After writing everything down, he waited. Not even thirty seconds later, words started appearing in the book. He suddenly felt dizzy. He was now certain the book used his blood to show the writing, even when he didn't write it himself.
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ADJUDICATION OF THY SECOND DEED (WRITTEN IN CRIMSON)
Auto-scribed Entry: "The Bearer committed Greed of Grade S against Lucy Turner, called Victoria Wilson (before her Household and Kindred); Risk: Extreme; Witness: Severall yet Concealed; Impact: Ruination Compleat, Betrayall, and Isolation most Profound. Reward: +60 Global Experience (GX); Sin-Point (SP): 75. BONUS EXTRA → +35 SP (for Masterfull Execution without Detection and Compleat Dominion Achieved)."
Why the Grade thus standeth
• Risk: Thou didst hazard discovery through extortion, postal fraud, and manipulation whilst thy target (Intelligence 16) actively sought to unmask thee. Moreover, armed knaves would slay thee if thy deception were revealed — Extreme.
• Transgression: Theft not merely of coin but of peace, trust, and dominion over another's soule. Thou didst harvest intimate secrets, shatter bonds betwixt accomplices, and claim lordship through terror — fittingly Greed of highest order.
• Witness: Severall beheld thy movements—postmen, telephone-lenders, messenger-child yet none knew thy true purpose, thy craft keeping thee shadow'd in all dealings.
• Impact: Compleat ruination her strongman fled, secrets exposed, trust shattered, household made thy domain. Thou didst not merely steal but conquer utterly.
• Weight: The offend'd possessed Intelligence 16, Charisma 14, mature years, wealth, and criminal connections. Far weightier than mere students a foe of substance and peril.
Therefore the Leafe adjudgeth GREED, Grade S, for this deed surpassed common theft and ascended unto psychological domination most artfull.
Thy Present Estate
• Level: 1 → 2 (ADVANCED BEARER) — 0/200 GX toward next Ascension.
• Sin-Point (SP): 110.Conversion rate: 10 SP = +1 base Stat.
• All new Sin Abilities available for 3 dayes; thereafter the price riseth beyond reach or vanisheth outright. As the Bearer hath advanced, current sin abilities on sale stayeth up to 24 houres before vanishing.
LEVEL ADVANCEMENT REWARD For ascending to the Second Circle through Greed, the Book bestoweth:
• +2 Stat Points (may only be applied to Intelligence or Agility, as Greed demandeth)
• Advanced Sin Abilities revealed in all Leaves
Remembrancer of the Rules
• GX lifteth only thy Level; thy advance to Level 2 requireth 200 GX for next Ascension.
• SP may be spent to buy Abilities of their proper Leafe, or to raise a Stat at 10 SP → +1 base Stat.
• Each deed must be writ within foure-and-twentie houres, else thy due is halved; unwrit within seven dayes is lost entire.
• Advanced Abilities now available; previous abilities vanish in 24 houres.
• Level-up Stat Bonus awaits thy choice: +2 to Intelligence or Agility only.
Thus speaketh the Book.
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His eyes went wide after seeing the reward.
"Holy shit," he breathed, gripping the book tighter as the elegant script lay complete before him. "Grade S? Grade fucking S?!"
A wild laugh tore from his throat, disbelief and triumph warring in his chest. In truth, he had been expecting it to be high, but not this high. From what he did, it didn't seem like much on the surface. Just some letters and manipulation. But if the Book graded it that way, then it probably took everything into account. The risk, the target, the execution, all of it.
His gaze swept over the experience numbers. Sixty GX. That was enough to level him up completely. He shook his head, still processing. Honestly, while planning all this, he hadn't even considered the risk factor. He just did what needed to be done.
He frowned slightly, scanning the text again. But the fact that he was Level 2 now didn't seem to change anything immediately since nothing new was showing here. He supposed that wasn't the case yet. His mood brightened as he continued reading. Still, he had 110 SP now, and two free stat points to add into Intelligence or Agility. This was his reward for leveling up.
A satisfied grin spread across his face. This all sounded good. But first, he needed to check out all those new sin abilities.
With anticipation coursing through him, he turned to the Pride page to examine its fresh offerings.
His face froze.
"No way," he whispered, hurriedly flipping through the rest of the sin pages, only to be left speechless at what he saw.
