The villain's way to tame the protagonist

There is absolutely no room for error in this matter.

Soon someone delivered the communication crystal, and Count Solidstone injected ether into it and waited for a response.

"Your Excellency, it is rare that you would contact me on your own initiative."

Anser's gentle voice came from inside: "What's the matter?"

"...Mr. Hydra, I think you should have known this, but out of stupidity and prudence, and out of respect for you, I still disturbed you so presumptuously."

Earl of Stone organized his words carefully: "Miss Lance...she suddenly visited my manor."

He stopped talking here, without saying a word about Xitana's request or performance.

Sweat broke out on the man's forehead as he waited for a response from the crystal in his hand, like a subject waiting for an order from the king.

"Your Excellency, Lord Earl." After about three or four seconds, Lord Stone heard the laughter coming from the communication crystal.

"Do you know why I came to the Red Frost Territory?"

This is a very confusing question, and one that none of the nobles have figured out.

Why, why doesn't Hydra enjoy life in the rich central fertile land, but has to come to the remote north to mess around?

Earl of Stone didn't know either. He and his staff studied day and night, but still couldn't figure out the purpose of Anser's actions, or... it seemed that he had no purpose at all.

Apart from the reputation of the Red Frost Territory, he wanted nothing.

But Earl of Stone knew that this gentleman would never bring up any meaningless topics or provide any meaningless information during a conversation.

Regarding the savage Miss Lance, the information provided by Lord Hydra is... [Why did he come to the Red Frost Territory].

"..."

At this moment, Earl of Stone felt a chill running from his spine to the back of his head.

In an instant, all of Anser's actions in the Red Frost Territory, with which he was already very familiar, emerged in his mind.

From entering the country and wantonly killing officials and small lords, to the high-profile execution of Earl Red Frost, to accepting the Red Frost Territory, and later managing the Red Frost Territory in an orderly manner...

And most importantly, everything about Sitana.

Events, actions, results; Xitana's performance, character, transformation -

And there was that ring that appeared on the girl's hand for some reason.

Until now, Sitana's impulsive folly was unfolding before his eyes.

Anser's pursuit of fame and the big moves he made during this period were difficult for them to understand.

All of this points to an answer that is unimaginable and unimaginable to Count Solid Stone.

He began to tremble, both out of fear and... excitement.

"I understand...I understand, Your Excellency."

This middle-aged man who was determined to revive his family, had received higher education, and had experienced countless storms, said in a trembling voice: "I am fortunate enough to witness such a far-reaching and boundless spirit..."

"Courage? I'm just doing a small thing. Don't get so excited, Your Excellency."

Young Hydra's voice was always so calm and natural: "Since you said you understand, do you know what you should do?"

"Yes."

Earl of Stone bowed his head deeply, as if he was facing Anser, and answered respectfully: "Please allow me to add a tiny bit of help."

"Haha, don't say that. You are a very important part. Do your best."

The devil, whom Earl Hardstone worshipped as a god, chuckled and said:

"Give Xitana a gift she will never forget for me."

*

Xitana was wandering around the tea room, extremely bored, touching here and there.

"What's going on? Is this guy going to complain to Hydra?"

Xitana kicked the stool in annoyance, then laughed smugly: "Humph, will it be useful to complain to Hydra? Will he take care of you?"

At this moment, Earl of Stone pushed the door open and walked in. He looked calm and composed, with no trace of the gloomy look he had before.

"You're finally back. What have you been doing that took you so long?"

The impatient wolf cub looked unhappy: "Hurry up and answer me. I told you, I don't have time to waste with you."

"Miss Lance." Count Solidstone smiled, not caring about Xitana's brutality. "You mentioned before that you wanted me to pay for the coal that will help the poor survive this cold wave, right?"

"Yes, what? Have you figured it out?" Hitana smiled happily.

Haha, Hydra, I don’t even have to go hunting and I’ve saved you so much money!

"To be honest, this is too much of a burden for me to bear."

Earl Jianshi said with great embarrassment: "You don't quite understand the vastness of the Red Frost Territory and the darkness before."

"That's none of my business." Sitana said something that only a villain would say without any reason, "Am I negotiating with you now?"

"No, no, no... I mean, I can't do it alone, but that doesn't mean that the nobles of the entire Red Frost Territory can't do it."

The corners of the man's mouth slightly raised, hiding his deepest malice:

"I can mobilize all the nobles and ask them to protect their subjects, so that Lord Hydra won't have to spend a penny."

"Don't worry, I will tell them that this is what Lord Hydra meant."

"...Yeah! How can you do it alone?"

Xitana's eyes sparkled: "Those nobles who don't have a single copper coin in their pockets, bleed now!"

The girl waved her fist happily, "You are very smart, Count Stone! This is a great idea! This way Hydra doesn't have to pay anything and can also earn a lot of fame!"

When she thought of this, Xitana smiled even more brightly.

Lina, can you do it? Can you, the guy who secretly criticized me, do it? You just sit in the study and write, how can you scare the earl like me?

She was right! Even if she was, those little mistakes were nothing compared to what she could do!

"Ah, even if you come up with this idea." While Xitana was happy, she did not forget the main thing, "I will not give in on the main conditions. You must implement the policy given by Hydra to the end!"

"I admire your concern for the common people, but regarding this point..." Earl Jianshi sighed, "Ms. Lance, I think my plan is more suitable for the current Red Frost Territory."

"What nonsense are you talking about."

Xitana looked at Count Solidstone as if he were a psychopath: "Hydra gave the civilians 100% of their benefits, and you gave them 20%. Do you still think you are fine? Do you have any shame?"

"Do you think they will be grateful to you?" Earl of Stone asked.

