Within a Hollow Heart - Chapter 170: Volume 2, : "Threads Unraveling"

Leo awakens in a world he doesn’t recognize, with no memory of who he is or why he’s there. All he knows is that survival isn’t just a necessity—it’s his only chance to uncover the truth.Thrown into a brutal test for assassins on a hostile alien planet, Leo quickly discovers an extraordinary instinct for combat and evasion—abilities that feel second nature, yet remain a mystery even to him.But as the blood-soaked trials unfold, whispers of his lineage begin to surface. In a universe where gods are eternal and invincible, Leo carries the blood of the one being who defied that rule: the Timeless Assassin, a legend feared by mortals and deities alike.Now, hunted for what he represents and burdened by a legacy he can’t yet comprehend, Leo must forge his path through a deadly labyrinth of enemies, alliances, and cosmic conspiracies—all while piecing together the fragments of his forgotten past.For in the shadows of his fractured identity lies a truth that could shake the heavens themselves.

An ordinary young man on earth, Xia Feng, traveled to a world of sword and magic, and took the body of Lucien Evans, another ordinary young man.

Until he became the lowest-ranked master, his lonely and luckless life never changed.

Suddenly one day, a descendant injected him with a nanomachine, and the machine started ‘speaking’ to him.

“What? What are you talking about?”

This was beyond the boy’s knowledge, he turned pale.

The Nanomachine linked to his cerebrum realized the User was not understanding a single word it said.

“Who are you, and why are you doing this to me?”

“Nano Mashin?”

The boy’s face hardened.

Mashin was the deity the Mashin Religion worshipped, along with the Sacred Fire.

The religions’ Master communicated with Mashin.

“Um, are you really Mashin?”

The boy knelt down and asked with a trembling voice. At this, the Nanomachine attached to his cerebrum realized it had been misunderstood.

It’s been 11 years since I’ve lived for others and not for me.

The moment I cried out wanting to get away from my exhausting life, I opened my eyes in the body of some Count’s 20-year-old daughter.

Since this happened, I decided to live my life freely as a single woman.

But…

“I need a lady to act as my fake wife for a certain period of time.”

“A contract marriage?”

“The term is one year. When the time is up, I’ll give you divorce with no strings attached.”

The Duke of the Empire whom I had happened to meet at a ball was hitting on me.

Turns out he’s no other than the Emperor’s beloved brother, Duke Scade!

Hold on, it’s just going to end in a clean divorce with no strings attached?

“You should also give me alimony. Give me one of the best lands of the Ducal household with 10 years’ worth of profit.”

“…..What?”

“If you don’t want to do that, then we cannot get married.”

This time I’m going to live a life taking care of the things I need first!

***

“I’ll escort you since it’s late.”

Where to? My bedroom is just around the corner.

“Tonight, I’ll do my best.”

No, I don’t need you to do that.

“Did you just look at that man?”

Excuse me, Duke, you said it’s for a limited time only, so why do you keep obsessing over me?