Chapter 2. The Desire Hunter

Telling a lie was as effortless as breathing.

They let him in, and Rex walked into the town. It was worse inside than it looked from the outside.

There were buildings leaning on each other like drunks trying to stay up. The streets were dirty and muddy because too many people walked on them and didn’t take care of them.

People walked through the town square with their heads down, not looking at each other or talking unless they had to.

This wasn’t a town. People hadn’t gotten the message about lying down yet, so this was a graveyard.

Rex walked around the streets, taking it all in. A woman pulled water from a well that looked like it was about to fall apart.

In a shop that was missing half its roof, a blacksmith was hammering on something.

There were also kids sitting in doorways, thin and quiet, who watched him go by with empty eyes.

"What the fucking fuck happened here?" Rex said out loud.

"Bandits," someone said behind him.

When Rex turned around, he saw an old man sitting on a broken crate and whittling a piece of wood with a knife that had seen better days. He kept going without looking up from his work.

"Three weeks ago... they came through like swarms of locusts."

"They took what they wanted and burned what they didn’t. Anyone who fought back was killed."

"Sounds rough," Rex said, because he should sound like he cares.

"Rough." The old man laughed, but it wasn’t funny. "That’s one way to say it."

"The magistrate is dead. Half of the town guard is dead. Everyone else is simply waiting for the next group to arrive and complete the task."

"Are there no heroes coming to save the day like always?" Rex asked, half-jokingly.

The old man finally looked at him, and his eyes were hard. "Heroes don’t come to places like this."

"We don’t matter enough."

"There is no princess to save and not a single demon lord to fight."

"It’s just people trying not to die of hunger."

Rex nodded slowly. "That’s fair."

The old man went back to whittling and didn’t say anything else to Rex.

Rex kept looking around, but now his mind was working on what he had just learned. A town without laws, and there’s no power, not even safety, so the people who are desperate are just holding on to life.

This would have been a problem in his old world, but in this world?

This was a chance.

He was so lost in his thoughts that he almost didn’t notice when his vision got blurry. Letters appeared in front of his eyes, glowing faintly, as if someone had put text on top of reality itself.

[SYSTEM INITIALIZATION IN PROGRESS...]

Rex stopped walking and looked at the words. "Oh, there it is."

"Better late than never, huh?"

[SCANNING HOST...]

[ANALYZING COMPATIBILITY...]

[COMPATIBILITY RATING: DISGUSTINGLY HIGH]

[DESIRE AUTHORITY SYSTEM ACTIVATED]

[WELCOME, REX REXILION, TO YOUR SECOND CHANCE AT BEING A FUCKING DOUCEBAG PIECE OF SHIT]

Rex began to laugh and couldn’t stop himself. He had to appreciate how perfectly sarcastic and honest the words were about what he was.

"Okay," he said with a laugh, "I like you already, but not in a gay way."

"Wait... I’m not trying to assume the system’s gender or—Gagh! Fucking fuck! Am I canceled now?"

There was more text, but this time it felt different. It was as if the system was settling in and getting used to being in his head.

[YOU HAVE BEEN SELECTED AS A COMPATIBLE HOST FOR THE DESIRE AUTHORITY SYSTEM]

[THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT REWARD HEROISM]

[THIS SYSTEM DOES NOT REWARD HONOR]

[THIS SYSTEM REWARDS EXACTLY WHAT YOU THINK IT DOES]

"And what is that?" Rex asked, even though he was sure he knew the answer.

[DESIRE]

[SPECIFICALLY: THE DESIRE OF GILFS AND MILFS]

[THE DEEPER THEIR DESIRE, THE STRONGER YOU BECOME]

[THE MORE COMPLICATED THEIR NEED, THE GREATER YOUR POWER]

[QUEENS. WIDOWS. NOBLEWOMEN. WARRIORS. MAGES. MERCHANTS. HEROINES.]

[WOMEN WITH EXPERIENCE. WOMEN WITH POWER. WOMEN WITH NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE.]

[HARVEST THEIR DESIRE, AND YOU HARVEST STRENGTH]

Rex thought about this for exactly three seconds before grinning like a crazy person. "So you’re saying that doing what I was going to do anyway will make me stronger?"

[CORRECT]

[YOU DON’T HAVE TO PRETEND TO BE GOOD]

[YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAVE ANYONE]

[YOU JUST HAVE TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT]

[AND MAKE THEM WANT IT TOO]

Rex said, "Now this... is the best fucking afterlife ever."

[IT’S NOT AN AFTERLIFE. YOU’RE ALIVE.]

