A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

"Soil enhancement potion?"

Within the vast alchemy workshop, Hendrik, who was overseeing the production lines, turned his head towards Ravenna with a hint of surprise, "The completion is nearly there; a few more stability tests should suffice... Ravenna, are you considering launching that item?"

The man hesitated slightly, "Unless Lord Ansel is willing to endorse us, bringing it to the forefront... could easily spiral out of our control."

To say it could "spiral out of control" is an understatement. The Tower of Babel has made numerous efforts over the years, only to see them come to naught. So many, in fact, that even now, with Lord Ansel as their support, Hendrik dares not take any aggressive steps, fearing another misstep.

"It's alright," Ravenna calmly replied, "Lord Ansel will ensure it reaches those it is meant for, without interference from the extraordinary beings."

"Really!"

Hendrik's eyes lit up instantly, the faint traces of fatigue on his face vanishing, "Lord Ansel... is willing to support us?"

"But... it's only for two dominions," Ravenna's answer was somewhat vague.

This left Hendrik momentarily stunned, but he quickly understood, "A simple pilot, right? Yes, yes, rushing would not be wise."

His expression shifted from excitement to joy, and then to ecstasy. Without speaking, he clenched his fists, swinging his arms up and down, pacing back and forth, his entire being radiating a hope as if reborn.
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"Fantastic... fantastic!"

Hendrik could no longer contain himself, his fists swinging energetically, his elevated tone even startling the other alchemists in the workshop. They looked at this hardworking leader, who tirelessly rushed from one production line to another, wondering why he was so uncontrollably joyful.

"Ravenna... this is hope!"

The man, who had been doggedly pursuing his mentor's legacy under immense pressure for fifteen years, had eyes that suddenly sparkled with tears.

"This is the beginning of the transformation we can bring to the empire!"

"..."Ravenna, witnessing Hendrik's tumultuous emotions, remained silent.

She had learned from Roger that they had long since abandoned the pursuit of what Eileen truly sought, opting for more attainable... progress?

In any case, it was not the transformation Eileen, nor she, had envisioned or foreseen.

Yet, Ravenna did not dismiss the thoughts of Hendrik and others. She had never intended to impose this ideal on anyone, for that would not only be utterly foolish but also extremely selfish and weak.

—Those who cannot trust in their own abilities and determination are utterly unworthy of pursuing such nobility.

Even so...

Miss puppet's eyes lowered, her nails scratching the palm of her hand as the nightmare-like whispers crossed her mind.

Ironically, as someone who did not even understand why herself pursued that ideal, she seemed even less qualified to criticize others for their abandonment... even if her determination was genuine, it only highlighted the absurdity of the situation.

[You, who do not even understand why you pursue, where does your determination stem from?]

The soft whispers of Ansel, in countless forms and phrases, surfaced in Ravenna's mind repeatedly.

Avoidance is not a preferable choice, but Ravenna, already beset with myriad issues, had no alternative.

The death of her grandfather, the conflicts with her once-called "father," the threats faced by Ansel, the memories she had once lost, the vision she harbored in her heart, and the countless tasks that lay ahead...

The grand questions of thought, the obsessive craving of the self, the bewildered struggle with the past, the laborious steps in the present, at a time when everyone is filled with hope for the future, the one who most yearns to witness that future... is shackled and unable to move forward.

Since Ansel's return, she has found herself sinking deeper and deeper into various quagmires, unable to extricate herself.

But upon reflection, does everything she has encountered have a direct connection with… Ansel?

No, it does not. He merely "revealed" the problems to her.

From the beginning to the end, there were hardly any conspiracies by Ansel that truly aimed at calculating against her, as Ravenna was always keenly aware of the crux of most traps.

However, the issue lies in the fact that Ansel of Hydral's "conspiracy," this devil's plot, never seemed to prioritize successfully ensnaring her as its main goal.

Just like the declaration that has put the current Ravenna in a dilemma—the declaration that made her a monster of reason, does the outcome matter to Ansel?

It does not. What matters is that no matter what Ravenna chooses, it is wrong, and indeed, she has made the wrong choice every time.

And the greater conspiracies are precisely about making her realize the key point, to recognize... reality.

To recognize the reality that even if she sees clearly, she can change nothing, or perhaps...

"This is just the beginning, as long as we succeed this time, from now on... with the help of Lord Ansel, the vision of Eileen is not impossible, Ravenna!"

Hendrik's impassioned voice did not stir Ravenna's emotions but instead made her somewhat dazed.

What if that's what he wanted?

["I was too weak, Venna… No, Ravenna I shouldn't have thought that such a gentle approach could—"]

"Ugh!"

The petite scholar staggered back a step, a tearing pain from the depths of her soul causing her to subconsciously reach for her forehead, her face twitching slightly.

A high building, a torrential downpour, the grey... sky.

A young blond boy stood amidst the rain, those familiar sea-blue eyes of his turned into an unfamiliar pitch-black serpent's gaze.

That gaze... that disappointed, angry, numb gaze, pierced through the rain, tearing apart control, and landed on Ravenna's soul.

Ravenna, under that gaze, staggered back two steps, nearly falling to the ground.

At that moment, she seemed to feel the icy cold of the pouring rain, the bone-chilling howl of the hurricane.

Yet nothing was as chilling and piercing as the stare from those pitch-black serpent's eyes.

"Ravenna, Ravenna?"

Hendrik was startled by Ravenna's sudden movement, quickly reaching out to support her, but she refused him with a wave of her hand.

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