The Sinful Life of The Emperor

" You really think that anyone in power would let go of any means to exert power?"

Lord Harley asked while stepping before the raised platform. Over twenty thousand crystal shards were emerging from the platform, each emitting a distinct aura of life.

Kurtis' face fell. He obviously knew the answer to the question but couldn't believe the answer was coming in front of him like this.

He glanced at the platform and detected the presence of not only his Source Crystal but his entire family. Even the other Alphas carrying the blood of Hestia had their crystals here.

"Then the Source Crystals The Phoenix gave us were fake!" Kurtis exclaimed in horror.

"No, they are real. You see, idiots like you are easy to fool, but not everyone in the family is an idiot."

"...." Kurtis tightened his fists.

First that Kiba and now Lord Harley. Why do they both have to insult him like this?!

He was angry but helpless.

"Now isn't the time to be offended!" Kurtis tried to calm himself and think why Lord Harley would bring him here.

It sure wouldn't be for anything good, especially not after revealing such a big secret that could shake the family's foundation.

"Source Hounding Crystals… an invention by De Rose Empire," Kurtis tried to think of every detail he knew to find a way out.

"They were invented to prevent any rebellion from inside and ensure the throne remained safe. Since most empires fell due to internal conflicts, De Rose didn't suffer such a fate.

"And that was why the empire lasted long enough to produce an entity that achieved the title of Cosmic Emperor!

"Cosmic Emperor is both a title and a stage denoting the strongest in the universe… second to The Fate!

"It is a different matter that De Rose fell after the Cosmic Emperor was slain by Eternal Darkness. But the fact remains Source Hounding Crystals played a great role in the empire's success."

Kurtis' heart constricted as he thought of the use of Source Hounding Crystals. Years ago, he had employed a similar method when he hired Akshobhya from Mahayana Dhyana Monastery to fry Zed's brain.

"But unlike Akshobhya's source cubes, the source crystals don't have many restrictions! At least not for De Rose Empire…but what about Lord Harley?!"

As his thoughts arrived on this, he realized why the family was allowed to possess the Source Crystals. It was to ensure the family never felt they were controlled. That allowed them to tap into their potential and rise to achieve their dreams and desires. After all, if the family thought they would be suppressed or controlled by the Source Crystals, it would harm the family in the long run and lead to their decline. They weren't De Rose Empire who could use it to achieve progress!

"A puppet does the best when it doesn't know of the strings pulling it."

Lord Harley said while running his hands over the crystals.

"The same is for humans. When you let them feel they are doing everything out of their free will, they give their 100%. The moment they realize of the sword hanging above their necks, the real efficiency falls even though it rises at the start."

Kurtis gritted his teeth. He wanted to scream and shout that Lord Harley was going against the rules established by Soverigness Hestia. But he didn't.

"The fact this is happening pretty much confirms my worst fears… Soverigness Hestia must have planned it!"

No one in power would want to lose control. So why would Soverigness Hestia even though she has supposedly died?!

"Hahaha!"

Kurtis suddenly started laughing.

Lord Harley was surprised, and he turned to him.

"What's so funny?"

"The irony!"

Kurtis replied amidst his laughter.

"I don't know what you are going to do… but I do know you are a puppet just like me! You are my master, and your master is Soverigness Hestia!"

If Kurtis expected his words to provoke Lord Harley, he failed. Lord Harley smiled.

"You are right," Lord Harley acknowledged with a nod. "I'm a puppet."

While saying so, he made a hand motion towards the crystal he was here to retrieve.

Kurtis' breathing stopped. The Source Hounding Crystal was of his daughter!

"Unlike De Rose Empire, I can't use the crystals to kill directly."

Lord Harley said as the crystal floated above his palm.

"But I had a century to experiment with them and learn that their use wasn't restricted to just killing."

Lord Harley brought a finger close to the crystal.

"Let me show you one of their main purposes, thanks to which De Rose was never caught off-guard by any traitors."

He tapped on the crystal, and it flashed out with rays of light. The rays concentrated together and turned into a projection.

"!!" Kurtis' eyes widened.

The projection showed the night sky and then shifted, displaying Rebecca. It again turned, moving towards a house clouded by night.

"Brother is sure working hard!"

Kirstie's voice emerged from the projection.

"I can hear the faint sound of his efforts even from here!"

The projection once again shifted to Rebecca, who seemed uncomfortable.

Kurtis, too, was uncomfortable, but for a different reason.

He realized the crystal can be used to see and hear through the senses of the source owner.

"Impossible!" Kurtis shouted. "If you had such a method, that bastard would never have been born!"

He refused to believe this was true. Otherwise, with such methods, they could have easily found Rebecca when she ran away with Zerenski and brought shame to the family.

"You mean Zed?" Lord Harley's lips curved up. "You still don't it realize, do you?"

"Realize what?"

"That I wanted Zed to be born."

"!!!!" Kurtis's eyes constricted, and his body jerked.

What the hell!?

He wanted Zed to be born?! But wasn't he the same guy who sent assassins after Zed along with other powers?!

This didn't make sense!

"Alas, I couldn't achieve what I wanted from him back then."

Lord Harley continued while looking at the projection.

"He was born, but somehow he disappeared amidst the chaos on Solitary Snow Island. And even his Source Crystals disappeared."

Lord Harley sighed. It was a mystery he still couldn't solve.

After all, only he knew of the Source Crystal in the valley. So how could Zed's crystals disappear?

"Anyways, I achieved a great part of what I wanted through your daughter."

Lord Harley smirked.

"So it is all right."

Kurtis felt a chill down his spine. He might not love his wife, but he loved his daughter!

Lord Harley closed the projection and stepped towards Kurtis.

"Time to start what we are here for."

"W-what do you mean?" Kurtis jumped to his feet and shot backward.

Lord Harley willed it, and Kurtis stopped.

"I want you for a little experiment."

The crystal above his palm shot at Kurtis.

"So cooperate for the success of our great family."

... … …

11 AM.

Despite it being close to afternoon, Katherine, Sophia, and Zed lay asleep on the bed. The sunlight fell on their naked bodies, basking them in their warm glow, but the illicit triad remained oblivious.

Another hour passed, and Katherine's eyes slowly opened. She saw the sun above her and realized she has fallen asleep outside the house.

She looked down and saw herself naked as the day she was born.

"What happened?"

She felt weak and exhausted, and when she tried to move, she couldn't. She was sandwiched between her daughter and Zed.

Seeing them, the memories of the last night flooded into her, and she realized why she felt so weak. Zed has fucked her so hard that she passed out! Even her daughter had helped him by eating her out!

"Oh, Creator! I really committed incest! Thank you!"

Excitement surged through her exhausted body as she realized the last night wasn't a dream.

"I should wake them and continue!"

Katherine was in the middle of taking this decision but stopped. All her holes were sore, especially her back gate, and she didn't think she could handle another round for the next few hours.

"Today is Sophia's first day as a woman! I shouldn't get between her and Zed!"

She made an excuse to justify herself and slowly left the bed. When she stepped on the floor, she couldn't even walk properly.

"He fucked me real good!" She smiled brightly. If she wanted, she could erase her exhaustion with her powers, but she didn't. That would kill the marvelous feeling of being freshly fucked.

She glanced at her daughter and said, "You are damn lucky!"

She knew her daughter would share the luck!

"Because mom is always right!"