Alec stood up from his seat and placed his laptop on a nearby desk.

“I’ve heard Miko, you’ve become a king.”

“More or less.”

Miko walked up to Alec. The two bumped fists with smiles on their faces.

“So, did you pick your queen yet, since you’re a king and all?”

“I have some girls in mind.”

“So there’s more than one?”

Alec started laughing and patting Miko’s shoulder.

“Good going, Miko. You’re really my cousin.”

“You got quite the collection of ladies yourself. I was shocked by their beauty when they greeted me.”

“They’re just servants who admired me. Most of them already have lovers, so the most I can do is look at them from afar.”

Alec said with a shrug.

“Since when have you been so tame? Aren’t you the guy who declared that he would leave no beauty untouched?”

“What can I say? I’ve matured.”

(Kiri, must have threatened him.)

Miko thought to himself.

“Speaking of maturity, it seems that you’ve finally graduated from being an emo. You look more lively now. I wouldn’t say you’re like your old self though. You don’t have that aura of tragedy surrounding you anymore. You’re more complete as a person.”

Alec smiled at Miko while his hand was on his shoulder.

“So, did you finally feel like letting me experiment on you?”

“…..Seriously, man. You need to fix that fetish of yours.”

Miko moved Alec’s hand off of his shoulder.

“Then why did you come here? Surely you won’t say you came for a visit?”

“Why can’t that be the case?”

“Because you’re in a race against time. You need to quickly fortify a place for yourself and your people before your enemies start making moves against you. You don’t have any time to waste on merely visiting relatives.”

“But wouldn’t growing too fast make my enemies panic? Wouldn’t it only force them to act while they still can? Suppose I’m taking a break to prevent that?”

“That’s impossible. While growing too fast will alarm your enemies, restricting your growth and hoping for the best would be stupid. You have no choice but to take the risk and grow as fast as you can.”

“……..”

Miko looked at Alec in silence before nodding.

“Looks like I still can’t beat you in a clash of wits.”

“It wasn’t really a challenge. It’s my hobby to study living things.”

Alec tapped his head with his finger.

“There’s hardly any person that my mind can’t understand. The only exceptions are Nero and my father.”

“So, you understand Nova? Someone who’s regarded as a psycho?”

“Of course. I understand him perfectly.”

“Then….What about Krow?”

Alec paused for a bit before nodding.

“Even him.”

He smiled.

“Just so you know, I’m incapable of hating people. It’s because I can understand the motives behind everything they do. So I don’t hate Krow like you. In fact, I find him very interesting.”

Miko frowned. Alec put his hand on his head.

“Now, don’t make that face. If you’re going to aim for the top, you can’t be narrowed-minded.”

He smiled.

“You can hate people, just don’t let your hate blind you. Look at your enemies, analyze and try to understand them. Learn from them and only then can effectively destroy them.”

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“Despite saying it in a gentle tone, what you’re saying is basically learn Krow’s weakness and use it to destroy him and rob him of everything he has.”

“Pretty much.”

“Yet, you don’t hate him?”

“I don’t. I just like you more.”

Alec laughed and walked away from Miko.

“And people say I’m weird.”

“So Miko, what can I do for you? All three Gamikos came to our dominion, so I’m sure it’s important.”

“I need your skills, Alec. The skills that earned you the title of Millennium Genius.”

Millennium Genius, this is the title given to one individual who possesses a genius so rare that it’ll take a thousand years for someone to appear who can rival them. In other words, a talent seen once every millennium. This title can’t be earned easily nor can someone claim to be one. This is a title that comes from the whole world recognizing your talent and genius. It isn’t given to the strongest person of the last millennium, it’s given to the person who undeniably has the ultimate potential. So it goes without saying that in order to earn this title, you have to be young and do something that has never been done before and can forever change the world.

The current Millennium Genius is the man in front of Miko, Alec of the Bloodflame.

“Millennium Genius, huh? I never really wanted that title, but the world kinda just forced it on me.”

“Don’t act humble in front of me, Alec. Only someone like you could create the most dangerous flame in existence, the Bloodflame. And what made it more amazing is that you created it before you were even 20. Who else could be called the Millennium Genius, if not you?”

“Oh, you’re making me blush.”

Alec wiggled like a shy maiden.

“I want your skills, Alec. Not only you, but I also want Kirika and Gizmo’s skills as well. If I have the three of you, everything will go smoothly for Renacido.”

“You want you three of us? Isn’t that too greedy Miko? I might be the most balanced when it comes to all forms of science, but Gizmo surpasses me in engineering and mechanics and my sister surpasses me in chemical engineering and physics. That’s biology, mechanics, physics, and chemistry. What do you need all three of us for? To create an unstoppable army of super soldiers with super weapons?”

