MTL - The Life Through Books of the Salted Fish Family - Chapter 158 The "price" of Huju City

When the enigmatic and overpowered Kieran Drayke awakens in a foreign magical world after a sudden transmigration, he brings along a system unlike any this realm has ever known. The “Sovereign Architect System” doesn’t just make him invincible—it gives him the tools to build something far greater.But Kieran isn’t interested in world domination. At least, not in the usual way.Disillusioned by the world's surface-level glimmer and the rot beneath it, Kieran sets his sights on the forsaken—those discarded by society, lost in the shadows of nobility and corruption. From slums, war zones, and forgotten ruins, he gathers orphan girls of various races—elves, beastkin, humans, and more—each with untapped potential and pain behind their eyes.He trains them in secret. Guides them. Empowers them. Not as soldiers, but as a family. A hidden organization that operates behind the curtains, shaping the world while appearing as ordinary students at the prestigious Aetherion Magic Academy.Kieran himself? Just a carefree, slightly lazy transfer student with a penchant for sweets, sarcasm, and sneaking naps between classes—on the surface, at least.With a slow-burning plot that weaves magical worldbuilding, deep friendships, training arcs, casual comedy, and a cast of unforgettable girls who grow into queens of the unseen, Chronicles of the Hidden Crown explores what happens when an OP MC doesn’t conquer the world with brute force…But builds a legacy from its forgotten pieces.No betrayal. No forced drama. Just the steady rise of a secret kingdom in the shadows of a crumbling empire.

[Kill level 4 weirdos (characteristic: silent), you can redeem 3000 system points, or the system can be devoured to extract characteristics! 】

Chen Ge listened to the voice in his mind and looked at the wild cat that was killed by his own hands. His expression was a little subtle for a moment.

Returning to the community, looking at the friendly security guard, the system prompt sounded in Shen Ge’s mind again——

【warn! Found a level 5 weirdness (Characteristics: three heads and six arms), detected that the host’s current strength is definitely no match for him, please flee the scene quickly! 】

For a moment, looking at the oranges handed over by the security guard, Shen Ge didn’t know whether he should accept them or not.

The next day, Shen Ge went to the supermarket and bought a box of instant noodles and some snacks.

[The host sneaked into the mysterious and haunted area of ​​Level 6 and collected a large amount of supplies. His courage was astonishing and he was rewarded with 1,000 system points! 】

Shen Ge was about to scan the QR code to pay, but his hands froze in mid-air…

- Description from novelbuddy

Wen Le’s grandfather was a revered literary writer who escaped to the mountains for inspiration and has lived there for over 10 years.

Ever since she was a child, Wen Le has lived in the mountains with her grandparents. Only upon attending school did Wen Le discover that they only had a black and white TV while her friends all had LED ones.

Thus the young Wen Le who matured early knew that they were poor and that she had to work hard. However, Wen Le gradually realized that something felt a bit odd. Wen Le hesitantly gave her grandfather a call.

“Yeye*, when I passed the university entrance exam, what are the two keys that you and Dad gave to me for?”

Grandpa snorted in reply, “I gave you a courtyard house, and your dad gave you a building.”

Wen Le trembled in trepidation, “Then what about that document which Dad got me to sign a few days ago?”

Grandpa snorted, “How would I know? But your Dad recently bought a gem mine.”

Wen Le cautiously asked, “Yeye, is our family really not poor?”

Grandpa got so angry and scolded her for being s*upid.

After Wen Le got together with the school crowned hunk Zhou Kao, who was cold to everyone, it shook the entire school. Zhou Kao was a wealthy young master from birth, and Wen Le was only a poor child from the mountains. With their social status deemed unfavorably matched, Wen Le was deemed as a scheming girl who wanted to marry into wealth.

Until someone secretly recorded the interaction between the two of them. In the video, Zhou Kao had unexpectedly backed Wen Le up to a secluded corner. He played with Wen Le’s long hair, “It’s said that this jewel that’s currently on you is worth millions but was bought from a street stall for $20?”

Wen Le smiled: “The stall owner was probably my Dad.”

“However…” Wen Le raised Zhou Kao’s chin and looked at him with her seductive eyes, “How much are you selling this ten million beauty for?”

Reputed as being hellishly difficult, Zhou Kao, the famed hunk whom nobody could successfully chase, was infatuated. He leaned down for a kiss, and with a raspy voice said, “I’ll give it to you for $10.”

Wen Le dodged the kiss with a laugh, “Isn’t $10 a little expensive?”

Zhou Kao clenched his teeth, and directly kissed her, “I’ll bear a deficit of $10.”

The whole school was SHOCKED!

- Description from Novelupdates

“I thought we were brothers, and this is how you treat me?”Clutching his bloodied abdomen, John stared fiercely at the two figures before him.And the dragger embedded in his stomach was none other than the symbol of their former friendship: the legendary gear [Apate’s Whisper].“Just got a little lucky, and you think you’re so great?”“Claiming to be blessed by the Goddess of Luck? I’d like to see where your Goddess is.”“Hahahaha…”Amidst the taunting laughter, John’s world gradually darkened.…[Ding, congratulations to the Host for becoming player number 001 in Apocalypse]“Didn’t I die? What time is it now?”[Ding, congratulations to the Host for acquiring the SSS talent Kiss of LUCK, randomly gaining a hundredfold Bonus!]“A hundredfold Bonus?”[Ding, the Host executes a normal attack, physical damage 5; based on talent evaluation, deals a total of 2000 points magic damage!][Ding, the Host obtains an iron dagger, quality common; based on talent evaluation, it upgrades to a Legendary dagger!][Ding, the Host obtains a magic scroll, quality rare; based on talent evaluation, it upgrades to a Divine scroll!]“Good, this time, you all will pay for what you’ve done!”