Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

Karen, who was curled up on the sofa watching a TV series, smelled a strong floral fragrance as her nostrils twitched. Her eyes became hazy, and she yawned as she lay down on one side and fell asleep contentedly.

The petite figure under the moonlight twitched at the corner of her eye, her body gradually elongating as she raised her purple eyes and gazed wistfully towards the door.

"Yeah..."

The door opened slightly, and in the courtyard, the bright moon hung in the sky, stars twinkled, and specks of light, like soft raindrops, fell to earth.

Wherever the light reaches, flowers bloom in abundance, their delicate fragrance filling the air. The beautiful world that is visible and visible is like a pristine paradise.

On the muddy ground covered with blooming flowers, two figures dressed in gold and black armor, standing side by side, slowly raised their heads and focused their gaze on the young goddess inside the house.

The next day.

A sudden ringing of the telephone interrupted my pleasant dream.

Samael, emerging from his slumber, took the phone, his expression changed drastically, and he immediately threw on his clothes, leaping out of the window and transforming into an arc of light that streaked across the sky.

A few breaths later, at the church apartment.

The ancient snake, standing silently in the living room, looked around, its gaze sweeping over the shattered door and the scattered furnishings inside, before finally settling on Karen, who was still fast asleep on the sofa.

"When did this happen?"

"This morning!"

Nearby, Noel, who had rushed over from the school, shrank back and hurriedly answered.

"First, I took attendance in class, and Miss Athena wasn't there. Then, I went to the infirmary and found that Lady Kallen wasn't at work either. I tried calling her, but no one answered, so I was worried and came to check on her, and then..."

"Hmm, I think I know what's going on."

Samael nodded, then his eyes flashed as he gave a deep, stern instruction.

"Noel, Karen is in your care. She should wake up in about three days."

Noel, a half-baked executor, nodded subconsciously after receiving the order, then asked weakly.

"What about you?"

"I'm going out to take care of some business, which will probably take one or two weeks."

Samael pondered for a moment before stepping outside. He played with a pure white owl tail feather he had picked up from the scene, sensing the lingering trace of its essence. His eyes were thoughtful, his brow furrowed, and he murmured silently to himself.

Hypnos, the god of sleep; Thanatos, the god of death; the twin gods of the underworld...

Could it be that Greece is in trouble?

Chapter Twenty-Three: Bribing Miss Hyena (4k)

The Mediterranean Sea, with its gentle waves and crystal-clear blue waters, surges with the wind, bringing a faint salty dampness. White seagulls and flocks of water birds soar and dance under the clear sky.

A three-story ship with the word "Minerva" painted on its hull pushed through the waves and hummed as it sailed across the sea.

On the top open deck, a handsome blond young man with features that combined Western sharpness and Eastern gentleness, dressed in a black casual suit, leaned against the side of the ship's railing, holding a wine glass, quietly gazing at the magnificent seascape.

However, his deep red and black eyes seemed unfocused, and his brows, which furrowed and folded from time to time, seemed to be troubled by some worries.

"call!"

Suddenly, a strong sea breeze blew by, accompanied by a woman's low cry. A white object floated past the man's eyes, carried by the gust of wind. The figure on the side of the ship was startled from his reverie and instinctively raised his hand to grab it.

It was a pure white, round sun hat decorated with blue ribbons, exquisite yet elegant.

"yours?"

The man turned around and smiled as he returned the lost item to its owner, who was hurrying towards him.

"Yes, kind sir, thank you for your help."

The owner lifted her skirt, bowed slightly, smiled and thanked her politely before accepting the sun hat.

The man looking back seemed slightly stunned.

The striking blue dress evoked the image of a clear blue sky. Her eyes were like amber gems. Her golden, flowing curls, adorned with azure ribbons, seemed crafted by nature itself. While her pure beauty might not be breathtaking, the golden pride emanating from her more than made up for it. Beauty is not only...

It is revealed through appearance, and also through a person's way of life; this girl is a living example of that.

