"System, you're here, right?"
[Yes, what is it host?]
"I don't want to argue back and forth like last time, but I need you to work with me here." Although Ronald really wanted to lecture the system, he was just too mentally tired from the previous plot to do so.
[Of course host, how can I help?]
"Let me confirm it first, is the auction house plot considered complete?" Ronald was worried that the auction house plot might've deviated from the original plot, which could cause future plots to be harder to complete.
[Yes host, the plot has been fully completed without any errors along the process.]
"That's exactly what I don't understand, how can it be considered completed with no error when Ye Fan had practically gotten face slapped instead of me? Plus I have this magical sword thingy that was originally supposed to be obtained by him."
[Like I said last time host, I don't know why the characters in the plot have started acting strangely, but according to my analysis, the future plots will still be able progress smoothly without any hindrance.]
"System, work with me here. We both want to finish the plot smoothly and go back to earth, do we not? If all I'm getting from you is 'I don't know' how is that suppose to help me at all? I'm technically the one doing all the work here, so the least you can do is help me find out the reason why the heroines are acting so strangely so I can adapt, right?" Although Ronald was begging for the system to try and help him out for once, he was almost positive that the system would just ignore his plead for help.
After all, he has never even received help from the system even once throughout the 7 years he's been in this novel world in his previous life, besides obtaining strength and different skills that the system gave him every time he finished a plot as a reward.
But to be fair, he didn't really need any help from the system during his previous life anyways.
[You're right host, my apologies. How can I help?]
"Huh really? You're actually willing to help now?" Ronald was extremely surprised, he thought that the system was just going to be nonchalant about it and would just continue to throw all the work on him.
[Of course, I want you to complete your plot properly as well.]
"Finally! For once you're not entirely useless, then let me ask you a question first. Forget all about your stupid data and statistics or whatever you would use to analyze the completion of the plot and just tell me your opinion on why you think the heroines are behaving much differently compared to the previous life." Ronald knew that the system's data analysis for determining the completion of the plot was most likely going to be useless for the time being.
[I'm sorry host, but I don't have any explanation right now.]
"Is there a possibility that they've transmigrated by any chance?" Ronald felt like that this was the most plausible answer, and although he had checked with Iris to ensure that wasn't the case, he felt like that Iris was a different case and wasn't actually a transmigrator.
Iris didn't do anything too out of the ordinary besides not spilling water on him intentionally and standing up for him during the auction house plot.
However, the same can't be said for the other three heroines though.
[Host, I've verified that there are no other systems other than me in this entire world, so unless if they transmigrated without a system, that can't be the case.]
"But there are some novels where the person who transmigrated or got reincarnated into another world never meets their system or the system comes at a later date, right?"
[Host, those are just novels.]
"And this world isn't?"
[It is host, but I would be able to detect a 3rd party interference and eliminate them ahead of time if that was the case.]
"Hmm, okay. Well if they're not transmigrators then, then could it be that they were reborn or regressed back in time?" Ronald felt like this was a dumb question, but it didn't hurt to ask anyways.
[Host, no offense but let's be realistic here, even if they have been reborn, what would they like about you?]
"Yeah I know, I just had to ask anyways." Ronald nodded in agreement.
The system was right, hypothetically speaking, even if the heroines regressed back in time, what exactly would they like about him?
Like him for being an absolute waste?
Hahaha...
Impossible.
Not even in a million years.
After brainstorming a bit more for different possibilities, Ronald had thought about a possibility that made him quivered intensely to the point where the system even noticed it.
[Host, is there something wrong?]
"System..."
[Yes, host?]
"I know this may sound a bit weird, but do you think that the heroines can read my mind...?" Ronald was visibility shaken up just even thinking about the possibility.
If the heroines could actually read his mind, then not only will everything he'll eventually do and has done so far will end up in vain, but he also won't have any privacy whatsoever.
Plus looking at it from their perspective, if they knew that they were just in a novel world and their fate would already be predetermined from the moment they were born, wouldn't they try their hardest to go against their fate?
[No host, with me by your side, even if the gods of this world tried to peer into your thoughts, they would be absolutely annihilated, and besides, I gave you a skill to counteract that.]
Even after hearing what the system had said, he still wanted to test that theory out and so he thought out a random lie he had made up in his head.
'I remember that there was a small food stall right on 'Fletcher Street' that'll open up tomorrow, and the owner of that food stall is actually a mysterious powerful old man that'll give the first ever customer that visits his stall infinite good luck and wealth.' Obviously this was the lie that Ronald had fabricated in his head, although there was an actual food stall there, the owner was just a normal old man.
"Right... well that's enough for today, since I've picked up Iris in advance today, I should have free time tomorrow to do whatever I want, right system?"
Although Ronald hates wasting his time on anything and anyone that was relayed to the plot besides hanging out with other villains, he just wanted to check and see if his theory was correct.
So Ronald plans on spending his entire free day tomorrow at Fletcher Street and see if any heroines will eventually show up to the food stall tomorrow.
[That's correct, take care host.]
"Okay, goodnight."
*Sigh* 'Why does it seem like I'm going up against the entire world.'