The villain's way to tame the protagonist

When questioned like this, she did not show any fear or timidity, but folded her hands in front of her stomach, just like she had tried to act like a lady in front of Anser when she first learned etiquette.

"If not." She continued to talk to herself, "Then Mr. Anser, are you expecting me?"

"Are you expecting me to read the pain and anxiety, boredom and melancholy in your heart?"

"Otherwise, why would you never show any abnormality in front of anyone else, but only reveal such an obvious flaw in front of me?"

"Because I don't care." Anser's face was expressionless. "You are trapped in self-delusion and are already terminally ill, Number Nine."

"You care." Number Nine smiled sweetly. His hoarse voice and laughter had a kind of evil and demonic charm.

"Because you know my only talent as a mortal, you know my only value."

She took the initiative to move forward step by step, and whispered: "Ms. Xitana and Miss Ming Fuluo, do they have new expectations for you? They thank you for saving those nine million people, and hope that you can save more people?"

Number Nine tilted his head slightly, paused, and then continued:

"...No, that's not right. They think you are kind, but you don't think you are kind."

"Your eyes," she said softly, "when you gazed at those poor people, the complex, confused, and sad look in your eyes told me the answer."

"For me, just a look is enough."

"But this burden has been on you for a long time. You may have just realized it now, but you shouldn't be so tormented. Ah... I understand."

Number Nine stopped again, put his hand on his heart, lowered his head and murmured: "Is it... my salvation?"

"It turns out that Miss Sitana has realized my cunningness. I thought she would continue to indulge in the hatred I created for her. She is... an amazing young lady."

Then, she continued to move forward, getting closer and closer, her pupils shrinking slightly. Anser, who had been silent all the time, spoke in a hoarse and unpleasant voice, always maintaining a gentleness and warmth that had nothing to do with the word "possessed".

"Ms. Xitana hopes to save me. She is a good child. She will definitely hope that you will not regard my misfortune as a burden to you."

"And you feel guilty towards her because you...are letting me go on like this."

Before she knew it, she had arrived in front of Anser.

"Now that you are understood in this way," she smiled shyly, "do you feel better?"

"You are even more special than I thought."

Anser stared into No. 9's eyes and spoke slowly. He had put aside his chaotic emotions and spoke in a calm and powerful voice: "Marlena... No, No. 9, since you have such talent, you should consider what I said just now."

"Are you unwilling to abandon me now?" Number Nine asked with a smile.

Anser narrowed his eyes slightly: "When necessary, I will."

[Because if I just abandon someone who understands me and even my own self——]

"Because it's natural for you to abandon someone who can't even stick to himself and can only figure out his thoughts, right?"

Number Nine said softly, "I really hope you can keep persisting like this, no matter what happens, no matter who you face."

"If you had stayed like this and hadn't changed," her voice turned a little sad, "you wouldn't be feeling so lost and tormented."

"Number Nine..."

Anser came down from the windowsill and stared into No. 9's dark eyes: "Do you regard this ability as a means to act recklessly in front of me?"

"I have never thought of it this way, Mr. Anser. On the contrary, I came to ask you... for your blessing."

Number Nine slowly knelt on the ground and looked up at Anser. The look in his eyes was hard to describe in words. It was like he was worshipping a god, but without the distant longing and sense of distance that a believer had towards a god. It was like a warm kindness, but with a fanaticism and determination that neither kindness nor love should have.

"Even if you're willing to give me a chance to get back on track."

She said softly: "I also hope that you can give me that strength."

"……strength."

Ansher whispered, reached out to take off No. 9's mask, threw it aside, and then put his hand on her smooth, delicate, and increasingly seductive and evil face.

"Where did you get this information, Shadowmarsh?"

"No, it's Miss Nanaga."

...That musician?

The female musician who was abandoned by him in the imperial capital flashed through Ansel's mind, and he instantly connected the relevant information together in his mind.

I see…was it that day?

Ivora asked Marina to pass on the message, telling her that the emperor was about to take action. At that time, he was in the Royal Theater, using Yura Nanaga, who had fallen into the abyss, to warn Ming Furo, who had become Helen.

