I drearily sat up, the feeling of grogginess overtook me. Yet still a smile returns to my face. "I Vector von Severheart will achieve my revenge." Currently Rodrick von Severheart, my younger brother, should be the crowned prince. His death is a signifier of the starting of the second half of the book. So until then I must prove myself as the best man for the throne, and stop any one who would get into my path. Though that is the pride of Vector speaking, I can't help but agree, as I from this point forward must accept the facts, I am Vector. Though I can't believe I have any pride left after all that happened. I have an appointment today, so shall I go meet my greatest supporter, the syndicate. After exiting the house, I walk along the canal until the sun finally rose into the sky, I find a shabby looking building, but in all truth, this was a fortress. A true building made to withstand the assaults from anyone including the army itself. Two men with grim faces stand before the door. One is slightly shorter by the name of Cane, he has dark black hair, and the eyes of an honest man. The other is on the taller side looking like a brawler, his hair is strangely tinged blue, his nose crooked, and the man's clothes look as mean as his eyes, he goes by Brick. The both of them look at me with not the least bit of loyalty, after all they're only loyal to money, and couldn't care less what a worthless royal was doing.
As if showing this Cane spoke flatly to me. "She is inside waiting in your office."
I walk past not saying a word, the two brothers don't deserve a response. As soon as I enter the building, a long staircase spiraling down into the abyss sits before me. With a sigh I make the track down into the deep dark where natural light was never meant to see. Yet soon a new light relieves my eyes from the ever inclurching lightlessness, a glow from magic stones. Dozens of expensive magic stones are used for one simple benign purpose, to generate light within a massive hall, where many named characters meet and discuss the changes in the world. Even Nash, the first man the hero kills, is here. There was a reason for this, the head of the syndicate is visiting to give a speech. I walk past this crowd filled with characters that could kill me with a glance. Opening my office door I find a beautiful woman, if you would call a donkey beautiful, sitting behind my desk. Her black hair was so black it would make night envious, she is wearing a suit that you could see any business man wearing, and her well made dark blue shoes rest upon my desk.
"Vector." She begins to speak. "Shut the door, will you?"
I follow her command, then I take a seat opposite her.
"What do you need, Elizabeth?" It didn't take Vector's memories to realize who she was, as she joins the hero's harem after my death.
"Do you have a IMP." She asked, well glaring daggers at me.
This was tricky, any involvement with her more than necessary is dangerous, but I also know she has the since truth skill.
"I am a devil candidate."
"I would expect nothing less." There was a long pause filled with awkward silence. "You know, I hate that you never learn, you may have once been royalty but now you're nothing, so talk with respect when you speak to me."
Such a thing is completely out of my nature, my whole being wouldn't allow me to speak with respect to anyone but my father.
"I should have known you would receive one. No one is more worthy, I suppose."
She crossed her arms, "Friend me." I gave her a strange look. "Go into chat, look up Boss and friend me."
"IMP system." The screen once again shot up in front of me. I click on chat. A whole chat window slid down showing the global discussion, and up at the top is a search feature. Typing in boss, I find her, so I press on the send friend request icon.
Elizabeth smiles, there was already a blue screen in front of her, as with all those who try to see someone else's system it is blurred.
"Guess what your nickname is?" Before giving me time to respond she spoke once more. "Prince, how perfect right? Our little prince has even been recognized by the devil. This alone should get you that title from your brother, don't you think?"
No, even if the Devil Kingdom worships the nine great devils, no one would risk their neck to support me. But I can't say that to her, so all I do is laugh. She began to chuckle two, getting up to pat me on the shoulder.
"Now." She continues. "Let's go get this over with."
As one of the only two branch leaders here, Nick and I sat up on the stage behind Elizabeth.
"Members of the syndicate." Her tone became serious in an instant. "I, as my father before me, and his father before him, am the head. Now I call upon all of you, drug traders, gang leaders, or wanted thugs, to spread chaos and uproar within the Empire . You all will be paid handsomely of course, and a thousand gold reward is set for any one who can bring me one of the martial League bastard's heads. This is not without reason, the Empire has treated us like enemies for too long. They destroyed our business, and even went as far as to kill a branch leader. Now we must show them that if you beat a dog, you better expect it to bite back." With that she stepped off the stage with Nick taking her place.
