Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic - Chapter 1176: Bug Lair

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.

Lu Changsheng, who traveled through time and became an apprentice in the Miaoshou Garden, originally wanted to work hard to be a generation of genius doctor who can help the world. But when he started to practice martial arts, he found that every time he practiced a martial art to perfection, he could improve his understanding.

Moreover, understanding seems to be able to improve all the time. Lu Changsheng wanted to know, where is the upper limit of comprehension?

Unremarkable: Slightly better than crap.

The posture of the middle man: obscuring everyone without knowing it.

Possesses great potential: Xiao He has just shown her sharp corners.

Qianlong in the Abyss: Flood Dragons Come Out of Shallow Water!

Praise from all sides: Show your sharpness, unstoppable!

Dragon and phoenix among men: The name of genius spreads all over the world!

Praise for centuries: Founding a sect and establishing a sect, calling the sect and being the ancestor!

A born sage: astonishing the past and the present, unsurpassed!

There is no one in all ages: there is no one before and no one after!

Top savvy: unspeakable, unseen, unheard!

…

The finished volumes of “Mage Profound Truth”, “Eternal Martial Arts”, “Longevity Seed”, “Old Master” and “Survival Seed” are all excellent works, produced by Lao Yue, they must be excellent!

- Description from novelbuddy

Alex used to be a scientist in his previous life, infamous for doing questionable biological research; now he's the prince of a nation and a chosen 'Saint' of the God of Wisdom.Despite being a 'saint,' he's a top-tier schemer and a conspiracy master who considers his goals and ambitions above everyone and everything else in the world.“Power, connections, intelligence, and money... That's all that matters in this world; those who have them are supreme!” - Alex 'The All-Knowing Saint'What will happen if such a villainous person is thrown into this new world as a supposedly benevolent and kind 'saint'? Let's find out...(NO-HAREM, SCHEMER MC, TACTICS, AND STRATEGY!)

In this world, mastering runes is the key to becoming a cultivator. The ability to control these runes depends on the development of one’s Brain Domain. The more advanced the Brain Domain, the quicker and more precise the rune control, determining one’s potential as a cultivator.He was a boy from the slums with slim chances of rising above his station. Despite knowing his limitations, he worked tirelessly, driven by his dream and gratitude towards a childhood friend who helped him secure a spot in a prestigious high school. However, with a less developed Brain Domain, his prospects for further education and becoming a cultivator were bleak. His hard work seemed in vain when, six months before the crucial entrance exam, the girl he cherished rejected him, claiming their worlds were too different for their paths to cross again.But then, everything changed when he found himself engulfed in a mysterious ocean of golden runes!