"Second-hand Brain Recycling Center, with a non-greedy zombie loli administrator inside."
"All characters appearing in this book are adults; the protagonist, including his previous life's age, is also an adult."
"Given that the previous book was completely sealed, the dog author has gone legitimate and will not openly engage in lewd content."
"Heroine appears in Chapter 56, protagonist's appearance in Chapter 58."
...
"Since Earl of Heim fell in battle at Watch Keep Great Wall ten years ago, all successive heirs of Heim Family have died due to accidents."
"As a result, Heim Family now has no successor."
"I, the sixth-generation patriarch of Mandala Family, Grand Duke Mandala of Mandala Duchy, in appreciation of three generations of Heim Family's contributions to Mandala Duchy,"
"hereby command the Fourth Prince Hell Mandala to adopt his mother's surname."
"From today onwards, Hell Heim is hereby conferred the title of Earl and shall inherit Earl of Heim's territory."
Inside the magnificent banquet hall, a majestic middle-aged man sat high upon a golden throne.
Below him, a young boy with black hair and black eyes knelt before him.
Behind the boy, two rows of noble men and women, dressed in Rococo-style court attire, stood on either side of the banquet hall.
"Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?"
He Mu looked at the middle-aged man in front of him with a bewildered gaze, a man who gave him a strong sense of familiarity.
His body uncontrollably stood up, took the document handed to him by a nearby attendant, and then silently retreated to the side.
The entire process was beyond his control, as if the body he currently inhabited did not belong to him.
He was like an observer trapped within this body.
Is this... a dream?
As he thought this, the scene shifted, and he found himself in a retro-style palace corridor.
The twilight sun penetrated the clear crystal glass panels, shining on him and casting a long shadow.
In front of him, a young man in a lavish gown, with a fierce expression, cornered him against the wall.
"My foolish brother, oh no, I should call you Earl of Heim now. You're finally getting out.
Remember this: from now on, you are just a Heim Family bastard, with absolutely no relation to our Mandala Family.
Otherwise..."
The scene shifted again.
And again...
He Mu seemed to experience the brief life of a boy.
This boy was named Hell, the fourth child of Grand Duke Mandala of Mandala Duchy, which was under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Selerfis.
However, unlike the red-haired, blue-eyed members of Mandala Family, he had black hair and black eyes.
And in this world, black hair was often associated with ill omens, or more precisely, it was easily associated with... demons.
Because of this, at some unknown point, he gained the title of 'Son of the Devil' in aristocratic circles.
And his fate truly seemed to be cursed.
The year he was born, his grandfather, Heim Marquis, died of illness, and Heim Family consequently declined, with their original territory rapidly being encroached upon.
After several twists and turns, Hell's maternal uncle only inherited the title of Earl.
However, the following year, the newly appointed Earl of Heim was dispatched to Watch Keep Great Wall, and during a small-scale defensive battle, his head was chopped off by an orc who had stormed the city wall.
Heim Royal Consort, Hell's birth mother, unable to bear the blow, passed away after only a few years.
From then on, Hell's reputation as the 'Son of the Devil' was thoroughly solidified.
Fortunately, he still bore the Mandala surname.
No matter how the rumors spread outside, no matter how much the members of Mandala Family disliked him.
As long as he was still named Mandala, whether he died by accident or was murdered, it would damage the reputation of Grand Duke Mandala.
This allowed him to successfully survive until the age of 12.
"What a melodramatic political struggle," He Mu secretly sighed. The original owner, as a native, might have simply accepted his fate, believing he was a lone star of misfortune who had brought Death upon his entire family.
However, He Mu, as someone who had slipped through the cracks of nine years of compulsory education and possessed the experience of a ten-year veteran web novel reader,
combined with the original owner's memories, could easily understand that the root of this series of tragedies stemmed precisely from the Death of the old Marquis.
The biggest backer had fallen.
Neither his maternal uncle nor his mother had enough prestige and power to hold onto the status and wealth that did not belong to them.
As the saying goes, 'virtue does not match one's position,' and it was precisely that.
Otherwise, why was nothing wrong before the old Marquis died? If Hell was truly a lone star of misfortune, then why didn't anyone in Mandala Family die?
Furthermore, if Hell's mother hadn't died, how would the current Madame have ascended to her position?
You know, the daughter-in-law of the old Zhu family, she's familiar with this kind of thing.
After all, if Lady Chang hadn't died, how would Zhu Yunwen have become the imperial grand-son?
