What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?



"Or rather, should I call Selina?"

Arthur cast a playful smile toward Carina, his gaze fixed on her face as he observed the subtle changes.

"What do you mean?!" Carina exclaimed, rising from her seat, her expression a mix of disbelief and fear as she locked eyes with Arthur.

Nevertheless, Arthur offered no response. 

Instead, he posed an unusual question, "Why?"

"Is there an issue with my statement, Lady Carina?" He shook his head lightly and took a sip of his tea.

Realizing her mistake, Carina swiftly regained her composure and settled back into her chair.

Taking a deep breath, she turned her gaze back to Arthur.

"Can you please explain how you are aware of this?" Carina asked Arthur once more, her face reflecting equal parts anxiety and curiosity.

The revelation shook her to the core, as this was a deeply buried secret that remained concealed within her, unknown even to David!

Now, with Arthur alluding to it, she couldn't help but feel a chilling mixture of unease and apprehension.

With a smile, Arthur remarked, "So, you're not denying it?"

Carina chose not to respond directly to Arthur's question, but his interpretation of her silence as an agreement was confirmed.

Yet Arthur had no intention of hastily satisfying Carina's curiosity.

He saw this moment as the start of his strategic negotiation, and he aimed to gradually heighten her anxiety, skillfully leading her into his trap.

It served as a form of retribution for Carina's earlier hasty rejection of his offer and her subsequent pretense.

Observing Carina growing increasingly uneasy, Arthur recognized that the opportune moment had arrived.

Maintaining an unwavering expression, Arthur coolly replied, "That's because I hold all the cards."

He then resumed sipping his tea, unaffected.

Perplexed by his statement, Carina furrowed her brow and asked in an odd manner, "What do you mean by 'knowing everything'?"

Arthur clarified with a slight smile on his lips, "I mean exactly what you're imagining: I possess complete knowledge, down to the very village you reside in."

However, it was all a web of falsehoods and nonsense.

In truth, he had no knowledge of everything he claimed.

It was merely a bluff he used to deceive Carina.

As it turned out, Arthur's knowledge of this world stemmed solely from the novel "The Birth of the Elemental Lord."

However, he hadn't read the book cover to cover, which meant that he didn't possess a comprehensive recollection of all the characters, plotlines, and other details within it.

Characters like Runa, Elizabeth, David Asvold, and several other supporting characters predominantly appeared in the Balka Empire arc, which Arthur had thoroughly read and familiarized himself with.

However, beyond that particular story arc, his understanding was limited, and he relied on his reasoning and speculations regarding the characters and the overall plot.

Of course, he had managed to glean some information from spoilers that were circulating on the internet during the novel's peak period.

These spoilers had gained traction due to the fervor surrounding the book at the time.

These fragments of leaked information contributed to his limited understanding of certain aspects of the story, allowing him to piece together additional details beyond what he had personally read.

However, it was crucial to acknowledge that these spoilers were not comprehensive and were susceptible to containing inaccuracies, resulting in his having an incomplete grasp of the overall novel.

Furthermore, according to the woman adorned with radiant light, this world was the true reality, and the novel Arthur had read merely offered a glimpse into this vast Elemental world.

Thus, Arthur deduced from her words that "The Birth of the Elemental Lord" was likely a novel that touched upon a fraction of the intricate backdrop of this extraordinary world.

Given the existence of the incomprehensibly vast four continents, the woman's assertion appeared plausible.

Speaking of Carina, the character sheet provided scant details, leaving Arthur unaware of her journey prior to encountering David.

Carina's reaction was evident as she flinched slightly at Arthur's words, her disbelief written across her face.

She questioned him hesitantly, "Is this true? Did you gather this information from intelligence sources at Duke Asvold's mansion?"

Arthur's eyes brightened subtly, silently expressing gratitude for the unfolding situation.

"Indeed, a clever woman like Carina wouldn't be easily deceived," he mused inwardly.

However, Arthur had prepared for this very scenario, making it a straightforward matter to handle someone like her.

With a composed demeanor, he merely shook his head, choosing not to provide a direct response.

In certain situations, excessive talking and exerting forceful persuasion can lead to increased suspicion and disbelief, rendering people unconvinced.

Consequently, maintaining silence and refraining from providing answers can be crucial to fostering conviction.

This approach was particularly effective with intelligent individuals like Carina.

Additionally, the psychological pressure Arthur had exerted from the outset made the task even easier.

As anticipated, Carina, perceiving Arthur's unwavering composure and his serious demeanor, promptly closed her eyes, seemingly lost in thought, validating the effectiveness of Arthur's calculated strategy.

Without disturbing Carina, Arthur maintained his silence while he leisurely savored his tea.

However, he noticed that his cup was now empty, prompting a smile to curl upon his lips.

He swiftly prepared another cup of tea, employing a different technique that he hadn't utilized since his past life.

Drawing upon the knowledge acquired from his previous existence, he adjusted the temperature, water measurements, and other factors accordingly.

After dedicating two minutes to the process, he finally completed the preparation.

Carefully lifting the cup, he took a sip, and a subtle spark of delight flickered in his eyes.

"My technique remains exceptional!"

Arthur silently praised himself, knowing that his tea-making technique had not been forgotten.

He relished the taste of his tea, taking satisfaction in his accomplishment.

Although Carina appeared to be in a state of slumber with her eyes closed, Arthur paid no mind to it.

He could sense her breathing, indicating that her mind was not at rest but rather engaged in frantic contemplation.

Moreover, Arthur was confident of his forthcoming victory.

He firmly believed that Carina would ultimately agree to his terms.

Now, the question remained: How could he be so certain?

Hehe, let's find out.

After another minute elapsed, Carina's eyes fluttered open.

However, instead of directing her gaze toward Arthur, she focused on the breathtaking sky visible beyond the balcony.

The sky retained a somewhat overcast appearance, remnants of the recent rainfall.

Several moments passed, during which she inhaled deeply, before eventually shifting her attention to Arthur, who met her with a gentle smile already fixed upon his face.

Softly, in stark contrast to his previous indifferent tone, Arthur asked, "Have you reached a decision?"

Carina nodded, locking her gaze with Arthur's.

"I agree with you."

Arthur, although expecting this outcome, was taken aback as Carina's next words resonated in his ears.

"However, would you be willing to listen to my story first?"