Chapter: Chapter 784They came at dawn, with chains and paint.By the time the first boats should have been going out, the quay was closed. Police had run a chain from the fish market to the harbour office, and behind it Merriwether's clerks were working down the moorings with buckets of red paint and wide brushes, painting a crown on every hull.On the harbour office door, a clerk nailed up a notice in Treasury type."By order of the Comptroller," a young fisherman read aloud, at the chain. "All vessels in Harland harbour are declared gifts of the Tenth Prince, made while in office, and revert to the Crown pending inspection.""Gifts?" said the man next to him. "What gifts?""Your boat, apparently.""My boat? He never gave me a boat. My grandfather built that boat!" The young man pointed down the moorings, at an old green hull with a clerk already crouched beside it, brush in hand. "That's my grandfather's boat! She was built before the prince was born!"Merriwether stood on the harbour office steps, rea
Last Updated: 2026-10-05
Chapter: Chapter 783By morning the mark on Felicia's cheek had turned the colour of a plum.Alexander found her in the residence kitchen at six, standing at the sink with her back to the door, pretending to wash a cup that was already clean."Sit down," he said."I'm fine, Prince.""Sit down, Felicia."She sat. He took a cloth from the drawer, filled it with ice from the freezer, folded it once, and held it against her face. She flinched, then leaned into it."It doesn't hurt," she said."I know.""It really doesn't." She looked at the table. "What hurts is you *thanking* him. For his *diligence*. I lay awake all night with that word.""It's on the inventory," Alexander said."You said that last night too. I don't know what it means.""It means everything he took is written down. In his clerk's hand. With a date and a list number." He moved the ice a little higher. "Things that are written down can be found again."“Right now, his only goal is to drag me into a mess that will cost me everything. I have t
Last Updated: 2026-10-05
Chapter: Chapter 782It was a quarter to sunset.The bank back office was crowded: Merriwether, Fennick, four police, a clerk, and Richie by the vault stairs.Merriwether took a mug from Richie's desk and kept it on his bag."That's my mug," Richie said faintly."It's the Crown's mug now, Mr. Moss. Four hours, I said," Merriwether remarked. "You've wasted three of them, Mr. Moss.""I've been reading the statute," Richie said."Read faster."Alexander offered a slow, deliberate yawn. "Spare me the riddles and just explain it.""Why would I do that?" Merriwether said."Because I don't read very well," Alexander said. "I'm still learning. I'd like to hear it."The clerk stifled a laugh.Merriwether sighed, opened his folder, and found the page."By this instrument," he read, bored, "the island of Harland, and all waters within its boundary, pass to the governorship and autonomous administration of His Highness Prince Alexander of Leonhart, to be governed at his discretion, without interference from any minis
Last Updated: 2026-10-04
Chapter: Chapter 781It was past midnight.Steward Aldous Danoe had come to the east wing himself, knocked once on the door and said only, "His Majesty will see you now.""No guards?" Alexander had asked on the way."His Majesty prefers not, at this hour."Now, in the small study, Alexander stood in the middle of the rug and waited."Cure her."The Emperor did not look up. The pen did not stop moving."Cure the Second Queen, Alexander. Tonight, tomorrow, whenever you like. But cure her."Alex turned silence.His father finally put the pen down. “Sit.”Up close, without the grey powder, Maximillian Leonhart looked exactly what he was: a man who had never been sick a day in ten years."You're staring," the Emperor said."Your colour is better, Your Majesty.""Is it?""Much better. For a man who was vomiting blood four hours ago."The Emperor's mouth moved. It was not quite a smile."A miracle," he said. "Our ancestor is very forgiving.""Very.""Danoe. Tea.""Yes, Your Majesty.""Here is my problem," the Em
Last Updated: 2026-10-04
Chapter: Chapter 780Alexander stepped forward."Father. If the crown prince is allowed to choose my place from outside the table," he said, "then may I choose his place from outside the table too?"The Emperor looked at him, and something in the old face was very interested."As long as it's a county," he said. "Empty. Heritable. And poor. Then yes, you may."..."There's a place called Martydom," Alexander said.The room was quiet."The last counts there were two old brothers. They both died without an heir, and the land went back to the Crown, and as far as I know nobody's lived in the house since." He looked at the crown prince. "I heard it's empty. I think the crown prince could live there."The Emperor frowned."Martydom. I've never heard of it." He lifted a hand toward the gallery. "Prime Minister. Is that name on our records? Find it."...The Prime Minister came down from behind the rail with a tablet in his hand and his reading glasses on, and the whole room waited while he scrolled."Yes, Your
Last Updated: 2026-10-03
Chapter: Chapter 779"Father."The crown prince did not touch the cards. He stood over the table with both hands at his sides and looked at the Emperor instead."Is this really necessary?" His voice was careful now. "I have been the crown prince for twenty-two years. I've sat on your council. I've represented you in meetings you couldn't attend. Haven't I already proved I can do this?""Father." That was the Second Prince, narrow and pale at the far end of the table. "Why not simply choose? Name one of us, here, now. Say whose name you want on the throne." He spread his hands. "I promise you, none of us will hold it against you.""Yes, Father." The Third Prince was a heavy man in his early thirties with a banker's haircut and a signet ring he kept turning. "And forgive me, but think about what you're asking. If I hand over every company I have and then I lose — I've lost everything. Isn't that too much to risk?""My children."The Emperor said it gently, the way you speak to people who have said something
Last Updated: 2026-10-02
Return of Overthinker
When the demon finally harnessed human sins and negative emotions to harvest negative energy, it opened a spatial gate to the planets that were already ravaged by monsters and teeming with dark creatures. The beasts and monsters passed through the gate, unleashing havoc upon Earth. These monstrous creatures caused destruction on a massive scale, pushing the earth toward an apocalyptic catastrophe.