That's why I say, the wisdom of our ancestors is truly precious.
Even when applied to this different world, it still makes perfect sense.
Hell's current situation was just like Zhu Yunwen's back then; he had completely lost all political capital, and it was already a blessing that he wasn't imprisoned for life.
"Ah, what a terrible start."
But fortunately, his previous life's web novel interests were broad, and even more fortunately, he knew the manufacturing processes for gunpowder, soap, penicillin, and glass.
So, it's time to bring some industrial shock to this world.
However, He Mu soon stopped smiling.
Because another memory came through.
Knights who used battle aura, mages who wielded elements, priests who believed in gods.
If the original owner's memory was not mistaken, then it was highly likely that the gunpowder he painstakingly created would be less powerful than a fireball spell cast by a junior Magister.
And this was only the most basic level of transcendent beings.
Above junior Magister were intermediate Magister, and then senior.
Further up were Magister and Archmage.
It's worth noting that his deceased Duke father was a Knight transcendent profession of the same rank as an Archmage: Sky Knight.
"Oh boy, I'm screwed."
Instantly, normal mode turned into Hell mode.
He shouldn't even think about 'accumulating grain, building high walls, and slowly claiming kingship,' then having the yellow robe placed upon him.
It would be quite good if he could just guard his small piece of land and live a rich life.
After all, he had been a workhorse for decades; what's wrong with enjoying himself after transmigrating to another world?
Just as Hell was about to ponder how to comfortably live out the rest of his life.
A pleasant 'ding-dong' sound suddenly rang out.
"Ding, you have a new email."
"Dear Transmigrator:
Upon detecting your awakening of past life memories, a transmigrator's cheat, a random system, has been specially dispatched.
We wish you a pleasant transmigration.
Transmigrator Management Bureau."
"World environment detecting..."
"Cultivation system detecting..."
"World Heavenly Dao invading..."
"Congratulations, traveler, you have obtained the Trait Plunder System."
"Congratulations, traveler, you have received a Newbie Pack : Unlimited Plunder Opportunity x3."
"Congratulations, traveler, you have obtained skills: Trait Detection, Trait Plunder, Trait Replication, Trait Acquisition."
Trait Detection: Can detect the attributes and traits of any object.
Trait Plunder: Can plunder traits from creatures whose strength is not higher than the traveler's.
Trait Replication: Can replicate any trait; the quality of replicated traits is affected by the host's strength.
Trait Acquisition: Can acquire traits of any level from inanimate objects.
PS1: Plunder and Replication opportunities each increase by one per day.
PS2: Trait Acquisition is unlimited, but whether plundering, replicating, or acquiring, contact with the target is required.
"No close means open, right?" He Mu couldn't help but exclaim. As expected of a transmigrator's essential cheat, though late, it arrived.
What is this, getting stronger by looting corpses?
Then what are we waiting for? Let's go for the yellow robe!
However, the most urgent matter was for him to wake up as soon as possible.
He wondered how corrupt a life he, a feudal Earl, could live in this magical fantasy continent.
Would he get a row of beast-eared loli maids, or elf loli maids?
Just thinking about it made him a little excited.
So, from now on, He Mu would be Hell Heim.
Thinking this, Hell slowly opened his eyes.
However, what met his gaze was not the warm bed from his original owner's memory, nor the gentle maid quietly attending to his daily needs.
Instead, it was a dim, damp dungeon.
A foul and bloody smell surrounded his nostrils, and the churning nausea in his stomach constantly reminded him that this was reality, not a dream.
"You're finally awake, little one~"
In front of Hell, a pink-haired girl in a Gothic long dress slowly approached.
The girl wore no makeup, yet she exuded a mature and alluring charm, and even in this dim dungeon, her beauty was hard to conceal.
Even though there were still mottled bloodstains on her face.
Even though her black long dress was already stained red with blood.
Even though...
She was carrying a bloodied corpse in her hand.
She walked gracefully towards Hell on her blood-red high heels, looked at Hell's tender young face, and slowly squatted down.
She extended her delicate hand, clad in a black leather glove, and gently lifted Hell's chin.
"As expected of a Mandala Family descendant, truly adorable.
Such a cute boy, he must cry for a long time if he gets whipped.
Oh, right.
I forgot to introduce myself. I am Death Witch Youming.
You may call me Master or Queen.
So, welcome to my Hell,
Please enjoy yourself."
...
"Author's Note: Youming character card updated."
"New and old readers, feel free to leave comments with any opinions; the author is quite receptive to advice."