MIDNIGHT PRINCE: Empire of Sin

Cecilia had a serious expression on her face as a dark and gloomy shadow covered her face and she clasped her two hands as if she was deep in thought.

"So let me summarize things a little here…

"This is gorgon blood, right?"

"Indeed."

"The blood is something that you got from the still very much alive Medusa who incidentally also happens to be a member of the Zodiacs, correct?"

"That is so."

"Medusa, who now works under the name of Piaget Freud, also decided to take you under her wings as her protege and is giving you many preferential treatment such as giving you some cigarette pack worth 300 million dollars or something."

"Yep."

"Last but not least, it seems like she is also planning to have the one and only [~S.K~] build a custom armor for you by using her scales."

"You got it all right."

"..."

"..."

"What in the actual fuck!?"

"I had the same thought as you too for some time."

If she could, Cecilia would have flipped over the table to make it as clear and concise as possible just how bewildered and flabbergasted she was feeling right now.

She massaged her forehead, feeling the mother of all headaches about to sweep in and even wondered if the beer she drank earlier didn't have some kind of hallucinogens effect in it to make her dream of such a wild and delusional scenario.

Taking a deep and steady breath, she forced herself to calm down, "Okay. Let's not talk about how someone who has been decapitated by a literal demigod is still alive to this day. This is nothing new. We can roll with it."

She was trying to make sense of the situation, "Why is she helping you then?"

Adam could only show her a bitter smile as a response, "She gave me a reason. Though I do not know whether this is a good reason or not, I believe that she was honest in her intentions."

"Oh… and the reason behind that is…?"

Adam proceeded to explain the reasoning about the Heroes throughout the generations that Medusa brought forward to him. He also spoke about the meeting he had with the snake lady yesterday.

Cecilia listened quietly through all the explanations. In the end, there was very little she could do about it. When Adam finally finished speaking, she just let out a quiet sigh and covered her face with her hands.

This was a little too much information for her after just coming from a night filled with booze showdowns with her sister. But this was extremely important.

As Adam watched Cecilia behave like this, he felt a little guilty inside. He could imagine the sudden level of stress Cecilia must be facing due to him.

The fact of the matter was that Medusa was a literal Zodiac. It didn't matter how powerful she was. The simple fact that she was a Zodiac gave her a level of influence like no other hunter could ever hope to have. At least in America.

Moreover, adding the fact that she was most likely more than two thousand years old, showed that she was in no way the kind of person they could afford to mess around with.

Of course, there was one thing Adam was completely wrong about.

'Sigh, if I was at my old level I would have tried to challenge her.'

Cecilia was in no way worried about Medusa herself. Cecilia knew that if she was ready to sacrifice her life, she could bring back her old level of power, and at her peak, she feared no Zodiac whatsoever. No matter where they were from and how much power they had.

The only thing that was worrying her was the intention behind Medusa's actions but…

'I won't always be with Adam.'

Cecilia had many questions she wanted to ask. But she refrained from doing so. The reality was that her time in this world was very limited and she had sometimes babysat Adam a bit too much over the years.

He was a young and independent man and it was necessary to treat him as such. Be it a mistake or success, this would be the best way to pave his growth.

Better he fail while she was still alive and could hold the sky for him if needed. This was just her job as a parent.

Not holding the hand of your child, but walking the way alongside them and being there for them through success and failure.

"Adam, do you think she is trustworthy?"

"No."

His answer was clear and direct with no hesitation whatsoever,

"Medusa has no interest in me personally. I believe she has an interest in something she sees in me. Obviously, if I do not show that something or If I fail her expectations she will have no reason to keep helping me."

Despite how helpful Medusa was or rather because of how helpful Medusa was, Adam had to always remind himself of the absolute truth in this matter.

Medusa was not a friend. She was not a trustworthy companion. She was someone who would be there for him for as long as he satisfied certain conditions. This was nothing more than a business transaction between them with his future and potential as leverage.

She was an investor and Adam was the CEO of the firm she made an investment on. If he failed to deliver results, she would just stop being an investor. It was as simple as that.

"Very well. I will believe you if you say so."

She sighed, relieved at his answer. Not everyone who came at you with a smile had good intentions in mind and wanted to be friends. It was important to make the distinction between friends and partners.

"Now then… Do you think this potion is legit?"

"I do."

Once again the answer was clear and direct. Adam had no doubt about it as he had verified the legitimacy with the 'Eye of Truth.' He didn't know how much effect this would bring but this would certainly be useful for Cecilia's current situation.

"Then… Since you believe in her, I will also do the same."

Cecilia did not believe in Medusa. She believed in Adam who believed in Medusa. She took the potion with a tremble in her hands.

She may not have shown it openly but Cecilia hated her current situation. This feeling of ever-growing weakness gnawed at her mind and soul. The inability to move at the speed she was used to and handle Prana like in the past was a constant thorn in her heart, no pun intended.

It was painful. It was excruciating. The only thing that allowed her to hold on was because she had already once seen the bottom and because she thought it was worth it since it benefited Adam.

Even then, becoming so much weaker was not easy for her, and now… This red potion may perhaps be the key for her to regain some of her lost powers.

Even if she couldn't heal completely, the more power she could harness the more she could protect Adam from anything that may wish to hurt him.

This was enough. More than enough even.

"Let's do it."

And so she drank with no hesitation.

And the result was more than just immediate.

———

*Edit: 19/05/23

(AN: Okay guys this is going to be long.

We are 10 days away from end of the month and I have 4.4K unlock. Firstly thanks for all those who subscribed and everyone else your support is magical. But I want to reach 10K unlock, this is one of the reasons I made this 99% off month. Which is why…I am going to try and write 3 chapters everyday for 10 days. I don't know If I will succeed but I will try. I have around 200 priv, if all of you guys unlock the chapter as they come then it won't be impossible.

This is both a challenge for me and an opportunity. If I reach 10k I will have a banner which means more promotion and ideally higher rank in the future. In the meantime, if I reach 10k, next month will still be 99% off for all tiers.

For those who are not in Priv and don't understand, 99% mean that simply by buying one of the Tier (10/20/23 chapters) you will only have to use 1 coin for unlocking for the rest of the month.

For example: With 99% off we have 444 coins base + 30 coins (If I post 30 chapters)

Without the 99% off it would be 444 coins + 360 coins (If I post 30 chapters)

I am making a great loss but if I can reach 10K unlocked chapters the Banner might be worth it. Since more readers will help, or perhaps I am just coping and it will fail. But heh, at least gotta try, right?

SUMMARY: Unlock chapters as they come, please. Sprint for 10K starting on 22. Peace.)