The Abandoned Empress - Chapter 57

Due to unfortunate circumstances, “Ari” Ariel Matisse lived in the slums of Los Angeles, also known as Skid Row.One night, on his way home, he was killed while witnessing an old man getting beaten.When he woke up, he had been thrown into a dumpster, and a strange screen flashed across his eyes, and no matter how he looked at it, it reminded him of a status window in a game.[System Integration Complete!][Become a Global Music Superstar!]For some reason, he gained a system that wanted him to join a survival show and become a globally famous idol.If he refused to complete his given tasks, he would die.But if he succeeded, he would have the money and power to change his life as well as get revenge against the person who killed him.P.s. this story is kind of a love letter to LA and the amazing blend of cultures (American, Asian, Hispanic, African, etc) that can be found there. I hope you all fall in love with the area as much as I love it.

However, he did not know that he was not raising just a harmless pet, but a biological weapon secretly made by the government… a real monster.

As a former librarian, Rand felt that he had been living an ordinary life, the one that he had reclaimed unconsciously every single day.

Recently, he has been a little upset because the pet fish he accidently brought home to raised seems to have undergo some strange changes

Well, it turned into a merman.

- Description from Novelupdates

[Gunfight + case-solving reasoning + decisive killing]

“I’ve been black and white, and you said I was an undercover agent???”

When Dean woke up, he opened his eyes and saw the scene where the robbers were sharing the spoils.

Because of the confusion of the original owner’s memory, Dean mistakenly thought that he was a real robber, so he chose to eat black and white, and emptied the magazine with an American-style Juhe.

Just when he was about to take the money and leave.

A blond beauty came to the door: “Dean is an intern police officer. The bank in the town was robbed. I ordered you to investigate the suspect. You don’t want to fail your internship, do you?”

It turns out that I am an undercover agent!

Dean is numb…

- Description from novelbuddy

Elias “Grim” Kingsley, a nine-year-old orphan with a hardened heart and sharp tongue, dies alone from pneumonia in an overcrowded orphanage. Known for his perpetual scowl and biting remarks, he's labeled a “problem child” by caretakers and “damaged goods” by potential adopters. Years of rejection have built thick armor around his young heart.In death, he encounters the God of Balance who offers him a second chance at life in a different world—this time as Grim Van Ambrose, son of a noble house. Balance explains that every soul deserves to know love and connection, something Elias was cruelly denied in his first life.Promised the family and belonging he never experienced, Grim begins his new life only to suffer an immediate tragedy: his mother dies moments after his birth. This cruel twist of fate reinforces his belief that loss is inevitable, leaving him with a distant father and the mysterious voice of a “Guidance Assistant” in his head.As Grim grows into his new identity, he struggles with his dual nature—the emotional scars of his past life bleeding into his present one. His difficult personality and sharp tongue remain, now paired with noble privilege and expectations. Despite his outward brashness, he carries the deep wounds of his first life and the fresh loss that welcomed him into his second.What begins as one orphan's second chance evolves into an epic journey through a world of ancient beasts, elemental magic, and deadly political intrigue. As Grim uncovers the truth about the Ambrose Clan's fall from grace and the conspiracy that framed them for treason, he faces increasingly dangerous adversaries—both human and monstrous. His quest for revenge against those who destroyed his family's legacy will challenge him to master forbidden techniques, forge unexpected alliances, and ultimately decide whether to rebuild the Ambrose Clan as it was, or transform it into something entirely new.In a realm where power determines survival and ancient secrets lurk beneath noble facades, Grim must learn that sometimes the greatest battles aren't fought with swords, but with the choices that define who we truly are.