MADman - Chapter 3: One swing = half world

Global mutation brings the game to reality, and humans enter the era of universal job transfer!Damien Blackwell starts out as a standard villain, born into an ambitious villain family, willing to do anything to achieve his goals, even if it means subverting the entire empire!He begins by hunting down the Child of Fortune, ruining his future, cheating on his beloved, killing his parents, and forging a blood feud.The Child of Fortune swears to take revenge!But Damien Blackwell doesn't care at all.Who says that villains will eventually be defeated by justice?Who says that villains must inevitably become stepping stones for the Child of Fortune?In this life, Damien Blackwell plans to step on the bones of the Child of Fortune as a villain, climbing step by step to the top to become the ultimate supreme!He aims to craft a perfect villainous life.

Su-jin is a high school student whose life is filled with loneliness. Weighed down by school bullying, personal struggles, and isolation, she finds herself growing weary of everything. At that moment, a mysterious shadow enters her life—a man she only sees in her dreams, through his face remains hidden. Surprisingly, his influence extends beyond her dreams, shaping her into a stronger, braver, and happiest person.As time passes, Su-jin finds herself drawn to him, yet his presence brings more than just emotions—it leads her to extraordinary friendships and unexpected adventures.Among them is Yeong-ae, a skilled spy who enrolls in Su-jin's school to investigate the mysterious death of a girl named Ha-na. And then there is Jung-hee, a young detective who begins working as an undercover high school student on a major case. Along the way, she unexpectedly meets Su-jin, which gradually develops into a deep friendship.Day by day, Su-jin's life becomes like an adventure book; each page of which becomes an unfolding adventure filled with excitement, romance, secrets, challenges, and discoveries. But in the midst of this mystery, will she ever find the invisible man who stole her heart?

Deep below the earth's surface, a mystifying subterranean seascape lurks, an archipelago bathed in inky blackness where suspense and horror hold court. Here lie strange islands and even stranger monsters, far beyond the realms of human imagination. In this domain, mankind is far from dominant; instead, madness and death rule supreme.

Pleading for mercy from the unknown creatures of the deep only leads to a slow, tortured existence. The trapped survivors gradually distort, losing what made them human, both physically and mentally, to the gloom as they remain trapped in this eternal obscurity. Their only hope? A perilous expedition into uncharted sea territories.

Fueled by determination, Charles embark on this daunting voyage aboard his steamship, aiming to reclaim humanity's past glory. Together with his crew, they sought a way out of this hidden sea world, a path back to the sunlit world above, where humans once stood tall.

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I read a few comments from Chinese readers that compared this novel with Lord of Mysteries because of similar elements: Lovecraftian, western fantasy, first industrial revolution, and steampunk. However, I have yet to finish reading Lord of Mysteries to do any actual comparison, but I do think those who have enjoyed that novel would enjoy this as well. Also, the author of LotM, Cuttlefish That Loves Diving, also did a shout-out for this novel, so I guess he approves of it too?

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Tian Shao wore it, and became the eldest of the six golden flowers of Tian Dalin’s family in the Hongqi Club in that difficult era.

In a family, the parents are dull and the mother is aggressive, the second sister is violent, the third sister is taciturn, the fourth sister is gluttonous, the fifth sister is brave, and the sixth sister is a cabbage.

Patriarchal? Don’t be afraid, a girl is better than a son. Familiar with nothing? Don’t be afraid, go to the factory to do business, and the small life is booming.

…

It is said that men chasing women, the mountains are separated; women chasing men, the gauze is separated. Tian Shao was puzzled why she and Pei Yue were separated by mountains.

Forget it, the iceberg is too high and cold.

Pei Yue stopped Tian Shao and said, “If you flirt, you have to be responsible. Let’s go to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get the certificate.”

- Description from novelbuddy