"You may not recognize me. I am Nick of the forsaken, and a branch leader. We are the ones to contact for the rewards, so please make haste, there's only so much to go around, if you know what I Mean." He sat back down, causing me to stand.
"Assassinate the Martial God, and his disciple, this bounty only lasts a year, the reward of course is a platinum coin." The whole room shook at my words. There were already people with greedy grins. Using a platinum coin grants a title of nobility and a pardon from all your crimes. There is no one in the world, other than maybe a king, that wouldn't want a platinum coin from the Devil Kingdom.
Someone screams from the group, "do you even have one!?" A reasonable question as I am a disgraced prince. However I reach into my pocket flashing the coin to the whole room. It was my mother's gift from the GrandMaster on their engagement day. With nothing left to say I sit back in my chair. "Ding, you gain 2 villain points." As expected, this was all it took.
I left the hall with a guard tagging behind me, it was one of Elizabeth's men, a rather skinny man with long arms, black hair, and a mask covering half his face. Unlike me, there are plenty of people who would gladly die for Elizabeth. She just has powerful charisma. Exiting the building some men followed me, but when the guard glared they went running, like cowards they were. He gave me a bow when we made it to my house. He mumbled something under his breath, before sprinting back in the direction of the building.
"Home sweet home." Opening the door I am met with a royal guard, his hair is slicked back, his whole body is covered in a thick black plate armor, and a worn out pair of glasses rests on his long nose.
"His majesty, clown prince Rodrick, has offered you, sir Vector, an officer rank with the holy devil military. He believes you are best suited to begin the raids on the Empire's wretched ground." He slides me a letter . "You are free to decline, but know that our Royal family has taken notice of your unsavory relations with the underworld. As a member of the nobility, we can not allow such behavior."
The story is moving faster than expected, this event should be a year and a half away. How am I supposed to work around this? Big Red Truck, why have you forsaken me. No, no, don't question your god's when times get hard. There's just one main issue, this is where the two rivals are supposed to meet, and the hero finally figures out how strong the Devil Kingdom is. That would be fine, if it wasn't me who was supposed to be his rival.
"Can you give me time to think this over?" I ask.
He shook his head. "Read the letter, I will wait out front."
And so he left with a grim face. I fold open the creased letter.
To my big brother.
Father has no right to treat you as he does, I have been working behind the scenes to get you your title back, but he has stopped me at every turn. However there is one thing the Grand Master isn't in charge of. As the military head I can give you a position, well no one can directly be promoted to general, I can make you a captain. Anyone who achieves the title of Hero of the Devil Kingdom, will be an honorary member of the Royal family. Then I shall reject the title of crown prince, and hence being the only one left it will be reserved to you. Now that the business part of this letter is over. I wish to converse with you once more, please brother, don't do anything to anger father further. He is very confused, and still loves you, the actions he has done so far are no more than petty revenge. I shall not make light of you, or your suffering, but forgiveness must be achieved through both sides.
Rodrick von Severheart.
My face stiffens as I reread the letter, it hardens farther when I read it again, I do so eight times before finally folding it into my chest pocket. Opening the door I ask him if he read it. He obviously shook his head. After telling him of my acceptance he left with a roamers pace.
I march my way up the stairs once again sitting before my desk. "System."
Vector von Severheart.
Titles, Prince of the Devil Kingdom, as a member of royalty you find things easy where others may struggle. leader of an underworld branch, people are more likely to find you threatening. Magic apprentice, the craft of a true mage is out of your bounds, but thanks to a great teacher you understand the simple stuff.
Age, 22.
Evil, you have a bad reputation.
Strength 6
Stamina 2
Resolve 12
Mana 1
Bloodline, as a member of Severheart's, you have an immense control over demonic energy, once a week you can enter your transcendent form.
I touched my stats, my fingers slipped through like it was a ghost. The hero's stats should be.
Strength 57
Stamina 41
Resolve 18
Mana 21
He is completely out of my league, his stats are already close to that of Devil Kingdoms Royal Guards. What a fucking cheater, who ever made this broken main character can suck it. I fall to my knees in front of my bed. Putting my hands together I begin to pray. "Big Red Truck, I don't ask you for much. Your most loyal worshiper is here in risk of being slapped to death like some kind of scrub. I know you're up there, but I ask for a sign, something to grant me protection. Amen."