A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

If the casualties from the riot were kept within certain limits, Venna wouldn't be so suspicious of the riot, and you would easily handle Seri. But now, with such a grim scene... Venna, who entrusted you with the alarm, won't let it go, and Seri, who can't accept such casualties, won't be easily fooled by your words.

You wouldn't make such a mistake. The only reason things have become so irreparable is that it was an unforeseen accident.

An accident...

Thinking of this, Ansel's eyes narrowed slightly.

He was waiting for fate's next move, slowly deducing its next step from the changing details around him.

He didn't expect that what he was waiting for, most likely from fate, would be... Marlina.

This method again? You really never get tired of it.

Starting with Seraphina, from the attempt to tame Ravenna, it has always been like this—not through some major event to plunge Ansel into an irrecoverable abyss of despair, but by influencing the thoughts of those around him to impact Ansel's core beliefs.

A very subtle method, completely inconsistent with the grand and regal style, a very petty tactic.

Clearly, Ansel's goal is to tame the four heroines into obedient dogs, to turn them into the ultimate blades against fate, but even though they are halfway through... Ansel has not changed the personalities of the two girls at all, except for imprinting the most important marks in their hearts.

Now, there is even a faint trend of being influenced in return.

Venna's recent thoughts probably also have your interference, but if she wants to change, she would indeed pull me along... Heh, so reasonable, as always.

"This is really... too strange."

Ravenna couldn't help but hold Ansel's hand, instinctively gripping tighter, still clueless about such schemes and conspiracies.

"Ansel, why? Why did such an incomprehensible riot happen? What is Marlina doing? And what is that stupid dog doing?"

Marlina, Marlina.

This time, you chose Marlina, didn't you? Do you think you can influence me through Marlina?

To be honest, with Ravenna's prior example, Ansel couldn't possibly think fate was wasting its efforts again.

In the Imperial City, he believed that he could never be influenced by Ravenna's thoughts and judgments, but fate used a perfect kill set up three years ago to make him give up the optimal solution he had planned for a long time to fight against fate.

So now, he wouldn't easily think that Marlina couldn't walk into his heart, but the question is... can fate really do that?

From any perspective, Marlina can't be compared to Ravenna.

The ambush that had been laid for three years succeeded because it met extremely stringent conditions. There couldn't be another woman like Ravenna in this world, who would lock herself in endless darkness for three years for a vague possibility.

If Ansel of Hydral's heart were like a hotel, allowing women to come and go, leaving their marks, he would be busy managing a harmonious harem rather than thinking daily about how to fight fate.

But no matter what, since fate might have planted a trap in Marlina, Ansel, having learned from Ravenna, would not make the same mistake again.

"Marlina and Seri..."

Ansel paused, his voice gentle: "They probably have their own considerations."

Ravenna's tone was cold and hard: "I can't think of any considerations that could let them allow the lower district... to become like this."

"Let's wait for them at Seri's station."

Ansel did not offer much explanation for Marlina, just gently patted Ravenna's shoulder.

"Or do you plan to help those civilians first?"

To calm the terribly upset scholar lady, Ansel glanced at the surrounding houses, making a small joke.

Even through the walls, Ravenna could sense the civilians inside the luxurious houses looting all sorts of things, even fighting each other.

"That's why I said..." She suddenly spoke, "They need a proper leader."

Seemingly understanding a bit more, Ravenna turned to look at Ansel: "I don't know why this riot happened, but if it was a battle to eliminate those monopolists and oppressors, then there's no problem."

Having long suffered from the persecution of the Aether Institute, Ravenna, who hated this stagnant world, was quite qualified to say this.

"But they are too ugly, too despicable, too... stupid and blind now."

The petite woman murmured softly: "If you were leading them, Ansel, things wouldn't have turned out like this."

"...You never forget to add some strange expectations on me, do you?" Ansel rubbed Ravenna's head.

"Who let you be Ansel?" Ravenna looked at her friend, her always tense and grave expression relaxing considerably upon seeing his gentle face and confirming that he was always by her side.

"The greatest Hydral in the world, right?"

She was so certain of Ansel's ability, just like that wolf who even in solitude longed for Ansel.

They both firmly believed that Ansel had the power to change everything. Explore more at My Virtual Library Empire

Faced with such trust, the young Hydral, after a brief silence, just smiled and didn't say much.

Something different...?

If it were me, the outcome indeed wouldn't be as tragic as now, but if there were no accidents, Marlina could do it too.

Venna, can you accept the price of changing all this… now?

*

Marlina knew that the situation had reached its worst point.

Actually, yesterday, she had suggested that Seraphina return to Dispute Fortress to prevent any sudden changes in the lower district. She did this not for the lower district, but to keep the entire plan from spiraling out of control, pushed to the brink by those reckless adventurers.

However, Seraphina's determination caught Marlina off guard.

"If I go back, I won't be able to resist suppressing the riot. I can't just watch them bleed and die and do nothing."

So, Seraphina, deciding to respect the "will" of the lower district civilians, endured nearly a day and a night before returning to Dispute Fortress.

Seraphina staying meant Marlina couldn't leave either, because Seraphina, who had long admitted her selfishness and greed, would never let Marlina enter the dangerous riot environment.

Thus, during this time, Miss Maragarate Grutchen Muller, who had been freely wielding control over the Howling Legion, lost control of the riot.

What should have ended within a day extended nearly a day and a night.

When she walked into the lower district, the horrific scene before her took Marlina's breath away.

She quickly reached the same conclusion as Ansel—the civilians, empowered by her arrangements, had crushed all the gang members and pushed all the way to the entrance of the lower district. The battlefield's carnage was essentially a spectacle created by the extraordinary beings for their amusement after watching a beast fight.

But reaching a conclusion was useless; Marlina couldn't change anything now. She could only hope... that Seraphina could stay as calm as possible.

Then the second unexpected thing happened—Seraphina was indeed very calm.

She observed the splattered blood on the streets, the severed limbs, the scattered weapons, the heads hanging from wires, and she silently walked forward.

She was so calm that even the joyous cries of "Lord Fenrir is back!" didn't change her expression.

Even upon seeing the bodies of many loyal followers who served under her, Seraphina merely stood still, quietly looking at the corpses for a long time before leaving without a word.

There were no angry roars, no uncontrolled shouting, just silent progression.

As she approached the entrance to the station, the wolf finally spoke, her voice hoarse.

"So, this is the price, Marli."

"If I were here, no one would have died, no one would have been hurt."

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