The villain's way to tame the protagonist

Anser raised his hand and motioned for Savile to stop.

"What happens to my father has nothing to do with me."

The young Hydra half closed his eyes and whispered, "I'm just doing what I should do."

The old man fell silent and said no more.

To this day, he still doesn't know what exactly is forcing Anser to move forward.

His father is the greatest alchemist in history, and his family is the Hydra family that can crush any enemy. In this world, he is a fifth-level existence second only to a handful of sixth-level powerful beings. He can command as many as seven people. Even the great emperor who sits on the throne has a favorable look in his eyes.

Savile couldn't understand what his young master was thinking about, what he was anxious about... Maybe the trauma caused by the incident when he was ten years old was still unhealed, but why was Anser still like an ascetic among the nobles at this age? Even the so-called "indulging oneself" was just playing with women, and even too gentle.

"But it's really tiring to push that big guy so far away."

Anser tilted his head back slightly, and Yura raised his hands very considerately and rubbed his temples.

"It's really too much of a stretch to drive it around without even a single Qi capital."

"I hope Miss Xitana is worth your hard work." Xavier sighed.

"She must be worth it."

Anser raised his eyebrows confidently, as if he was showing off his extremely precious treasure:

"She's, um... one of the best."

The boy turned to look at Marina who was silent: "Are you right, Marina?"

"...Xier's talent." The girl lowered her head. "I don't know much about the world of extraordinary people, but I think it should be... very strong."

She hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Mr. Anser, I——"

"By the way, Marina, what do you think was the intention behind those words I said to you before entering the reception hall?"

Anser's sudden question interrupted Marina.

The girl was stunned for a moment, and after careful consideration, she answered seriously:

"Compared to open requests, being able to fulfill your 'private' thoughts is obviously more valuable, can please you more, and can better prove the nobles' loyalty to you."

"So, you deliberately mentioned this to me. The nobles who heard those words would devote 200% of their energy and investment to the post-disaster reconstruction of Red Frost City and to helping the civilians of Red Frost City, because this is the result of their self-righteous speculation."

"They will even compete for it, so... it will be more efficient and will not waste your resources if you let the nobles take the initiative to do it rather than you bringing it up directly at the meeting."

Anser laughed happily: "Your progress is becoming more and more obvious, Marina. I told you that you have talents no less than Xitana's. Isn't that obvious?"

Marina smiled shyly. It seemed that she would only show this expression in front of Anser: "You are too kind... No, thank you for your recognition."

She bowed slightly to Anser, her eyes burning like fire.

It doesn’t matter. It doesn’t matter even if you are not a transcendent.

Now, I can also help Mr. Anser, and I also exist... with the same value as Xier.

*

At this time, after a long journey.

The tired wolf finally returned to her hometown.

ps:

Suddenly, I realized that I could do 6K at the speed of light. I am awesome!

Chapter 6.5: The Devil That Follows You Like a Shadow (K)

Although it had been less than two months since she left the village, Hitana felt as if two years had passed.

Everything that had happened since being kidnapped by Earl Red Frost until now seemed like a psychedelic and absurd dream.

The good, the bad, what made her angry, what made her sad, what she missed, what she gave up... so many things, because of Ansel's words, became a heartbreaking emptiness.

Xitana Lansmalos, who was played around like a clown, fell in love again and again.

And that guy who never lied to himself...ha, in the end he fulfilled his promise honestly.

But in the days and nights after leaving Red Frost City, Xitana hoped countless times that he could deceive her forever.

Sitana lost her sister and the person who changed her life.

She thought over and over again, wondering why Anser had to say all these things. After the anger in her heart subsided, all that remained was the loneliness and emptiness that could not be filled.

But no matter how she thought about it, Hitana couldn't get an answer, or rather... she didn't want to get an answer.

Because in the past few days, the only answer she could get was... Ansel was tired of herself.

He no longer needed her, so even though he knew she would leave after learning the truth, he still told her everything.

This was the only thing Hitana couldn't accept.

Because Anser clearly said...

"I clearly said... that I would never abandon you."

The girl, with a dazed look on her face, stared at her reflection in the icy lake and murmured.

Hitana has never been a wise person. She left simply because of the collapse, anger and despair of being played around with. But it was impossible for her to let go of Anther in such a short time.

"...Go to hell, liar."

The wolf used ice water to wipe away the weakness and confusion on his face. Under his wet snow-white short hair, his eyes were dead and cold.

The journey home is long but not too long.

With her walking speed, it took her four days to walk back to the village, but what she experienced along the way made Hitana's already closed and cold heart even more lonely and dangerous.

In four days, she didn't meet any good people.

When she left Chishuang Territory, she only took her own belongings with her, and all the money she used was obtained through robbery.

Highway robbery, fraud, drugging food, poisoning hotel rooms...

These days, Xitana can always recall what Anser said to her when they chatted.

"Xitana, there is no direct correlation between kindness and wealth."

“But often, wealth always makes people more relaxed, while poverty leaves people with no choice.”

"Without bringing the causes of wealth and poverty into the discussion, do you think it is more likely that a calm person will do whatever it takes, or that a person without choice will do whatever it takes?"

Xitana once denounced Anser's nonsense, saying that Anser always confused good and evil, but Anser just smiled and replied:

"I'm not discussing good and evil with you, Xitana. I'm just explaining to you the choices people will make based on their own circumstances and positions."

"But you don't look at good and evil from the perspective of the results of your choices, but always from the perspective of your stance. This may be right for you, but it may not necessarily be a good thing."