[BARELY]

[CURRENT STATUS: PATHETIC]

"Hey now," Rex said, but he was still smiling.

[DISPLAYING STATUS]

There was more text scrolling across his screen, and it started to look like a character sheet from a video game.

===

REX REXILION

AGE: 22 (NEW BODY) / 28 (OLD SOUL)

CLASS: NONE (YET)

LEVEL: 1

STATS:

STRENGTH: 8/100

AGILITY: 7/100

ENDURANCE: 9/100

CHARISMA: 15/100 (ONLY REDEEMING QUALITY)

INTELLIGENCE: 12/100

WISDOM: 3/100 (TRAGIC)

SKILLS:

[SILVER TONGUE LV.1] - You lie well. Congratulations.

[SHAMELESSNESS LV.MAX] - Cannot be upgraded. Already perfect.

TITLES:

[REINCARNATED BASTARD][MORALLY QUESTIONABLE]

DESIRE POINTS: 0

CURRENT RELATIONSHIPS: NONE (BECAUSE YOU JUST GOT HERE)

===

[PATHETIC, AS PROMISED]

[BUT WORKABLE]

Rex was interested in the stats. "Wisdom only at three? That sounds mean..."

[YOU DIED FALLING OFF A BALCONY BECAUSE YOU COULDN’T STOP SMILING WHILE SOMEONE WAS PUNCHING YOU]

[THREE IS GENEROUS]

"That’s a good point," Rex said. "So, how do I get stronger? What is the actual mechanism here and what’s the meta?"

[SIMPLE]

[FORM CONNECTIONS WITH ANY GIRL OR WOMEN, AND IT’S BEST IF THEY’RE TAKEN]

[DEEPEN THEIR DESIRE FOR YOU]

[THE SYSTEM WILL MEASURE THE INTENSITY AND COMPLEXITY OF THEIR WANT]

[WHEN CERTAIN THRESHOLDS ARE MET, YOU GAIN POWER]

[NO COMBAT REQUIRED]

[NO TRAINING MONTAGES]

[JUST HUMAN CONNECTION]

[WHICH, FOR YOU, MEANS MANIPULATION]

Rex said, "I’d rather call it strategic social engineering."

[TOMATO, TOMAHTO]

[EITHER WAY, YOU’RE GOOD AT IT]

[THAT’S WHY YOU WERE CHOSEN]

Rex thought about this. "So I use seduction to get power. Is that what you’re trying to meant?"

[PARTIALLY]

[BUT IT’S MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT]

[DESIRE ISN’T JUST PHYSICAL]

[IT’S EMOTIONAL. PSYCHOLOGICAL. SPIRITUAL.]

[THE WIDOW WHO WANTS TO FEEL ALIVE AGAIN]

[THE QUEEN WHO WANTS SOMEONE TO SEE HER AS MORE THAN A CROWN]

[THE WARRIOR WHO WANTS TO LAY DOWN HER SWORD]

[THE MERCHANT WHO WANTS SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T WANT HER MONEY]

[WELL, ANY WOMEN OR GIRL YOU WANTED AS LONY AS IT’S ELIGIBLE]

[UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY TRULY DESIRE]

[BECOME WHAT THEY TRULY NEED]

[AND POWER WILL FOLLOW]

"Interesting," Rex said softly.

This wasn’t merely a straightforward system for power fantasies because it required genuine skill. Acquiring it demanded not just manipulation, but a clever and thoughtful approach to that manipulation.

He had always excelled at understanding people. He could identify the vulnerabilities in their defenses and exploit them. He could become whatever someone required for just long enough to achieve his goals.

That skill had now acquired real value—something tangible that could be quantified and assessed.

"Okay," said Rex. "I’ll do it."

"What’s my first quest?"

[NO QUESTS]

[THIS ISN’T THAT KIND OF SYSTEM]

[YOU’RE ON YOUR OWN TO FIND OPPORTUNITIES]

[THE SYSTEM WILL TRACK YOUR PROGRESS]

[THE SYSTEM WILL GRANT REWARDS]

[BUT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT HOLD YOUR HAND]

Rex said, "Even better. I never liked being told what to do."

[HOWEVER]

[STARTER BONUS AVAILABLE]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO ACCEPT?]

"Well, duh! Of course! Why the fuck not?!"

[ANALYZING SURROUNDINGS...]

