MTL - Emperor Zhengde of Ming Dynasty - Chapter 59 speculate

“CLICK-CLACK.A message notification sound broke the dormitory's silence.The message contained only four characters.Ban Feng, save me!”In order to save a friend's life, Li Banfeng had gone to Platform 96, boarded the 1160 Steam Train, and arrived in Puluo State, which lingered in the steam era.After getting off the train, Li Banfeng felt like he was the most eye-catching man on the platform—truly radiant. He even had the distinct illusion that his body was emitting light.“Mommy, that man has light on him!” said a child behind him.He stood there, frozen.“Sir, what's wrong? Sir? Sir… You haven't been touched by the Heavenly Light, have you?!”

Have you ever thought that the state of the world as it presently is, could revert to the laws of the ancients? When a series of strange incidents beginning with the disappearance of his friend led Luo Yuan to question the possibility of an apocalypse, he becomes embroiled in the midst of a global-scale chaos.

Evolution has turned the flora and fauna of the vast and bountiful Earth into something that had never been seen before. Coincidentally, the all-dominating Homo sapiens have ended up at the bottom of the food chain. From mystery to crisis, will Luo Yuan discover a means of saving humanity by racing to the top of the food chain? Or will he strive in accordance with the law of the jungle? It is the dawn of an age of the survival of the fittest.

- Description from Novelupdates

“The masterminds are cooler than heroes,” I mutter as I stare at the chess pieces before me. It is easier to be the one who sits in the shadows and moves the pieces, likewise deciding the flow of the game.Heroes will foolishly sacrifice their lives for the good cause and villains will sacrifice the world for their own gain, but masterminds will use both the heroes and villains to their own benefit.Why, you ask? Well, that's because I've lost my life once while trying to be a hero so, I don't want that anymore. I'd rather be a mastermind who molds the world as per my convenience and live peacefully. Because, why not?***[Defender of Divine Glory says you are the hope of this world.]What?[Goddess of Wisdom believes that you will be the one to save the world.]Wait, what?![Propose the Grand Duke the idea of a fake marriage.]And, why would I do that?![Stop the assassination of Prince Eric.]Why would I save him?![The candidates for the throne are:... Who will you choose?]Ah! I give up...It seems like a curse that anyone who wishes for a slacker life in Isekai will have to go through the most troublesome things.In my past life, I died because of one rookie mistake but after being transmigrated in the world of fantasy I've gotten an opportunity to start afresh, but unlike the protagonists who look for their love and glory, I'd rather make money and live a life of a slacker.I have magic, I have power and I have money, what else do I need?Well, that was the plan but this damn system is getting on my nerves. I mean who in their sane mind would want to mess with the complicated royal family and political affairs? But that's not all though.I've also become the saviour of this world. Things just can't be anymore worse!Besides, the penalty of failing this quest is...[Failure: Destruction of the World.]It seems like if I screw up in selecting the right person then the destruction that is going to befall the world won't be stopped.If I speak of my reward then it's this vague thing.[Reward: Fulfillment of any wish.]“If that's the case then, I'd rather choose the person who would be the best fit for the throne.”And that's how I decided that I would become the Kingmaker.

In the Abyss, all beings are imprisoned, struggling bitterly to survive. One day, in the eternally dark lower world, a young boy has a chance encounter and catches a glimpse of the upper worlds. He is fortunate to witness wonders beyond even the most beautiful dreams. Realizing there are worlds beyond his own, he refuses to settle for mediocrity and vows to ascend to the top step by step.