MIDNIGHT PRINCE: Empire of Sin

The next day, when Adam woke up, the first thing he did was to check his accumulated Karma after his harvest the other day.

[Current Karma: 7400]

Before spending the night with Hae-Won, his Karma count was around 7300.

For the rest of the night, he had been going all out on her. After all, it had been her true first experience in a certain way and she had been nearly insatiable. It was only when the bar was about to close that she finally relented and left.

The results spoke for themselves.

"100 more points."

He chuckled under his breath. This was basically the equivalent of a C rank skill or 10 D rank skills under one of the three Chakra pathways that he currently possessed.

Even the lowest of the low D ranked skills still needed days or months for a being to acquire and that was if you were talented enough to even acquire them, to begin with.

Now he could obtain ten such skills easily by just spending a night of passion with a beautiful woman.

[This is a little late to be surprised I believe.]

"I guess I am just starting to realize your worth."

[...]

Adam swore he could feel something akin to bewilderment emanating from Genesis. But as fast as it came, it completely vanished even faster.

[Now that you understand my 'worth,' what are your plans?]

"My long-term plan? Testing different ways to increase my influence worldwide."

The Karma that one person could give him was limited. But there was a saying that there was strength in numbers.

Becoming an entertainer, a sports athlete, a musician, or simply an internet influencer.

"This isn't the middle ages where you have to walk for miles and preach to people one after another to spread your name."

He stood up and took a look at his phone and opened the social media.

This was perhaps the easiest way to become famous in this day and age.

"What if I film myself singing? Will my song affect all those who listen through the screen no matter where they are? Or do they need to be in my vicinity?"

There were so many things he needed to learn about his powers and how to farm Karma in the most effective way without necessarily relying on the mass massacre path that Genesis suggested he take.

He spoke absentmindedly while surfing the internet and saw many interesting articles

For example, there was one about a superstar receiving a death threat which sadly, was nothing out of the ordinary in this day and age. There were multiple such cases happening on a daily basis— a sad reality of life.

Adam briefly looked at it before continuing his line of thought.

The chances of him stopping out of school were progressively increasing but he still needed a cover to hide his hunter activities.

Becoming a star could be a good idea. But it would also mean dealing with the paparazzi.

"Well… I can think of all this later."

What he needed was time. And he knew exactly where he could go to get the time necessary to implement his ideas.

'Genesis. Do you think I should use the Silver ticket right now?'

[...]

Silence was all he received as an answer. He knew that Genesis was thinking and this made this all the more uncanny to him.

After all, it had never doubted its own opinion in the past.

In the end, the decision was made,

[It would be safer to use the Bronze section pass first and determine how long you can stay and train inside the nexus. Either way, I believe Eve will say something about this to you if you consult with her.]

Adam nodded in acknowledgment. He was quite reluctant to use the silver free pass without having more information about the section and information about that part.

That thing was obtained only after going through an Epic Ordeal. He didn't know if he would be able to get other such passes more easily in the future.

"Okay, time for my workout."

———

After his usual workout routine, Adam found himself sharing breakfast with the other three members of the house.

Viktor had been the one who prepared the breakfast today and he was surprisingly pretty agile with his hands.

From what he said, it was because his mom was an alchemist witch and always told him how cooking wasn't that much different from alchemy.

"Absolute bonkers that girl, I say. But damn does she know how to cook."

Makarov laughed and commented after Viktor finished the story about his mother.

"But now this isn't why we are here, right?"

Makarov said and grinned at Adam, "You ready for the last part of your license registration."

"I don't know. It isn't exactly like I can prepare myself for a psychological test."

"Psychological test my ass."

Makarov snorted, "This is pretty much a formality. The only thing they want to test is your tendency for betrayal or fleeing under duress. Everything else doesn't matter. Even if you are the greatest psychotic bastard in the world they won't care."

"Seriously?"

"I mean. Your mother passed."

"Hey!? I resent that!"

He chuckled and looked at her with narrowed eyes, "Lass, I know you and I know what you were like when you were younger. You seriously think any normal institution with the so-called psychological test would have given you a mental pass?"

Cecilia laughed awkwardly at the tone of his voice, "I passed the necessary criteria."

She couldn't deny that she had not exactly been in the best of mind when she was younger. But how many could witness the torture of their parents and still be completely alright?

"So you see? Anyway, simply be yourself and everything will be alright."

Adam smiled and nodded at the encouragement.

Being himself?

He didn't even really know who he was currently.

But it wasn't a problem. All he had to do was to act the way he thought would be perfect for the occasion.

He believed he became very good at it. Acting, that is.

The rest of the morning passed in perfect harmony as Viktor and his grandfather went again to work inside their hearth.

"So, do you want me to accompany you today?"

Adam rose an eyebrow at this, "Are you searching an excuse to avoid your sister?"

"Hahaha. What do you mean? You think I would do such thing?"

"I do."

"And you are absolutely right."

Adam sighed at the shamelessness of his mother but eventually nodded.

"I will take care of everything myself. I will call you after the test."

"My dear adorable son, I love you!"

He moved and avoided her widely opened arms in disgust and hit her head.

"Take care of the dishes at least."

"Yes my captain!"

He could only roll his eyes and leave.

It was time to end this whole thing.

(AN: Not my best chap. Sorry having some problems at home with the electrical socket.

Fuck. Had to push this out because the phone is nearly dead and I don't know when I can work on this. I fear that all my things that were connected were short-circuited. My PS5 and my PC. TV and all that shit. Had to write the chapter on the phone.

Sigh, I will keep you updated if I manage to push a second chapter today. )