Reincarnated As a Villain!

The streets of Cambridge were alive with the steady rhythm of city life. People strolled along the cobbled roads, some engaged in quiet conversation, while others appeared lost in their own thoughts. Cyclists weaved skillfully through the narrow lanes, their bells chiming occasionally to warn of their approach. A small group of tourists paused at a street corner, unfolding maps and pointing toward a stone building bathed in the golden glow of the late afternoon sun.

Nearby, a violinist played a hauntingly beautiful tune near a bustling café. A small crowd had gathered around, their soft applause mingling with the melody after each piece. The café itself was vibrant, with tables spilling onto the pavement. Laughter and the clinking of cups and saucers filled the air, blending seamlessly with the faint hum of passing cars. The scent of freshly roasted coffee wafted in the air, mingling with the floral fragrance of a nearby flower stall. It was a scene brimming with life but without the chaotic rush of a larger city.

At around 8 p.m., Victor sat at one of the café's outdoor tables, sipping coffee alongside a young man about his age. His companion, Alvin Shan, had dark hair, a casual outfit, a decent-looking face with sharp features, and almond-shaped eyes. Despite the relaxed setting, Alvin appeared nervous, glancing repeatedly between his phone and Victor.

Noticing Alvin's unease, Victor asked, "What's going on with you, man?"

Alvin hesitated, his gaze shifting anxiously between Victor and his phone. Victor frowned slightly, his curiosity piqued.

"Come on, just tell me what's going on," Victor urged.

Alvin let out a deep sigh before admitting, "Fine. To be honest, I like a girl in my class. She's not exactly stunning or anything, maybe a 7/10, but every time I see her face, my heart races, and I feel this strange urge to be with her. That's what they call falling in love, right? I read in a book that if you still like someone after three days, it's love. And well... this feeling hasn't changed for a whole month now."

"So, what's the problem?" Victor asked, taking a sip of his coffee.

"The problem is, I'm not sure if she has a boyfriend or not. Her profile picture is just a silhouette of a boy and a girl, and it's driving me nuts trying to figure it out," Alvin confessed.

"What's her name?" Victor inquired.

"Olivia Anrietta, she is also Asian like me," Alvin replied, his voice almost a whisper.

Victor nodded. "Then why don't you just ask her directly?"

"You know I'm not as bold as you, Victor. I've never been in a relationship before. If I ask her that, she'll probably think I like her and might even avoid me," Alvin said, his tone riddled with anxiety.

Victor shook his head. "Well, my advice to you is to forget about her and focus on becoming a better version of yourself," he said firmly. "You know, Alvin, I broke up with Candice for that exact reason. Wanna know why? Because I want to focus. I want to improve myself."

As he spoke, Victor raised his left hand, and a spark of mana appeared, forming a flickering flame in his palm.

Alvin's eyes widened in astonishment. "You can use magic, Victor?" he asked, visibly stunned.

"This is what I've been working on lately. Better yourself to the point where she's not worthy of you, not the other way around. And as for you, Alvin, even though you have impressive feng shui skills, you lack physical strength and, more importantly, magical prowess. Think about that," Victor said, his voice deep and commanding.

Alvin fell silent, reflecting on Victor's words. He realized he had relied too heavily on his talent for feng shui while neglecting his physical and magical capabilities. His skinny frame was a testament to that. His gaze shifted to Victor, whose physique had noticeably improved since their last meeting.

Determination lit up Alvin's eyes. "Alright! Starting tomorrow, I'll hit the gym and start learning basic magic. So that one day, I'll be worthy of her!" he declared, slamming his hand on the table.

Victor sighed softly, shaking his head as he glanced at his watch. The hands pointed to 8:30. "I think that's enough for tonight. Are you coming with me, or do you want to stay here?"

"I think I'll stay," Alvin replied, his voice steady but thoughtful.

Victor nodded. "Alright. Stay here, and be ready. I'm going to need you later."

Alvin gave a small nod of understanding, and with that, Victor stood, his movements deliberate, and made his way to the car parked nearby. Without another word, he slipped behind the wheel and drove off, the hum of the engine fading into the distance as he disappeared into the night.

---

Ten minutes later, Victor pulled up on Mill Road and parked on the side of the street. Stepping out of the car, he immediately noticed a lively spot illuminated by bright lights and bustling with people. He made his way toward it, greeted by the cacophony of voices and shouts from every direction.

"Don't miss the golden chance! Gamble on stones and get high-level soul stones!"

"Forget your past and discover your fortune tonight!"

"A hundred-year life-extending apple for only $30!"

