Seoul Object Story - Chapter 90: Pudding Factory (2)

Chained by slavery and yet craving freedom, such is the fate of Alpheo , a modern historian forced to live under the grip of slavery in a land where chaos would soon erupt.

As the empire of Rolmia plunges into civil war following the death of the emperor , his three ambitious sons vie for the throne. In the midst of this turmoil, Alpheo finds the chance to break his chain and escape, leading his companions into the ashes of war, trying to thrive in it, selling their swords to the highest bidder .

But beyond the borders of Rolmia, hungry eyes watch as the empire's grip loosens. The Sultanate of Azania, ever the opportunist, sees a chance to expand its domain and influence , while to the south, neighboring principalities breathe a sigh of relief as the once-dominant giant stumbles and falters.

In the north, the confederation of the Free Isle finds their chance to restore their old tradition of pillaging and piratery, denied to them by an empire that is now crumbling beneath itself.

In this crucible of conflict, where dynasties crumble and empires fall, Alpheo find his call and the chance to forge his own destiny amidst the ashes of empires.

……………………………………………………………

Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

Lu Shang picked up a dirty teenager while discussing work at a bar. It was merely happenstance, but memories from ten years ago resurfaced when he saw the gunshot scars on the teenager’s back.

Lu Shang asked him, “What is your name?”

“Xiao Li… My surname is Li, so they all called me Xiao Li.”

“You don’t have a name?”

“I don’t remember.”

Lu Shang said, “Then I will call you Li Sui. From now on, you will be with me.”

From that day onward, a young “lover” was always by Lu Shang’s side.

Years later, Dr. Leung teased Lu Shang, “You didn’t get his heart, instead your heart caved in; boss Lu, that doesn’t seem like a bargain.”

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

=========================================

I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

……………………………………………………………

Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

Shock! The Eye-Candy of the Entertainment Industry is Reborn as a Top Student!The niece of the Zhang family is said to be the reincarnation of the God of Literature. From childhood to adulthood, she has never scored second place in any exam. Even on the day of a test, when she had a fever of 39.9 degrees, she still effortlessly wrote like a supernatural being—truly amazing.When neighbors talked about this girl, their envy and astonishment were indescribable.This girl was nothing short of a Tsinghua or Peking University candidate; the Zhang family’s ancestors must be smiling from their graves.“Have you heard? That Zhang family girl topped the citywide high school entrance exam again. City No. 1 High School and Experimental High School nearly fought at the Zhang family’s door to recruit her...”“What’s that? The principal of Lanya Noble High School even came with a million yuan to visit her…”The world of a top student is beyond our understanding!——The world of a top student is very lonely!——When one possesses unparalleled beauty but lacks status and power to match it, this becomes the root of all suffering.In her past life, Shen You'an refused to compromise with the hidden rules of the entertainment industry. Her life was one of hardship and destitution, ultimately ending in her dying alone on a snowy winter's night on the streets.Once celebrated as the stunning but talentless beauty of the entertainment world, she left quietly and tragically, without drawing attention from anyone.When Shen You'an opened her eyes again, her firefighter father had just passed away in the line of duty.“Ding.” Your System for Top Students has arrived. Please sign for it.She cut her long hair, put on glasses, and concealed her beauty. Thus, she began her journey to becoming a top student.Until she gains the strength to protect her unrivaled beauty, she would rather let her brilliance be hidden than become a target of envy and harm.