With her elegant demeanor, graceful choice of words, and swan-like beauty, she was a near-perfect young woman.

Seeing the man's infatuated reaction, the girl couldn't help but feel a little smug. She habitually tossed her golden curls that fell to one side of her shoulder, showing off her beauty for mortals to admire.

However, the kind passenger quickly regained his senses and gave an apologetic smile.

"Excuse me, you look a bit like a friend of mine."

"Really? I'm truly honored."

The girl lightly brushed her golden curls over her shoulder with the fingertips of her left hand, and covered her lips with her right hand while laughing softly, appearing very ladylike and elegant.

However, in the heart of this "lady," there was a different, contemptuous face.

That's such an outdated pickup line...

Tch, men!

"However, if you look closely at their face shapes, there are still significant differences..."

Thoughts flickered in the man's eyes as he smiled and began to explain. At the end, he added something that seemed quite casual, and the corners of his lips curved into a pleased smile in the darkness, like a fox hunting for food.

"Oh, right, her name is Rin Tohsaka..."

"Squeak!"

Suddenly, the blonde lady's smile froze. A sickening tremor came from the metal railing beside her, and the veins on her glistening fingers resting on it bulged, as if a creature had encountered its natural enemy.

The man noticed the girl's strong stress response, paused slightly, and looked surprised.

"What, do you know each other?"

"Rin Tohsaka?"

The blonde lady murmured in thought, then her smile vanished abruptly, and she answered decisively.

"do not know!"

"How could I possibly have anything to do with this wild girl who sounds like she came from a poor family in the Far East?"

Then, the girl in front of the ship's railing, with a somewhat distorted smile, muttered to herself before offering earnest advice.

"I also advise you not to be fooled by the exquisite appearance of some women; deep down, they are quite rude and impolite."

After the lady had subtly and overtly belittled her, a warm smile immediately bloomed on her bright face, and she extended her hand to introduce herself.

“Lucia Serinta Edelfelt, it’s a pleasure to travel with you on this journey.”

"So you're the daughter of the Edelfelt family? It's a pleasure to meet you. Just call me Samael."

The ancient snake was filled with awe, a genuine surprise appearing on its face. It smiled slightly and politely and solemnly shook the girl's fingers.

"Well, it's all just empty fame."

The blonde lady waved her hand, her words appearing humble and easygoing, but her face betrayed an undisguised pride and smugness. Clearly, her vanity was greatly satisfied by the comparison. She then became even more amiable, blinking her sapphire-like eyes as she extended her hand in invitation.

"Since you have nothing to do, why don't we sit down and have a drink together? It's a way for me to express my gratitude."

At the enthusiastic invitation of this lady from a distinguished family, Samael nodded in agreement and followed Luvia to a table under a parasol, where they each ordered a drink and chatted to pass the time.

After a brief exchange, the two were surprised to discover that they had the same destination: Athens, Greece.

“You should have heard that the Edfeldt family is in the gem business. They happen to have some trade dealings in Greece recently, and I need to go and take a look.”

Luvia picked up her teacup, took a sip of the steaming black tea, and smiled faintly.

"You have to take on the family responsibilities so early; you're really working hard."

Samael offered his compliments without batting an eye, but his deep eyes gleamed with a subtle glint.

Clearly, this is just a perfunctory excuse.

The Edelfelt family, ostensibly in the gem business, has built their residence in a prestigious Finnish gem magic establishment.

In the mysterious world, they also have a resounding title—"the most beautiful hyenas/hunters in the world".

Hyenas are a group of animals that roam the African savanna, preying on lions and leopards and feeding on carrion.

The hyenas of the magic world, naturally, are vying for rare and mysterious heritage from all over the world.

Therefore, the Edelfelt family actually rose to power by usurping arcane arts and magical artifacts, and is considered a nouveau riche family during the Renaissance.

They enjoy getting involved in the world's conflicts and stealing the most precious magical treasures, which is why they have earned the nickname "the most beautiful hyena in the world".

