What It's Like Being a Vampire - Chapter 69 - Collective Deterrence

Johnathan, an old man with an extraordinary past but an ordinary end, gets reincarnated in a dark fantasy world full of magic, darkness, and mysteries furled.

However, he committed a grave blunder by taking the fiction he had read as a reference. Reborn as a baby, he hoped to be deemed gifted by speaking early.

One thing led to another, and tragedy struck. The villagers declared him a demon-possessed and called the church. Johnathan, now known as Sylvester Maximilian, realized that he had messed up.

When the church's inquisitors came to judge him and burn him on a pyre. As a last resort and to welcome his soon to arrive second death, he started chanting holy hymns as his last breath.

Overwhelmed, they kneeled, thinking he was a messenger of Solis.

From there, the story of how Sylvester Maximilian rose through the ranks to sit at the top began.

But his life won't be ordinary, as he uses his cunning and the tag of 'God's favored' to his advantage. Fighting treachery, unearthing secret plots and world mysteries, facing the darkness around him and creating his place in history, engraving his name in the annals to be forever remembered as the—Immortal Pope, The Young.

[A/N: To not mislead you, the novel's name does not mean he instantly becomes the Pope from the start. The story will follow the life of MC. Though he will become the Pope at a pretty young age. 40% of the novel will be based around MC fighting to sit on the supreme throne.

If you enjoy world building and lore building, then you will like this story.]
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***Main Tags: FANTASY, ADVENTURE, MAGIC, DARK, STRONG MC(Weak at the start because he's a baby. Not an instant OP though.), WHOLESOME, COMEDY, KINGDOM BUILDING. MENTALLY OLD MC, Politics, Backstabbing, World Building.***

[WARNING: MC will not go around saving everyone. Absolutely not if it puts him in danger. But if he can save someone using his status or position in the church, he will. He will kill innocent people if he has to. MC is not crazy, cynical, or unsociable. The world at some times may seem very DARK.]
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[DISCLAIMER]
The religion will be fake. I won't make it similar to those existing in our world not to trigger anyone. However, the Church terminologies and designations may feel identical as they are simple vocabulary words.

Again, everything you read in this novel is fictional and has no relation to our world.

I hope you enjoy my work. Stay safe and eat healthy bananas.
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“You are offering me a marriage of convenience, but princess… there's nothing convenient about me.”

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Izabelle had underestimated the fire she thought she was going to play with tonight. But how could she ever have foreseen that the man she had happened to come across with does not play with just a small fire, but a whole inferno?

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Excerpt:

“You going through this marriage with me might as well be like you digging your own grave. Because the moment you start to want more from me, I will divorce you. And the moment you break your promise and try to fight me… I will ruin you and break you apart completely. Mercilessly. You will regret ever meeting this devil tonight.” His threat was given in the same soft but cold voice.

But Elle did not even flinch. Her gaze never faltered either. This man was ruthless, and she knew that clearly. His eyes that moment promised nightmares and darkness without any promise of respite.

But no matter what he says now, it would still not change her decision. She truly had no other choice.

“I understand now…” she said quietly, steeling herself. “Since you don't trust that I will keep my word, how about we do this? You prepare the divorce documents beforehand now and I'll sign it. That way, once you decide to divorce me in the future, the papers would already have been signed and there would be no way I can trouble you about it. You would just need to send it to the lawyers and have it notarized.”

A heavy silence reigned before his quiet disbelieving laugh broke the silence.

“I'm at a loss for words, Princess Izabelle.” He looked wickedly amused. But then he started nodding in approval. “Fine, princess. I will marry you.”

A strange event happened in Blue Star, a large number of Blue Star people were affected by a mysterious force, and their souls temporarily traveled to another world.

It’s a dark, weird world

Not only are the prices extremely high, but there are also many evil spirits quietly appearing. At the same time, various forces are fighting each other, and the people of the lower classes are suffering.

Yang Fangben, the attending physician of the mental hospital, also traveled through a strange incident.

Fortunately, he found that he had awakened a proficiency panel.

As long as you keep refreshing your proficiency, you can improve your own realm.

He grew up secretly, with corpses piled up under his feet, and he unknowingly embarked on a path of sagehood.

- Description from novelbuddy

Contemporary college student Ye Leyao died suddenly from staying up late, and found himself transported into a world where several novels merged together, becoming the useless adopted son of the prestigious Huo family.The good news is that, apart from him, everyone else in the family is a big shot. Eldest Brother Huo is a legendary figure in the business world, Second Brother Huo is a top actor in the entertainment industry, and Third Brother Huo is a skilled esports player and boss.The bad news is, these big shots are all antagonists, and none of them have good endings.Even worse news is that, upon waking up, he finds himself in the middle of a cheap romance involving Second Brother, who is oblivious to the fact that the child in his lover’s belly isn’t his seed at all!Ye Leyao couldn’t help but scream inwardly: “Aaaaaahhhh—seriously? This romance-idiot still doesn’t know the child in his lover’s belly isn’t his?!”All eyes in the family suddenly turn towards him. The second brother even stumbles.Everyone: What?!The top-tier Huo family adopted a young troublemaker some years ago.Initially, nobody in the family paid him any mind. That is, until they could all hear Ye Leyao’s inner thoughts—Just as Father Huo brings his down-and-out friend home. Ye Leyao’s inner voice: “Oh, so this is the little seductress trying to seduce Father Huo, plotting to make Mother Huo and Father Huo divorce, and wrecking the Huo family?”Father Huo’s pupils dilate: “!” That night, before Ye Leyao can subtly hint to Mother Huo, the little seductress is personally “thrown” out by Father Huo.During breakfast at home, Eldest Brother Huo takes a video call discussing crucial shipment matters with his assistant.Ye Leyao perks up his ears, muttering to himself: “Why do I vaguely remember a typhoon changing course to pass through this route in a few days? Big Brother’s business deal is definitely going down.”Eldest Brother Huo: “…” He immediately changes the shipping route with his assistant. Sure enough, five days later, news came that the original route was hit by a typhoon.Afterwards, Eldest Brother Huo transfers five million into Ye Leyao’s account. Ye Leyao is astonished. Eldest Brother Huo tries to remain composed, saying calmly, “Take it, you’ve earned it.”Third Brother Huo isn’t home often. After the league ends, he brings his newly recruited team members home for dinner. Just as they enter the house, Ye Leyao stares keenly at his new teammates.Third Brother Huo is about to warn Ye Leyao against premature romance, when he hears Ye Leyao whispering in his mind: “They’re handsome alright, but unfortunately, they’re moles sent by the rival team.”Third Brother Huo: “!!!” That night, Third Brother Huo begins investigating and not only discovers that the new teammates are moles from the rival team, but also finds out that his most trusted assistant has been secretly gathering data on their team!A week later, another ten million appeared in Ye Leyao’s account.Ye Leyao, holding the money happily: “Third Brother, you’re more generous than Big Brother!”Just then, Eldest Brother Huo passes by: “…”As a supporting character in the novel, Ye Leyao’s biggest dream is to save up money and flee with his family of antagonists when they hit rock bottom. Little did he expect that all these villains in his family would not only avoid disaster but thrive in their careers, and he would end up soaring with them.