Worm (Parahumans #1) - Chapter 268: Arc 26: Sting - Interlude

A weary historian dies and finds himself in a different world awakened in a life as the notorious young Duke of a southern state. His nation is weakened, his army underfed, and his neighbors revolve around his lands menacingly. No one believes his land is going to hold out until winter.But this newfound duke is no naive simpleton his enemies recollect. He carries with him the experience of centuries of war and empire, of starting and ending monarchies. From Caesar to Napoleon, from the Mongols to world wars, he has learned from each of them—and his strategy is to make history his very own arms.He organizes his smashed levies into well-trained formations, rebuilds his castles, and turns his villages into supply centers. Where others see defeat, he senses opportunity. As he triumphs, rumors spread: of a pennant red as winter snow that shall not go to ground, of a bloody duke who writes his name in gore and flame.Is he a savior who's constructing a new empire, or a tyrant who's going to bring the world to endless war?

**COMPLETED**“I am not worthless. I deserve to live. I will survive!”In a world where women are treated as mere ornaments and pawns, she woke up in the body of an abused Lady, with no memory of who she is.In a land that forbids magic, she finds out that she is someone with magical powers. The kind that is a threat to the Brute Emperor who is conquering all lands.And as her memory returns, she figures out that she is the once-great knight who suffered Damnatio memoriae after betraying the King she swore an oath to serve.A woman as a Knight? Ah, she had to pretend to be a man to be a Knight!Why did she go that far to be a Knight? She didn't remember.And why did she betray her king? She didn’t remember.And now, the one she shares the body with- Lady Felixa got married(?) to the direct descendant of the King she betrayed. Refusing him is not an option.She learns that the story of the Knight who betrayed the King had versions. In one version, the Knight was the Hero. There are still people who believe that the Hero will be born again to save them from the Brute.If she is the Knight, is she the Hero people are waiting for? But wouldn't that put her in odds with the Brute who is now her husband?Along with the magical power she has, she has to hide her identity as the fallen Knight from her husband – The Brute, while trying to act as the submissive Lady Felixa whose body she is occupying.To survive!But why is the Brute looking at her weirdly? He even acts weird making her feel weird.And what’s with him showering her with gifts one day and trying to get her practice swordsmanship with him the other?What secret does he hold?And who is this other Knight from her memory?

Lu Chen woke up to find himself participating in a live-streamed creative competition show!Contestants were tasked with creating works based on themes given by the show.When the theme ‘Countryside’ was announced, other participants quickly began crafting heartwarming rural stories, tales of pastoral love, and picturesque depictions of harmony and simplicity.Lu Chen decided to take the road less traveled—he wanted to blow the audience away!He chose ‘Operation Icebreaker’ as his inspiration.At first, the audience thought they were getting a story about rural development. But as the plot unfolded, something felt… off.A village of 20,000 people, every household with the same type of large pot, and a full-scale drug production operation?The internet exploded.[Countryside theme, and you’re writing about a drug-making village getting rich together?]The producers were in chaos.We said countryside! What’s this Taizhai nonsense?Lu Chen, unfazed, replied, “Director, rural anti-drug campaigns are a countryside theme. Now, are we sticking to the theme or not?”And thus, the Master of Sticking to the Theme was born.Given the theme Fishmonger, he wrote The Legend of Gao Qiqiang.

Li Jing, who is unemployed in a first-tier city, obtains a system where enjoying life can double the amount of money spent.[Congratulations, host for spending two thousand yuan to enjoy gourmet food, positive emotion one star, return ten times the consumption amount of twenty thousand yuan.][Congratulations, host for spending fifty thousand yuan to stay in a luxury hotel, positive emotion two stars, return twenty times the consumption amount of one million yuan.][Congratulations, host for spending one hundred thousand yuan to enjoy the pleasure of purchasing luxury goods, positive emotion three stars, return...]By becoming wealthy through the system, Li Jing finally experiences the joy of life, luxurious spending, perfect service, and transcendent status, all of which make him deeply understand the power of money.Especially those once unattainable goddesses, due to Li Jing's improved economic level and upgraded social circles, wonderful and unforgettable stories centered around him occurred.In the top floor suite of the world's tallest building, Li Jing stands with a wine glass in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the entire city, and sighs:“People without money are merely alive.People with money truly live.”