"In that case, you are a bit like a wild animal protecting your own tribe, hehe..."

There are many more words like this...Looking back now, Hitana finally understood that the guy had hinted at her countless times.

But she never listened to Ansel's words, not even once.

Even now, Xitana was unwilling to think about the troublesome truths that Anser said.

"Don't think about him anymore."

She whispered the words she had repeated countless times in the past four days and took the last step back home.

Shitana's village is near the ice lake and can be seen through a forest. There are many paths leading to the village, and Shitana chose the longest one, walking slowly and with difficulty.

How should she respond to her parents' question about why they came back? How can she avoid making them sad and disappointed? And how will the people in the village view her?

Hitana had lost enough, and she didn't want these last things, everything she cherished, to abandon him.

Then she would really have nothing left.

Walking silently through the dense woods, the fresh fragrance of the forest evoked Hitana's memories, melting a little the cold expression that had remained unchanged for some time.

She thought of the novelty and pleasure of her father teaching her to hunt in the woods; the warmth and tranquility of resting on her mother's legs in the sun; the freedom and joy of playing with friends in the woods. She thought of many things... things she missed, cherished, and could never lose.

Xitana closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and let the vitality and drive that were so familiar to her family and friends reappear on her face.

She had never done such a thing before. The wolf, who always showed her emotions on her face, learned to wear a mask without any instruction.

"Growth... heh."

The girl sneered, with a hint of sarcasm and loneliness in her voice.

Afterwards, she patted her face vigorously and strode out of the dense forest along the path. As long as she turned around a towering tree, she would be able to see her village.

Village...village?

Hitana walked out of the woods and stared blankly into the distance.

There was no village she was familiar with.

But an incredible...small town?

With Xitana's eyesight, she could easily see that the originally poor and simple, even dilapidated village was now surrounded by a circle of rock walls at least five meters high. And those dilapidated wooden houses that she thought should have been covered by the walls were all turned into independent villas, which were extraordinary.

The huge windmill standing there seemed to announce the rebirth of the village; the canal in the distance, which could not be dug by the villagers alone, proved that noble and extraordinary blood would flow in this ordinary place; the broad and smooth road extending from the village entrance, which had never appeared in Hitana's impression, showed that it was destined to have a smooth, bright and unobstructed future.

Is this her village? The ordinary, barren village where she grew up, which can be found everywhere in the North?

What happened here in less than two months?

Hitana's mood, which had just relaxed a little, tightened again. She hesitated to move forward, even though this building, which represented all she had left, was right in front of her.

Until the excited barking of a dog in the distance made the choice for her.

"Will, wait... Will, why are you running so fast? Will--Shear?!"

A girl with ordinary looks, slightly rough skin, but miraculously rosy and healthy, who had not suffered from the severe cold wave at all and did not look like someone who lived in a dilapidated village, ran after an extremely excited fat dog. When she saw Shitana standing far away, she covered her mouth with her hands.

And Hitana was also looking at the girl not far away in a daze.

She is...Riota?

Wasn't Riotta very thin and sick before I left? Where did she get all those fancy clothes?

——In fact, after experiencing so much, Hitana already had the answer in her heart, but until now, she still didn't want to admit it.

"Xi'er, it's really you!"

The girl cried with joy and ran over as excitedly as her fat dog. In Xitana's impression, the thin girl who started panting at the entrance of the village seemed to not exist at all.

"Wang! Wang Wang Wang!"

The dog named Will was wagging his tail like crazy, circling around Sitana. Will was the hunting dog of Reyota's family. A good hunter always needs a good hunting dog. Sitana had a good relationship with Will and often fed him for Reyota's father. This hunting dog, which was not considered strong more than a month ago, was now so fat that Sitana could hardly recognize it.

"Xie'er!"

Ruiyota excitedly threw herself into Xitana's arms: "You are finally back! I missed you so much, I missed you so much!"

The village is not big, and there are only a few playmates of the same age as Xitana. Most of them have left the village and tried to make a living in the city. Only five are left in the village.

Ruiyota is Xitana's best friend. They talk about everything and often sleep in the same bed. Ruiyota's father is also a good friend of Xitana's father. He taught her a lot of hunting skills and is considered her second hunter mentor.

"Yota..."

Shitana gently hugged her friend's shoulders, and all the doubts and hesitations in her heart disappeared at this moment.

Yes, what else did she have to doubt or hesitate about? The village had changed, so what? Her friends, her family, the people she knew and cared about had not changed, and that was the most important thing.

"Um...Xi'er."

Ruiyota, who was in the girl's arms, sniffed: "Do you smell?"

The warm smile on Sitana's face froze.

"Ah, never mind! I'm glad you're back. I'll take you to my house to take a bath! Now you can use hot water directly without boiling it. This is something only the nobles can use. It's called... I forgot what it's called. You must take good care of yourself..."

Ruiyota paused, then laughed happily again: "Oh, what am I talking about? You must have experienced this a long time ago in Scarlet Frost City, following Lord Hydra! I really envy you!"

There was no jealousy or other ugly emotions in her words, but it was this sincere, real envy that made Hitana's heart ache violently.

"Xierxier, what kind of person is Lord Hydra? People who come to the village say that he is very handsome!"

Ruiyota hugged Xitana's arm, raised her head and said with a smile: "So I thought, Xi'er is also very beautiful, maybe, hehe...Xi'er?"

The enthusiastic girl looked at her playmate's face and finally realized that her mood seemed a little off. She asked softly with some concern, "You, what's wrong with you?"

"……nothing."