[Edward POV]
This morning, Alex and Abby had to stay at the house after their workplace address got leaked online.
Reporters crowded around their lab, trying to get a glimpse of them. It pissed me off quite a lot, but the girls managed to calm me down.
"It's just something we have to deal with if we want to date you." Alex giggled softly. "So don't worry about us. We're tougher than we look."
"We'd be even tougher if you made the esper serum for us. Preferably today." Abby teased. "Right now would be even better."
I chuckled and said, "I'm already synthesizing it. We can do it tonight."
It wasn't that I specifically wanted to date superpowered people. But I'd feel better if they had something to rely on in case I couldn't be there for them.
Back at the office, I kept a smile on my face, but anger simmered underneath it. The temperature inside the room dropped by a few degrees.
"I want to know why you did it." I chuckled as I sat across from Taylor. "Why did you leak the photo?"
I wanted to know why she was trying to destroy the normal life I'd been striving for.
"Isn't that obvious?" Taylor scoffed as she looked me straight in the eye. A cold smile spread across her face. "I fucking loathe you."
My smile disappeared completely. Taylor, Harvey, and Pepper were all taken aback.
"Edward, be calm." Pepper said as he sat down beside me. "This isn't a big deal."
I leaned back in my chair and replied coldly, "Maybe not for her."
Taylor's face paled slightly. She bit her lower lip and said, "What are you saying? That I'm not affected by this too?"
"You're not." I replied flatly. "In fact, your album drops next week. So what is this? A publicity stunt? You leak my private life, let the internet explode, and suddenly everyone's talking about Taylor Swift again?"
She shot to her feet and tried to slap me, but I caught her wrist before she could.
Harvey quickly pulled her away.
"I think we should all take a moment to calm down before we say something we'll regret." Harvey said in a soothing tone.
"Why don't we meet back here in ten minutes?"
She led Taylor out of the room.
Pepper turned to me awkwardly and asked, "So... you're dating two girls now?"
I grimaced. "You already knew about it."
"Honestly, I forgot." He shrugged. "The last thing I remember is you dating seven girls at once. After that, I just tuned out whenever you talked about your love life."
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. I just stared at him.
Pepper smirked.
"See? This isn't actually that bad. It would've come out eventually."
"I'm not mad that it came out." I rubbed my forehead. "I'm mad that she did it on my behalf. She had no right to make that decision for me."
"That's fair." Pepper nodded. "She made a huge mistake. So what are you going to do?"
"First, I need to get ahead of the scandal." I muttered. "The Evangelicals are already attacking me—"
"No, I mean Taylor." Pepper interrupted. "Who cares about those people?"
"My grandma."
Pepper froze.
"Oh."
"Exactly." I groaned. "She's going to kill me."
"Don't be so sure. Maybe she'll understand." Pepper said slowly. "I mean, if she loves you, she'll probably try to—"
"Force me to choose one?"
"The alternative would be getting both of them pregnant at the same time. That way she can't force you to choose."
My eyes lit up.
"That's a great idea, Pepper."
"Wait. No." He immediately backtracked. "Let's table that for now. What are you going to do about Taylor?"
"I don't know. Let her stew in her own guilt. Assuming she feels guilty at all."
"She just broke up with her boyfriend. Seeing that picture of you three together was probably too much for her. Wait."
Pepper paused and slowly turned toward me.
"Where did she get the pictures?"
I opened my mouth, then stopped.
In my anger, I'd completely forgotten to investigate the source of the leak. A smile slowly spread across my face.
"I can still make mistakes, huh?"
The realization gave me an almost euphoric feeling.
"I haven't made a mistake in a long time."
Pepper stared at me.
"Why are you so happy about that?"
I laughed and stood up. "Because, Pepper, it means…I'm still human."
My anger evaporated almost instantly. "Man, if dating a girl is lowering your cognitive thinking by half, two of them brought my brain capability to almost zero huh?"
I turned to him and said, "Alright. I have a PR crisis to deal with. Worst-case scenario, I become a Mormon."
"No!" Pepper shouted immediately.
I walked over to the window.
"I'm asking for the last time," Pepper said. "What are you going to do about Taylor?"
"I told you." I smirked. "I'm going to let her stew. For once, I don't want to be the bigger person. I don't want to forgive first. I'm going to let this play out."
The window slid open as I tapped the glass. Wind rushed into the office, scattering papers across the room.
"Hey! Use the stairs!" Pepper shouted.
"No."
With a grin on my face, I jumped out of the window.
A sleek silver flying car shaped like a Lamborghini rose to meet me.
I dropped into the driver's seat and sped away. Taylor came back to the office and bit her lower lip angrily as she realized I had left.
"Now I have to deal with my second evil ex." I mumbled as I set the destination in the GPS.
"... Let's go to Neverland City."
…
"I don't know when I started hating coming to him for favors." I mumbled as I stepped into the church. There were countless people kneeling in front of the Golden Cathedral.