[OPPORTUNITY DETECTED]

[QUEST DESIGNATION: FIRST TASTE]

[OBJECTIVE: ESTABLISH YOUR FIRST CONNECTION]

[TARGET: ANY ELIGIBLE WOMAN OVER THE AGE OF LEGAL]

[REQUIREMENT: GENUINE DESIRE (MINIMUM THRESHOLD)]

[REWARD: +5 TO ALL STATS, SKILL UPGRADE, TITLE UNLOCK]

[TIME LIMIT: 72 HOURS]

[FAILURE PENALTY: SYSTEM WITHDRAWAL, DEATH WITHIN ONE WEEK]

Rex’s smile faded a little. "Death? Are you serious...?"

[YOU DIED ONCE ALREADY]

[THE SYSTEM BROUGHT YOU BACK]

[THE SYSTEM CAN TAKE YOU AWAY]

[CONSIDER IT MOTIVATION]

Rex said, "It’s harsh, but it makes me want to do it."

"Seventy-two hours to win over any women or girl that is legal. In a town that looks like it’s already dead, but... eh... this should be fun."

[THAT’S THE SPIRIT]

[ALSO]

[ONE MORE THING]

"Yeah?"

[TRY NOT TO DIE AGAIN]

[IT’S EMBARRASSING FOR BOTH OF US]

The system messages stopped, leaving Rex alone in the middle of a dying town with a death sentence hanging over his head and a crazy mission to seduce someone he hadn’t even met yet.

He looked at the broken buildings, the people who were in need, and the whole sad situation.

Then he began to laugh again.

Because of this? This was just right.

This was the kind of challenge that made life exciting. There is no safety net and no second chances.

He had only his wits and seventy-two hours to prove that he could still be the same charming bastard he had always been.

Rex clenched his fists and commenced his purposeful walk, scrutinizing the expressions of those he encountered. In this town, there was a woman over thirty who wanted something.

She desired something and craved something.

And Rex Rexilion was very, very good at becoming exactly what people wanted.

"Okay, new world," he said softly, feeling that old, familiar hunger rise in his chest. "Show me what you’ve got."

His stomach growled again, bringing back to mind more pressing issues.

"O-Okay... first comes food, and then second comes seduction so that for the third one I can avoid death."

"Priorities... right there..."

He saw a tavern up ahead, or what passed for one in this sad excuse for a town. The sign above the door was old, but he could still read the words.

"The Broken Wheel Inn."

"How lovely," Rex said under his breath, but he went anyway.

As soon as he pushed the door open, it creaked and the smell hit him.

There was old beer, dirty bodies, and something cooking that could have been stew or regret. There were only a few candles in the tavern, so it was dark inside.

A few customers were sitting around the room, nursing drinks and looking like they would rather be anywhere else.

There was a middle-aged woman behind the bar with gray hair tied back in a bun that looked beautiful. Her arms made it clear that she could probably throw him out herself if she wanted to.

Rex’s system helpfully gave out information.

[POTENTIAL TARGET IDENTIFIED]

[NAME: MARA KESSON]

[AGE: 38]

[STATUS: MARRIED, INNKEEPER, TIRED]

[DESIRE LEVEL: UNKNOWN - ANALYSIS REQUIRED]

Rex walked up to the bar and put on his best smile. The woman looked up from the glass she was cleaning, and her face was blank.

Before Rex could say anything, she said, "We don’t give handouts."

"Good," Rex said in a smooth voice. "I don’t want one because I want a job."

She snorted. "Everyone wants a job."

"I can’t pay wages I don’t have."

Rex said, "Then I’ll work for food and a place to sleep."

"I’m not picky."

Mara looked at him with eyes that had seen too much bullshit to believe any more. "What can you do? You look like you’ve never worked an honest day in your life."

"You’re totally right," Rex said, which seemed to surprise her. "But I learn quickly, and I don’t give up easily."

She put the glass down and crossed her arms. "Why should I trust someone I don’t know who just came to town?"

"Because you need the help," Rex said plainly. "This place is barely staying together."

"You’re the only one running it, right? Since your husband can’t do anything except go fishing."

Her face got harder. "How did you—"

"Lucky guess," Rex said, lying. "But I’m right... r-i-g-h-t?"

Mara clenched her fists, and for a second, Rex thought she might really kick him out. Then her shoulders dropped a little, and he knew he had her.

"Okay," she said. "Training for one week."

"If you cause trouble, you’re out. Got that?"

"Perfect," Rex said.

[FIRST CONTACT ESTABLISHED]

[RELATIONSHIP STATUS: MARA KESSON - SUSPICIOUS BUT DESPERATE]

[DESIRE LEVEL: 2/100]

[KEEP WORKING]

Rex’s smile got a little bigger.

This was going to be a good time for him in his second life.