MIDNIGHT PRINCE: Empire of Sin

The two sisters spent an enjoyable time and it didn't take long for Makoto to fall under the weight of alcohol.

Normally it would be easy for her to block the beverage from affecting her mental capacity but it was a rule to not use Prana to protect yourself when drinking with Seniors.

Theresa chuckled as she looked at her disciple that was now down for the count and put a coat on her.

"You seem to really like that child."

Theresa shrugged, "She is a good girl. Hardworking and talented and also listen to me very well. What to not like?"

Cecilia nodded, "It must have been hard for her."

"Indeed."

Theresa usually fierce or mocking eyes softened a little, "The old man Musashi isn't discriminatory. He only cares about results and talent. But for the other elders and the family as a whole isn't this open-minded. The fact that a branch family member became the lightning blade is causing unrest."

No organization could stay monolithic once it went past a certain scale. Even though the Kaminari family was respected as a whole, it was in fact composed of many side branches who did not have the same right and opportunities as those of the main branch.

In fact, the people of the branch family were trained to serve and respect the main family member.

It was a first for a branch member to get such an important title. After all, until now the Title of Lightning Blade and the divine sword were considered to be symbols of the heir and future leader of the family.

"The elder of the branch family are plotting to use her. Those from the main family are plotting to discard her. She has no friends. Only people who want to use or destroy her. I guess this is why the old asked me to raise her. At least with my protection, all those bastards calmed down a little."

"Hehe~! my sister is a big shot now."

"Don't 'Hehe' me. The girl still has yet to awaken a Truth and obtain the full approval of the sword. Her situation is precarious but she was unshakable because she was the best of her generation. But now…"

"I guess the elders will push for Adam once they hear of him."

"Yeah. No doubt. In the past when the elders were complaining, Musashi said that any one of the younger generation who could beat her would take the title. Obviously, she won all her fights with ease. But not long ago, she technically lost a Kaminari."

"Adam."

"Your son, who also happens to be Mei's biological son, which means that he is the Heir. Haha. The Heir apparently managed to beat the 'fake lightning blade.' I can imagine how excited they will be."

Cecilia's groaned. But Theresa wasn't finished, "Furthermore this will also undermine our position."

"What do you mean."

"Look at this from an outside perspective. Okay?"

Theresa chuckled and took a finger, "Here we are, two outsiders who were added to the family on Musashi's order. We grew and obtained big influence be it within or outside the family. Obviously, they don't like us. But we were spotless, so they could only shut up. Now though things are complicated."

"Firstly there is you. You vanished twenty years ago with the child of Mei and Mei is dead. You raised her son for twenty years. Now there is me, who is raising another potential heir and by some coincidence, the first mission I take her on happens to be where you are."

Cecilia covered her face and leaked a groan. She could already picture. No matter how one looked at it, it felt like the two of them were raising a potential heir each and were trying to increase their influence or even take complete control.

"It doesn't matter how outlandish it looks. They just need something to latch on and Musashi is not getting younger. The old man is truly getting old now."

Musashi was already more than one hundred years old and he was nearing the two hundred.

Thanks to his power as a hunter he had already surpassed the time that should be possible for a human. But there was a limit and the only way to prolong his lifespan was for him to act less and fight less. But death was inevitable and it was fast approaching.

Everyone knew this and this was why the family was like a cesspool now or more like a minefield ready to explode at any moment.

There was nothing more Cecilia could say to this.

"Do you think…Can the old man transcend?"

"The last transcendent ascended around 1400 years ago. What do you think?"

Theresa closed her mouth, knowing that her words came harsher than she would have liked.

Musashi represented simply too much for the two of them. He was the one who saved them.

adopted them and trained them.

When the world was nothing but a dark place with nowhere to go, he adopted them and sheltered them.

He trained them and helped the two powerless girls to become strong fighters and splendid women.

Everything they had and everything they were was without a doubt thanks to his grace.

"You need to come back to Japan soon and see him. Even if only once. This may very well be the last time. You also need to bring Adam with you."

Cecilia did not speak, she simply drained the alcohol in her glass in silence.

"What about the elders?"

Theresa smirked, "I don't really care about their dirty scheme and stupid politics. If they dare to step out of the line by trying to keep us in check…"

She did not finish her sentence but the bloodthirst in her eyes was evident.

Cecilia's heart was bitter.

Her sister had also changed very much.

For long-lived species, twenty years was just a flash.

—But for humans like them, twenty years was akin to an entire lifetime.

(AN: The Japan arc will be interesting. It will come after the France Arc and Christmas Arc. All of this seems so far away.)