A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 267  The Weakness of the Snake - I

Marlina's game with Ansel continues, yet the black market beneath them is no longer tranquil. Hyena's henchmen are embroiled in a chaotic brawl with Vulture and Rodent's men. The roar of spells and the warriors' battle cries reverberate beneath the high walls that separate the upper and lower city districts. Above this region, where chaos and sin flow freely, a massive wave driven by the onlookers threatens to engulf and cleanse everything. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

In the scene presented by Lawrence, Hyena is rushing towards his headquarter with a grim expression, while Marlina gazes at this spectacle, her countenance equally grave as she murmurs: "The most crucial task now is to regroup the remnants. Since they are aware of my plan to raid other slave markets, they also know that I have the support of Mr. Ansel… no, Mr.Faust. Therefore, they will not annihilate us completely, but..."

But is it really that simple? Could there be a coincidence that prompts the other three leaders to strike a deadly blow? ...No, it's certain.

The young girl's breathing becomes increasingly rapid: "Mr. Ansel will not delay the punishment for Hyena until the second day, the third day, or even longer. What Mr. Ansel wants is... now!" "Clever girl," Ansel chuckles lightly, "To resist an irresistible will, one must first understand... what it needs, in order to make corresponding preparations." "In other words, there must be something that makes them dare to ignore a fifth-stage legendary adventurer... a coincidence... or something else, what could it be?" Marlina clenches her teeth, her mind flashing back to everything that has happened since she entered the black market. Mr. Ansel sees far more than I do, but it's still within a certain range. Since he won't deliberately promote the occurrence of something, it must be something existing, related to "those who dare to challenge the puppeteer'... The waiter at dinner? The beggar who was given a gold coin by Seri? The exposed pickpocket? No, no, no... the person who can pry the underworld leaders must have capital, wait... must they? If it's a coincidence, does it have to be a person with capital?

Even knowing what she's facing, Marlina, who still musters the courage to challenge Ansel, soon realizes her insignificance. Her courage is pale and powerless, her determination, worthless. Even though the terrifying imagination has already made her tremble, Marlina finds that she has underestimated it, far, far underestimated this cold, desperate terror that grips her throat at all times.

Because she doesn't know what kind of people they are, what identities they have, what abilities they possess, what stories are hidden behind them, she knows nothing about the world in Ansel's hand, even... this Hyena she plays is also in Ansel's hand.

The most absurd and ridiculous thing is that Hyena himself doesn't have to bear any pressure. He only sees his own defeat and only needs to think according to the current situation. His "ignorance" spares him this despair, even if he is destined to be destroyed, he is much better than Marlina now. And Ansel can know everything, control everything... as he said, this black market is too small for him. When I was thinking about what could pry these leaders to actively attack Hyena, has Mr. Ansel already seen more "coincidences" that could push the Hyena to destruction? Even if I discover one of the joints, what threat is waiting for me? ...The possibility I discovered, the possibility I saw through, is it really what I thought? Isn't it another guide or coincidence from Mr. Ansel? I...

"Ugh!" Marlina, who had just managed to regain her composure, turned pale again. Her throat unconsciously let out a wail due to the pressure and fear that piled up crazily. Her lips had been pierced by her teeth, but she was unaware. "No... I can't doubt myself anymore, there must be a possibility, Mr. Ansel won't deliberately arrange, identity, courage..." The girl covered her forehead with her hand, pressing her temples hard with her fingertips. The faint blue veins on her white backhand were slightly raised. Her muttering had a hint of self-destructive madness. "Mar-Marli, Marli, you... don't act like this, I'm scared." Seraphina was frightened by Marlina's appearance. Her sister, who could always handle anything calmly... why would she show such a ferocious expression?

She had a vague idea of what Ansel was hinting at. She and Ansel held the same anger and resentment towards fate, but also... terror. Is fate really so terrifying, so desperate? Ansel easily snatched me from the hands of fate. Being deliberately avoided by Ansel, Seraphina, who had hardly seen Ansel's personal emotions and only saw a little of what he had experienced and the final outcome, could not experience Marlina's emotions now. She could only carefully reach out to touch Marlina's face: "Marli... sister, it's just a game, Ansel also said not to take it too seriously, you don't need to —" "Shut up!" Marlina directly slapped Seri's hand away. The ferocity in her eyes when she turned her face almost made Seraphina hallucinate the Marlina in the memory that had not become reality. "...I mean, don't disturb me, Seri." The girl with pale lips whispered, "I'm sorry, don't disturb me... I can think of it... I can think of it..." Her breathing became more and more rapid and uneven: "Just a little bit, just one of them —" Marlina suddenly raised her head, grabbed Ansel's hand like a lifeline, and asked hoarsely and urgently: "It's DappleSpider! DappleSpider, right? Her subordinate... that shopkeeper! He knows us!" Marlina, who was always calm and polite and had a good sense of distance, grabbed Ansel's sleeve and palm tightly, speaking somewhat incoherently, "He gave the recommendation, and then... then that DappleSpider, she hates slave trading very much. Since you cleared the underworld slave market three years ago, she must be very grateful to you... she must have been paying attention to you all the time, yes... including the people around you, including Seri..." She immediately turned her head to look at Seri. Although that mask hid Seri's face, changed her voice, and even changed her most conspicuous white hair, but... the collar on her neck and her outstanding height were not hidden. "That shopkeeper, out of unease, may not tell DappleSpider about this, but if Mr. Ansel starts from here... if you promote some coincidence, letting DappleSpider know your true identity, she will understand that there is no so-called backing behind the Hyena, only... destruction!" "Then she, and the other underworld leaders, will not hesitate to send Hyena to a dead end, right... Mr. Ansel!" Marlina's hand holding Ansel's palm and sleeve trembled slightly, her eyes were so hopeful, but also full of deep fatigue and weakness.

"You've done great, Marlina," Ansel extended his hand, gently wiping away the fresh blood from the corner of Marlina's mouth, healing her wound. "To have thought this far, you've already achieved something remarkable."

"Mr. Ansel, was everything indeed within... your... plans?"

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