Villain's Evolution: Investing in My Minions Yields Crazy Returns!

”Young Master Victor, you’re awake?”

A slightly trembling voice sounded beside his ear.

Victor slowly opened his eyes.

What entered his vision was not the familiar ceiling of his rented apartment, but an extravagantly luxurious expanse of deep crimson curtains. Above him hung a massive chandelier made from magic crystals, casting a faint golden glow that made the entire room resemble the palace chambers of a medieval noble.

Standing beside him with his head lowered was a butler dressed in a pristine, impeccably ironed suit.

A faint medicinal scent still lingered in the air.

Victor didn’t sit up right away; instead, a surge of unfamiliar memories rushed into his mind like a rising tide.

The Saint Laurent Empire

Starlight Royal Academy.

Magic power.

Professionals.

Abyssal monsters.

And... Victor Alves.

The only son of Duke Alves of the empire’s northern territory, a second year student at Starlight Royal Academy, nineteen years old, a Tier One Warrior, and one of the most notorious spoiled young nobles in the entire academy.

Relying on his family’s influence, he bullied commoner students, seized cultivation resources, forced lower year students to run errands for him, and had even publicly humiliated a newly enrolled commoner genius because of a woman.

And that commoner genius was none other than the original protagonist of this world.

Ryan Carter.

Victor was silent for more than ten seconds.

Then, he slowly raised a hand and rubbed his temples.

”So... I transmigrated. And I transmigrated into a villain?”

If he were merely an ordinary villain, it would not have been such a problem.

What truly gave him a headache was that he happened to know the general course of this world’s future plot.

The original Victor was indeed extremely influential during the early stages of academy life. Backed by a ducal family and surrounded by a large group of noble students, even ordinary students would lower their heads when they saw him.

But everything changed after Ryan began to rise.

Three months later, the academy’s secret realm would open.

Ryan would obtain the inheritance of an Ancient Sword Saint.

Half a year later, during the academy tournament, Ryan would crush Victor in front of everyone.

One year later, the Alves Family would become entangled in the struggle for the imperial throne.

The duke would die in battle.

The family would collapse.

As for Victor himself, he would be personally killed by Ryan while fleeing, becoming little more than an elite monster used to give the protagonist another burst of experience before his death.

It was the most standard villain template imaginable.

Thinking of this, the corner of Victor’s eye twitched slightly.

Was this some kind of joke?

Other people transmigrated as heaven chosen protagonists, awakened hidden bloodlines, or, at worst, became ordinary side characters who could survive by keeping their heads down.

Yet the moment it was his turn, he had been handed a death countdown?

Just as he was about to continue sorting through his memories, an icy voice suddenly sounded deep within his mind.

[Ding!]

[Host soul fusion detected as complete.]

[Villain Investment System officially activated.]

Victor instantly froze.

In the next moment, a translucent black panel visible only to him slowly appeared in the center of his vision.

[Host: Victor Alves]

[Level: 21]

[Class: Magic Swordsman]

[Life Tier: Tier 1]

[Strength: 42]

[Constitution: 39]

[Agility: 37]

[Spirit: 51]

[Magic Power: 620]

[Talent: Advanced Fire Element Affinity]

[Current Fate Evaluation: Third Rate Villain]

[Estimated Remaining Lifespan: 367 Days]

Victor: ”...”

Although he already knew he was not far from death...

Seeing the words ”Estimated Remaining Lifespan” still felt rather unpleasant.

However, his attention quickly shifted to the name of the system.

Villain Investment System?

As though sensing his confusion, a new set of notifications quickly appeared.

[System Rules.]

[The host may invest in targets with ”Villain Faction Potential.”]

[Investments include, but are not limited to: gold coins, equipment, skills, potions, bloodlines, cultivation resources, and special opportunities.]

[When an invested target’s strength, loyalty, status, or fate improves, the host will receive a randomized multiplier return.]

[Minimum return multiplier: 2x.]

[Maximum return multiplier: Unlimited.]

[The greater the target’s potential and the worse their current circumstances, the greater the possible investment return.]

Victor’s previously gloomy expression immediately changed.