Reborn; A Slave to the World - Chapter 17: Goodbye Nexus.

The Su family has twin daughters.

They were like the sun and the moon; one sister was bright and had a carefree disposition while the other one was demure and reserved.

But it never occurred to anyone that when the twins grew up, the introverted sister would step into the entertainment circle and became a well-known flower! While the other one packed up her school bag, and aiming to become a doctor of Geology, sailed all the way across the ocean!

One day, while the other sister’s intoxicated face was exploring the wild, a manager with a group of bodyguards tied her up and brought her to a variety show!

“What bedroom scene are you trying to make me do?! Let this old woman go!!!”

“Su Jishi, your sister left a retirement letter and disappeared! All her endorsements, variety shows, and movie contracts add up to more than three billion dollars in liquidated damages! If she still won’t show up, then you have to take her place for the meantime!

“What?!”

“By the way, she’s currently dating the vice president of XX Group and you have an appointment with him tomorrow night.”

Manager: “You are three centimeters taller than your sister, two degrees darker than her skin…your hair is fifty centimeters shorter, and a mole is missing from the corner of your eye. The most important thing is that you are ten pounds heavier than her! Starting today, you have to strictly follow a diet to lose weight! Are you allergic to anything or abstain from any food?

Woman: “I’m not a vegetarian.”

Manager: “…”

The president held the woman’s face in his hands and affectionately said, “Dear, this mole on the corner of your eye was made to be kissed by me.”

The woman raised her hand to wipe off the mole: “Sorry, this mole was only painted!”

- Description from Novelupdates

As part of the imperial family, every move by Chu Yuan in this game of chess is made with apprehension, fearing that with a moment of inattentiveness, the whole match will be lost in a single move.

Ascending to the throne at eighteen, not half a year passes before civil strife erupts in Yun Nan. Though the thoughts of the old guard at the imperial court are not exactly identical, they are all waiting to see how the new emperor will put an end to this.

Unexpectedly, before this side could make a move, a few thousand miles away, the King of Xi Nan, Duan Bai Yue, had already personally commanded troops to attack in all directions; not half a year had passed when peace was restored.

Sparse moonlight shines into the palace; Chu Yuan stamped the wax seal himself, and had a secret letter sent urgently to Yun Nan 800 miles away — this time, what must we(1) give in exchange?

Brush marks passed through the back of the paper; it almost can be seen, when writing this line, how angry the young emperor was.

Duan Bai Yue spread out a piece of paper unhurriedly, replying with only one word.

You.

Notes:
(1): Chu Yuan is using the royal ‘we’ here.

- Description from Novelupdates

He became Arthur. He lived his life as Arthur and claimed Excalibur.Now, he has returned with a purpose.Beneath the surface of the world lies a twisted world known as the veil—an dimension where monsters are born from corrupted human emotions and desire. The deeper you go, the more terrifying they become.Each Layer is sealed. Each hides a god-like being, waiting to rise to the surface.Now, Sylas bears the responsibility of keeping the gate between both worlds from breaking.[Keys are passed down through generations.No one knows where they came from, but those keys can open doors to another world — a world filled with deadly trials. If you complete the trial, you return with blessings from gods, mythical beasts, and ancient warriors. The amount of blessings you earn depends on how well you perform.But if you fail, the door shatters… and you are gone forever.If you survive, you are given a permanent rank — a rank that decides your place in society for the rest of your life.]

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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