Hang-up One Second to Achieve Lv.999 - Chapter 1

Waking up from a nightmare several hours before dawn, Belle fetched a drink of water.

She paused in front of her kitchen’s window when she noticed a lit lantern in front of her mansion’s garden. Her butler stood there, shovel in hand. This was no hour to be gardening.

Curious, she made her way outside, but when she had gotten close enough to see a large and hollow pit next to her eternally-stoic and polite butler, she saw him pick up a rotten body.

A DEAD BODY!

Her eyes widened fearfully when she saw her handsome butler drop the rotting body into the fresh hole. She asked in horror, ”What are you doing?!“

Surprised to see his young miss awake at this hour, he stared at her with the same expression he had been keeping up for all these years. He had made sure she was asleep before coming here.

“Gardening.”

“And the body?!”she looked at him in disbelief.

“Fertilizer,” he answered her before picking up the shovel that was on the ground. Belle was now certain something had possessed her butler. Who gardened dead bodies?!

She then heard him ask her, “Want to help me in planting it, Miss Adams?” he gave her a sweet smile.

Note: If you enjoy a book of comedy with light-hearted romance and a gothic background. This book is for you~

Kim Mu-ryeong is the youngest member of a famous exorcist family. He grew up receiving love from his entire family and was considered a genius. The kind that appears once every hundred years. “Mu-ryeong, let me make a request.” After enrolling in high school, Mu-ryeong began to do simple exorcism work. The apartment’s elevator is acting weird. Someone is having constant nightmares. Even things like getting rid of a stalker or acting as a boyfriend. It was more of a problem-solver job than exorcism, But Mu-ryeong, being someone who helped anybody, There was nothing he couldn’t accept. But even for Mu-ryeong, there was one person he avoided… “Ki Hwan-young?” Tall and handsome with a mysterious, intimidating aura, And known for being impolite and having no friends. One day, Ki Hwan-young came to see Mu-ryeong. “My shoulders feel heavy lately.”

Themes: Black Market Trading, Global Crime Networks, Boundaries of Human Nature and Morality, The Struggle Between Truth and SurvivalStory Background:In a modern metropolis, the surface level of prosperity conceals the darkness and corruption lurking beneath. Ethan, a highly skilled detective, spends his life navigating the shadowy corners of the city, uncovering the hidden secrets buried beneath the mundane facade of everyday life. When he is drawn into what initially seems like a simple suicide case, he becomes entangled in a conspiracy involving the global black market, power struggles, and transnational crime.Main Characters:Ethan (Protagonist): A seasoned, calm, and intuitive detective who excels at finding the truth in complex cases. On the surface, he is a quiet, solitary man who prefers to avoid social interaction, but deep down, he is haunted by unresolved cases from his past. Faced with dark forces, he is both determined and full of doubt.Lila (Female Protagonist/Key Ally): Ethan's investigative partner, an intelligent and resourceful intelligence officer with a mysterious background. Her past is also shrouded in secrecy, and she seems to have an undisclosed connection to the “Black Angels” organization. She provides crucial assistance in Ethan's investigation, but her motives remain unclear, casting suspicion on her true intentions.Victor Saville (Antagonist/Main Adversary): A charismatic yet dangerous businessman, who appears to be a successful entrepreneur but is, in fact, one of the central figures of the global crime syndicate “The Black Angels.” Cold-hearted, clever, and ruthless, he controls a global black market network, overseeing arms trafficking, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. He is not only a key figure in Langley's death but also the biggest obstacle in Ethan's investigation.The Mysterious Woman (Key Character): An elusive woman who repeatedly appears during Ethan's investigation, warning him not to delve deeper into Saville and the “Black Angels” organization. Her identity is unclear, but it is evident that she holds vital secrets about Saville and his network. Her appearances leave Ethan bewildered—whether she is an enemy or his only ally remains uncertain.

After finishing a novel, Betty wakes up in an unfamiliar world—inside the very book she just read.In the story, the original “Betty” was the fake daughter of the powerful Johnson family. Once the real daughter returned, Betty was cast aside, ignored by the people she once called family. Her once-loving brother abandoned her, and when the apocalypse arrived, she struggled to survive alone. Despite becoming an A-rank Ice-type Awakener, she clung to the hope that her family would one day accept and love her.But that hope led to her tragic death.Now, the real Betty—our Betty—has taken over the fake daughter’s body. And this time, she’s not the same naive girl desperate for affection. Grateful that the apocalypse hasn’t started yet, Betty prepares for what’s to come.In this second life, she awakens a mysterious “cheat code”—Space: a boundless pocket dimension where she can store unlimited supplies—from food and medicine to weapons—all untouched by time or decay. A hidden sanctuary where she can rest, recover, and plan.[Warning: Story can be fast paced, I don't want to waste words on long descriptions][In this novel, there can be cultivation elements included,so this novel will not always be about the apocalypse in the future]