Not praying for ten strings

In a world dominated by seven super-corporations, the Longevity Species that always occupied the pinnacle of power didn't allow for the enactment of written laws. The Floating Islands of prisons delimited by lines on the map, where resources would inevitably run out in the future...
People yearned for the birth of a true "Hero," yet they cynically awaited the fall of a Hero from grace.
As long as one was hailed by the media as a Hero, even murder could be forgiven, and every word they said would be adored. Even high and mighty Elves dared not provoke the edge of a Hero.
But if a Hero of the past committed even a minor offense, the moment their image crumbled, the forgiven sins would flare up like an inextinguishable furnace, and the stars of yesterday would instantly become unforgivable criminals...
"—Come become a Hero, Russell."
The most vicious criminal in the world thrust a knife into the boy's hand, whispering a low enticement.
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Solo female lead, Beast Ears, Spiritual Energy, Mechanical Angels, and other elements. Cyber-fantasy. Please refrain if not to your liking.

Tower of Overturn

No need to show mercy, nor fear public opinion—


These people were indeed pushed out to test him. They were indeed connected to the rebellious synthetic humans...


—but Russell had preemptively assumed that they belonged to a certain power and naturally were that power's pawns.


Synthetic humans were a problem. But not because Mental Heavy Industry couldn't handle them, feared their existence, or couldn't defeat them.


It was because no matter how Mental Heavy Industry dealt with them, they could not derive any real benefit. And whoever handled them might leave different problems behind... For this reason, it was difficult internally to assign anyone to take responsibility for the matter.


In that case, once trouble arose, someone would always have to take the blame; depending on the severity of the situation, it could even lead to tracing accountability up from the lower leadership.


All involved parties might ultimately be unable to escape blame.


Chapter 19: Not on the Same Level as the Opponent