Let Me Be Regent?

Endless void. No up or down, no left or right, no passage of time—only a churning, viscous, conceptual "Chaos."

A consciousness awoke within it, like a speck of faint light dropped into a boundless pool of ink.

"Is this... the world after death?"

The consciousness rippled, carrying a trace of bitterness and self-mockery:

"I, Ji Liman, had lived a life of glory. Maybe I wasn't some towering hero, but I was still a fine young man who ate, drank, and enjoyed women!"

"And in the end, I got sent here by a truck just because I saved some little girl. What a... dramatic ending."

His "thoughts" drifted through Chaos, feeling an isolation unlike anything he had ever known.

Yet just as that absolute silence was about to swallow him whole, a cold, mechanical, utterly emotionless voice rang directly within the core of his consciousness:

[Detected that the host's soul traits meet the standards of "bravery," "sacrifice," and "leadership potential."

In recognition of and to reinforce the host's courageous actions, the Strongest Regent System is now binding.]

"Wait? A system?!"

Ji Liman's consciousness shook violently, as though a massive boulder had been thrown into a tranquil lake.

"A system?! Does that mean I'm not completely dead? I've transmigrated into another world?"

[Correct.

As this system is the Strongest Regent System, the host's new identity in the world he is about to enter will inevitably be that world's future regent.]

"Holy shit! A regent?!"

Ji Liman's mood instantly brightened, as though he could already see himself seated beside a throne, wielding authority and commanding the realm.

"It sounds a little treasonous, but it also sounds amazing! Power over the court, one man below and ten thousand above... no, maybe I'll be above ten thousand people!"

"If there's also a young empress... hehehe~"

He asked impatiently, "Then, System, what world am I going to? Is it one I know?

"Some popular anime world, or maybe a fantasy novel world? Just don't let it be somewhere weird."

The system replied in an even tone:

[Current world designation: Warhammer 40K Universe.

The body the host will possess upon awakening is that of the "Son of the God-King," who is about to revive within the Armor of Fate in the forty-first millennium of the Imperium of Man—the future Imperial Regent, Roboute Guilliman.]

"Guilliman..."

"Wait!"

"Roboute Guilliman?!"

Ji Liman's consciousness froze instantly, as if sealed in ice.

A few seconds later, an almost broken emotion erupted from him. "The fucking Warhammer world?! System, you screwed me over!!!"

"System! Is it still too late for me to kill myself?!"

"I'm not being this regent anymore! Don't tell me the regent I'm supposed to be is Guilliman!"

Guilliman might have been the only Primarch who had a mother's love and a father's love.

But he was also one of the most miserable!

First, his "good brother" Fulgrim slit his throat with a poisoned daemon sword, leaving him unconscious for ten thousand years!

When he woke ten thousand years later, he discovered that the Imperium of Man was a thousand times weaker than before he went to sleep.

And all its enemies—Chaos, Orks, Tyranids, and Necrons—not only hadn't grown weaker, they had become even fucking stronger!

What kind of hopeless opening was this?! It was as fucked-up as an opening could get!

"I'm out! I'm out! System, I can't play this game!"

"A mess that even a Primarch with a demigod body couldn't handle, and you want an ordinary Earthling like me to take it on?"

"I want to kill myself. Hurry, before I fully descend—give me a quick death!"

Ji Liman gave up completely.

At that moment, the system's voice remained steady, even carrying a faintly coaxing tone:

[Please remain calm, host.

To assist the host in surviving in the new world and fulfilling the duties of the "Strongest Regent," this system will provide the necessary support.]

"Oh? Support?"

Ji Liman seemed to seize a lifeline. "Does that mean I'll get the complete Emperor's soul the moment I check in, or perhaps a fully intact body of the Emperor?"

"If that's the case... I might still be able to struggle."

[Uh, that is not the case.

This system's authority is limited to enhancements related to the concept of a "regent."]

"Then... can you give me another Guilliman body, or a complete demigod soul? I could accept that.

"Two demigods combined are better than one, right? Quantitative change leads to qualitative change!"

[The system... is also uncertain about that.

The host will need to make a selection personally.

Strictly speaking, the character "Guilliman" as you know him is also within the range of your upcoming selection, but whether you can select him depends on your luck.]

"Huh? What do you mean, 'selection'? What does 'within the range' mean?" Ji Liman asked in confusion.

[The full name of this system is the Strongest Regent System.

The host may now conduct an anchored draw, randomly selecting one regent from across the myriad worlds.

Once the anchor is successful, the host will instantly inherit all of that regent's physical and psychological traits, abilities, and knowledge. This process will not affect the host's primary consciousness.]

[Afterward, the host may obtain "Governance Points" by fulfilling the duties of a regent.

Upon accumulating enough Governance Points, the host may exchange them for any item, technology, or ability from the world of the regent he has anchored.]

"Governance Points? Anchoring a regent?"

Ji Liman quickly processed the information, then pressed on. "So as long as I anchor a regent, I can obtain everything he has.

"But don't I already have Guilliman's body? Or rather, won't I have it after I wake up?"

[The Guilliman body obtained by the host is the foundation.

Once you anchor another regent's body, even if that individual is merely mortal, everything about him will undergo deep fusion with the Primarch's body.

The Guilliman body the host is about to take over currently remains in the "eternal instant" before being slain by Fulgrim's daemon sword.

Once the fusion is complete, all injuries will be completely healed. His strength, physique, mental attributes, and all other aspects will be layered together with a portion of the fusion target's attributes.]

"Is this fusion limited to certain aspects, or is it a pure, complete fusion?" Ji Liman carefully confirmed.

[It is a pure, complete fusion!

Genes, bloodline, will, memories, skills, instincts... everything will blend perfectly!

But please rest assured, host. Your own core consciousness will remain the sole helmsman. You will inherit only those memories and powers; you will not be overwritten by that person's personality.]

"Fine, fine... it's better than nothing."

Ji Liman sighed. Though he still doubted the system's "support," there seemed to be no better option at present.

"Then show me what options I have."

In an instant, a massive wheel glittering with countless points of light appeared in Ji Liman's field of consciousness.

The wheel listed the names and blurry images of famous regents from throughout Chinese history and various regions of the world—from China's Duke of Zhou and Dorgon to foreign figures such as Richelieu and Metternich...

Ji Liman took one look and immediately cursed:

"Aren't these all fucking mortals?! What kind of help can they possibly provide?!"

"Guilliman was originally going to be revived with the help of Archmagos Cawl's Armor of Fate and Yvraine, leader of the Aeldari death god's army.

"What use is there in fusing a mortal template into myself now? An extra mortal's strength and some memories of political schemes?"

"With such a gap, I'd be better off having Belisarius Cawl, that Archmagos of the Adeptus Mechanicus, add another power fist to my arm later!"

He complained, but as he looked at the endless Chaos before him, he knew he had no other choice.

"Forget it. Lying around here isn't going to solve anything. I'll treat a dead horse like a live one! Draw!"

With a thought, the enormous wheel began spinning at high speed. Countless regents' faces flashed past like a revolving lantern, leaving him dizzy.

At last, the wheel gradually slowed, and its pointer stopped on a highly distinctive figure.

It was an exceptionally tall and burly man with a resolute face and a signature little mustache.

For some reason, he bore a slight resemblance to the literary giant Lu Xun, the man Ji Liman remembered as wielding his pen like a weapon.

He wore fitted white clothes trimmed in red, with a crimson cape draped behind him. Around its collar was an eye-catching ring of white fur.

Most striking of all were his fists, which seemed filled with destructive power and were nearly as large as his head.