The villain's way to tame the protagonist

Such a straightforward and clear request made Ansel slightly stunned, but after he came to his senses, he still did not speak.

Number Nine possesses very special powers. As a superhuman being, her only purpose of existence is to become Anser's tool. If used well, she can play a very unexpected role in many places.

Even so, she was not qualified to be the chief consort, for the same reason - she was simply... too mediocre.

She hoped to become Anser's perfect tool, but she did not seek the power from the abyss to break through her mediocrity. If Number Nine really had such ambition and awareness, Anser would indeed put her on the list of candidates for the first position.

But on the other hand...if No. 9 really did that, it would be impossible for her to make such a great contribution to Anser during the campaign against Ivora.

What a regrettable and speechless contradiction this is.

The silence didn't last for a few seconds before No. 9 chuckled: "It's just a joke, please don't take it seriously, Mr. Anser."

"…So, what do you want?"

Anser felt an irritation that was difficult to relieve.

If Number Nine had not given up even his own self, he could have given Number Nine more care and recognition; if Number Nine showed the obsession that disgusted him at this moment, he could have been cold enough to draw a line.

But why, when No. 9's most desired vision is to become Anser's tool, can he act so calm and composed now?

"What I want..."

Number Nine responded softly without looking at Ansher, but turned to look at the huge floor-to-ceiling window next to him, as if looking at the scenery in the distance.

"It should just be that I can live a little longer."

She spoke in a very gentle and calm voice as if she would not live long.

——This is not an as if, this is the fact.

Anser looked at her other smooth and snowy face and sighed, "Did you notice it too?"

"Ah."

Number Nine clenched his soft and weak fists: "My soul is already...in a mess. My fragile and mediocre soul cannot bear your curse. I am so sorry, Mr. Anser."

"You've done well enough..."

"Not good enough."

Number Nine turned her head and met Anther's gaze. She had never dared to be disrespectful to Anther, but now she even dared to interrupt Anther directly.

"If I can't do what Miss Sitana and Miss Ming Fuluo did, then I'm not good enough."

Her determination is admirable, but in this world... who else can compete with the future hero?

No matter in which aspect, No. 9 is destined to be unable to compare with them. If he wants to pursue them, what he will get in the end is... only despair.

Anser felt that he should be moved by No. 9's belief, but all he felt was a faint sadness.

Number Nine stared into Anser's eyes for less than two seconds, then smiled again, and suddenly took the initiative to change the subject, asking in a very relaxed tone: "How long can I live, Mr. Anser?"

"With the current erosion situation, you probably only have... two to three years."

"Two to three years..."

Number Nine turned his head again to look at the distant scenery outside the French window and murmured softly, "That was too short."

"If you become the leader of the alliance," Anser sighed, as if to make up for the silence on the topic of the leader of the alliance, "then the remaining time will be less than a year, or even... less than half a year."

Number Nine smiled nonchalantly: "So I want to live longer. This is the reward I want, Mr. Anser."

It's not a kiss or a hug, which are ridiculous but are indeed the requests that someone who is completely obsessed with Anser would make. It's just... he wants to live a little longer.

Anser looked at No. 9 who was looking into the distance, and he didn't know what she was thinking at the moment. But after hesitating for a moment, he reached out his hand and gently placed it on No. 9's hand: "Okay, I promise you. Regarding the erosion of the abyss, the Church of the Holy Alliance--"

Anser's words suddenly paused because Number Nine pulled his hand away from under him.

This unnoticeable action, which was so sensible and aware of the sense of distance, made Anser feel sad.

Marina... do you really have to put yourself in the position of a tool?

Was the ambition I saw in your eyes just my illusion?

Where has your desire to go further gone?

"...The Church of the Holy Alliance has a way to deal with it."

After saying this softly, Anser stood up and prepared to leave.

In fact, he still had a lot of questions he wanted to ask, such as what Number Nine was thinking, what she wanted from Anther, and why her personality had changed so much... But now it seemed that there was no need to ask these questions.

Number Nine has reached the end of his journey. Even if he wants to become the leader, he probably just hopes that he can become a better tool, nothing more.

She is... no longer the shy, quiet, hardworking and ambitious Marina.

She confined her life to being Anser's tool, giving up on more beautiful and bright futures and possibilities.

If I hadn't exerted influence on Marina in order to tame Xier, would she... not have fallen into this situation now?

After saying "Have a good rest" to Marina, Ansor left. A trace of regret appeared in his heart... It had been a long, long time since he had felt it.

And when Anser left, No. 9 was still looking at the mountains and land in the distance through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The scorched earth burned by the flames of feasting was lifeless and looked as if it was dead.

"You can see more than from the bell tower."

The girl who had given up everything in Anser's eyes whispered softly.

She closed her eyes and thought back to the day that determined the course of her life.

Garden, Shadow Marsh, different choices, different paths.

At that time, she chose to give up torturing the noble who betrayed Anther and his entire family to death, and instead used another more gentle method to announce the fate of the betrayer. At that time, No. 9 believed that this would be the choice Anther would make, and Anther would never do meaningless and cruel acts.

She should obey Anther's decision, so she went to the garden, a very suitable place for her.

It wasn't until that moment, when Crow told her the reason and purpose of Shadow Marsh's existence, that she realized that she was not actually suitable for the garden.

And now, No. 9 is more aware that Shadow Swamp... is not suitable for her.

She should just be herself, and only by being herself can she realize her long-cherished wish and self-worth.

"There are rebellions that need to be quelled, and order that needs to be maintained... Mr. Anser will be busy for a long time."

