A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Marlina observed everything from a higher vantage point.

To oversee the entire operation, she found a location that allowed her to view almost all the key positions in her plan. This spot was once the luxurious villa of one of the lower district's three bosses, the Butcher. It was situated at the uppermost part of the lower district, just a step away from the upper, with ample sunlight.

After Miss Fenrir, the Wicked Wolf, swept through the lower district, this place naturally became her property. Our Miss Fenrir whimsically planned to demolish it and transform it into a… well, a sunbathing plaza for the residents of the lower district.

However, before she could realize this idea, Marlina had already taken over most of the lower district's affairs. As Marlina's control deepened, Seraphina, appreciating the excellent results of an external brain, stopped concerning herself with those matters.

From her position, Marlina could even see that drug dealer pretending to be sophisticated, shaking a wine glass on the balcony.

Mistine was just one of the lower district gang forces she contacted. To incite a full-scale riot in the lower district, such a small faction was far from sufficient.

The filth of a place like the lower district could never be completely cleaned up. Even if the extraordinary beings who accepted the commission swept through the lower district, at most, they would only clear out the first and second-stage low-level extraordinary beings hiding there… As for the gangs originally composed of mortals? That wasn't their concern.

But if Marlina wished, cleaning up those guys would be an exceedingly simple task. Even without using Seraphina's power, she had ten thousand ways to make the gutter-dwelling people behave.

However, gradually realizing certain things, Marlina didn't do that. Instead, she single-handedly instigated the current… riot.

She let those somewhat mediocre individuals, or those who barely survived the purge and inherited the original gang's legacy, indulge their underlings, exacerbating the violence and chaos in the lower district.

"Indeed... the most direct approach is the most fitting."

Marlina, seated with the grace of a lady, gazed down upon the blood-stained crowd, whispering softly.

"If I wait for them to truly awaken before they rise in revolt, it will be too late."

The gang members who instigated the conflict were indeed the ruffians of the lower district, but the gang members now confronting the civilians were the brainwashed individuals that Marlina had Inothea procure through extraordinary beings.

Moreover, those who incited the crowd and led the charge were also brainwashed individuals, the very group Inothea had discussed with Marlina during their last meeting.

Expecting those insignificant hoodlums to truly face the wrath of the masses was evidently absurd. Simultaneously, it was unrealistic to think that the long-numbed lower district civilians would dare to band together and clash with gang members.

In essence, the two initial fighting factions weren't the residents of the lower district. Nevertheless, once the atmosphere was sufficiently inflamed, Marlina could ensure the riotous torrent rolled forward inexorably.

In fact, every phase of the riot—their gathering, the timing, and the progression—was under Marlina's meticulous control.

Ultimately, Marlina would lead the civilians to victory. Through the most primal and effective stimulation, she would have them standing upon blood and corpses, discovering the power of self-identity.

Though they would still be no match for the extraordinary beings, at the very least... afterward, they would believe in their own strength rather than languishing in the dark corners, rotting like maggots as they awaited the blessings of the extraordinary.

Reflecting slowly on her hastily devised plan and arrangements, Marlina couldn't help but shake her head in disappointment.

"The gap between Mr. Ansel and me is still too vast."

In her entire scheme, she had almost perfectly controlled every node, with each part meticulously designed, but to Marlina, this was not a commendation.

Ansel's strategies were seamlessly natural; by merely designing a few critical points, everything would unfold as if destined.

In comparison, her own scheming bore an excessively contrived design, requiring her constant attention and adjustment at almost every stage, which was truly... too clumsy.

The riot in the lower district was like the debut work of an inexperienced playwright, marked by crude and overly conspicuous craftsmanship. If she hadn't been able to manipulate the true controllers of Dispute Fortress under the name of Faust to create this farce, her own abilities alone... wouldn't have achieved anything.

"To grant mortals a sense of self apart from the extraordinary, yet even in this endeavor... I must rely on the extraordinary, huh."

Marlina whispered, her expression tinged with complexity.

She could sense Ansel's expectations, but was powerless against reality. No matter how much she pondered... Marlina couldn't fathom how to enable mortals to live with dignity and happiness in this twisted world.

Even the awakening of self-awareness required such methods. Mr. Ansel, if you choose to give up, could you truly find another way to realize your aspirations?

Thinking of this, the frail and serene girl couldn't help but sigh softly.

Undoubtedly, Ravenna was successful... or rather, both Ravenna and Seraphina were successful; they had both changed Ansel. The former had done so recently and overtly, while the latter had subtly influenced him over time.