Has Marina noticed this power since then?

"Even the emperor covets it, believing it can help her break through to the seventh level."

Number Nine smiled and said, "Then no matter how mediocre I am, I can definitely become your strength."

The essence of abyss preaching is to tap the preacher's compatibility with the abyss to the limit. He will find the power that suits him best in the abyss, which is indeed the supreme gift that even ignores his qualifications.

"But do you know the price of this power?"

Hydra gently pinched the chin of the girl who was no longer human.

"I know that Miss Nanaga is the best counterexample."

Number Nine blinked. "That's why I couldn't make up my mind. I was afraid of the price. I was afraid of ending up in a pitiful situation like her."

"That means you're not afraid now."

"Yes, Mr. Anser."

It’s really… hard to understand.

What caused the transformation of No. 9? Did she fall into the vortex of the abyss?

If not, how could she still make this request when she knew that her self would be erased? If there was... why is her current self so clear and calm?

Anser gently placed his hand on her head, and after a moment of silence, he asked softly:

"What is the reason for you to do this?"

"Because Mr. Anser is going to make a big gamble, and you will never bring Miss Sitana and Miss Ming Furo with you in this gamble." Number Nine answered obediently.

"So..." Anser wanted to laugh. "So, you want to use this body and this level of strength to help me in the face of twenty-nine fifth-level beings, endless feasting flames, and the last of the feasting flame bloodline?"

"It's me after you gave me the power," Number Nine corrected.

“Haha…hahahaha—”

Young Hydra couldn't help laughing, laughing at the absurdity before his eyes and at the expectation that had flashed through his mind.

For a moment, he really overturned his previous assumptions. For a moment, he thought that Marina was not only special in talent, but also not just an ordinary person.

But in the end...it's still the same.

You can even give up your own life and existence.

"so be it."

After the laughter died down, he sighed softly, staring down at the shadowed eyes, and the color of the abyss gradually rose in his own sea-blue eyes.

"Look me in the eyes, Marlena."

For the last time, call her by her name.

"In the abyss, find the power you want."

Marina's black eyes, which seemed to be covered by shadows, were stained with even deeper darkness. Her body immediately froze, frozen there like a sculpture.

Time passed slowly. After an unknown amount of time, her eyes suddenly moved, as if she had woken up from the chaos.

"What's this?"

However, before Ansel could confirm Marina's current mental state, he discovered something even more incredible.

That was what Marina had grabbed from the abyss during this sermon, the power that could disregard any boundaries, qualifications, and talents. The power she desired most in her heart was actually...

"Mr. Anser."

There was still some rustling sound, but the voice was no longer distorted and hoarse like a mourning bird. It was a voice without the girlish timbre and was somewhere between immaturity and maturity, a wonderful and beautiful sound.

The dark witch raised her head and smiled brightly:

"Can I be your strength now?"

Chapter 72: Hydra and Faust

Almost half an hour after the death of Grand Duke Blooddust, the meeting was convened again.

This time, the expressions of all the extraordinary people were no longer as calm as before.

"So, how did he die?" The gloomy-looking Grand Duke of Dragon Language intertwined his fingers, "Osius, did you succeed in reappearing?"

Osius was the leader of the Ascension Path from the Extraordinary Organization, a fifth-level Extraordinary with great reputation in the Empire. However, this veteran strongman shook his head and sighed: "It's a pity that the soul of Grand Duke Blood Dust has been shattered, and nothing is left."

"The killer's follow-up was very clever. I only caught some residual fluctuations of shadow elements. There are no other clues. Perhaps we can trace it back from this point. The only thing that can be confirmed is that Odumbra, the rebel, was also involved."

"Just a traitor?"

"It's possible that the secret hall that records the ritual method has also been destroyed. Isn't the purpose obvious?" A Chaotic Evil Beyonder sneered, "Someone doesn't want Duke Blooddust's plan to come true."

"It's already this late. If we miss this opportunity, we'll be toyed with by those bastards who play with fire. How can anyone still care about the materials? You idiots deserve to live under the shadow of Feasting Flame!"

