MTL - The Lord’s Empire - Chapter 17 Poisoning

The rule had always been this way: the strong over the weak, the rich over the poor. Mark knew this, he'd even experienced it.After his boss fired him for discovering the affair with his girlfriend (who also worked at their small gaming company), Mark vowed never to be humiliated like that again. He wanted to rise above everyone, to become the world's top player, the one who made the rules and decided everyone's fate. But that was wishful thinking. He was just a heavyset, nerdy guy with some programming skills and a large appetite. What else did he have going for him?Hit hard by this reality, jobless and dumped, Mark withdrew into gaming, which also became his source of income. One day, after leaving a bad review for a game he played and streamed, he received a strange reply from the game's creator. Suddenly, Mark found himself transported to Aetherium, the world of that same game, as Magnus Lancaster, the young lord of a crumbling territory.Now, with this new beginning, he vowed never to be weak again, never to leave his fate in someone else's hands.

Most people already have their life planned out. Or at least they feel they do.They already have an idea of what and who they are going to become, and how they are going to go about achieving it.But more often than not, life always has an entirely different thing planned. And sometimes, it's something better.This was the same for James. As someone who already had his life planned out, with the best and the safest plan on how to go about it, he knew what had to be done.All he just wanted was to graduate and become a world renowned mechanical engineer. And this was why he studied hard and worked extremely hard at his part time job.Even with how life kept tossing him around and making it seem like he was the only one not moving forward while others were, he was still focused on his dreams.The truth is that he also wants to be like his peers. He also wants to drive the flashy cars the rich drives. He wants to travel the world and experience the best that life has to offer, but all that comes at a cost—money. Something that has eluded him even after busting his ass, working for three years.To make things worse, the job market wasn't looking too good either. It was looking like the two years he has already spent in the university and the two more years he's going to spend are going to be a waste. And there was very little he could do about it.Coming back to his apartment one night, after getting fired from his part time job, James just wanted to give up on everything. But no matter how much he wanted to do that, he couldn't. He has people he wants to make proud.Frustrated with everything and even more with himself, James went to bed after hoping that the next day would be different.But he had no idea that his wish would come true. Out of nowhere, James got a system and one with a feature that fixed the biggest problem he has.[Ding!][You spent $280. 10x Rebate has been applied. You have received $2,800. The money has been sent to the host's bank account.]“Oh, yeah! That's what I'm talking about!”.....Disclaimer: “World Domination Begins With Getting a System in a Modern World” is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.This book may reference real companies and organizations, but these references are for narrative purposes only and are not intended to depict actual conduct or involvement of these entities. The use of these names and references is not meant to harm, defame, or discredit these companies or organizations.

It’s been a year since everyone’s beloved heroine was possessed by a jealous villainess. I was tired of dealing with the male leads who came to tell me not to bother the heroine, and the angel-type heroine, who was completely oblivious to her. All human relationships are useless.“No matter what happens to the original story, I plan to live with cats for the rest of my life and then die of old age.”So, I decided to stay at home. The so-called Emperor Self Imprisonment.You have so much money, why do you leave?In order to live a comfortable life in confinement, they spend a lot of money making tape recorders and gramophone magic tools, but something is strange. The wizard who makes magic tools is too handsome for an extra.“… “It’s strange that I don’t see you.”“I was wrong.”In the meantime, the original male leads make a strange mistake and are in trouble.Please let me just be a homebody.

In humanity’s final war against the Demon Lord, the strongest heroes fell—not by the enemy’s hand, but by their own, twisted into madness by a cruel illusion. Betrayal. Bloodshed. Despair… and then, silence.Only one person remained: Riley—the weakest warrior of them all. Powerless. Ignored. Forgotten.But he saw through the Demon Lord’s deception. The tyrant was on the brink of death—so weak even a fly could’ve finished him off.And Riley did just that, drawing every last ounce of strength to bite off the demon’s head.Victory? Not quite. A final, desperate strike from the Demon Lord pierced him from behind, killing him instantly.But fate wasn’t done with him yet.Riley awoke ten years in the past—when the online game [Apocalypse] was launched. Before demons descended. Before monsters overran the world.And this time, he wasn’t starting from nothing. He had a decade of experience—and a second chance.Even more shocking, he didn’t awaken his old D-rank Strength Boost talent. This time, he received something far more terrifying: an SSS-Rank Gluttony talent!He could now devour anything—monsters, items, talents, even traits—and gain their power.Ding![You have devoured: Iron Fang Wolf][Acquired: +4 Strength, +2 Agility, Skill: Bite (F-rank)][You have devoured: Goblin ShamanAcquired: +8 Intelligence, Skill: Mana Bolt (E-rank), Talent: Minor Spellcasting Efficiency][You have devoured: Flaming Salamander Drake][Acquired: +22 Endurance, Trait: Dragon’s Resilience, Skill: Flame Breath (C-rank)]Now, there is no demon, no god, no monster who will stand in his way. He will devour everything—and save the world.But the power of Gluttony was a double edged sword. If he wasn’t careful… he could be the one getting consumed.