THE TRASH PRINCE'S BLUEPRINTS SYSTEM

CHAPTER 2: THE SYSTEM OBTAINED

The System chimes in a sleek, elegant, & polished tone, like glass tapping crystal in a silent cathedral.

A holographic interface unfolds in the air before Raphael’s eyes, with lines of blue light forming text in perfect alignment.

“ Name: Raphael Laurent, aka Third Prince Cain Vailtair Thaloria

Age: 19

Leadership: Zero

Province Status: Currently mismanaged & neglected by House Frostmark

Province Troops: Volunteer at best

Province Value: Below Poverty “

Raphael stares at the stats for a long second.

Then he grimaces.

“That explains why this frozen desolation of a province looks like a hellhole. It’s time to change everything, from now on. Let’s see what I can do.”

He walks to the window again and looks out over Frostmark.

Snow covers everything, but snow cannot hide neglect.

There are no patrol fires, guard towers with signal beacons, patrol routes, caravans entering the city, & no movement.

A border province without patrols is not a province.

It is an invitation to invasion.

There are no paved roads either.

What passes for roads are overgrown paths, half swallowed by trees, rocks, and weeds.

It is a perfect ambush terrain, bandit territory, & a place for caravans to disappear forever.

Goods are expensive because merchants are afraid to travel here.

No merchants means no trade.

No trade means no wealth.

No wealth means taxes go up.

High taxes with no services means rebellion.

The entire province is a powder keg waiting for a spark.

Then the System chimes again.

“You received 4 Billion Blueprint Points, and 500 Status Points. Would you like to spend them now?”

A notification flashes across the holographic screen.

Raphael presses NO immediately.

From the corner of his eye, he notices another option.

“ ACTIVATE VOICE COMMAND- FREE “

He presses ACCEPT without hesitation.

“In my past life, I got overworked half to death. But this time, I will let the System, and other people do the heavy work for me, while I do the relaxing.”

He laughs in a loud, brazen, & mocking tone.

The sound echoes slightly in the large cold chamber.

The System responds immediately.

“ Ding. You unlocked a Main Quest. Clean up the mess that is House Frostmark.

Quest Rewards: 1 Billion Blueprint Points, 100 Status Points

Quest Failure Consequence: Widespread rebellion all over Frostmark Province

Quest Tip: You earn an extra 1 Billion Blueprint Points per corrupt Frostmark noble, and their loyalist killed, or converted to your side.”

Raphael hears music, laughter, the clinking of glasses, & tearing of roasted meat waft upward from an open window.

The dining hall below is lit with warm golden light.

Nobles feast, drink, & celebrate while the province starves.

“Fucking useless imbeciles. They have the goddamn audacity to waste royal money and provincial taxes on expensive foods and drinks, while many go hungry in Frostmark Province. It’s time to clean them up now, so they won’t pose problems later.”

His eyes sharpen for a brief moment with a hotheaded, predatory, & dangerous glare.

His body starts moving faster without him realizing it.

Soldier instincts wake up, & his elite military combat training from his past life is remembered.

His breathing slows, & hearing sharpens.

“Hey, System, do some background digging on those fuckers below.”

His voice sounds bored & lazy.

The System responds instantly.

“ Name: Former Lord Governor Lysander Frostmark

Status: Half Drunk

Record: Fired by the Prime Minister for dereliction of duty

Current Employment: None “

“ Name: Frostmark City Lord Mayor Sebastian Frostmark

Status: Half Drunk

Record: Under investigation for accepting bribes from bandit groups “

More names appear, names of nobles accused of bribery, tax embezzlement, illegal trade with bandits, weapons smuggling, false troop reports, and other heinous crimes.

Raphael reads everything silently.

In his previous life, he always had to follow the law.

In this life, he is the law.

And he prefers faster methods.

A slow, ruthless grin spreads across his face.

He opens the Blueprint Shop.

His eyes widen slightly at the wide array of tech offered in the Blueprints Shop, from weapons down to entire institutional frameworks from his past life, modified to suit his present life.

“Fuck this, man. It’s totally cool. There are blueprints for every tech, institution, and device imaginable in my past life. The only difference is it has all those cool and crazy modifications not possible in my past life. And it spans entire timelines as well.”

