12 O'Clock Marionette - Chapter 44

After 10,000 years of intense, solitary cultivation inside the Immortal Palace, Ancestor Li Shen finally steps outside —only to realize the world has changed, his sect is broke, and the juniors are clueless.Naturally, he does what any enlightened master would do:He starts throwing spirit stones at the problem.Need cultivation pills? Buy them in bulk.Sect disciples weak? Dump divine weapons on them like party favors.Enemy sects causing trouble? Bribe their ancestors into early retirement.Soon, Li Shen isn’t just revered as the most powerful being alive —he’s the richest, loudest, and most dramatically dressed cultivator to ever walk the continent.With a golden flying palace shaped like a reclining dragon and a pet phoenix that doubles as a chef, Li Shen’s new path to immortality is paved with cash, chaos, and really questionable decision-making.Will he reach true enlightenment?Will the Heavens finally notice him and file a noise complaint?Find out in this completely serious tale of wealth, wisdom, and way too many spirit stones.

Talent? Unnecessary! Wealth? Doesn’t matter! Brain? Eat it!

Even if one was the greatest of gutter trashes with zero redeemable qualities, as long as they had a System, they are bound to reach the pinnacle of life.

Compass Carburettor, a dirt-poor orphan with absolutely zero f**king qualities managed to reach the peak of the business world by the age of 35, all while relying on his Money-Making System like a blinded barnacle.

But at the peak of his life, he was betrayed by his System.

It all started with a glass of Tequila that Aira thought was orange juice, making her drunk and unknowingly spending a hot night with a handsome young man named Renji Ishikawa. As a result of that night, Aira's life changed drastically, especially when she had to marry Renji Ishikawa, who turned out to be a teenager in his teens. But if she refuses to marry him, Aira is threatened with a lawsuit on charges of sexual harassment against a high school student.…………How sad it was, how heartbreaking, and feeling like the biggest fool for being in the middle of the wedding of her ex-lover and her best friend.“Your drink, Miss,” offered a polite waiter, approaching with a tray full of various colours and flavours.She picked a glass of orange drink with a fresh cherry on the rim. Her moon-like eyes stayed fixed on the groom while she drank the beverage until it was empty.Nothing strange happened to the sweet girl for a minute, but suddenly, dizziness struck, and she stumbled as her body swayed.Her delicate hand searched the wall for support, afraid of falling, feeling like she was experiencing an earthquake, and seeing everything around her shake.Feeling too weak to walk, she chose to squat near a large pot close to the ballroom's entrance. People around her watched silently, unwilling to help; some even gossiped about her.She was distressed and needed help, not performing for an audience, yet many still criticized her.Wild imaginings suddenly crossed her mind, wishing for a handsome prince on a white horse to rescue her, like scenes from her childhood anime favourites.But things like that only happened in fairy tales, where the prince would permanently save the princess from the villain's hands. That was how the stories were written. For her, there would never be a prince in her life story. But who would have thought that God would grant such an extraordinary miracle?Among the hundreds of high-class guests, one person approached and tried to offer help after observing her in silence.A handsome young man in a black suit stood right behind her. “Miss, are you alright?” he asked, concerned.“Who are you?” she asked, her voice still shaky from crying.The man stood frozen for a moment as though startled by the sight of this stranger but then smiled and extended his hand. “Don't cry here. Let me help you up.”She shook her head, her cheeks red, not from embarrassment but from the effects of the drink. “My head is spinning, and I can't walk.”The young man raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Alright then.”He slipped his arms between her legs and under her body, lifting her, and she was heavy, just as he expected.From afar, the girls began to watch with shocked faces, filled with envy, anger, and jealousy, seeing the young man from the Ishikawa family carrying a girl, rumoured to be Aira Hoshino, the ex-girlfriend of Kairo Kenzaki and the best friend of Mika Kurogane, who were the couple getting married tonight.She rested her head on his shoulder comfortably, inhaling the refreshing scent of mint.Only this handsome young man, like a Greek god, came to her aid, asking about her condition, and now, carrying her out of the party without saying a word.“Where is your home?” he asked as he laid Aira, the girl he just met, into the car and fastened her seatbelt.“I don't want to go home,” she whimpered.“Why?” he asked as he sat in the driver's seat.“Do you want to comfort me while my heart is broken?” she said, draping her arms around his neck.A grin spread across his handsome face. “How?” he asked, pretending not to know.“Stay with me until morning,” Aira teased with a playful smile. In the next moment, Aira's lips were captured in his.Slowly, Aira's eyes closed tightly, leading her into a peaceful dream, soaring high into the sky, feeling as if it were real, not just a dream.…

A story in which a woman, after learning that the world would end in ten days, sets out to finish one last thing: murder her ex-girlfriend.

However, she ends up befriending, and spending the world’s final days with, the little sister of her ex-girlfriend instead.