Midnight Prince: Empire of Sin

[December 10th, 8 am]

Unexpectedly, the next day arrived much faster than usual for practically everyone else. The City of Los Angeles, at this time should have been full of sound and cars running around as people rushed to their jobs.

But, while the activities were certainly still elevated, there was no denying that a large number was missing as more and more people started leaving the city or were hiding in their houses.

In front of the large office, in the middle of Los Angeles, a car with no discerning logo, indicating its brand, skidded along the road before stopping there.

Inside the black-tinted car was a blonde young girl. She still had an air of innocence of someone who had just recently entered society, however, her eyes held a firm and steady will that was difficult to find in girls her age. She had her own set of stories.

"So this is the place, huh?"

"My lady, are you sure about this? It's still not too late to refuse. I believe the Matriarch will not be angry."

In the driver seat, driving the car to the office venue, was an old man with greying hair slicked back. He was looking at the girl in the back with worry and apprehension in his eyes and face, clearly, whatever was happening here, he did not have good thoughts about it.

"I know. Mother would never sell me out or force me to do something I do not want to. But… I have, no, need to do this. Our family is already in decline and as a lady who enjoyed all the advantages of being the child of the matriarch, I now need to return even if a little bit."

"Oh my… My lady has grown up so well. I am in tears."

The girl coughed in embarrassment as she could see the old man indeed crying a river in the front seat like a grandpa sending his grandson to war. It was overly emotional as always.

"Ahem~ Anyway, I have been trained in seduction techniques all my life. Surely, it won't be too hard, right?"

"Of course. Any young man who can not see the beauty of my lady should either be uninterested in women or a monk of extraordinary capabilities."

"Hehe, thanks for the confidence boost."

Thinking so… Luvia Osborn, a student of Bridget Bishop, stepped out of the car and entered the office while her driver waved at her with tears still running like streams from his wrinkled eyes.

She was confident.

She believed in her skill and beauty.

After all, how many people could boast of being Silver rank at only 19 years old in age? Even if the one she had to meet was a Gold rank at 21, it wasn't like it was impossible for her to do the same.

'I can definitely do it!'

Reaching the door where the team was stationed to wait for their leader, she psyched herself up and finally pushed open the door…

Bang~!!

Only to immediately close it again behind her, fear and disbelief evident on her face.

'What the hell!??'

She hesitated a little, wondering if she somehow had illusions and simply saw wrong and carefully, very carefully, opened the door once more to peek inside… Only to be met with a sad reality.

"Hi! Are you perhaps lost?"

Luvia hiccuped a little and bowed immediately,

"Good Morning, Saint Elysia!"

"Fufu~ You don't need to be tense."

Even though the witches and church had eased their relationship over the years, Luvia still couldn't help but feel suffocated, having to meet the literal Saintess. Why wouldn't she be? It was a bonafide Saitess, not a cheap copy. At the very least, Saints and Saintesses were known to be between Gold to Executor rank thanks to their abilities of being able to summon angels in their bodies.

The worst? Elysia was only 18 years old.lightsnovel

But of course, this was not enough for Luvia to feel so much fear,

"H-Hello.."

She looked at the second girl sitting alone, exuding the aura of a sheathed blade ready to draw and taste blood at a moment's notice.

'The Lightning Blade!! Why is she here as well?'

Luvia was beside herself at the moment. The Lightning Blade, a member of the Kaminari family. A young prodigy who obtained the famed title despite being from the branch family.

She was officially a Gold rank Hunter but could reach the Executor rank by utilizing her Divine Weapon.

Moreover… She was also only 18 years old this year.

In the end, Luvia let her eyes trail on the last person sitting in the room.

A woman with a voluptuous body and purple hair wearing a fox mask over her face,

"Oh? A witch?"

This time she quite literally paled from head to toe.

The Ghost Spider. Not much was known about her in the outside world and she had vanished from the frontline long ago for reasons unknown.

But of course, Luvia knew of her true identity.

Tsubasa Hanekawa. From the Hanekawa family and also a half-

disciple of the famed Heavenly Court.

An Executor in the flesh… and she was only 20 years old, just a year older than her.

Luvia had never felt so much pressure in the entirety of her life. Nor did she think it was possible for her to feel anything near this experience in the future.

'What in the name of Lucifer is going on in this place?'

She was seriously starting to consider the possibility of simply fleeing this space as fast as her body would allow her. All the girls here were far more powerful than her, more talented than her, and the family behind them could crush hers without any problem whatsoever. It would be a massacre without a doubt.

She even wondered if she entered the wrong room and joined some VIP meeting of these esteemed individuals by chance.

Fear took hold of her psyche and she started to take a few steps back only to bump into something or rather someone. Slowly looking up, she could see a young man with a handsome face and a black eyepatch on his right, smiling at her gently.

"Good morning."

Tears came in her eyes… Perhaps… Perhaps not everyone was weird in this mission, right?

Surely, the young man was not some freak, right?

'Please…'

Begging to all devils, gods, devas, and angels out there… Luvia prayed for this man to at least be normal.

'Please, God, Buddha, Confucius, anyone! Please don't let some weird things happen in this mission.'

Sadly for Luvia, no matter how sincere her prayers were, the reality would once again teach her that she should have simply listened to her instincts and left this place from the very start.

(AN: Luvia was first introduced long ago and her first appearance was her training with Sae. Heh, she is like that one semi-pro dude who thought he was hot then entered a ranked match with a team of progammers. Then realized he is in fact trash. Jokes aside, Luvia might or might not become important. She is pretty weak and in fact, represents what kind of level normally talented young people should have. A big contrast when compared to the three girls in this room who are anything but normal)