Manga World: Bringing Steam Technology to the World of Sanctuary - Chapter 89: Weekend Date with Koneko

“Congratulations, you're now a Handler. You'll serve the state with utmost loyalty and pledge your life to its causes.”That was what Trent heard just before being handed an envelope—and a whole lot of disrespect.Mocked for his poor combat performance and labeled pathetic by his superiors, Trent finishes Handler training humiliated and underestimated. But they made one mistake: they judged him by his strength, not his mind.What Trent lacks in brute force, he makes up for with a rare genius in finance.So when a mysterious voice speaks to him in the bathroom—“Hello, Host. This is Ave-511e69.”His world flips upside down.Now equipped with Ave, a mysterious financial system that seems to know everything, Trent is about to rise through the ranks in a way no Handler ever has.Through stock markets, black-market missions, and calculated chaos, he will prove that money is the greatest weapon of all.They looked down on him. Now, they’ll look up in fear.

She is the daughter of an Alpha whose family had conquered the last demon wolf in Illyria.Esmeray is born into the prestigious Alpha family, known as the Montague. But after her father's untimely death, her life becomes a nightmare of abuse at the hands of her cruel stepmother and stepbrother, who torment her for lacking a wolf.Desperate for salvation, she dreams of a mate who would come and rescue her from the cruelty of her pack. When he finally arrived, her hopes were shattered, for he had only come to reject her.Her only connection to her family's proud heritage is her striking blue hair, a sacred legacy from her ancestors. But in a desperate bid for freedom, Esmeray cuts her hair to escape being sold to a rogue.Her daring action pushes her to the precipice of death, unwittingly awakening a powerful demon wolf, imprisoned for 15 long years. This Alpha demon, who has yearned revenge and bloodthirst, is instantly drawn to Esmeray the moment he senses her, and he is determined to keep her at his side at all cost.In the world of wolves, the hunt is everything — and he has found a prey worth chasing.

Qiao Zhenzhen spent a lifetime, only to later realise that she was the true heroine of a novel. According to the original plot, her life was supposed to be smooth sailing and blissful. But the envious transmigrated second female lead played her cards step by step, and took everything away from her!

After experiencing the divorce of her parents, and miserably failing the college entrance examination, she gets kidnapped along with her little follower of a male lead, Chi Shen. In the end, she came out as the only survivor.

Everyone believed that this was a blessing in disguise, not only was her life saved, but the pervert stalking her for the last three years was also gone! A freak like Chi Shen, who had a weird and eccentric personality, always stank of fish and grease, was better off dead. Everyone said that she ought to be grateful, but none of them knew he died protecting her.
Before he took his last breath, his dying words were-

“Don’t be afraid of me.”

That sentence, mixed with the smell of greasy fish and blood, flashed in her dreams every night for the next decade.

Reborn back into the senior year of her highschool, she walked to the youth in the corner, and in front of everyone’s eyes-

“Don’t hideaway in the dark if you don’t want me to be afraid of you.” The youth pursed his lips, his pale face steadily losing color.

Qiao Zhenzhen smiled: Be nice to me, and I shall allow you to stalk~

- Description from Novelupdates

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.