Prince of Wives

by Jason Hale

  *BAM* BAM* BAM* *BAM*

  A ferocious punching session began, a session Konnor used to vent all his accumulated frustration, Wolfgang style.

  "Boss, I apologize, mighty boss, please stop punching me!"

  For the first time in his life, Wolfgang had been beaten black and blue, losing all the dignity of an Uradel count.

  Satisfied, Konnor returned to his seat.

  "Hum, hum. I hope you can understand the situation for what it is. You no longer have any means to challenge me. Your life and soul are within my hands, and I could reprogram you if I wished to. But this doesn't have to be a sour relationship. As Ilaina's father, I will certainly not mistreat you. In the future, I can even improve the terms of your contract.

  Also, don't be swindled by the Celestial Church's brainwashing. I may be a demon, but I bring only joy wherever I go. Granted it's only meant for women...but huh…in a nutshell, I'm a good guy, and you will bring no harm to the common people by serving me wholeheartedly."

  "Bullshit! You are clearly a terrible wolf in sheep clothing! Why did the Divine Lords allow me to get swindled by you?"

  Wolfgang inwardly cursed, not knowing that his thoughts were also within Konnor's grasp.

  "I can read your mind."

  "W-what?"

  A servant's sole comfort was the ability to curse his master within the shadows of his mind. Couldn't he even obtain that privilege?

  "Fret, not. I can allow you to curse me once a week and in your sleep. But otherwise, it's forbidden."

  Surely, a show of generosity was necessary?

  "Huh?"

  Wolfgang couldn't believe his ears. Was he truly being given a cursing quota?

  "Hum…thank you. I suppose?"

  "Thank you? Didn't you forget something?"

  "Oh…apologies. Thank you…boss."

  Wolfgang struggled to say through his teeth.

  "Congratulations Count Wolfgang, you have officially joined the mob."

  Konnor chortled, causing Wolfgang to collapse in shame.

  "Wait, wait. You can't faint yet. Now that we've established the nature of our new relationship, there are some things you must become aware of, and some plans we have to set into motion."

  *Clap* *Clap* *Clap*

  Following Konnor's three claps, purple fog condensed by Wolfgang's side, and from it, Zamira emerged.

  Seeing his beloved consort appear out of thin hair, Wolfgang was overtaken by confusion and an ominous stinging feeling.

  "Master, you summoned me?"

  A unique advantage of the Master-Servant contract was that like familiars, the servants could be summoned by the master at any time. As a former Barbarian Chieftain, Zamira was well aware of that, and so wasn't startled.

  But her four words caused Wolfgang's apprehension to blossom into dread.

  "M-master? What is the meaning of this? You can't be…"

  Before he could finish his words, Zamira turned a puzzled glance toward him, then alternated between Konnor and him.

  Konnor read the question within her eyes.

  "You don't need to be startled. Just like you, Wolfgang is now a servant of my household. Though, I cannot say he wisely traded his freedom."

  The confirmation only caused more confusion within Zamira who couldn't understand how Wolfgang could ever sign a demonic contract.

  It would already be miraculous if he didn't butcher Konnor upon learning of his true heritage. However, it wasn't her place to inquire on the "how" and "why," so she just stepped toward Konnor and silently stood at his right.

  "Zamira…is it possible that he also got to you? No wonder…I was played."

  Wolfgang finally realized why he suddenly became unable to please her. The problem didn't lie with him. She'd just discovered a new realm of ecstasy within the hands of her demonic master.

  The uncomfortable feeling of a green, glossy hat on top of his head caused him to gnaw his lower lip.

  There was no fluctuation within Zamira's face. She merely remained stoic by Konnor's side with neither worry nor shame.

  "You can't blame her Wolfy. After all, she has duties to fulfill. Or did you think that just by treating her well, you could make her forget about her tribesmen and tribeswomen, about the fate they endured and are enduring within this empire?

  That was slightly unrealistic of you. Fortunately, the first demon to show up to fulfill her wishes is me. Otherwise…heh."

  Konnor softly pinched Zamira's left butt cheek, causing red to flash on her face as she stifled a yelp.

  Wolfgang's heart was now a wrecked mixture of sorrow and fury. Half toward Konnor and half toward himself, for he soon realized he had deceived himself.

  He believed the decades spent together and the affection shared could make Zamira forget about her tribe's fate and its remnants. Deep down, he knew it was impossible, but he still clung onto the vain hope that time and the warmth of a new family would wipe off the past and allow her to truly put her barbarian life behind to just be his lady.

  But he was wrong. She'd never forgotten and was always looking for an opportunity to recover what she'd lost.

  "Do you…resent me?"

  He asked in barely audible words. As the leader of the army that saw the end of Zamira's tribe, if there were a list of people to loathe, he would probably be at the top. Thinking of that possibility, his mouth soured.

