Echoes of the Abyssal Blade: Path to Free Will - Chapter 6: Long Forgotten Despair

“Ruan Ruan, don’t think about leaving me.”The cold lips landed on the corner of her eye, and Su Ruan finally realized she had truly been reborn...In her previous life, she believed the scumbag man and cheap woman, and was ultimately pushed to the Insect Race, dying a miserable death. However, the man she always despised remained devoted, loving her broken body even after her death.In this life:“Ruan Ruan, is someone harming you? Then I'll kill them all.”“Ruan Ruan, you can only be mine.”“Ruan Ruan, I beg you, don’t leave me...”The Federation Empire's highest Commander, Lu Shinian, does everything possible to keep her by his side.Having thought that after being reborn, this Commander addicted to paranoia would only offer a cold hand to hold. Who could tell her that the “big dog” with fluffy wolf ears whimpering by her side every night is really Lu Shinian, the highest interstellar Commander?“Ruan Ruan, I want a kiss.”“Ruan Ruan, hug me.”“Ruan Ruan, why are you ignoring me again, boo hoo.”In the interstellar era, strength is revered, and the 3S Lu Shinian is a strongman among strongmen.But he is ironically shackled by an atavistic phenomenon that uncontrollably appears every so often. Wolf ears that suddenly spring up, an extra tail, all do not match Commander Lu’s image.From then on, to maintain his cold and towering image, Su Ruan covers Commander Lu's little ears, continuously working hard!Star Network spread that Su Ruan publicly jilted Lu Shinian, embarrassing him, and she would surely be hated and despised by him.But later, at a certain graduation ceremony, someone saw the always abstinent and aloof Commander Lu pin Su Ruan against the wall, corners of his eyes red, his voice aggrieved, “Ruan Ruan, kiss me.”

Having spent her childhood confined in chains, Alice was a child who knew neither love nor joy. Scorned by her family while being tortured in the name of the greater good for years, she grew numb to all feeling and thought. That is, until one day, a man in black offered her a chance to escape.There were once rumours widespread of an endless hell, a land of glorious death and dreadful opportunity. Fools went in search of it, and the clever never ventured into it. Only when its baleful mysteries spilled unto the earth did all hear its name — the Abyss.A single drop of its blood could give someone the power to control shadows, move faster than sound, or strength greater than the strongest man. Yet, it all came at a cost; the blood would always make sure those who consumed it became part of the Abyss, with one exception — Alice. Cast away by her own blood, it was her destiny to rot in a gilded cage.But, that fateful day changed everything. Gifted a second chance at life, a chance to turn her life around and claim vengeance against her family, a chance to dive deep into the Abyss and gain the power to govern her own fate, Alice took his hand, unaware of the destiny unfolding before her.

“The masterminds are cooler than heroes,” I mutter as I stare at the chess pieces before me. It is easier to be the one who sits in the shadows and moves the pieces, likewise deciding the flow of the game.Heroes will foolishly sacrifice their lives for the good cause and villains will sacrifice the world for their own gain, but masterminds will use both the heroes and villains to their own benefit.Why, you ask? Well, that's because I've lost my life once while trying to be a hero so, I don't want that anymore. I'd rather be a mastermind who molds the world as per my convenience and live peacefully. Because, why not?***[Defender of Divine Glory says you are the hope of this world.]What?[Goddess of Wisdom believes that you will be the one to save the world.]Wait, what?![Propose the Grand Duke the idea of a fake marriage.]And, why would I do that?![Stop the assassination of Prince Eric.]Why would I save him?![The candidates for the throne are:... Who will you choose?]Ah! I give up...It seems like a curse that anyone who wishes for a slacker life in Isekai will have to go through the most troublesome things.In my past life, I died because of one rookie mistake but after being transmigrated in the world of fantasy I've gotten an opportunity to start afresh, but unlike the protagonists who look for their love and glory, I'd rather make money and live a life of a slacker.I have magic, I have power and I have money, what else do I need?Well, that was the plan but this damn system is getting on my nerves. I mean who in their sane mind would want to mess with the complicated royal family and political affairs? But that's not all though.I've also become the saviour of this world. Things just can't be anymore worse!Besides, the penalty of failing this quest is...[Failure: Destruction of the World.]It seems like if I screw up in selecting the right person then the destruction that is going to befall the world won't be stopped.If I speak of my reward then it's this vague thing.[Reward: Fulfillment of any wish.]“If that's the case then, I'd rather choose the person who would be the best fit for the throne.”And that's how I decided that I would become the Kingmaker.

Traveling through time, he became Zhang Gui, a foreign relative of the Tianqi Dynasty. Because he didn’t want to be tortured to death by Li Zicheng in the future, he had to embark on the road of harming the powerful and bureaucratic officials of the Ming Dynasty.

The Yanguan scolded him for coercing the king and making disorderly manners.

The prince scolded him for being greedy.

The official hates him for being mean and cruel.

But helplessly, most of the Nine Frontiers are his lackeys, and even Jiu Qiansui is his godson, and the emperor can’t do anything about him.

Therefore, the Ming Dynasty was at the mercy of him.

- Description from novelbuddy