MIDNIGHT PRINCE: Empire of Sin

Once they finally reached the living room of their apartment, Cecilia plopped down on the sofa with a relaxed sigh.

"Why did you want to leave the hospital in such a hurry?"

"Ugh... I wouldn't have minded staying there longer initially. But I had no choice but to leave."

She shook her head, "I told you I had a sister, right? She was there in the hospital. I don't want her to find us for now. At least not before we get our story straight."

She covered her eyes with her hands. Years of lies and secrets were suddenly being undone so fast that it was overwhelming her.

In the first place what the hell was her sister even doing in LA? Last she remembered, her sister had been named a Director not long ago. Those higher-ups shouldn't be allowed to move so freely in other countries.

Even Cecilia had to hide her identity and stay low when she entered America.

Adam's eyes widened a little in surprise. He remembered the people he had passed by when he reached the hospital. He had not inspected the red-haired woman, but the silver-haired young girl's name was too coincidental...

"I think I have met them already."

Adam explained what happened to Cecilia. She seemed surprised when he mentioned his ability to see names and races but her surprise was even greater when he spoke of Makoto Kaminari and her alias of Lightning Blade.

"I do not remember anyone going by the name of Makoto. I guess many things have changed in the years that I have spent fleeing. For her to have that title, she should be pretty strong. Hmmm. By the way, what do you see when you look at me?"

Adam tilted his head, "Wait a second."

He now noticed that he hadn't even tried to gaze at her situation. He was now pretty curious about what her status would be like.

[Name: Cecilia Kaminari/Gospel

Affiliation: Mei Kaminari

Alias: Mad Hound; Destroyer; Vermillon Knight.

Race: Human

Age: 43

Stats: Unable to showcase due to the low proficiency of the skill...]

Adam's eye twitched a little after gazing at the information that popped up in his head. The title Vermillion Knight seemed pretty cool, all things considered. But... What was up with the other two?

Cecilia grinned a little when he told her what he saw.

"Haha. Let's just say that mom was also quite the rebel when she was young."

She stood up and began to walk in circles around Adam. "I need you to tell me everything that happened to you during those two days. Absolutely everything. From your meeting with the librarian to what kind of power you awakened. We will move from there. You need to be very careful about that woman."

"Is she an enemy?"

Cecilia chortled after hearing his words, "This is exactly the problem. No one knows what she wants. Nor what her ultimate goal is."

She scratched her hair in frustration, "The librarian, as we call her, is a mysterious figure. We believe that she had in hand in pushing the development of humanity greatly. Whenever a great figure of science or any other discipline appears, there was a high chance of her influencing it.

"But why? Why does she help humanity? What does she gain from it? Is it just fun for her? If so, what would she do if she gets bored? All of this makes us extremely wary of her."

She finally stopped walking in circles, as she had managed to get her thoughts in place. "Back then when your mother gave birth to you and... Anyway. I was able to enter the Akashic records. I do not know why or how it happened. But she proposed a deal to me. A way to stop you from awakening and staying human all your life. You would not have to suffer from a curse. Would not become the enemy of the world. You could have a peaceful and normal life far from the blood and death-filled world that you were...are destined to."

She shrugged. "I was pretty desperate I guess? I don't know. I wasn't really in a good state of mind after seeing Lady Mei pass on. But it doesn't really matter."

Adam stayed silent. Cecilia was 43 years old. She was only 22 years old when she was suddenly given the responsibility to take care of a child that was not her own and in fact, was the son of a monster. Moreover, said child was even the cause of the death of someone she respected.

Cecilia though did not try to fall into endless excuses. "So I made a bet on my life. I used my Heart Chakra to seal your powers. But then I realized how stupid I was."

She shook her head, "Every year... On the day of your birth at exactly Midnight... The curse would fight back."

Adam thought back to how Cecilia would always fall sick around this time of the year.

"As if that wasn't enough. Providence itself seemed to want your awakening. As supernatural and evil creatures would appear during that time as if attracted by your existence."

He remembered how she always disguised as a knight and would swear that her duty was to protect him.

"So I fought. I just had to hold on for 21 years. As long as your 21st anniversary went by without any accidents, it would have been enough for you to stay humans forever at the price of definitely losing all my powers."

But,

"The mind was willing but the body was too weak to make it a reality."

She could not fight destiny.

"In the end, as she said to me all those years ago, all my effort were for naught."

Adam looked down with guilt apparent in his eyes but Cecilia just caressed his head with gentle motions, "Don't feel down. I guess in this case I was the dumb one. I cannot help but think. What if I simply told you the truth? What if I gave you a choice? It was one thing when you were too young but as you grew older I should have shared things with you. It is your life, in the end."

Sadly she did not.

"I was arrogant. I believed I could protect your everyday life without ever worrying you. I wished that you would stay ignorant of the truth and live in the blissfulness of ignorance."

Sadly, bliss born from ignorance could never change reality. Her desire to protect him was in the end what doomed all her efforts.

Adam closed his eyes and uttered after taking a deep breath to control all the emotions he felt at this moment.

"Why 21 years exactly?"

He was curious.

"She told me that it was the time of a Journey."

'Hah...'

Adam understood right there and then that his mother had no chance from the very beginning. As it has been a rigged game from the very start.

Twenty one. The journey from 0, The Fool, to 21, The World.

It seemed like everything had been in the palm of her hands from the very beginning.

Adam sighed out loud, "I guess it's time for me to tell you everything on my side."

--and so Adam spoke. Giving the whole truth for the first time. To the only person, he could depend on in the entire world.

(AN: I have many ideas for Adam's future power and training. I really hope you guys will like it. Let's all witness Adam slowly becoming a powerhouse and creating his empire.)New n𝙤vel chapters are published on