This extraordinary being obviously believed that it was those extraordinary beings who did not support the refining plan who worked together to kill Duke Blooddust.

"Well, when you curse someone, it's best to point out the specific target."

Grand Duke Qingjin coughed lightly, and at the same time cast his gaze towards the young man sitting on the main seat with his eyes closed, and said in a subtle tone: "Otherwise it will be easy to be misunderstood, Lord Talal."

The extraordinary Talal subconsciously followed the line of sight of Grand Duke Qingjin, and his expression froze for a moment, but it did not change much, still full of sarcasm: "Sir Hydra has never thought of denying Grand Duke Blood Dust's plan, it's just that someone thinks they can come up with a better solution. So now... can you come up with a better defense method than Grand Duke Blood Dust?"

"Wait for two more days."

The president of the Alchemy Association, Pala, said solemnly: "We can forge a better shield."

"Two days?" Talal laughed sarcastically. "Do you want to listen to what you say, Paracelsus? Why don't you wait until that bitch Ivola wakes up and runs away, and wait until she digests this power and comes back to attack, and then take out your things?"

"The Feasting Flame is not something that can be easily counteracted! Even without considering the cost, Bracher Blood Dust's plan is full of fallacies!"

"Bullshit! His plan is the most practical and efficient!"

The meeting room gradually became filled with the smell of gunpowder. The extraordinary people who had never gotten along well with each other began to attack each other. It was obvious that there was a big enemy looming over their heads... Oh no, it was precisely because there was such a big enemy looming over their heads, and Grand Duke Blood Dust died at this moment, that the pressure on everyone accumulated to the peak and was almost about to explode.

"Okay, everyone, now is not the time to argue."

The young Hydra tapped the conference table lightly and said in a calm tone, "Not even the time to waste time."

As soon as he, who had absolute say in the conference room, opened his mouth, everyone fell silent.

"Let me first tell you the conclusion. Duke Blood Dust is dead, and all the information about the ritual he held has been destroyed. So his plan is no longer within the scope of consideration."

Pala showed joy on his face. As a former student of Flamel, he knew that Anser would never support such brutal behavior, but other extraordinary people were not so happy.

Anser's lack of anxiety made them anxious.

If Ivora really ran away and then made a comeback, Anser, who had an unclear relationship with Ivora according to the rumors in the empire, might not be in any trouble. The two parties, who could be considered collaborators to begin with, might even join hands!

"...Mr. Hydra, I think——"

Before the extraordinary person finished speaking, Anser raised his hand and continued leisurely: "But, Lord Pala's plan is not advisable."

"Two days is too long. Not to mention the possibility that Ivora will wake up during this time, the spread of the Feasting Flame alone will completely engulf the entire Western Country. This is unacceptable to me and the Empire."

Ansher's face showed such obvious solemnity and seriousness. When everyone was discussing how to kill Ivora, he was still thinking about... the Empire?

The many extraordinary people present had different expressions, but no one thought that this young Hydra was hypocritical.

It has been a cliché that he has loved his people like his own children for more than a decade. Take now for example - he is really asking his men to arrange the evacuation, and even the most important leader around him, Qi, has been sent out to rescue people.

At this time, he still spent time and effort to save civilians. Who could doubt his loyalty to the empire?

"Of course... maybe it's not the Empire that I care about."

In the astonished eyes of the crowd, Anser smiled and said, "What I care about is a kind of order, an order that is no longer manipulated by a tyrant, but an order that satisfies everyone."

"But this is after Ivora is eliminated."

The young Hydra did not promote his own ideas and thoughts at this moment, but simply brushed them off, clearly distinguishing the main from the secondary.

But the emotions flashing in the eyes of many extraordinary people proved that his unintentional words did have considerable weight.

"Grand Duke Blood Dust's plan cannot be implemented, and Lord Pala's plan is not reasonable. Now is not the time to waste time... So I will certainly not reject these two plans in vain and keep you waiting."

"Although it may be a little reckless, I also have a method that can help you resist the flames of feasting."