Almighty Sword Domain - Chapter 32 – Beauty In His Embrace

Crimson Vale Academy—where reputation is currency, and failure is a stain you wear on your sleeve.Behind gothic walls and spotless uniforms, students aren't just educated—they're measured, ranked, and pitted against each other in a brutal meritocracy. Privileges are earned, not given. The strong rise. The weak vanish.Enter Kairon Vale, a transfer student marked Rank D—the bottom of the bottom. No badge. Just a stitched black fang, branding him as “Obsidian”—a warning to others.In a system where points dictate your value, Obsidian-ranked students claw for every opportunity to ascend into the prestigious Golden or Platinum ranks—where comfort, power, and influence await. But for most, it’s a losing battle.Yet Kairon isn’t here to fit in, impress, or play by their rules. Cold, calculating, and impossible to read, he watches the system… and waits. Because while the academy judges worth by numbers and names—he understands something deeper:Everyone wears a mask. And every mask can be cracked.Let the games begin.

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.

Once upon a time, there was an office worker who was dragged by his boss to take a hot spring bath. While he was soaking…

This is probably very serious. He came to a Beast world and was licked out of his sleep by a golden lion. The lion accompanied him. Only then did he understood this world… when he came to the lion’s tribe, he found that this was really not an experimental base…

- Description from Novelupdates

[Warning: Mature Content, R18+] [Detailed Smut] [Strictly for Adults Only]Mixed POV: 3rd & 1st POVGeorgia Lewis had a carefully planned future. Her longtime billionaire boyfriend proposed marriage, promising protection and financial freedom.But everything was shattered in an instant.Her brother’s tragic death at sea was initially pinned on a disgraced ship captain. Then, the case was closed and declared a drunken accident, but the wounds never healed on either side.Georgia was left to pick up the pieces: Left with an orphaned niece, a dying family business, and dealing with the angry people whom her father and brother owed money that was used to revive their agency… in fear.To make things worse, she was pushed overboard into the midnight sea before her wedding. Thought dead by everyone on the ship, she survives... barely... only to be rescued by the last man she ever wanted to see again—Captain Nicholas Knight, the man once accused of her brother’s murder.Georgia is forced to trust Nick as she recovers. He is intense, stoic, and shockingly kind—nothing like the killer she imagined.As the days pass, she learns more about who Nicholas really was, but Georgia remains haunted by betrayal and secrets.Nick risks his life for her, and despite his hunger for her, he vowed to protect her, not use her. He teaches her how to fight, how to survive—and how to trust again.Determined to protect Georgia, Nick finally steps into his destiny. But enemies are everywhere.As passion and danger collide, Georgia and Nick must fight for their future, outsmart powerful enemies, and uncover a murderous conspiracy hiding in plain sight.But revenge comes at a price, and so does love.Yet the more she resists him, the more addicted she becomes.And when the world wants to silence her…He’s the only one who’ll burn it down to save her.Excerpt:“Goddammit, wake up! Don’t you dare die on me! I swear, if you make me regret jumping from that fucking moving ship—!”Her lashes fluttered, blurred by seawater and tears.“Are you awake?” the voice came again. He was closer now, his breath warm against her cheek. “Can you hear me?!”“I’m begging you… Don’t tell anyone you found me… Someone tried to kill me…”His brows furrowed. “What…? Were you pushed overboard?”Georgia barely managed to nod. But her body had had enough.“Yes…”Then the memories crashed back. Salt water, freezing winds, her body going numb in the ocean…“Don’t come any closer!” she hissed. “I swear to God, I’ll scream if you come one step closer, you pervert!”“I know you...”Nick stiffened. “What now?”“You murdering son of a bitch!” she roared.Georgia grabbed the nearest pillow and hurled it at him.“What the hell? Are you insane?!” he barked, dodging the pillow. “You’re Nicholas Knight! You killed my brother!”Seeing her trembling, he lifted her effortlessly.“Let go of me!” she shrieked, squirming violently.“Stop—shit!” Nick lost his balance.“Maniac!” she declared.That’s when he felt it. Something soft. Plush.His head dropped like a guillotine blade, fast and sharp. His eyes locked on his right hand, which was currently cupping her like he was holding a fragile fruit from the gods.His soul left his body. But his body betrayed him. He was as hard as rock in an instant…Eyes bulging, jaw dropping, Nick choked on a curse. “Fuck.”Too bad he whispered it directly into Georgia’s face.Georgia's knee rocketed upward like a heat-seeking missile.“How dare you touch me, you Captain Pervert! Murderer!” she hissed like a vengeful sea witch.Nick wheezed in pain, clutching his groin. “I saved your life…”