Steel, Guns, and the Industrial Party in Another World - Chapter 430: The Pope’s Meeting

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.”

“Kill them all - every last member of House Grim must die tonight!”That was the last thing Renard heard before his world turned to ash. One night was all it took for him to lose everything - his family slaughtered, his home burned to ashes, all because the other Great Houses branded them traitors.They thought they wiped a noble line. Instead, they created a monster.Rising from the despair of losing everything, Renard became the beast Sovereign. He embraced the darkness and rose to the position of the 7th commander of the dreaded demon army.Leading an army of Demons and monsters, he brought three legendary Heroes to their knees and crushed four Great Houses to dust. But just as revenge was within his grasp, the champion of Humanity - Klean Weaver's holy sword pierced his heart.Renard thought that was the end.But something impossible happened.He woke up in the past, in a time when his family still lived and House Grim stood strong among the Eight Great HousesA second chance!A chance to change everything.That wasn’t all.For unknown reasons, he inherited the Legacy of the Devourer, a power that lets him consume the strength of his enemies.Was it a curse? Or a blessing? He didn’t know. But for Renard, it is simply a tool to protect what's his.The Lords of the Great Houses think they're untouchable in their high castles. They have no idea what's coming.This time, the Beast of House Grim hunts first!!

In a world torn apart by rifts that release dangerous monsters, Espers—humans imbued with powerful abilities—serve as humanity's last line of defense. But the power of an Esper comes with a price. Overuse of their abilities leads to dangerous corruption, a force that can destroy them from the inside out. This is where Guides come in: individuals with the unique ability to calm the corruption within Espers and restore their balance.Rowan Mercer, an S-class Guide, is one of the best in his field, capable of stabilizing even the most dangerous Espers. He has worked quietly behind the scenes, helping those in need, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he is called to work with Lucian Vaughn, an S-class Esper whose immense power and unstable corruption levels make him a dangerous threat to himself and others.Lucian, a tall, stoic, and enigmatic figure, has long fought against the growing corruption within him. At first, his relationship with Rowan is purely professional—Rowan as his Guide, helping him to stay in control. However, as their interactions grow more frequent, their bond deepens in ways neither expected. What started as a simple duty soon turns into a complex relationship where power, trust, and vulnerability collide.As the world around them faces escalating threats from rifts, Rowan and Lucian must navigate not only their personal challenges but also the dangerous world of Espers and Guides. Their bond will be tested as they fight together against the corrupting forces that threaten them both.In Corrupted Bonds, survival isn’t just about battling monsters from the rifts—it's about fighting the darkness within themselves and finding a way to stay connected in a world that’s constantly pulling them apart.