“………”

“…You’re kidding, right?”

“You said it yourself. I’m willing to take the risk of my enemies panicking and being forced to attack me. So wouldn’t it make sense if I create some countermeasure for when that happens?”

“Hahahaha!”

Alec started laughing.

“That’s true. What you said isn’t wrong at all. However, Miko, what you want can’t just happen in one day and it won’t be cheap either. So this won’t be able to stop your enemies who could attack any minute now.”

“I know. That’s why that’s my long-term goal. Right now, I want your help with one of my short-term ones.”

“Which is?”

“Money. I need a lot of money and I need it fast. So I want you to create something that could make me rich pretty fast.”

“So drugs?”

Miko nodded.

“Drugs trafficking is one of the quickest ways to make money for an individual or an organization. So what if a country starts producing and selling drugs on an international market?”

“You’ll become rich in an instant.”

Alec replied.

“However, that only depends on the drugs and if you have the manpower and connections to market it.”

“Did you forget, Alec?”

Miko pointed to himself.

“I’m the previous and current crime god of this empire in one body. Things like connection, manpower, and channels have long been in my grasp. The only thing I need now is a new drug that can take the market by storm. Something addictive, something that stimulates the brain and body to ecstasy, but more importantly something that will grant the body more benefits than harm like a boost in strength.”

Alec placed his hand on his chin.

“So basically you want an improved version of Angel Tears?”

Angel Tears was a popular drug that when taken, the user will feel an orgasmic high as if being caressed by angels. It also grants a temporary boost in strength, however, the user becomes delusional and overdose can lead to brain damage. Hence it isn’t suitable to be called a supplement but instead is declared a banned drug by the International Substance Abuse Agency which governs all drugs sold on the international market.

“Angel Tears are highly addictive but they aren’t the #1 drug in the world. That goes to Phoenix Feathers which boosts one’s healing abilities but can lead to rapid aging if overused. I want to create a complete version of Angel Tears and sell it.”

“Interesting….I’ve never created a highly addictive drug before. So what would you call it?”

“Devil Tears.”

“Pfft! Hahahaha! That sounds like something you would say.”

“So will you help me?”

Alec sighed.

“Look, Miko. While creating a super army and drugs sounds fun, I’m a busy man. I can’t just-”

“Oh, yeah. If you help me out I’ll let you examine these two.”

Miko lifted his swords and placed them in front of him.

“An extremely rare human type regalia, and the daughter of Lucifer. It’s not a bad deal right?”

“Hey, this is the first I’ve heard about this!”

“I’m against this!”

Ishma and Regis protested.

“Oh!”

Alec's eyes shone brightly as he reached out to grab the swords.

“But….”

Miko pulled the swords back before he could touch them.

“You can’t dissect them or do anything beyond simple examination. Absolutely nothing involving any forms of fluids or drugs.”

“…Deal.”

The two shook hands.

“Hahahaha! With you three on my side, Renacido’s growth will surely increase ten times over.”

“Did you talk with Kiri or Gizmo yet?”

“No, but there’s no reason for them to decline. Kiri will surely help me out and once Gizmo sees that you two are on my side he’ll join me the moment I asked.”

“Well, that’s true. Looks like you have everything planned out. But what about gramps? Will he allow us to work for you?”

“Don’t worry. If you share Ishma and Regis's data with him I’m sure he won’t make a fuss. He’s a pursuer of knowledge. It’s his weakness like liquor is my grandfather’s.”

“Not bad. I guess it’s settled then.”

Alec turned his back to him.

“Well, I should start working on that drug. The quicker the better, right?”

“Yeah.”

Miko then turned around to leave.

“By the way, Miko.”

“Hm?”

Miko looked back and saw that Alec still had his back turned to him.

“About your body…”

Alec turned to him with a serious gaze.

“How long has it been like that?”

“……?”

Miko showed him a confused look.

“…….No, it’s nothing.”

Alec then walked away humming.

“What’s wrong with my body?”

Miko mumbled before turning around and leaving. Alec stopped humming when he heard him leave the mansion. He looked back at where Miko was.

“Now then, is this a curse or a blessing in disguise?”

He smiled.

“I guess only time will tell.”

Meanwhile, Miko stopped some distance away from Alec’s mansion and coughed in his hand. He looked down and saw what seemed like black blood in his palm. He clenched his fist.

“That Alec, his eyes are just too good.”

He continued walking.

“Gotta get going before it’s too late.”