Industrial Cthulhu: Starting as an Island Lord - Chapter 162: Give It Some Pollution to Burn

A man reborn, more interested in his next meal than clan politics, finds himself caught in a power play that could reshape Konoha.Uchiha Masashi has seen it all before - literally. With memories of his past lives and abilities that shouldn't be possible, he'd rather perfect his combat skills than deal with clan drama.But when the newly appointed Fourth Hokage shows up with a proposal to unleash the Uchiha's power beyond their traditional police role, even Masashi has to pay attention. The clan sees opportunity. The village sees profit. Masashi sees the threads of fate that once led to his clan's destruction starting to weave again.As the Uchiha rush to prove themselves “ten times better than the Hyūga,” Masashi walks a fine line between duty and survival.He knows too much - about the Nine-Tails incident that could destroy his clan's reputation, about young Shisui's tragic destiny, about the wheels already in motion.The question is: will he bother trying to change any of it?After all, in a world where even the strongest must sometimes bend to fate, sometimes the smartest move is to grab some dango and watch it all unfold.

Qingyun found herself having traveled back in time to ancient days, with a splitting headache. She hadn't activated any ancient survival skills!She couldn't compose poetry or engage in literary exchanges.Sewing and embroidery? No clue.Pleasing men? Even worse.Farming or doing business? Clueless.With no other options, she had to choose a profession that required none of the above skills....Years later, those who once served her, now ministers and generals, listened as Qingyun, who had ascended to the throne as the empress, said: 'You might not believe it, but I never intended to be the empress.'The ministers and generals replied, 'That's right, that's right. Everything you say is correct. It was us who forced you into this position.'

Crimson Vale Academy—where reputation is currency, and failure is a stain you wear on your sleeve.Behind gothic walls and spotless uniforms, students aren't just educated—they're measured, ranked, and pitted against each other in a brutal meritocracy. Privileges are earned, not given. The strong rise. The weak vanish.Enter Kairon Vale, a transfer student marked Rank D—the bottom of the bottom. No badge. Just a stitched black fang, branding him as “Obsidian”—a warning to others.In a system where points dictate your value, Obsidian-ranked students claw for every opportunity to ascend into the prestigious Golden or Platinum ranks—where comfort, power, and influence await. But for most, it’s a losing battle.Yet Kairon isn’t here to fit in, impress, or play by their rules. Cold, calculating, and impossible to read, he watches the system… and waits. Because while the academy judges worth by numbers and names—he understands something deeper:Everyone wears a mask. And every mask can be cracked.Let the games begin.

Ryoma Kogure, a high school student, is surprised when his childhood friend and best friend, Hirasawa Reo, who has always been popular yet indifferent to romance, suddenly confides in him about a love matter.However, when Ryouma learns that Reo’s crush is their quiet classmate, Otsuki Shizuku, he decides to help him out.While personally gathering information on Shizuku for his best friend, Ryoma is unexpectedly summoned by the school’s most beautiful girl, Asahina Alisa!She, being Shizuku’s best friend, mistakenly believes that Ryouma has feelings for Shizuku…!?Caught in Alisa’s misunderstanding, Ryoma scrambles to sort things out…As they began supporting their best friends for their own reason, Ryoma and Alisa grow closer——A romantic comedy that starts with friends supporting each other’s love!