's forces were in a truly pathetic state — barely functional, more symbolic than effective.
Even neutral countries back on Earth like Switzerland maintained better capabilities.
"This is quite shameful," Reinhardt muttered, feeling his face heat up with secondhand embarrassment and frustration.
"It's all because of those stupid nobles and corrupt officials." He gritted his teeth, the memories of their betrayals and defiance flashing through his mind.
But he quickly shook his head, refusing to dwell on blame. "No need to point fingers at others right now."
Instead, he clenched his fist tightly, his crimson eyes hardening with resolve. "It won't be long before this country regains its strength. I'll make sure of that."
Finally, he looked at Public Morale: 9% [Widespread Unrest]. A wave of genuine fear washed over him. He knew all too well from Earth's history what happened when the people reached their breaking point, revolutions, chaos, and total collapse.
If the citizens rose up in widespread unrest, the neighboring nations wouldn't even need to invade; Brastovia would tear itself apart from within.
"I need to fix this quickly," he thought, rubbing his nose as he closed his eyes in deep concentration. "Otherwise, this country is doomed no matter what I do."
The problems were everywhere: corrupt nobles ignoring royal authority, criminal organizations running rampant, four simultaneous wars draining resources, and a nearly extinct royal bloodline. It was no wonder the previous Reinhardt had succumbed to stress.
Anyone placed in such a position would eventually break.
Snapping out of his heavy thoughts, Reinhardt turned his focus to the final section — the System Shop, neatly divided into [Military Magi-Tech] and [Civilian Magi-Tech].
He immediately understood their purpose. One would provide weapons, armor, and war innovations to secure the borders, while the other would offer tools for rebuilding infrastructure, industry, and society.
Eager to explore, he mentally selected the Military Magi-Tech category. However, a red warning prompt flashed before him:
[System Shop Currently Locked. 1,000 DP required to unlock.]
Reinhardt shook his head in mild frustration. Waiting until he accumulated 1,000 DP would take far too long at the current rate of 85 DP per day, over twelve days of doing nothing but surviving.
Brastovia didn't have that kind of time. The nation was balanced precariously on a tightrope, and any delay could send it tumbling into irreversible collapse. He needed those technologies now to pull the country out of the abyss.
But the only reliable way to accelerate DP generation was through actual development and reform.
A wide, dangerous smile slowly spread across Reinhardt's face as a bold idea took shape in his mind.
"And development doesn't necessarily mean building schools or constructing roads…"