"…What gratitude? I don't want them to be grateful. I just want them to live a good life."

Sitana curled her lips.

"Do you believe what you say, Miss Sitana?"

Lord Solidstone laughed. “Do you feel from the bottom of your heart that after you have helped them, you don’t care what they think of you at all?”

Xitana subconsciously touched the ring on her hand, and then said angrily: "So what? Why don't they thank me and Hydra? What do you think of them? Are they beasts like you?"

Count Solidstone was not angry at Xitana's direct insult. He raised his hand and said calmly: "Yes, they will be grateful. Then what?"

"Then, as long as His Excellency Hydra lowers his standards even a little bit—"

The man lowered his hand slightly, smiled sarcastically and said, "They all harbor hatred...that you can never imagine."

"That's why I have to start from a low standard and raise it step by step until it reaches a certain limit. This will undoubtedly be more helpful to the stability of the territory."

Earl Hardstone said calmly: "If your sister were here, she would certainly agree with my point of view."

"Go to hell, you bastard!" Xitana roared, "What are you talking about!"

The count ignored Xitana and said something very strange to himself: "You may not believe it, but three years ago, I saw her when I was out on patrol. She was discussing tax issues with a merchant. Out of curiosity, I chatted with her for a few words."

"I was impressed by her intelligence and wit." Earl of Stone exclaimed, "I discovered that she had great talent, so I invited her to stay in my residence. At that time, I was attracted by her talent and wanted to take her into the family. Unfortunately, she seemed to have many concerns and rejected me."

"It was not until she came to me on behalf of His Excellency Hydra that I suddenly realized that this quiet and graceful noble lady was actually the little village girl back then."

"Don't use your standards to measure us! And don't insult my sister!"

Xitana was undoubtedly really angry. Her expression was ferocious and veins popped out on her forehead. "How could anyone be so shameless? Stop talking nonsense! Lina will never agree with your shameless statement and policy!"

"Really? I'll bet on that."

Count Solidstone placed his hand on his shoulder and bowed slightly. "As long as there is even a blemish on Lord Hydra's 'perfection', no... it doesn't even need to be an actual blemish, just a wisp of false rumor, there will be countless people who doubt and resent him among the civilians who were saved so gently by him."

"Get out of here!"

The thought of that scene made Shitana extremely furious. She could even feel something burning in her chest, and the beast in her soul roared with rage.

"No one would do that to Hydra! I just want your answer now, do it, or don't do it!"

"Well, since you insist on doing so, I will try to implement Mr. Hydra's policy thoroughly, but it will take time."

"...Hmph, that's better. I'll keep an eye on you."

The female wolf's eyes were extremely ferocious. She tightly grasped the shadow crystal and said, "Please, please don't try to play tricks on me."

Count Hardstone just smiled and said, "Do you want me to send someone to escort you?"

"Go away. I have no interest in hanging out with a bunch of you bloody bastards."

Xitana snorted coldly and turned away without hesitation.

One minute, two minutes, ten minutes.

A full half hour passed and Lord Solid Stone was still standing there.

In his mind, he kept building the stage for the next play. As he imagined the big show that was about to begin, his whole body couldn't help but tremble.

"Ms. Lance Malross..."

Darram Stone exhaled softly, his voice trembling with excitement:

"Should I sympathize with your misery or envy your luck?"

ps:

After thinking about it, I decided to just finish writing it in one go and post it.

Today I am 2K away from 8 words, but it is almost there (scratching my head). It is not too difficult. It should be easier during the Chinese New Year. After all, I basically stay in my room all day long.

Chapter 9: He is the Great Hydra (K)

Chishuang City, and even the entire Chishuang Territory, has not been so lively for a long time.

This land is not actually barren, but it appears desolate under the oppressive rule of successive lords. Even the main city, Chishuang City, does not seem very prosperous.

But from that day on, everything changed.

——It started from the day when a headless corpse was hung at the door of Lord Hydra's mansion.

Everything in Red Frost City began to get back on track, and everything became orderly. The sanitary conditions in the outer city area improved visibly, and the inner city area was increasingly crowded with people and vehicles. Merchants from other territories were waiting to speculate, and the nobles in the north who had their own ideas began to re-examine this land.

"Red Frost Territory is getting better" - everyone living in Red Frost City will agree with this.

Even the poorest workers in the outer suburbs began to have hope for the future.

Lalauer is a stonemason, with skills inherited from his ancestors. As the village became increasingly poor and young and middle-aged people gradually left, he had to leave his aging mother and young brother to seek a living outside.

Even a countryman like him knew that in this devastated land, in the Red Frost City where Lord Hydra resided, there was infinite hope.

Full of hope, Lalauer crossed the snowfield and passed through the dense forest, and with great difficulty arrived at this city that was once notorious in the eyes of the people of the Red Frost Territory.

When he entered Chishuang City, he felt incredible.

And this is not because Chishuang City is so magnificent, prosperous and flourishing.

On the way to the Red Frost Territory, Laraul passed through many cities. He was not qualified to take a glimpse of the scenes in the inner or upper city areas of those cities. He could only stay in the most dilapidated small hotels. He saw all kinds of people, most of whom were either cold and dangerous or dark and numb.

This is what the lowest level, hopeless people look like.

But here, in the outer city of Red Frost City... these poor people wearing tattered cotton clothes, with obvious frostbite on their hands and faces, and cracked and dry skin, who are almost no different from the poor in other cities, are filled with a kind of...liveliness that Lalauer cannot understand.

Only those who are truly alive and still have expectations for life can show such vitality.

They may not be friendly or happy, but they are people who truly think about the "future".

Think about this, this is the most luxurious thing for the poor people who may freeze to death or starve to death on the roadside at any time.