The villain's way to tame the protagonist

The Ouroboros bracelet on his wrist emitted a barely perceptible light, and he entrusted everything to the scholar lady of Anser. With Nidhogg, this extremely strange creation, as a carrier, he could act independently and return to Anser in an instant even if he was thousands of miles away.

And in accordance with his wishes, the Iron Demon God, who could briefly contend with weak gods, reappeared in the world.

This is the queen by the king's side, a powerful trump card that can be used to reverse the situation at any time.

"...Please forgive my arrogance and disrespect, Lord Hydra."

Under the giant sword that could crush the entire palace, the Deep Blue Grand Duke, who was wrapped in a blue shield, remained intact. He bowed his head in fear and trepidation: "How could I doubt your feelings for His Majesty and the royal family, and slander your personality and honor..."

"How can I obtain your forgiveness, Lord Hydra?"

As he said this, Grand Duke Deep Blue raised his head, his handsome face full of self-blame and regret.

"To obtain my forgiveness, eh..."

Anser, who was leaning on his cane, tapped his fingers on the back of his hand. He looked at the Grand Duke of Deep Blue, then at the other two dukes who were also from East Port and naturally stood on the same front with him. He said in a reassuring voice, "You are mistaken, Grand Duke of Deep Blue. In your eyes, am I such a tyrannical and dangerous person?"

"It's just a reasonable question..."

As he spoke, the short staff in his hand transformed into an icy hand cannon with a mechanical deformation and twisting sound.

The young man caressed the masterpiece of the God of Alchemy nonchalantly. “Why did you ask me to ask Luo to say hello to you?”

boom!

With a dull roar, the giant sword smashed into the shield and instantly created a huge hole in the ground where Grand Duke Deep Blue was. Those around him had already avoided it, except for the two grand dukes who also came from Donggang.

Although the giant blade that appeared at this moment was not as huge as the sharp blade that tore the earth apart during the decisive battle with Effisand that day, its power did not seem to have diminished much.

"The three types of ether overlap and resonate perfectly. This is a unique amplification method... Even the top warlocks may not be able to create this method. Is it the work of our old friend the Ether Academy?"

"Oh... so there is help from the master of the Alchemy Association. What is the raw material for this protective alchemy device? To create such an amazing protective item, the materials must be quite luxurious. As expected of the three major families that have been operating East Port for more than 800 years, their foundation is indeed amazing, and the resources of the Lost Sea are indeed coveted."

The expression of the Grand Duke of Deep Blue finally changed. He tightly grasped the pendant on his neck, and the other two grand dukes and he continuously injected surging ether into it in the strange way described by Ansir, to support a protective shield that could withstand the giant sword that could easily split mountains and cut the earth.

How is it possible... How could he see it all clearly with just one glance?

Grand Duke Deep Blue had no doubt about the abilities of the Old Deus. He did not doubt the Emperor, nor did he doubt that Flamel could see through everything about him with just a casual glance. But only a true Old Deus could do such a thing!

Whether it's secretly contacting the Nine Supreme Seats of the Ether Academy and taking a special ritual of the secret code of the Conquest Dynasty from them, or finding the long-time secluded alchemist master and spending a huge price that would break their bones to create this alchemical tool... Grand Duke Deep Blue can guarantee that these things will never be known by anyone. Hydra, who is extremely young and has less than half of the capital of Qi, cannot and has no reason to form any power, nor is it possible for him to be so omnipresent.

Anther Hydra...what else is he hiding?

The chaotic thoughts in Grand Duke Deep Blue's mind were interrupted by the increasingly heavy pressure from the necklace. The necklace in his hand kept shaking, reflecting how terrifying the giant sword that hit the shield was all the time - the Iron Demon God had not used his full strength, and might even... not have used any strength at all, but simply swung the sword to chop.

"Edward, it's time to step back again!"

The Archduke Triumphant behind the Archduke Deep Blue sent a voice to his mind: "Hydra still has some strength left!"

The long-planned test naturally could not end with a simple yes or no. The Grand Dukes from Donggang had already made many predictions about today's situation and made corresponding choices.

If Ansor didn't care about the "offense" of Grand Duke Deep Blue at the beginning, it would prove that the young Hydra himself was on the edge of a cliff. He couldn't come up with a more powerful bargaining chip, so even as an Elder God, he had to tolerate it.

If Ansher retaliates against this offense, it means that he has even stronger strength. The more brutal and violent the counterattack is, the more powerful his hidden trump card is.