In this dark time, The Creator granted certain humans the ability, marked by symbols on their right hands, to wield the power of gods and angels to combat these dark creatures.
My ability was 'Overthinking,' the weakest, but with hard work, I persisted for 60 years to become the most powerful and the savior of the world. However, in my final moments, I was betrayed by a friend who was born rich and noble, who forced me to die to obtain everything I had worked so hard for. Nevertheless, before my demise, I sent my memories back to my younger years.
This time, I will obtain everything: the best items, the finest women, and the most potent abilities. All will be mine!
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Chapter: Chapter 204I was a bit surprised. "Isn't down there a place where the dead rest, and there is nothing but cold and barren land?" "At first, it was a place full of beauty, but those who did not like it destroyed everything in it, making it cold and barren. I hope you can help those suffering down there find kindness and peace. In truth, you can build a place far more beautiful than the palace of the gods because hell was initially a very beautiful place for those in need." "I accept it wherever You send me." *** In a temple where knowledge was usually shared, several humans who were teachers of various schools gathered to discuss important matters about knowledge. "Hey," said one human to another, "Why did the gods stop sharing their knowledge with us?" "Haven't you heard that the King of the gods, or God Indra, has been replaced?" "Really?" "God Indra is now angry after finding out that knowledge was given to humans by the previous Indra," said another human. "He stopped all knowledge fro
Last Updated: 2024-07-23
Chapter: Chapter 203After 1,000 years had passed, the three worlds experienced their golden age. There was no poverty or hunger throughout the three worlds. Everything was going very well. All dimensions entered a golden age because kindness became the most important thing in the three realms. Humans, gods, ashuras, and all beings were directed to continue giving kindness to all creatures. During my reign, everyone competed to do good so that there was no poverty, hunger, or lack. During that time, those who came to me, whether gods, ashuras, or humans, would get what they asked for. I did this as my way of doing good to all beings.One day, a dwarf-bodied brahmin came to my palace. The brahmin, called Vamana, had a body that was only waist-high to an ordinary human. He wore white clothes that wrapped loosely around his small body. However, considering that he was a human and came from the third dimension, being able to ascend to the twelfth dimension where the gods' palace was located was alr
Last Updated: 2024-07-22
Chapter: Chapter 202"I don't remember that part," I said. "Because each life makes you forget. I just want to say, if you give the gods' knowledge to humans, won't the gods lose their power? Haven't you humiliated them all? Your strength has made you not understand the feelings of the weaker gods." "Guru, if what you say is true, is my current strength because I was a strong spirit in the past?" He looked at me and weakly shook his head. "No, all spirits start from the same place." "Then why did I become strong?" "You had no fear, and your enjoyment of playing made you keep striving for something greater without caring for your own life." Brihaspati continued, "However, what placed you as King Indra is something else." "What is that?" "A sense of responsibility to protect the weak and make life better for all beings." Brihaspati sighed. "Those who have that sincerity will always be carried by karma and the will of God to re
Last Updated: 2024-07-21
Chapter: Chapter 201"Boss, you've become weak," said Raindo, one of the Ashura generals, approaching me. He looked enormous compared to my now smaller form. "You keep spending time in that school and library. You never fight anymore. You're going to become weak, and the previous Indra will soon return to reclaim his throne." "You just don't understand, my brother," I said, still reading a book. "Right now, I am ten times stronger than I was before." "I don't believe it," said Raindo, one of the strongest generals. "Let's test it." "Of course," I said, seemingly unconcerned. "Get ready." "I'm always ready," he replied. As soon as he said that, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, striking his body. He was thrown far, crashing into the palace walls and severely injured. "What happened?" he asked, looking confused and trying to stand up. He didn't know what had hit him. "I just attacked you. I gained the power
Last Updated: 2024-07-20
Chapter: Chapter 200“Oh,” I shouted. “That's easy.” Suddenly, I felt very smart. “I have plenty of wealth in the treasury.” Quickly, I ordered several Ashura to bring as much treasure as possible from Indra's vault and distribute it to all the Ashura. All the Ashura were happy. “Look, Guru, haven't I done a good deed? I shared my wealth with them.” I felt pleased. “Fool!” he shouted. “You haven't done a good deed at all. You should have given the wealth to those in need.” I fell silent. Quickly, I ordered all the Ashura to return the treasures they had received. The Ashura didn't need wealth; if there was one thing they needed, it was weapons. They all grumbled, and I quickly asked, “Do you want food and drink or wealth?” “Food!!!!” “Drink!!” None wanted wealth. Suddenly, it dawned on me. Who needs wealth? The Ashura don't need wealth, the gods already have plenty of wealth. The only poor creatures needing wealth are humans
Last Updated: 2024-07-19
Chapter: Chapter 199“Prepare all the food and drinks. All the gods must order their servants to bring all the food from their palaces. Call the apsaras, the heavenly maidens, and beautiful dancers. Call the singers and musicians. We will have a party.” So, a grand feast was held for days in the courtyard of Indra's palace. Music, dancing, and food never stopped. After that, the Ashura were left drunk in the palace courtyard. The gods had returned to their respective duties. I moved around to see the entire palace, and suddenly, an old man appeared before me. “What have you done to this place?” the old man asked, looking at the palace's new weapon-laden decor. “Who are you?” I asked, confused. This old man wore the simple clothes of a Brahmana, a single piece of cloth. The Brahmana do not fight, so we never touch them. If they get angry, we could get the worst curses of our lives. But if they are pleased, they could grant us many new and exciting powers. We prefer to appease them and wait for the
Last Updated: 2024-07-18
