Dragonborn Saga - Chapter 687: Clockwork Pickles

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.Please note that this work of fiction is not safe for work (NSFW). It contains words, scenes, and phrases not suitable for audiences below 18. Be aware.—All the characters here are 18 and above—SynopsisOkumura Kouhei is in love with Saonji Hina, but she’s as cold as ice and doesn’t let anyone get close—she's like a flower that’s impossible to reach. However, everything changes when Kouhei uncovers a secret about Hina that turns his world upside down.To make matters even more complicated, members of the student council decide to get involved, adding to the chaos swirling around him. And let’s not forget about his neighbor next door, who seems to have her own agenda.What will happen to Kouhei now that he’s stumbled upon something he wasn’t meant to discover as a mere human?

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.

“Blue Star version 4.0 will be updated without stopping at 12:00 am on April 1st. The main content and adjustments of this update are as follows.”

“Add this month’s rule “Active Master”: All players must talk to others 1,000 sentences a day…”

When an abrupt reminder sounded in the ears of all humans on the blue star.

The world ushered in the baptism.

In the monthly version update, there will be a new rule of the month, and all players must abide by the rule.

…

And Chen Yi, who picked up a big leak before the third version update, looked at the full 6-digit coupon balance in his account and grinned.

“Consumptive rabbit, we may have to rise up completely this time.”

- Description from novelbuddy

Jianghu was in turmoil, an era of great strife. The leader of Great Qin wielded the Mo Blade, leaving the world battered and bruised. The ageless figures of Jianghu crouched upon the mountains, and with a single turn, they cast the entire world below them. Strong men measured the earth with their feet, and heroes of Jianghu could cleave the heavens with one sword, yet in the blink of an eye, they were drunk in the embrace of beauties. The Taoist carried his sword, the Scholar drunk on wine. Wearing tattered clothes, a beggar grasped a rotten branch and dared to storm the ancestral hall of the Taoist Sect. On the willow-lined causeway, in the long pavilion, a man who had sat withered for thirty years turned and stepped out, holding a peach blossom, with a flick of his wrist, he shattered ten miles of red candles. The era of Great Qin was renamed the Great Yuan Era. The youth with the Wooden Sword left his mountain village behind.