Obviously, the current situation is what they least want to see and is also the least likely one.

As for this situation, the response of the Grand Duke of Deep Blue was naturally to continue to give in as the Grand Duke of Triumph said.

"I said, I'm not angry at your offense."

But before Deep Blue could speak, Ansher had already pointed the black muzzle of his gun at him.

Looking at his frozen expression, the smile on young Hydra's face remained undiminished, as if he was chatting with an old friend he hadn't seen for a long time, instead of trying to smash the other person into a pulp or blow his head off with a bullet.

"Do you know the meaning of the existence of tactics, Lord Deep Blue?"

Anser asked slowly.

"…In order to make up for the lack of strength." Grand Duke Deep Blue exhaled slowly and answered in a deep voice.

"correct."

Bang!

The deafening gunshot and Ansher's response rang out at the same time. The flames and destruction spewing out from Gleipnir's gun instantly blasted dense cracks into the shield. Although the cracks disappeared in an instant, the drastic change in Grand Duke Deep Blue's expression showed that his current situation was not optimistic.

"Because it's correct, I used more common bullets."

Anser explained very considerately: "Then the next question is - Lord Deep Blue, do you think that I can't see through your strategy?"

"...Please forgive our clumsy performance."

Edward Deep Blue bowed his head deeply: "We are willing to pay the price for this folly, Master Hydra."

The implication is obvious - if the matter goes on, it will be bad for both you and us. We will compensate you for whatever you want, and that's it for now.

"That's not what I'm asking, dear Grand Duke Deep Blue."

Anser sighed and pulled the trigger again.

Only this time, after the violent roar, the shield protecting Grand Duke Deep Blue did not have any problems, because the two Grand Dukes Triumph and Dream behind him attacked at the same time and blocked the attack.

"Mr. Hydra." The Grand Duke of Triumph said in a deep voice, "We——"

He was about to explain something, but his words were cut short by the terrifying aura rising from the hall.

Endless darkness spread behind Hydra, forming the hideous shadow of a wildly dancing and twisted nine-headed demon snake.

"So, you see. At this time, you still want to test me according to the original plan."

A helpless smile appeared on his face, as if he was facing a child's little prank:

"If I didn't care about your offense at first, then I was weak; if my reaction was not fierce enough, then I was weak inside; if my reaction was violent enough, but I accepted your price just now, then I can still deal with it."

"I have to admire your courage and determination, three Grand Dukes. When the situation in the empire was so ambiguous, you were the first to stand up and break the deadlock."

"But I think that the three people from Donggang would not act so rashly... Then which Grand Duke are they connected to?"

The snake's cold gaze swept across the other grand dukes. The terrifying aura in his ocean-blue eyes forced them to retreat in order to show temporary submission.

"Is it Grand Duke Yuanshu and Grand Duke Mosu who are in the South with me and can get a lot of intelligence, or is it the other four Grand Dukes who have countless adventurers in the West who can be used as pawns and whose information network is spread throughout the empire?"

"Or maybe..."

boom--!

The entire dome of the palace was instantly annihilated in the black energy wave. After the destructive wave gradually dissipated, half of the Iron Demon's body was completely exposed to the vision of all the grand dukes, as well as the giant sword that had not yet been removed from the head of the Deep Blue Grand Duke.

"What about you, everyone?"

The demon god, shining with cold iron light under the scorching sun, looked down at the gentlemen, but they felt that the sight of the monster standing in the center of the hall was more dangerous.

At this moment, even the most courageous Duke Qingjin did not speak.

——Because Donggang had really contacted him and wanted to discuss matters related to Hydra.

If he even intends to temporarily win over his mortal enemy, then there is no doubt that... Donggang must have searched all the grand dukes and other fifth-level transcendents.

As for how many people responded and what kind of force they formed, which made Grand Duke Deep Blue confident enough to stand here and test Anser, it is unknown.

The gentle smile on Hydra's face faded little by little: "Just now, not only did you not answer my question, you also tried to go against my wishes."

He once again criticized the actions of the Triumphant Duke and the Dreamy Duke for blocking the shooting:

"Can I assume that you are actually ready to abandon your strategies and compete with me in terms of strength?"

——If not, then what should you do when I see through your scheme and you are unable to compete with me in terms of strength?

So far…

Who allowed you to stop here?

Even though they didn't say these words out loud, the grand dukes had already sensed these meanings from Ansel's fierce attitude.