Neverland City.
A sanctuary for broken people. It was recognized as a Holy Land by the government.
The City of the Gods which terrified every religion in the world. Since there was an actual living god there.
He stopped wars, he saved people, he killed those who were protected by human law openly, yet no one did anything to stop him.
More accurately, no one could do anything to stop him.
I met with the 'god' in the church, having tea together.
His eyes sparkled and his pupils were shaped like the sun. His glistening blonde hair flowed past his legs, dragging across the ground.
He wore a formal aristocratic suit and exuded elegance as he drank his tea.
I looked at him with disbelief and asked, "Isn't this too much, 'myself'?"
My clone—separated from me a couple of years ago, and now carrying every one of my supernatural powers.
In the past four years, I didn't go to the Afterlife gacha sessions, but he did.
"I have an image to maintain." He smirked slightly. He picked up the newspaper and asked with a flat tone, "So, that's who you picked? Abby and Alex?" he asked casually, yet his tone remained detached.
"Yup." I drank my tea and asked, "Between you and Sage—"
"I'm stronger." He interjected immediately, as if he was already expecting my question.
I breathed slowly, my chest tightening with anxiousness.
"You don't have to be afraid. I don't think you'll need to turn into me." He faked a smile.
"What do you mean?" I asked, shocked, leaning forward immediately.
He interlocked his fingers together and rested his chin on them.
"I can just leave and join the Afterlife Agency."
I understood what he was saying, yet his emotionless face filled me with anxiety.
He added, "I can separate from you perfectly now. After I leave, I'll close off your connection to the Afterlife Agency, and you can just... be normal."
He smirked again, as if he was imitating the expression rather than genuinely feeling it.
"You're afraid to become me, right?" He asked, as if mocking me.
I paused and took a deep breath. I asked, "Is it true what they say? Perfection kills desire?"
He lowered his gaze to his hands for a while before answering.
"It does. I do not need to sleep. I do not need to eat. I also don't have any desire to procreate, since I'm going to live forever."
He turned to me.
"My advice. Don't be like me. The only way I think I can regain everything back is to leave and help the other worlds."
"I see." I nodded in understanding. A small feeling of relief began budding inside of me.
"Am I ungrateful?" I asked him. "I know the Afterlife System gave me almost omnipotent abilities, but I'd very much rather be—"
"Liar." He interjected again.
His eyes met mine.
"You don't want to be normal. You just don't want to be a monster."
He paused briefly. "Like me."
His every word dug deep into my brain.
"Is there something you're worried about if you're going to leave?" I asked.
"Reverence."
He turned toward the giant doors. Outside, countless people were kneeling in worship.
"Their fanatical reverence will be destroyed if I leave. Can they survive without me?"
"So you still have an attachment." I teased.
"No." He shook his head slightly.
"It's just... responsibility. Can these broken people truly stay sane if I leave them alone?"
"That's true." I frowned. "If they feel as if their god had abandoned them, they might resort to… some crazy decisions."
He waved his hand and said, "Let's change the subject. You're here for a reason. Do you want me to erase the incident? To reset your relationship status–"
"No. I don't need that." I grinned. "It's actually making me feel more human, and I like it."
"I see." He said with disappointment.
"I actually came here for another favor." I finished my tea and added, "I found traces of another civilization up there. I need someone to investigate for me."
"Oh-ho~" He smiled truthfully for the first time. "That sounds interesting. Are they strong?"
"You're going to have to find out." I replied.
He nodded and said, "1 month. I'll go up there for 1 month. In exchange…"
"In exchange?" I was startled as he never asked me for something in exchange before.
"You need to surprise me once." He smirked.
Stunned, I sat there speechless for a bit.
"A bet then." I smiled softly.
"If you can't do it, you'll have to be impotent for a year."
My eyes shook. "I don't want the powers– Wait, did you say Impotent?"
He smirked mischievously.
…
After the conversation with the version of myself that could destroy the world in a minute, I went back home to deal with the aftermath.
There were hundreds of reporters inside the conference room hall.
Lights flashed non-stop as I walked onto the stage.
"Mr. Newgate! Are the rumors true?" One of the reporters asked.
I sat down in front of the microphones and said, "Good evening everyone. Don't fret, I am here to clarify what's been going on."
They shouted their questions, but my gaze alone made them turn silent.
"Now, let's talk one by one, shall we? The one in the yellow dress, you go first."
"Hi. Jocelyn Fisher, ABC News. Are you really dating two people at once?"
At first, I wanted to dispel the rumors. Claim it was just a misunderstanding.
However, I couldn't bring myself to do that.
"I don't want to lie anymore. Yes, I am dating both of them. We're all in the relationship together."
The reporters immediately typed their articles.
"How did you get into this sort of relationship?" Another one asked.
"I knew both of them even before I became famous. They are special people in my life, that I don't want to let go no matter what." I replied honestly.
