A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"Do you know the purpose of strategy, Lord Sapphire?"

Ansel asked leisurely.

"...To compensate for a lack of strength," the Duke of Sapphire exhaled slowly and replied in a deep voice.

"Correct."

Bang!

The deafening gunshot and Ansel's answer rang out simultaneously. The blaze and destruction spewed from the muzzle of Gleipnir instantly covered the shield with a web of cracks. Although the cracks vanished in an instant, the Duke of Sapphire's drastically changed expression indicated his situation was now quite precarious.

"Because you answered correctly, I used a relatively ordinary bullet."

Ansel explained considerately. "Now, the next question—Lord Sapphire, do you think I cannot see through your strategy?"

"...Please forgive our clumsy performance."

Edward Sapphire bowed deeply. "We are willing to pay for this foolishness, Lord Hydral."

The implication was unmistakable—prolonging this conflict would be detrimental to both sides. What do you want? We will compensate whatever it is, but let's end this now.

"That's not what I asked, dear Duke of Sapphire."

Ansel sighed and pulled the trigger once more.

This time, however, after the violent roar, the shield protecting the Duke of Sapphire remained intact because the Dukes of Triumph and Reverie behind him had intervened simultaneously to intercept the shot.

"Lord Hydral," the Duke of Triumph said gravely, "we—"

He was about to explain something, but his words were cut short by the terrifying aura rising in the grand hall.

Endless darkness spread behind Hydral, forming the twisted, writhing, and fearsome shadow of a nine-headed serpent.

"So, you see, even now, you still want to test me according to your original plan."

A helpless smile, like that of an adult indulging a child's prank, appeared on his face.

"If I initially ignored your offense, I would be weak; if I reacted but not fiercely enough, I would be all bark and no bite; if my reaction was sufficiently violent but I accepted your price just now, it would mean I could still be negotiated with."

"I must commend your courage and decisiveness, three dukes. In such an ambiguous imperial situation, you are the first to stand up and break the deadlock."

"However, I think, with just the three from Eastport, you wouldn't act so rashly... So, which other duke have you allied with?"

The serpent's cold gaze swept over the other dukes, and the terrifying aura in those sea-blue eyes forced them to retreat in temporary submission.

"Is it the Duke of Arboro and the Duke of Magus Primus from the southern territories, who can gather substantial intelligence, or the other four dukes of the western, who have countless adventurers as pawns and a vast information network across the empire?"

"Or perhaps..."

Boom—!

The entire dome of the palace was annihilated in an instant by a wave of black energy. As the destructive ripples gradually dissipated, the upper half of the steel colossus was fully exposed to all the dukes, and the giant sword still loomed over the Duke of Sapphire's head.

"All of you?"

The cold, iron light of the colossus under the blazing sun overlooked the dukes, but they felt that the gaze of the monster standing in the center of the hall was even more dangerous.

At this moment, even the most courageous Duke of Azuregold remained silent.

—Because Eastport had indeed contacted him to discuss matters regarding Hydral.

If even his staunch adversary was considering temporary alliance, then without a doubt... Eastport had reached out to all the dukes and other fifth-stage extraordinaries.

How many responded, and what kind of force they had assembled to give the Duke of Sapphire the confidence to test Ansel, remained unknown.

The gentle smile on Hydral's face gradually faded: "Just now, you not only refused to answer my question but also sought to defy my will."

Regarding the Duke of Triumph and the Duke of Reverie's interception of the gunshot, he pressed further:

"May I infer that you have abandoned your stratagems and are prepared to challenge me through sheer strength?" Stay tuned to empire

—If not, then having had your schemes exposed and lacking the power to contend with me, what will you do?

End this now...

Who permitted you to end this here?

Even without voicing these words, the dukes already sensed this meaning from Ansel's fierce demeanor.

Thus, they were even more perplexed, bewildered by Ansel's current behavior, which starkly contrasted… with his past demeanor.

Fools were puzzled by this drastic change, while the wise were confounded by this unrestrained display.

The youth who once arrived bathed in light, like a savior of radiance, had suddenly transformed into a sovereign descending from the abyss.

For the disloyal, death is the sole recompense.

This was a scenario no one had anticipated.

Not only the Duke of Sapphire, but the other dukes also couldn't believe that Ansel would be so resolute, displaying such a ruthless stance as if he intended to kill all three dukes of Eastport right now.

Where did he find such courage? Such confidence? Was he not worried about the other dukes uniting against him? Was he not afraid of the fifth-stage extraordinary beings who might already be lurking in the capital, seeking his life?

If he truly possessed such power, why had he remained dormant for so long after the empress's disappearance?

Was he merely bluffing… or not?

Under this pressure, almost equaling that of the empress, the Duke of Sapphire slowly bent his knee.

He knelt to the ground, bowing his head deeply, declaring his submission with the humility of a sinner:

"Please... forgive me."

No superfluous embellishments, no additional words, no longer speaking of "paying the price," just a simple plea for forgiveness.

The meaning was entirely different.

That last shred of autonomy had completely vanished from the Duke of Sapphire's grasp, he relinquished the right to control to Ansel, placing his life in Ansel's hands.

The other two dukes of Eastport, after a brief hesitation, also knelt down like the Duke of Sapphire, seeking Ansel's forgiveness.

At this moment, everyone's minds and bodies were taut to the extreme, even the ether flowing through the air seemed to freeze.

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