MTL - Seeking Happiness - Chapter 175 Struggling in the rain

For as long as he could remember, life had always been cruel.A young man in his early twenties—his name now lost to the past—was dealt a life filled with misfortunes.A cold, empty apartment, a soul-crushing job, and, finally, a terminal diagnosis.With nothing left to live for, his only comfort had been escaping into the fictional world of Path of the Elemental Sage, a story of heroes, magic, and survival.But fate had other plans.When death finally came for him, he didn’t fade into nothingness.Instead, he awoke in the world he had only read about—a world of chaos and danger where death lurked around every corner.The air smelled of magic, the sky was filled with possibilities.{«[Status Window]»}[Name: Lyrium Blackwood][Age: 16][Rank: D-][Skills: None][Elements: None}At first, confusion filled his mind.Who was Lyrium Blackwood?Why was he here?And why did this body feel so different?But as his memories returned, so did the realization: this wasn’t some blessing or second chance.He wasn’t reincarnated as the protagonist.No destined savior.No cheat abilities.No grand fate.He was just another mob, a face in the crowd meant to exist and die without leaving a mark.But this young man—the one who had left his old name and life behind—wasn’t the kind of person to roll over and accept his fate.“This world is dangerous. The protagonist isn’t the only one fighting for survival here,”he muttered, his red eyes deep and sharp.Unlike the naïve characters in the story, he knew the stakes.He’d read the web novel.He’d seen the carnage, the betrayals, the disasters that wiped out entire cities.And if there was one thing he refused to be, it was a pawn in someone else’s game.“I don’t care about glory. I don’t care about saving the world. All I care about is surviving—no matter what it takes.”Lyrium Blackwood wasn’t planning to live quietly or avoid danger.The only way to survive in this brutal world was to rise to the top.To be strong enough to stand above both heroes and villains.Using his knowledge of the story’s events and his iron will, Lyrium sets out on a relentless path to surpass the protagonist.Whether through clever manipulation, brutal training, or sheer desperation, he’ll climb higher and higher, leaving nothing to chance.But the deeper he gets, the more he realizes that this isn’t just the story he once read.As fate pushes him closer to the heart of the narrative, Lyrium begins to suspect that his reincarnation wasn’t an accident—and the world itself might be watching him.“I don’t care who or what stands in my way. If the story wants to kill me, I’ll rewrite the ending myself.”----------------------------------I apologize for any mistakes in this story, as it’s my first attempt at writing a novel.

[ Warning: Mature Content R-18 ]What to expect: Revenge, a bit of comedy, some pretty dark humor, an overpowered MC (He worked and suffered for it of course), billionaire Playboy, very cold and ruthless FL, Manipulation, Blackmail, MILFs... lots of them, lots of 'We shouldn't be doing this sex' and more steamy sex scenes.You can skip the sex scenes if you're not willing but if you're a Man (or Woman) of Culture like me, Enjoy.--------------------------------------------------------This book is quite unique, because it breaks the 4th wall quite a lot of times so be prepared for that. I think that's rare to find on webnovel these days and that's part of what sets this book apart from others.___________________________________At 18, Danladi moves to the city to live with his wealthy but neglectful uncle, hoping for a fresh start. A computer genius and gaming prodigy, he’s roped into his uncle’s shipping business, but life in his uncle's household is anything but easy. Constantly belittled and mistreated by his uncle’s wife and her sisters, Danladi endures in silence—until one fateful night changes everything. A betrayal at a Christmas Eve party sets off a chain of events that catapults him into a world of power, deception, and revenge.With the help of his cunning best friend, Eric, Danladi seizes an unexpected opportunity, stepping into wealth and influence overnight. But rather than reveal his newfound fortune, he plays a long game, exacting quiet vengeance before vanishing from their lives. Years later, he re-emerges—this time as the head of a groundbreaking gaming empire, a billionaire at just 23.But success comes at a cost. Lured into a dangerous business deal, Danladi finds himself entangled with the ruthless Italian Mafia, losing nearly everything and barely escaping with his life. Just when he thinks all is lost, he crosses paths with Jenn Carter—a brilliant but relentless MI6 agent hunting the very people who deceived him. She offers him a deal: his skills in exchange for her resources. Together, they embark on a high-stakes mission for justice, deception, and survival.As Danladi is thrust into a world of espionage, undercover operations, and a deadly game of cat and mouse, he and Jenn must navigate their growing feelings for each other while staying one step ahead of those who want them dead. But when a $50 million bounty is placed on their heads, the hunt intensifies, forcing them to fight not just for vengeance—but for their lives.Betrayal made him ruthless. Revenge made him powerful. But will love make him vulnerable?

[Ding!][Your pickpocketing skill increased by 5. Reward: your PP increased by 50.]“System, use my Pop-star Points to increase my singing skill!”…[Ding!][You had won 1st place in the Californian Young Star contest. Reward: your CP increased by 400!]“System, put all these Criminal Points into my martial arts skill. Now I will crush anyone who stands in my way!” Tristan was born with everything he needed to become a star: rich parents and musical talent. However, after a car crash destroyed his handsome face and voice, everybody turned away from him.With his dreams burned, Tristan ran from home and became a small-time criminal to survive. Then, his own gang mates betrayed him, throwing him to the cops.But Tristan is saved by a sudden stroke of luck.[Congratulations, Tristan Hayes! You won the Heavenly Lottery. Your prise is ‘Second Identity System’.][Increase skills and status of one identity to obtain 10x rewards for the other one.]Mafia and showbiz may appear far removed from each other, but both are united by money and ruthlessness within.Now it’s Tristan’s time to navigate both realms to become the world’s first mafia superstar!