Therefore, they were even more puzzled. They were puzzled by Anser's performance at this moment. It was so different from his previous performance...

Fools cannot understand this huge change, and wise men cannot understand this unconcealed expression.

The handsome young man who came on the light, like the savior of light, suddenly turned into a king from the abyss.

Those who are disloyal will only be punished by death.

This situation was something no one had expected.

Not only Grand Duke Deep Blue, but other grand dukes could not believe that Anser would be so determined and looked like he was going to kill all three grand dukes of East Port right now.

Where did he get the courage? Where did he get the confidence? Wasn't he worried about the other Grand Dukes joining forces? Wasn't he afraid of more fifth-order transcendents who might have ambushed in the imperial capital and wanted to take his life?

If he really had that power, why did he remain silent for so long after the emperor disappeared?

Is he... bluffing?

Under this pressure that was almost equal to that of the emperor, Grand Duke Deep Blue slowly bent his knees.

He knelt on the ground, bowed his head deeply, worshiped like this, and humbly declared his submission as a sinner:

"Please... forgive me."

There were no unnecessary embellishments, no superfluous words, no more “I’m willing to pay the price” or anything like that, just a simple request for forgiveness.

The meaning is naturally completely different.

The last bit of initiative had completely disappeared from the hands of Grand Duke Deep Blue. He handed the power of control to Ansel, allowing him to control his own life.

After a brief hesitation, the other two grand dukes of Eastport also knelt on the ground like Grand Duke Deep Blue and begged for Anser's forgiveness.

At this moment, everyone's mind and body were tense to the extreme, and even the ether flowing in the air was solidified.

The moment Hydra decides to kill Grand Duke Deep Blue, a final war that changes everything may break out here.

After a long period of silence, the sound of a cane tapping the ground could be heard in the empty hall.

"That's right, dear Grand Duke Deep Blue."

The Iron Demon, the ferocious hand cannon, the shadow of the abyss...all the terrifying things from the young Hydra disappeared in an instant, as if they had never existed.

He still stood there with his cane, and said in a very gentle tone: "As long as you can face the facts, as long as you stop doing ridiculous things... How could I be hostile to you pillars of the empire?"

"I am just angry at your self-righteous thoughts that you can easily quell my anger. Now that the three dukes of East Port have realized this... although the price to be paid is not small, let's stop here."

He smiled and said something that was simple but completely anchored the thoughts of the Grand Dukes:

"After all, I am not His Majesty."

This sentence gave the grand dukes the answer.

Anther Hydra hadn't changed, he had simply grown as a matter of course.

He possessed a powerful and terrifying force. With the Emperor and Flamel both missing, it was perfectly normal for him to allow a mere Grand Duke to think he could appease his anger. If it were the Emperor, he would have already slaughtered the families of the three Grand Dukes.

But Anser didn't take anyone's life, and yet...there was nothing wrong with it.

He has been an outlier among Hydra since he was a child, an outlier among the God race. Although the word "kindness" can never be used to describe the God race, he is more or less... really suitable.

So this is not weakness, so at this moment, no one thinks Anser is weak.

Because he is Ansir Hydra.

*

"Strategies exist to make up for the lack of strength."

In the bedroom, Lord Qingjin was slowly reviewing what had happened today.

Although he was already impressed by Hydra's charm, there were always unsolvable questions lingering in his mind - he himself didn't know where these questions came from, as if there was a voice in his head that kept telling him that what happened today was not that simple.

"Where does that abnormal feeling come from?"

The man muttered to himself in confusion: "There is nothing unreasonable about this, from beginning to end... from beginning to end..."

"and many more……"

A ray of light suddenly flashed through the mind of Grand Duke Qingjin.

Diana Feasting Flame was the source of this meeting. It was she who proposed that the empire needed new managers, which led to the gathering of the Grand Dukes.

But the source...is it really her?

Ansel Hydra did not hide his whereabouts. The grand dukes all knew that Diana had issued that announcement just two days after he had visited the Imperial Capital.

It was him... who initiated this meeting!

The one who broke the deadlock was never the three grand dukes of Eastport, but... Ansir Hydra himself!

Grand Duke Qingjin's breathing suddenly became heavy. He immediately sat down at the table, picked up a pen and paper, and excitedly wrote down his thoughts.

"If that's the case... then Hydra knows his situation. He knows that if he doesn't take any action for a long time, he will definitely accumulate more and more doubts and prying eyes. After the gods die, if he handles it improperly, he will be the enemy of the world."