Most artists didn't even try to discuss their relationship, unless they got divorced or it's a huge scandal.
To be honest, dating two people at once wasn't a big deal if you're a celebrity. But as I answered their question, they realized that I'm fully serious about the girls and wasn't just trying to take advantage of them.
"I'm here, not to answer all of your questions, but to give you a warning too." I added coldly. "You can use me in your headlines. You can attack me. But if you by any chance, go and bother my partners. I'll make sure your life will be ruined."
"I'm sorry?" One of the reporters asked in shock.
My smile widened. "Leave them alone."
The entire crowd froze in shock. I slowly got up and made my way across the stage.
Harvey was in the back. She was stunned as she heard what I said.
"Isn't this making things worse?" She asked me slowly.
"I'm not going to be polite anymore." I muttered with gritted teeth. "I kept smiling, and smiling. They pushed and pushed. Now, I'm going on the offensive."
Harvey sighed and rubbed her sore forehead. "This is going to be troublesome."
"It's fine. I'll handle things myself from now on."
Harvey's face tightened.
"You aren't going to create havoc, are you?" She asked warily.
"Of course I'm going to do just that."
Right now, I have over 3 billion followers. That meant, almost half of the world population was listening and loyal to me.
This is also why the governments around the world fear me. Because of my influence. Why is there a need for campaigning when one word from me could decide who would lead the country?
I kept away from politics and let myself be attacked all over.
So what if I suddenly decide to use that power?
"I'm going to make the world listen to me from now on." I said with a cold expression.
…
[General POV]
Taylor saw the press conference inside Pepper's office.
She bit her lower lip till it almost bled.
"Now? You're being decisive now?" She cursed and threw the remote at the TV, breaking the screen.
Pepper was stunned as he saw it. "What's wrong with you?!"
"He's what's wrong with me!" Taylor breathed heavily. "Why can't he do that when he's with me!?"
Inside Robin's office.
The black haired beauty suddenly chuckled. Her amused expression coupled with a fanatical look would create goosebumps if someone was there to see it.
"Finally!" Robin said with an overflowing happy emotion. "I can finally see it! Him, taking over the entire world!"
She glanced at a picture of Edward dancing with Abby and Alex at the wedding. "To think his catalyst would be this."
She touched her chin in confusion and asked herself, "But who are the ones who released it? Who gave Taylor the picture?"
Despite her desires, Robin would never betray Edward, someone who's a father figure to her.
"It's strange. I can't even check to see who did this."
It stumped her. She, who possessed the most advanced technology in the world, couldn't figure out the person who leaked the photo.
"There's only a couple beings above me in this world. Sage, Second, and Edward himself. But I can remove Eddy from the equation."
She smiled childishly and said, "So between those two, who is the one who showed this guidance to Eddy? Someone who wants him to break out of his shell?"
Robin pulled out her desk and took out a thick brown envelope.
"Hmm. I'm itching to release all of the materials I've collected over the years. He'll contact me, right?" She smiled in anticipation.
Seconds later, Edward called Robin using a holographic projection.
"Release the list Robin. Let's start the purge." Edward ordered.
Robin smiled fanatically and said, "I'm so glad. I've been waiting for this day for far too long."
Edward cuts the call.
Robin added, "The day you'll become the Emperor of the world."
Across the world, clips of the conference spread like wildfire. Some called him irresponsible. Some called him romantic.
Others were simply shocked that the most influential man on Earth had openly admitted to loving two women at once.
For the first time in years, Edward Newgate had stopped trying to be perfect.
And with no more weaknesses, his enemies slowly started to get nervous.
…
[Edward POV]
After deciding to move against the world, my first enemy had brought me down to my knees. The being with a superior ability that I have no defense against.
"Hello Grandma." I greeted the enemy in front of me as she opened the door.
She hid her anger behind her smile. "Oh Eddy. It's been a while since you came to the ranch. I wonder why that is? It turns out, you have been busy… hiding things from me."
Startled, I immediately decided to turn the tide with my greatest offensive attack.
"Grandma" I ran to her and hugged her. "I'm sowwy~"
My grandma was taken aback by the attack. Even though I was already near 6'5, I would still be her cute little grandson, forever.
She sighed and said, "Come inside."
I told her about my decisions. She listened and touched the cross on her necklace.
Grandma fell into a deep silence for a while. I clenched my fist as I waited for her reactions.
"It's fine." She said suddenly.
"Really?" My eyes lit up.
She smiled and patted my head warmly. "I'm going to support you no matter what. I am more hurt that you didn't tell me about your girlfriends."
I laughed and said, "I'll introduce you to them later. You already know Alex."
"Alex is a good girl." She nodded in admiration. "But I also want to know about Abby. So bring them both here."
"Okay, I'll check if–"
"No. Right now." Grandma said suddenly. She smiled and said, "You can do that, can't you?"
"Um… Alright." I agreed to it and called my girlfriends.