Tales of Leo Attiel ~Portrait of the Headless Prince~ - Volume 2, Chapter 2: Laying the Groundwork

Life is a clash of desires, of wants, of musts…What is good?What is evil?Is one who saves his sister in place of hundreds, evil?Is another who sacrifices his sister to save hundreds, good?Life is no idealistic fairytale.Unique, it so easily gives and takes opportunities.For me? Life had taken one, and given another— two lives.This was no longer earth.On Sanctum, the ‘Wheel of Fortune’ decides how we start, but not where we go.As I woke, I knew not who I was, where I was, nor where I came from… Even my name eluded me… Yet I did not care.I knew my purpose.To find her...To find the strength to protect her...To build a reputation she would embrace, as the hero she'd always envisioned...On the 22 floating islands of the Arcane, knowledge is one’s most powerful weapon, and at the same time, greatest vulnerability. The web of lies and deception spread far in this world, some even woven and hidden by the very gods. The abyssal mysteries— those who near them get swallowed within the endless fogs that speak tales of Sanctum’s inevitable doom.For the sake of the world, I envision. This won’t do…Dearest Nina…___Dearest Joseph…********THERE WILL BE ABSOLUTELY NO HAREM IN THIS NOVEL!!I actively despise it as it slows down the story for no reason and serves NO purpose other than self insert fantasy slop.If you're here for diabolical activities that make sense, a smart MC who isn't naive for the sake of plot, where everything has meaning, leads to things without downtime and empty chapters, a story not about just an OP MC self insert fantasy, character development and morality, a mysterious world and plot twists, you've come to the right place.AUTHOR NOTE:Hey, It's Drip again. You may know me from my work on The Great Demon SystemThe first few chapters will be on earth, then it will transition into fantasy after where things will really pick up (before chapter 10). The MC will be very unique in the way he interacts and develops, things aren't always as they seem on the surface, so I hope you look forward to it :))As is common with my novels, my MC is NOT a morally ideal person, but it all has meaning so be prepared, or excited!I've been really busy with university work lately and have been cooking this novel up. I feel like it'll be something special.5 Chapters a day until around chapter 50, then I'll post daily

When Paige Sterling exited the entertainment industry, she set a small goal in front of the whole internet: to first earn fifty billion.The entire internet mocked: This woman must be crazy with poverty.Three months later, when everyone online thought Paige Sterling was down and out, she made a strong comeback by leveraging a high-intelligence robot, dominating the internet and achieving a textbook-level comeback.Haters: This must be fake, right? The person I hate can't be that awesome!Until Paige Sterling earned fifty billion after fifty billion, until she created one scientific miracle after another, until the youngest of the business circle's three giants, Mr. Hawthorne, publicly showed their marriage certificate, did the haters realize: Your dad will always be your dad.No one knew that Mr. Hawthorne, who appeared cold and distant in public, was actually a wife-loving maniac who quietly and skillfully showed off his affection.One day, Mr. Hawthorne posted a complaint: My wife has been in the lab for three hours and hasn't kissed me yet. What should I do? Waiting online urgently.Netizens: Get lost! Stop flaunting your love!

Scarlett's world collapses when she is drugged and forced to marry an old, filthy-rich widower with five children.

Trying to escape her seemingly inescapable troubles, she accepts an offer of a one-year contract marriage with a mysterious gentleman. He promises this will get her out of her hostile-arranged marriage problems. She took the offer.

If everything goes well, she will be a free and independent woman in one year...

However, many things take an unexpected turn. The contract marriage made Scarlett's life feel like she was riding a rollercoaster. A mix of exhilaration, dreaded inferno, and joyful heaven.

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Only a crazy person would accept his offer. And right now, she does not fall into that category. Her mind is still sane.

“Please don't get me wrong. I'm just trying to help myself. And at the same time helping you.”

Scarlett was even more confused.

“I know my problem is complicated. But, I think being married to a man I just met, without love, feels weird...” She said.

“This is not a real marriage but a contract marriage that you can set up to your advantage. And also mine.”

Scarlett listened silently; inside, she was shocked and a bit perplexed.

Xander crossed his arms over his chest while looking into Scarlett's eyes. He continued, “As I said before, I will help you, and at the same time, you will help me. I don't need to explain what my problem is. But, I assure you, if you agree to do a contract marriage with me, then your problems will be solved. So what do you think!?”

Scarlett was in no hurry to speak. She slowly raised her head and said, “So I can put any clauses I want in the contract?”

The man nods, saying, “As long as it doesn't hurt me.”

She offered a handshake to Xander, “Okay. You got a deal!”

……………………………………………………………

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What is martial arts?Martial Arts has nothing to do with musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, treasures or secret manuals, nor is there so much talk about being the best in the world. Martial Arts is a technique, a method that gives the weak a chance to draw their blades against the strong.What is chivalry (xiá)?Chivalry is not about romantic affairs, traditional culture, or being gentle, respectful, frugal, and compliant. Chivalry is violence, it's the bayonet forged by those driven to Mount Liang to use against tyrants.Cao Mo pledged with a dagger, (Returning to) Lu to invade. Zhuan Zhu entered with grilled meat, (Pacifying) Wu to usurp the throne. Brother Zhang cried in the market, avenging his lord by defiling a lavatory. Suicide by cutting one's own throat to seek justice, acting while concealing his sleeve. The tyrant of Qin seized souls, the coward gained courage.This is a martial artist's story.In the 1930s, a group of like-minded young people came together, striving to change the world.Then, two hundred years later, in a garbage landfill, Xiang Shan, the Progenitor of Cyber Martial Arts who had once rebooted heaven and earth, woke up reciting the name of his enemy, having lost all his memories.“Perhaps it's because I lost back then that the world has become what it is...”“So this time, I won't be defeated again!”This is the story of a person changing the world once more!