A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Ravenna, unsure whether to feel happy or troubled, felt a mix of emotions. As if worried Ansel might actually follow through, she reiterated, "You don't need to do anything; it's just my old habits acting up."

"I understand. You don't need to emphasize that you're an overly arrogant problem child, Venna," Ansel teased, unable to hold back a laugh.

Ravenna's expression turned cold. "Don't get so presumptuous just because I showed you a bit of kindness... I'm five years older than you; you should call me sister. What do you mean by 'child'?"

"Girls like to be called young."

"Only immature girls do. A mature woman wouldn't appreciate such an affected title."

Seeing Ravenna huff in mild annoyance, Ansel knew her mind had been diverted from her earlier worries. He smiled gently and said, "Then let me continue with their story."

The issue between Marlina and Nerilia was straightforward and uncomplicated. To resolve it, all it would take was a firm command from Ansel.

But neither Marlina, Nerilia, nor Ansel himself had considered using such an approach.

"Marlina's exact words were: 'The current development of Shadewell is undoubtedly due to Mr. Ansel's influence. If I can directly leverage Mr. Ansel's influence, what I can achieve might not be inferior to what any of you can.'"

Holding Ansel's coat and resting her chin in her hands, Ravenna remarked, "They really are sisters. Though it's not apparent in everyday interactions… she's just as recklessly ambitious as her sibling."

For a common person with nothing to speak such words to Ansel's top espionage group—what else could it be but hubris?

"And then?"

Perhaps due to Marlina's close relationship with Seraphina, Ravenna showed a bit more interest. "How does she intend to leverage your 'influence'?"

"She said she wanted to do something small in my name."

Ansel shrugged. "I didn't pay much attention because, according to the intelligence Nerilia provided, a portal to the Realm Enigma was about to open. So, I left Marlina to handle things on her own."

Miss Scholar finally accepted the milk Ansel offered, musing aloud, "Using your name to gain assistance… influence…"

"If someone came looking for me, it means she got herself into some sort of 'trouble' under your name. Deception? Threats? Intimidation? No… too cumbersome. It has to be something more effective and direct, which can only be…"

"Killings."

They both spoke the word simultaneously, Ansel in a soft tone with a smile, and Ravenna with a frown and a low exclamation.

Holding her milk, Ravenna turned to Ansel, her expression troubled. "She likely killed someone from a certain faction in your name, which is why they came here… My intervention would make them wary of your power, and your identity on the move is precisely that of the legend."

"…She's not leveraging Hydra's influence but using Faust's influence."

"That's quite obvious." Ansel shrugged.

"Why didn't she use your identity for direct negotiation?" Ravenna furrowed her brows. "Why resort to killing?"

"Because Marlina knows that violence and power are far more persuasive than any words." Ansel swirled his wine glass, speaking leisurely, "If someone politely visits, claiming to be the legendary adventurer Faust, would you take him seriously?"

"…Probably not."

"Then what if he tosses a few heads at your doorstep without a word?"

Ravenna's eye twitched. "I'd first suspect he was mentally unstable."

"Being mentally unstable works too." Ansel chuckled. "Whether Faust or a mad killer, as long as it creates a 'threat,' it's enough."

"Having the power to create a threat grants the right to converse and even negotiate."

Ravenna remained silent for a moment, then whispered, "This is really… quite dark."

"Marlina had no choice. If she wanted assistance quickly, she could only choose such a dark method."

Ansel seemed unconcerned. He had done countless things far more brutal than this "dark" method. He appreciated Marlina's decisiveness more than anything.

"By the way, she informed me in advance that it might affect you. If I disagreed, she wouldn't have proceeded."

Ravenna wiped the milk off her lips with Ansel's sleeve, her expression blank. "So I didn't wrong you."

"I said I didn't expect her to actually do it."

Ansel laughed, gently rubbing Ravenna's lips with his fingertips again, his tone light. "No matter how bold my subordinates are, or how much they have their own schemes, they wouldn't dare violate certain 'taboos.' And everyone knows, you and Seraphina have long been my greatest taboos."

"But Marlina dared to use you… Even though she sought my permission in advance, if she harbored even a trace of fear for you, she wouldn't have had the courage to proceed."

The young Hydra sighed, "For a mere mortal, this kind of audacity is something that even I find somewhat admirable."

"...Hmph, I was used. Are you pleased?"

"I didn't seem particularly pleased, and Venna, you weren't that angry either, were you? This time, Marlina acted purely out of her own desires."

Ravenna was silent for a moment before she softly replied, "When you think about it, her risk was actually much greater. If the person she provoked was someone who didn't think things through and was unreasonable, she would have been utterly doomed."

"Not completely doomed; Nerilia's people were watching from the side."

Ansel brought his wine glass to Ravenna's lips, but she disdainfully pushed it away. He laughed and said, "But the position of secretary would definitely be lost."
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"To her, that's pretty much the same as being doomed."

The young Hydra patted Ravenna's head. "You're quite considerate of Marlina, Venna. Do you admire her?"

Ravenna recalled Marlina bringing her breakfast this morning, how well she knew her dietary preferences, and shook her head.

"It's just... a pity. She has such boldness, such strong abilities, to use your name, and incidentally, me, all while risking everything at every turn. But in the end... what can she really gain?"

...

The intelligence operations in Dispute Fortress by the Shadewell were merely conducted by one of Nerilia's subordinates. If Snake Attendant wanted the information from Dispute Fortress, it would be a trivial matter to obtain it.

For the Shadewell, this was just a minor arrangement... but for Marlina, it meant staking everything.

One wrong step, or even a bit of bad luck, would result in total failure and eternal damnation.

Was it worth it?

The girl gripping the bullet asked herself in her heart.

Then, she looked up at the mature woman sitting opposite her, whose gentle smile bordered on demure, and found her answer.

No matter what, it's far better than being a mere mortal who deserves nothing.

"So... that's it?"

Yvaine gently whispered, "If you need anything, Miss Margarate, feel free to contact me. By the way, if it's not too much trouble, Mr. Faust..."

"I will introduce you, Ms. Yvaine."

The woman's face lit up with joy. "That's wonderful! I will bring you the information you need as soon as possible, Miss Margarate."

The girl nodded with a smile, watching as the renowned Queen Bee departed.

In the room, Nerilia's figure reappeared.

Serpent Attendant bowed respectfully to her, but Nerilia paid no heed, staring intently at Marlina.

"So, you struggled to this extent, risking being crushed by the Queen Bee, just for the intelligence of Dispute Fortress?"

Marlina picked up the beret at her feet, gathered her snowy hair, and tucked it into the hat, once again transforming into the slender, delicate tomboy.

"This is just the beginning, Miss Nerilia. I will go further."

Even if the extraordinary beings merely had a passing thought, the mortal girl, who would risk everything and struggle to the utmost, softly murmured.

"If you are unwilling to give me the intelligence from the Shadewell..."

A cold shadow flickered in her eyes.

"Then Marlina Marlowe will strive to obtain it by any means."

*