Number Nine sighed: "Whether it's Miss Xitana or Miss Ming Fuluo, they still can't give him enough help in this matter."

"Although this is a great opportunity for me to get closer to that position..."

She raised her arms toward the ceiling, stared at her slender white fingers, and whispered to herself:

"But if it means putting Mr. Anser in trouble, then I don't want this ring."

“Even if it’s only for two or three years,” the girl with black lines covering her left cheek smiled wildly and seductively, which was enough to prove that she was indeed deeply affected by the abyss.

"I don't lack... this opportunity either."

Likewise, even if he only had a year or half a year left to live, No. 9 would not hesitate at all as long as he could get the ring.

Because she has this confidence, she is sure that she can fulfill her value and mission in this short last time.

She is confident that she can do it better than anyone else.

"After we have rested... let's take the rights to Shadow Swamp from Lord Raven for the time being."

After speaking these extremely arrogant words very calmly, Number Nine closed his eyes and prepared to take a nap.

But after a while, the door of the room was quietly opened.

A tall and slender figure crept in quietly, came to the bedside silently, and quietly looked at No. 9 who seemed to be asleep.

"Lina..." The sad whisper echoed in the bedroom, "Why are you--Eh!"

The sadness in his words turned into fear when he was halfway through his words, because No. 9, who was sleeping just now, suddenly opened his eyes.

"Hello, Miss Sitana." She asked gently, "What can I do for you?"

"Mamama Marina! I didn't mean to wake you up!"

"You didn't disturb me. I was just resting my eyes and not sleeping. Also, please call me number nine now."

"Is this so?"

Xitana breathed a sigh of relief, and then simply sat down on the edge of the bed, reaching out to touch No. 9's hand, but was avoided as well.

This action of No. 9 made Xitana very sad. Her fingertips twitched and she whispered, "I'm sorry, Lina."

"As far as I can remember, there is nothing that deserves your apology."

"Don't be like this. Last time... in Strife Castle... I was too angry and didn't take your feelings into consideration."

After changing her mind at Ming Fuluo's persuasion, Xitana stopped sitting and leaned on the edge of the bed, saying pitifully and sadly like a puppy who had made a mistake: "You...you must have your own ideas. I can't understand them and don't want to support them, but no matter what, I shouldn't belittle your persistence. I'm sorry, Lina."

Number Nine shook his head and chuckled in response, "I'm not mad about that, Miss Sitana."

"How can you not be angry!"

Xitana's expression suddenly became anxious: "If you are not angry, doesn't it mean... doesn't it mean..."

"—I don't care, do I?"

Number Nine calmly gave an answer that made Xitana painful and even desperate.

"not give a damn about……"

The girl looked at her sister, whose eyes were dark and whose face was covered with black lines. From her appearance to her expression, from her expression to her temperament, she couldn't find any familiar look in her.

"Marina!"

The wolf suddenly stood up and shouted angrily: "How can you not care! They are all alive——"

"What you learned from me." Although he interrupted Xitana forcefully, No. 9's tone was very patient, "You can't use it on me."

"you--"

"If you want to use this method to stimulate my emotions and make me want to fight against you, you may be disappointed."

The expression on her face was more like... indifference than calmness.

thump—

The wolf beast that could tear a giant dragon apart alive suddenly felt weak in the legs and fell to the ground.

"How could you... not care?" She murmured in despair, "How could you become... the kind of person who would be abandoned by Anser?"

The girl stretched out her hand tremblingly and forcefully held Number Nine's hand. She no longer tried to hold on to the anger that Number Nine had seen through just now, but begged bitterly from the bottom of her heart: "Lina... this is not the real you, you are affected by Ansher's power. Please, even if it's for your own sake, okay? Don't become that kind of person, Ansher will not want you, you will only torture yourself, you will... you will be broken! I don't want you to become like that... I don't want... I don't want..."

Hitana, who had never shed tears in front of Anther, was sobbing at this moment.

She held Number Nine's hand tightly, not wanting to let go no matter what. She rested her forehead against the back of Number Nine's hand, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I want you to be well, Lina... I will never talk back to you again, and I won't make you angry. Please don't become like that, okay? I beg you, don't..."

"Ms. Sitana, can you please let go?"

Number Nine said the cruelest words in the softest of words.

"I don't want it!" Shitana cried out with tears in her eyes, "I don't want you to become like that, Lina, I don't want it—"

Her words suddenly cut off.

Because she met those dark eyes, which were devoid of any warmth or tenderness, only pure... disgust.

"That's... enough."

Number Nine's voice was no longer gentle; it sounded so indifferent and cold, like an impenetrable wall of iron.

"Just give me some space to rest. Stop being so willful, okay, Ms. Sitana."

She stared at Xitana's dark red eyes that were gradually trembling: "Even if I do nothing, it is more meaningful than listening to you pouring out your emotions one-way here."

"Lina, I—"

"Listen carefully, Miss Sitana."

Number Nine said expressionlessly, "My ending does not depend on you. Whether Mr. Anser needs me or not is always the decision of Mr. Anser."

"I don't need your pity, nor do I need your self-righteous salvation. My path is correct."

"Instead, I have been consuming Mr. Anser's love and tolerance, but I have never..."

As she spoke, the black lines on Number Nine's face seemed to come alive, twisting as her tone and ferocious expression became increasingly angry.

"I have never really provided any help to Mr. Anser..."

As Sitana's expression grew paler, Number Nine seemed to realize that he had lost control and stopped talking.