A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"Where do we start next?" Ravenna inquired, seemingly oblivious to Marlina's turmoil—or perhaps simply not focused on her. "You mentioned finding others connected to the Speckled Snake. That won't be easy."

"Not easy, but not impossible either," Ansel replied with a smile.

"It's been a day; our Miss Fenrir should have reached an agreement with the Upper District by now."

Ravenna's eye twitched slightly. "You're asking her for help?"

"Why not?" The adventurer Faust asked, somewhat surprised. "I'm asking her for help, not the other way around."

Ravenna was momentarily at a loss for words, finally letting out a cold snort.

"Some legendary adventurer Faust... Going to such lengths for a child, only to end up relying on women."

"Oh? If that's what you think, Venna," Ansel said, raising an amused eyebrow, "then you can head back. I don't need you here. Myself, oh, I have Margarete, we'll manage together."

"..."

Ravenna stared intently at Ansel, saying nothing, but her meaning was clear.

—Just try leaving me behind.

The young Hydral couldn't help but laugh. His friend's stubbornness, which she could never quite shake, dissipated some of the hidden coldness in his heart.

When he saw those corpses, what did the young Hydral truly feel?

No one knew, not even Ansel himself.

For these things were already too familiar to Faust, and Faust didn't care.

"Let's go, meet the new king of the Lower District in Dispute Fortress," Ansel said leisurely, patting Ravenna's shoulder, his tone playful.

"Let's meet the illustrious Miss Fenrir."

Simultaneously, he turned to Marlina, joking, "It's been a while. Don't get too emotional, Margarete. It might throw our Miss Fenrir off balance."

"... Please don't worry, Mr. Faust," Marlina responded, bowing slightly, her voice soft yet resolute.

"I won't cause any trouble for you."

The chaos of the extraordinary, the humility of the ordinary… Marlina continued down the path that seemed laid out by Ansel, bit by bit witnessing the world's distortions and grotesqueries. She had glimpsed hints of this long ago, but following Ansel and mingling with notable figures for so long had made her forget the absurdity that once sent shivers down her spine.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The young mortal girl didn't know how to face this world, or why Ansel was exposing it so starkly before her.

Was this a test specifically for her? Or was it just another routine assessment for a follower of Hydra? Marlina had no answers, and she had no mental energy to ponder these questions now, for a greater trial loomed ahead.

"So… you need my help?"

"The facts speak for themselves."

"But Mr. Ansel wouldn't blame someone, would he? Even if Miss Hitana is mired in muck, that's her choice. You're overthinking it, Miss Rhine."

"This isn't about blame or not, Marlina. You're smart; you should understand."

Marlina understood, of course she understood. When Ansel, seemingly flirting with Ravenna, casually remarked yesterday, "Even if she did, it wouldn't be me helping," the girl had already keenly perceived a certain possibility.

But are you really going to do this, Marlina?

You, who least wanted to rely on your sister, who didn't want any special treatment because of her influence... Will you use her as a stepping stone to achieve the transformation you desire?

"If you can solve this problem and continue to cooperate with me afterwards... I can make you an extraordinary being. "

"Not just an opportunity, not just a possibility, but a definite attainment of the extraordinary, without limiting your potential. However… you must pay a considerable price for it."

Rhine's words still seemed to echo in her ears. Marlina remained silent, gazing at Ansel's back.

So close, yet so distant.

What exactly am I pursuing...

Mr. Ansel, what do you think I should be chasing?

*

Miss Fenrir slumped over her desk, her expression vacant, eyes unfocused.

Famished, she yearned to bury her head in a pot of food in the cafeteria, but reality forbade it.

What are these administrative regulations for the Second District?

Reports of market chaos in the Third District? What market? What's chaos?

Detailed application for floor zoning adjustments? I'm not a builder, why ask me?

Ha? Who am I? Why am I doing this? Why do these words make no sense when strung together? What should I do?!?!?!

Seraphina, wanting to roar in frustration, finally just yanked at her hair, collapsing in despair on the desk, unmoving.

"I miss Ansel... If only Ansel could fall from the sky."

The girl muttered, aggrieved and desperate.

She had no choice but to accept the proposal from the Upper District of Dispute Fortress.

Those madmen threatened the entire Lower District's residents, leaving Seraphina no room to refuse.

She had considered storming the lord's mansion and eliminating the related personnel as quickly as possible, but previous worries still lingered in her mind. In the territory of Red Frost, the girl had witnessed too many tragedies caused by her own recklessness, making her more composed now, and also... more hesitant to take bold risks.

—Just as the Garden executors who cleaned up after her had hoped, Seraphina Marlowe did not accept any deaths that shouldn't have occurred.

The conditions proposed by the other party were not excessive; in fact, they were quite reasonable. Seraphina naturally agreed.

However, within a day, she realized that what is reasonable and what is suitable are two entirely different matters.

Indeed, compared to adventurers with unclear motives taking over this Lower District, she was undoubtedly not a person who would cause harm. But the question remained... could she really manage this place effectively?

"Cliff, Cliff, come and give me a hand!"

Seraphina shouted. Soon, an elderly man with graying hair and beard pushed open the door. From the open doorway, it was evident that he had been sitting in the room next to Seraphina's.

"Miss Fenrir, what is it this time?"

His expression of resignation and the word "this time" made it clear that this was not the first time today.

"It's... it's this."

Seraphina grabbed the document on the desk, pointing at the text: "This zoning something or other... oh sorry, it's upside down. Anyway, what does this mean?"

Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire

The old man looked at the document, which Seraphina had hastily turned right-side up, and after a moment of silence, said, "It's still upside down, Miss Fenrir."

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