No, it couldn't be considered a change. Mr. Ansel... was inherently a kind person.

Marlina had long confirmed this. Margarete, witnessing the deeds of the adventurer Faust, was convinced that the one she followed was destined to become a great person, like the sun.

But Marlina had also gradually realized the immense difficulty of becoming the sun.

Merely changing Mr. Ansel's mind was insufficient... If there was no way to address the inherent distortions, and if the hope was simply for Mr. Ansel to become better, then what purpose did it serve other than adding to his distress and confusion?

Neither Miss Ravenna nor Seraphina seemed to grasp this—they didn't recognize the true ailment of this world, the distortion that even Mr. Ansel found hard to resolve.

Marlina couldn't help but recall the people and events Ansel had shown her—adventurers wielding extraordinary power yet behaving like hyenas, ordinary people willingly accepting their exploitation... Whenever she thought of these things, she felt a profound sense of powerlessness, leading to anguish and even despair.

It was truly... too difficult.

"To place such hopes on Mr. Ansel, believing he could change everything, without understanding how absurd and arduous this wish truly is..."

Though Marlina was gazing at the riot-stricken lower district, her eyes saw nothing of it. It was as if the tragedy she had instigated was of no consequence to her. The girl, her eyes reflecting deep shadows, merely muttered to herself in complexity:

"Is this trust, or... selfishness?"

At that moment, a furious, elderly voice suddenly erupted from behind Marlina.

"M-Miss… Margarete, what on earth are you doing!"

Snapped out of her thoughts, Marlina didn't turn around; she recognized the voice immediately. It was Mr. Cliff, the old doctor who had been assisting Seraphina with the affairs of the lower district before Marlina came to aid her.

He was one of the rarest kinds in this world—a person of integrity and kindness.

"Miss Fenrir trusted you so much... She believed you would make the lower district a better place, she believed in your ability and goodness!"

Cliff, panting heavily and brimming with anger, confronted her: "Is this how you repay her trust?"

Marlina had anticipated her exposure. She had orchestrated too many actions; all the events were handled by her, and it was inevitable that she would be implicated in such a large-scale incident.

Moreover, she had taken a specific step before today—she had sent Seraphina away, under the pretense of needing a quiet place to prepare for the battle with Faust.

"Mr. Cliff."

Gazing down at the chaotic and violent lower district, Marlina spoke softly: "Do you think Miss Fenrir is right?"

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The absurdity of the question stunned Cliff for two seconds before he laughed in exasperation.

"You've turned the lower district, which Miss Fenrir could have built into a better place, into this mess, and you still dare to ask if she is right?"

"But you haven't answered my question."

Marlina turned to face the old man, repeating earnestly, "Do you think Miss Fenrir is right?"

Stubbornly adhering to her notions of kindness and justice, attempting to construct an impossible dream, even to the point of being almost tyrannical... insisting on shaping everything to her expectations.

Was such behavior right?

Before Marlina arrived, Cliff had experienced firsthand how exaggerated and unrealistic Seraphina's demands were, so he should understand this very well.

But unexpectedly, the old man didn't express his views on this matter, nor did he speak on good and evil, or order.

He wasn't even... angry anymore.

He looked at Marlina with an expression she hadn't foreseen—first shock, then sorrow.

"Miss Margarete," the old man softly inquired, "did you ask me that question to prove that you are the one who truly cares about the common people and are working for their sake?"

Marlina didn't respond, which was as good as an admission. Of course, that was her intention.

She had been ready to explain to Cliff about self-awareness and enlightenment, believing he would understand her. After all, most people found it hard to accept Seraphina's extreme and self-centered stubbornness.

But before she could speak, Cliff's weary and aged voice interrupted:

"I can't answer your question, but what I know for sure is that the light in Miss Fenrir's eyes is genuine."

"She truly wants to change this world. Even if her ideas are still young... even very naive, as long as she holds onto that belief, she will eventually grow into someone who can genuinely change the world. We've already grown accustomed to living in misery, so we don't mind waiting for her to reach that point."

Marlina's expression froze.

"But what about you, Miss Margarete? I don't see the same light in your eyes that I see in Miss Fenrir's... Instead, I want to ask, do you truly care about them?"

The old man shook his head: "That's why I can't believe you are like Miss Fenrir. Your words are too absurd."

If it wasn't for the sake of the common people, not to give them self-awareness and enlightenment, then... what was the true purpose of Marlina Marlowe's elaborate and risky actions, even at the cost of breaking ties with her dearest ones?

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