MIDNIGHT PRINCE: Empire of Sin

After Adam finished his test, he had expected some lengthy procedure to follow. Something that would be a complete bore. But the total opposite happened.

After closing the door behind him, he was greeted by Mark in a very respectful way.

"I salute the new Gold Hunter."

"Do you really need to do this?"

"I do. This is how important it is to be a Gold rank. Follow me please, once we make your card it will be sent to you in two days and you will understand what it truly means."

He then smiled, "Before all this…Congratulations. I heard Miss Piaget was a very harsh examiner."

Adam thought about the woman who had been looking at him like she was some super lost treasure and half-heartedly nodded. People showed different faces depending on who they were facing. This was the same for him and for many others people.

He was then brought in a place where they took a new photo of him and even gave him a black card.

"This card allows hunters to buy equipment and potion at a discount. The card has yet to be activated but once it is it will only respond to your Prana. As a Gold Hunter, you have an 80% discount on all sales and even a certain bonus. Your starting gears will be entirely free and the maintenance for all gears you will buy will be forever free."

"Ohh."

Adam looked at the card with wonder.

'Will I even have to use this?'

He had the best blacksmith alongside the apprentice in his home and the best alchemist or at least one very close proposed to become his sponsor.

Still, there was no reason to refuse. He couldn't always count on them. It was better to avoid becoming reliant on anyone else.

"Can I get a divine weapon?"

"God forbid no. But you can eventually buy a semi-divine grade or spiritual weapon with sentience."

Adam looked at the card before thinking of something, "Let me guess…You guys have your own currency."

"Haha…"

Mark gave an embarrassed chuckle, "Few hunters actually choose to work for the association or the Paranormal department. We cannot force hunters to fight outside of Calamity class events. So the only way to entice them to fight is to create a special currency."

Achievement points. They were only transferable at death through a clear will or to the closest family members.

"This was done mainly to make hunters more active and stop the rich family from buying everything. Well…It worked in a way. But…"

He winced a little. At the end of the day, the form of the currency did not matter. Capitalism would always exist where currency existed. Rich hunter families would amass a fortune and even if it was non-transmissible, the one who held the fund could simply pay for everything they needed.

"The good thing is. It's not a resource that can be increased simply by putting it in stock. But once again those guys found a way."

The guild system. Low guild members would have to pay a part of their income from the mission to the guild they were part of. Some would give 10%, some even gave 50-60% to the guild.

The association didn't really act because as long hunters worked out here this was all that mattered. The only law was that the cut could not go above 70%. Mark was sure this rule was only respected by a very few.

"In short, be wary of the guild. When your ID is finally registered, all the hunters at the gold rank will receive a notification as well as your Code name, since your information is private. If a guild somehow finds who you are and tries to…"

Mark stopped and remembered who he was talking to. "Actually…If they learn who Adam is…Would they even dare to disturb him?"

This was a question worth pondering.

'Perhaps I should ask the Director to at least display the affiliation to the Kaminari.'

Mark went into deep thought. Humans were by nature, the most curious. The more something seemed secret, the more they wished to explore and find the answer.

Blackening all of Adam's Data would never stop someone who is truly serious about discovering his identity.

"Anyway once again, congratulations Adam. You will soon receive your hunter card and also the ID connection for the hunter website where you can take missions or bounties and receive achievement points. Any questions?"

"None for now. I will just go home."

"Very well. Let's see each other later at the delivery. I wish you a great day."

—--

Riding the elevator again, Adam looked up in silence,

'You have been oddly quiet.'

[I am analyzing the veracity of Piaget's claim.]

'About her being Medusa?'

[Indeed. This makes no sense. Medusa is not immortal. Be it as a monster or a human she was never immortal. She is at least 2500 years old now. This is something impossible for a human to accomplish. Their very soul would not be able to support the strain.]

'She is a snake, right? What if she simply shed her skin?'

[Shedding….Indeed. This is not impossible. Perhaps a rebirth-type skill? or extreme regeneration?]

'This is the first time I see you so bewildered.'

[While I hold all knowledge I am not omniscient nor all-knowing. Even Eve would not dare to call herself All-Knowing.]

Adam shrugged and walked out of the elevator when the ding sounded.

'Either way, fretting about this will not change the situation at hand. We will need her help in the future.'

Adam looked at the pack of cigarettes in his hand. If Medusa could create something that could even heal the soul, could she make sure to slightly heal his mom at least?

'So many things to think about.'

He went to a restaurant close to the beach and ordered a simple drink with some portions of sea fruit. Being with Medusa on the beach had made him crave for some.

(AN: For the hunter system, I took some inspiration from Hunter x Hunter. One of the best anime/manga ever)