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PRIDE (Violet) AVAILABLE 72 HOURS -See Previous Abilities- (New Abilities)
I. Commanding Presence — Thy aura of authority maketh crowds part and lesser minds defer naturally. (Cost: 8 PSP)
II. Voice of Absolute — When thou speakest with conviction, others find thy words difficult to disobey. (Cost: 10 PSP)
III. Aura of Superiority — Nearby foes suffer doubt in their abilities whilst in thy presence. (Cost: 12 PSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
GREED (Gold) AVAILABLE 72 HOURS -See Previous Abilities- (New Abilities)
I. Merchant's Eye — Instantly know the true value and worth of any object thou dost examine. (Cost: 6 GSP)
II. Silver Tongue — Thy bargaining and negotiation skills become supernaturally persuasive. (Cost: 8 GSP)
III. Finder's Instinct — Sense hidden valuables, secret compartments, and concealed wealth nearby. (Cost: 10 GSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
LUST (Crimson) AVAILABLE 72 HOURS -See Previous Abilities- (New Abilities)
I. Magnetic Allure — Thy presence draws attention and makes others more receptive to thy advances. (Cost: 5 LSP)
II. Desire's Whisper — Plant subtle suggestions in willing minds during intimate conversation. (Cost: 7 LSP)
III. Binding Gaze — Lock eyes with another to create temporary emotional connection and trust. (Cost: 9 LSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
WRATH (Dark Scarlet) AVAILABLE 72 HOURS -See Previous Abilities- (New Abilities)
I. Controlled Fury — Channel anger into precise strikes without losing thy composure. (Cost: 8 WSP)
II. Intimidating Aura — Thy mere presence causes lesser foes to hesitate in combat. (Cost: 10 WSP)
III. Righteous Judgement — Thy strikes against those who wronged thee carry extra force. (Cost: 12 WSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
ENVY (Emerald) AVAILABLE 72 HOURS -See Previous Abilities- (New Abilities)
I. Talent Scout — Observe others to identify their skills and abilities through careful watching. (Cost: 8 ESP)
II. Copycat's Grace — Temporarily adopt another's mannerisms so perfectly none suspect deception. (Cost: 10 ESP)
III. Skill Echo — After witnessing a skill used, retain a weak version for one day.
(Cost: 12 ESP) {FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
GLUTTONY (Orange) AVAILABLE 72 HOURS -See Previous Abilities- (New Abilities)
I. Vigor Drain — Draw small amounts of energy from others through prolonged contact. (Cost: 7 GLSP)
II. Essence Bank — Store drained energy longer and use it to heal minor wounds. (Cost: 9 GLSP)
III. Consumption Sense — Detect the life force and vitality levels of nearby beings. (Cost: 11 GLSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
SLOTH (Ice Blue) AVAILABLE 72 HOURS -See Previous Abilities- (New Abilities)
I. Subtle Delay — Cause small mechanical devices and simple processes to slow down. (Cost: 8 SSP)
II. Rest's Embrace — Recover from fatigue and minor injuries twice as fast during rest. (Cost: 10 SSP)
III. Phantom's Ease — Phase through solid matter like a ghost. (Cost: 12 SSP)
{FULL DESCRIPTION AFTER PURCHASE}
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"These prices are insane," he muttered, flipping back and forth between the pages. The cheapest new ability cost five points, and some went up to twelve. That was more than double what everything cost when he was Level 1.
He paused, frowning. He needed to check the conversion ratios again. Hurriedly, he flipped to the exchange rates section.
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Of Exchange & Ratios Sin Experience converts to points at these rates:
• Pride: 10:1 (PSP)
• Greed: 8:1 (GSP)
• Lust: 5:1 (LSP)
• Envy: 6:1 (ESP)
• Wrath: 9:1 (WSP)
• Gluttony: 7:1
• (GLSP)
• Sloth: 10:1 (SSP)
═══════════════════
His jaw dropped as the numbers sank in.
"Are you fucking kidding me?" he snarled at the Book. "Just tell me you want to rob me of every single sin point you gave me, you crazy piece of shit! And maybe write this at the top next time so I'll know not to get excited about any new abilities that show up. What the hell is this?"
He threw himself back against his pillow, exasperated. At this point, he was giving up on getting any new abilities. Since they were all available for three days, there was no need to rush it anyway. His mood shifted to resigned pragmatism. He would just check the previous abilities and get something from those instead. The rest of his SP he would use to boost his stats.
With a decisive movement, he turned to one of the sin pages and marked the section labeled "See Previous Abilities."
Not even two seconds later, the new abilities began blurring away like smoke, replaced by the familiar ones he had seen before.