  Her next words, however, alleviated some of his bitterness.

  "Back then, we merely were of two opposing sides. Had we been victorious, your army would have been cleanly slaughtered. I can't blame you for what happened because although you defeated us, you didn't humiliate us. At least not of your own volition.

  What followed was beyond your ability to control. I understand your plight and do not resent you, thus, I hope you won't resent me for doing what I must."

  A sigh escaped his lips, and he had nothing more to say.

  "Now that we've made our stances clear. I have good and bad news for you, Wolfy. Bad news, now that Zamira is mine, you can never touch her again. I don't share with anyone besides myself so you can be her man during the day, and I will be her man at night."

  Wolfgang almost spurted blood.

  "Good news, I have a fair number of female targets for you to snatch. You might even be able to make your own mini-harem of married ladies."

  Now Wolfgang's eyes widened in confusion and disbelief.

  "What?"

  "You heard me right. I initially planned to use money and some manipulations to recover the Borxan tribeswomen within house Schoner and house Henlein, but I've changed my mind. Since you created the problem, it is only right you solve it.

  As we speak, house Schoner's wealth is dwindling, and in about three days, they should lose a third of it. I want you to use that opportunity and the resources at your disposal to take over their house. Start with Count Wilhelm's beloved wife no doubt the mixture of their dwindling assets, your mighty name and cultivation will make her more…open…to suggestions. Make her yours and use her as an insider to seize the rest of her husband's assets.

  House Henlein will be a tad bit more difficult since you will need to create all the opportunities. However, I have no doubt that a third step Semi-Saint can easily subjugate a house whose strongest cultivator is but a seventh step Transcendent Knight.

  When their houses are ours, whatever we want, we can take."

  The ease with which Konnor ordered those corrupt deeds took Wolfgang aback and made him reevaluate the callousness of that boss/son-in-law of his. Yet, although he didn't wish to stoop to such low actions, Konnor's words echoed like supreme commands he could only obey.

  "Yes, boss."

  "Don't forget to act with discretion. Anything is fine as long as you alarm neither the von Juras nor the Holy Flame Church. We're not ready for their attention…yet.

  Oh, and of course, honor my name and fuck their women senseless."

  ...

  Afterward, Konnor obtained Wolfgang's talent and
browsed through his memories to learn all he needed to regarding the competition.

  It was divided into two parts. The preliminaries conducted within a spatial world of the Holy Flame Church, and the actual battle contest between the young nobility.

  There was an age limit of fifty which in the Holy Flame Empire's high nobility could only be regarded as the youth and a certain number of quotas depending on the family's highest-ranking noble's title.

  The rest of the days were mostly uneventful. Konnor used Wolfgang to make the rest of house Kracht fall in lines and become its true master while days and night, he would enjoy the company of his various beauties, both in the outside world and within his spatial pouch where another part of his harem resided.

  And on the night preceding his departure for the competition, a voice boomed within his mind.

  "Yo, host! I have returned! Missed me?"

  "Update Completed."

  "Now that the host has proven his dedication to the quest of harem building, it is time we turn to a supporting role and grant him ample time to make his choices while giving him tasks meant to not only build a harem but establish his dominance over this world."

  "Main Quest: Level 3 Initialization!"

  Chapter 49 - New Quest Format

  "Main Quest: Level 3 Initialization!

  Part 1: Conquer ten beauties of the Adept Rank.

  Part 2: Obtain a net worth of 100.000 purple crystals.

  Part 3: Establish a partnership with a low-ranking (or higher) member of the Holy Flame Empire's nobility."

  Main Rewards: Harem Expert Rank, Cultivation base breakthrough, Fortune Wheel quota.

  Ability Reward: Origin Sight, Flesh Healing Kiss.

  Timeframe: One month.

  "Status: Completed."

  "Wait. C-completed?"

  For an instant, the system believed its data erroneous, but quickly it recalled Konnor was not far from completing the first part of the quest before it went on vacation, so it was no longer startled.

  "Alright, alright. Not bad, host. You live up to the name of Harem Expert! Want me to distribute the rewards first or just initialize the next quest?"

  Within his mind, Konnor observed all this with a weird look.

  "Hum just carry on. I'm not sure you're ready to distribute rewards yet."

  "Haha, don't underestimate the might of the main quest!"

  Main Quest: Level 4 Initialization.

  Part 1: Conquer twenty beauties of the True Rank.

  Part 2: Obtain a net worth of 1.000.000 purple crystals.

  Part 3: Establish connections with at least five low ranking members of the Holy Flame Empire's nobility or one mid-ranking member.

  Part 4: Plant at least one spy within a low-ranking noble house (or higher).

  Main Reward: Harem Master Rank, Free Grand to Arch Physique Upgrade, Two-mid grade Third Circle Spells.