Of course, from the Edelfelt family's perspective, the problem lies with those who cannot keep the secrets safe, while they themselves are the ones who can properly manage and utilize them; they have such arrogance.

Currently, the previous generation of the Edelfelt family is in a semi-retired state, with their daughter taking the lead in various matters.

Therefore, this lady from a prominent family is now the true head of the Edfeldt family.

Based on the habits of hyenas, their appearance is mostly for the purpose of competing for mysterious heritage.

Of course, Luvia's trip to Greece was probably not so simple.

"Wow!"

Just as Samael was deep in thought, the parasol he had set up suddenly fell to the ground in the strong wind. The two people sitting at the table were shocked to find that the sky above them had been covered with dark clouds, and the surrounding sea was pitch black.

Thick sea fog spread out, obscuring the view.

"Boom!"

Accompanied by a muffled rumble, streaks of fierce lightning gathered and weaved through the dark clouds, striking down and causing the churning sea to churn with layers of raging waves. The 10,000-ton passenger ship beneath their feet felt noticeably rocked by the waves.

Through the fleeting light, Luvia, who had just stood up from her seat, noticed that heavy shadows seemed to be spreading in the surging water beneath the ship.

"boom!"

Before the girl could think further, a gale arose, and towering waves crashed in, causing the ship to rock violently.

"Fizz!"

At the same time, a series of eerie hisses came from all around, and dozens of twisted and ferocious black figures either climbed over the ship's side or jumped onto the deck.

"Ah! What is it!"

"Monster! Monster!"

"Help!"

In an instant, the passengers, who had just recovered from their dizziness, saw creatures all around them with the upper bodies of half-naked women and the lower bodies of strange snake tails, raising their claws and spitting out their tongues to attack. They screamed and panicked.

"Call blue, rde, green. For your queen!"

Just then, a graceful and agile figure leaped onto the watchtower. Amidst a high-pitched chant, she spread her arms, bringing her index and middle fingers together, and shot out streaks of colorful light in all directions.

"Puff puff!"

In an instant, a rainbow light pierced the sky, and the snake-bodied female monsters that had climbed onto the deck were pierced through the skull and chest, and collapsed with a thud, turning into red and black water stains that disintegrated and scattered.

"Everyone, keep order. The elderly, women, and children should be in front, and the men should be behind. Return to the cabin in order and lock the cabin doors!"

Immediately afterwards, a loud shout with a strange rhythm echoed across the deck, instantly bringing order to the chaotic situation. Hundreds of people blinked, nodded subconsciously, and followed orders to retreat orderly back into the cabins.

As the passengers who were stranded on the outskirts gradually retreated to the safe zone, Luvia on the observation deck swayed and suddenly felt dizzy.

Tsk, such widespread psychological suggestion is really hard to handle.

Luvia stood up, holding onto the railing. Her head throbbed, and her brow furrowed.

"Hi~!"

Just as the noble lady was suddenly struck by a realization, a sharp screech suddenly rang out from both sides of the ship's side. Two golden serpentine monsters leaped out of the sea mist, bared their sharp teeth, and pounced on the magician who had revealed a weakness.

Caught off guard, Luvia's pupils contracted sharply, and she inwardly groaned.

"Bang! Bang!"

However, before this lady of noble birth could hastily engage the enemy, a muffled gunshot echoed across the empty deck, and two bullets pierced precisely between the eyebrows of a pair of snake women in mid-air.

"Wow!"

The monster, its vision instantly lost focus, collapsed, turning into a pool of red and black seawater that scattered and dispersed.

As Luvia stood up, holding onto the railing, she looked up at the man standing at the bow of the ship, holding two black and white guns, standing tall in the wind and rain, and couldn't help but look astonished.

This guy!

"magician?"

Luvia leaped down from the observation deck and walked towards him, looking at the "ordinary traveler" with whom she had been chatting happily with a look of surprise.