He scrolls through the interface rapidly.

“Hey System, unlock weapons and armor blueprints, with modifications of course.”

“Ding. Be specific with your request, Raphael Laurent. I don’t have time to scan everything on the Blueprints Shop one by one.”

“Uh, I’d like to unlock magically enhanced light tactical armor, rapid fire & rapid reload flintlocks and muskets with magically enhanced range, & magic combat daggers. Oh, and include spare ammunition while you’re at it.”

“Ding. Request granted. There is also a MATERIALIZE BLUEPRINTS, & MATERIALIZE ITEMS option. Would you want to materialize either of them now?”

“I’d like to materialize the real items then. Specifically, the combat daggers, a full set light tactical gear from head to toe, a pair of flintlocks and daggers, and one musket with spare ammunition.”

“Ding. Remaining Blueprint Points: 3 Billion.”

The air shimmers.

Reality bends.

Then the armor forms around his body, layer by layer, like liquid metal assembling itself with microscopic precision.

The inner layer is made of arcweave.

It’s a magically engineered fabric threaded with microscopic runic filaments.

It regulates temperature, disperses kinetic energy, absorbs shock, and moves like a second skin.

He barely feels its weight.

Over it forms overlapping plates of Umbralith steel.

Each plate is no thicker than a coin but harder than fortress steel.

Faint blue lines glow along the edges.

Reinforcement runes constantly adapt to movement and impact.

He rolls his shoulders.

There is no resistance, & stiffness, only smooth motion.

This is not knight armor, but combat armor.

A helm rises from the collar and seals around his head with a soft mechanical click. The visor slides down.

It is a transparent crystal reinforced with layered enchantments.

His breathing sounds calm and controlled inside the helm.

At his hips rest two flintlock pistols that are elegant, with a black Umbralith steel exterior, & engraved grips.

But inside, it is completely redesigned.

Ignition runes replace powder sparks.

Micro-kinetic cycling enchantments auto-load the next round.

Runic rifling spirals inside the barrel, accelerating projectiles beyond normal physics.

Across his back rests a rifled musket made from layered Umbralith steel with runic stabilization channels that correct projectile trajectory mid-flight.

This weapon does not simply fire, but also ensures impact.

Strapped to his thighs are two matte-black combat daggers with compression enchantments that prevent dulling, bending, or breaking.

At his waist hang ammunition pouches with spatial compression interiors containing dozens of enchanted rounds.

The rounds hum faintly like sleeping bees.

“Hey, System, materialize & unlock a self-cleaning weapons & armor display rack while you’re at it.”

“Ding. Remaining Blueprint Points: 2.6 Billion.”

A display rack materializes against the wall.

It’s made of polished black metal with glowing runic lines.

Anything placed on it will automatically clean, oil, repair, and maintain itself.

Raphael nods slowly.

“This damn kind of gear is worth the price I paid. If such things like these existed in my previous life, history as I know it would have been different.”

He then opens the Status Points Shop.

“ Ding. Welcome to the Status Points Shop.

You have five classes to choose from. Choose wisely.

Planner Hunter Ambusher Berserker Ranger “

“ The ambusher, hunter and ranger class sounds cool to me, but I need cunning as well in the long run. So I’ll choose Planner. ”

“ Ding. Status Points Remaining: 94

Perception: 100

Leadership: 35

Strength: 89

Accuracy: 90

Speed: 92 ”

He reallocates points, prioritizing perception and combat stats.

Why bother with diplomacy when he’s a prince?

He exits the room, & runs lightly down the castle stairs.

His footsteps are silent despite the armor.

He reaches the dining hall doors.

Inside, nobles are laughing loudly, drinking wine, tearing apart roasted meat, arguing about taxes and hunting trips while the province starves outside in the snow.

Raphael slowly raises the rifled musket.

He pulls the bolt back.

The sound is loud, metallic, & final.

The entire hall turns toward the door.

Raphael stands there in black tactical armor, and his musket aimed directly at Sir Lysander Frostmark’s head.

His voice is calm, hotheaded, & amused, like a coiled serpent waiting to strike.

“What a damn nice meal you have, gentlemen.”

He pauses.

“A pity this will be your last meal.”