  Ability Rewards: Invisibility, Heart Mending Kiss.

  Timeframe: Three months.

  Status: Completed."

  "See? Completed! Wait, wait, completed? Again? What the fuck?!"

  Knowing this was going to take some time, Konnor lied on his bed to hum one of his favorite Earth tunes while ignoring the system's outburst.

  "This makes no sense. It has only been a week. What sorcery did you use to complete all those tasks? What purpose do I serve if you can finish the main quest without me even telling you what it is?"

  The system wanted to cry, but as a system, it truly had no tears to shed.

  "Stats. I must check the stats!"

  Name: Konnor

  Rank: Harem Builder

  Cultivation level: First Step Grand Priest<>Sixth Step Grand Knight

  Race: Pureblooded Incubus

  Physique: Grand Primal Physique<>Transcendent Level Anzu Beast Physique.

  Attributes: Light, Fire, Water, Storm.

  Acquired Abilities: Body Regeneration<>Ecstasy Fingers<>Ecstasy Clouds.

  Bloodline Abilities: Female Dream Theft<>Transformation Skill<>Arousal Aura<>Desire Flames<>Bewitching Fog<>Telekinesis.

  Harem number: 23.

  Exp: 12.373.225."

  "Holy moly…you've been working…hard."

  As a top-level beauty of the sixth step Transcendent Knight Rank. Zamira alone was worth 12.000.000 exp. Therefore, the numbers didn't surprise Konnor.

  It was now time for the fifth level of the main quest and this time Konnor didn't believe he could complete it with his current achievements.

  "Very well."

  The system's voice turned serious.

  "Main Quest: Level 5 Initialization.

  Description: Congratulations on becoming a Harem Master and making the preliminary arrangements to establishing your faction within this world. At this point, you probably have enough women and resources to enjoy a life of luxury and ecstasy. However, that is not what we want.

  We want the supreme altitude! Unless you are supreme, unless you rule the entire world, how can you truly protect your beauties?

  Therefore it is time you embark on the road to not only build the world's greatest harem but also establish your dominion over the entire Ancient Crystal World.

  Level 5 Objectives:

  1: Conquer forty beauties of the Grand Rank.

  2: Obtain a disposable income of 100 million purple crystals.

  3: Take full control of three mid-level noble houses (or higher).

  4: Conquer a Noble Imperial Consort.

  5: Obtain the full support of two influential figures (or more) within the inner court.

  6: Establish a black market both in the inner court and in the Holy Flame City.

  7: Achieve all these without letting the name "Konnor" spread within the Holy Flame City.

  Main Rewards: Harem Grandmaster Rank<>Cultivation Harmonization (if applicable) <> Free Physique Upgrade.

  Ability Rewards: Harem Tolerance Programming or Perfect Polygamy Art.

  Timeframe: Six months."

  "Now that's a tad bit more difficult."

  The first three parts of the quest were the easiest to fulfill. In six months, Konnor had no doubt he would be way beyond the first two requirements. As for the third one, he already set Wolfgang on the path to complete it. By the time house Kracht successfully took over the Schoner and the Henlein, that condition would be satisfied.

  However, the remaining four parts were much more problematic. Unlike the other imperial consorts, Noble Imperial Consorts ranked very high, just below the Holy Consort and were among the few to frequently receive the visit of the Holy Emperor. There were only two of them, and each possessed great backgrounds.

  Yvonne Voight, the sixth prince's mother and the daughter of Sovereign Prince Hubert Voight.

  Anke von Juras, mother of the Crown Prince, and cousin of the Holy Emperor.

  They were both high-level Semi-Saints and possessed at least one Saint as backer.

  Konnor's power wouldn't have much effect on them. So, he could only do it the old-fashioned way, and he would still need to avoid getting caught by the emperor!

  "If I can complete part four, Part five should not be difficult. Part six will rely both on house Kracht and on my connections within the inner court. As for part seven, you can say it's simple, or you can say it's difficult. In a nutshell, I must do all these from the shadows without obtaining any fame linked to the name Konnor."

  This time, although it finally had grounds to feel elated, the system didn't take the opportunity to tease him.

  "When I return to the inner court and obtain more information on those two, I can choose my target. In any case, you can distribute the rewards!"

  The system didn't delay, distributed the harem rings, and new abilities, then caused Konnor's cultivation to go from the first step Grand Priest to the sixth step Grand Priest. As for his martial cultivation, it didn't budge.

  "Why did my spiritual cultivation experience such a large leap when my martial cultivation didn't improve even a little bit."


  "Starting with the sixth step of the Grand Rank, you can't get any cultivation boost from me. I used your martial quota to make your spiritual cultivation equal to your martial one. I know it's difficult, but in the future, try to keep it even. It's important to set up your Divine Foundation."