The area was clearly a marketplace but not an ordinary one. Here, anything could be sold, and everything was permitted—so long as it didn't break the law. Whatever you sought, this was the place to find it, whether it be weapons or magical techniques.

"This place feels so familiar," Victor mused, a smile tugging at his lips as he soaked in the somewhat nostalgic atmosphere.

After wandering for a while, his eyes fell on a stall manned by a short-haired girl. Something about the stall and the girl felt oddly familiar.

"Well, let's get started," he said, grinning as he approached the stall.

From a distance, the girl appeared striking, her symmetrical face glowing with natural beauty. She had sun-kissed brown skin, a casual outfit of a t-shirt and pants, and an air of confidence as she sat behind her stall. When she noticed Victor approaching, she instinctively adjusted her hair, a natural reaction to the sight of an attractive man.

Victor stopped at her stall, scanning the displayed items. "What a lovely evening. How are you?" he greeted, flashing a charming smile.

"I'm fine, thanks," the girl replied warmly.

Victor nodded, continuing to examine the assortment of used items—classic watches, bracelets, necklaces, and various other trinkets. He picked up a classic watch, turning it over in his hands as if assessing its quality. His gaze flicked to the girl, who appeared slightly nervous but maintained her smile.

"I like this design," Victor said casually. "There's something captivating about objects that carry a story with them. It's like they have a soul, unlike modern items that are all about functionality."

The girl chuckled softly. "Maybe it's because they hold memories. But sometimes, people sell old items just to forget something."

Victor nodded, his smile fading slightly. "Maybe. But I believe memories shouldn't be forgotten—they should be cherished. Without them, who are we, really?"

The girl fell silent, seemingly contemplating his words. "You have an interesting way of thinking," she finally said, her tone sincere.

"Thanks," Victor replied. He placed the watch back on the display but then grew visibly tense, his eyes scanning the stall's items with a sense of urgency.

The girl noticed his shift in demeanor. "Are you looking for something in particular?" she asked.

Victor's gaze sharpened as he met her eyes. "Do you have a golden needle for sale?" he asked.

The girl furrowed her brows, thinking for a moment before a realization dawned on her. "Oh! I just sold it a little while ago," she said.

"What? To whom?" Victor demanded, his tone intense.

"I don't know his name, but he looked about our age. He bought it maybe ten minutes ago," the girl replied.

Victor's expression darkened. If his suspicions were correct, that person might be Leon.

"Well, nice meeting you. I gotta go," he said abruptly, turning on his heel and walking away.

The girl opened her mouth to say something but hesitated. Watching him leave, a hint of regret crossed her face.

'We didn't even exchange names,' she thought to herself.

---

The bustling market continued to hum with activity, vendors shouting their offers and customers haggling over prices. Among the crowd, a young man with dark hair and a casual outfit stood at a modest stall, negotiating with a vendor who had laid his goods out on a simple rug.

The young man was none other than Leon Emery, who had arrived about thirty minutes earlier.

"Come on, man. Twenty bucks for this Buddha statue. You're a smart guy—something this old won't sell for fifty," Leon argued, his confident smile never wavering as he held a medium-sized Buddha statue.

The vendor, an older man with a thick beard and slightly worn clothing, shook his head. "Listen, young man, you don't understand the history behind this statue. It's a stolen artifact from the early Qin dynasty, highly sought after by those folks with narrow eyes. If they knew about it, they'd pay a fortune. Lucky for you, I found it and am only asking fifty bucks."

"Oh come on," Leon scoffed but kept his gaze fixed on the statue. His intuition told him this wasn't an ordinary artifact. Years of training with Godwyn had honed his instincts, and he could feel that the statue held a hidden secret.

As Leon stared at the statue, the vendor seemed to waver, contemplating whether to let it go for twenty bucks. Truthfully, he had found it in the trash, and it was essentially worthless. Scoring fifty bucks would be a miracle, but twenty wasn't bad either.

Leon's eyes glowed faintly blue, and a vision of blood-soaked battlefields and destruction flashed in his mind. His pupils returned to normal, and his expression shifted to one of shock. This wasn't the first time an object had triggered such visions, and he knew they always carried significance.

He stroked his chin, studying the vendor. 'So the old man's story might be true… I wonder if he's some kind of hidden master testing me,' Leon thought, scrutinizing the vendor with suspicion.

"Fine, I'll take it for fifty," he finally said.

The vendor beamed. "You've got a good eye, young man. This statue—"

"1,000 dollars. I want that statue," a sudden voice interrupted, drawing the attention of both Leon and the vendor.