A Villain's Guide to Saving the World - Chapter 10: The Great Villain! Goes Gambling...?

Lao Chen was just an old, underpaid security guard in a rundown apartment complex, living a miserable life under a stingy, ungrateful boss.His wife left him, his daughter wanted nothing to do with him, and poverty was his only constant companion.In the end, death came in the form of a drunk driver, leaving him broken and forgotten on the cold pavement.But fate wasn’t done with him. In his final moments, he prayed—desperate, pleading to any deity who would listen.And someone did.The God of Wealth and Love took pity on his wasted life and granted him a second chance.Wake up again as Zhao Yiming, a 25-year-old gambler and alcoholic drowning in debt with nothing but a good face and a strong body to his name, he was given the Affinity Money Maker System—a mysterious power that let him gain wealth and influence by forming relationships, whether as lovers, friends, or even enemies.Before he knew it, he had stumbled his way into unimaginable riches.But things never go as planned. One moment of recklessness—one affair with the wrong woman—led to an unexpected murder.Now, the system has thrown him onto a new path: The Villain Route. With a negative perk that keeps the police off his trail but tightens the noose around his future, Zhao Yiming is faced with an impossible choice.Will he claw his way to the top and become the billionaire he was meant to be? Or will his second life end behind bars, just as tragic as his first?

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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Dear readers! Without any ads, maybe you will prefer .

[I was reincarnated as an F-class Hunter.

…it’s a problem because they don’t treat me that way.]

[ OVERPOWERED MC ] || [ WORLD DOMINATION ]================================[ EXILE STRENGTH ACTIVATED.... ][ GAINING IMMORTALITY.... ]SUCCESS!!================================They exiled him to die. He'll rise to conquer.When Renji's mother is brutally murdered before his eyes, his world is shattered. But that was just the beginning. Dragged into the Land of Exile—a realm ruled by divine tyrants and taboo desires—Renji awakens in a world that wants him broken, bleeding, and begging for mercy.Too bad for them… Renji doesn't bow. He dominates.Armed with a sharp mind, unmatched charisma, and an unquenchable thirst for power (and pleasure), Renji carves his path through fallen kingdoms, cursed women, and wicked conspiracies. With Zach, a silver-haired half-devil and walking catastrophe at his side, Renji unravels the truth of his origin: the lost heir of the legendary Grand Order, born to rule, bred for war.As lust and blood mix in a world where every pleasure has a price and every beauty hides a dagger, Renji must decide—will he become the hero they need… or the villain they deserve?Warning: DTE is not for the faint of heart. Expect dark romance, forbidden power, deadly MILFs, and morally gray decisions wrapped in high-octane action and unapologetic smut. Reader discretion (and maybe a cold shower) is advised.[ TABOO || HAREM || MILFS || DARK AND FORBIDDEN ROMANCE || TWISTED FANTASIES ]