A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 176: A Family of Madness - III

He led Ansel towards the internal transportation circle of the Alchemy Association, while returning to his original kind old man's appearance, "Ansel, although everyone is looking forward to your arrival, it's not your style to visit suddenly without prior notice."

"It's just that I heard something interesting, so I thought it was fun." Ansel said leisurely, "At the same time, I wanted to see what the Alchemy Association is like now, and it really is..."

He looked at the various firearms hanging on the wall and couldn't help but laugh, "Some are beyond my imagination."

In fact, when he and Ravenna jointly designed the first Etheric firearm, Ansel had already imagined how big a wave this thing would cause.

But the fact proved that he still underestimated this violent innovation.

In just one year, firearms have become one of the most important weapons for extraordinary beings, and even civilians know that the thing that makes a loud noise is extremely dangerous.

Although there is no war in the empire, the open and secret fights between nobles, the friction between territories, the hidden ruins of the ancient dynasties on the vast land, the threats of countless monsters and beasts... and most importantly, the increasingly collapsing order under the rule of Ephesande, Her Majesty, all make violence increasingly necessary.

The Tower of Babel gained Evora's approval with this thing and made a fortune. Although it is still small compared to the Etheric Academy, it also, as Ansel once promised to Ravenna, allowed the Tower of Babel to gain a foothold in the capital.

And the Alchemy Association... Because the Tower of Babel definitely cannot mass-produce firearms, and does not have the right to monopolize its design concept, they wisely handed over the design principle of Etheric firearms to the Alchemy Association at the first time, and both sides can be considered as win-win.

As for now, the Alchemy Association has become, well... in the words of that world, the largest arms dealer in the world, without a doubt.

"I never thought that in such a short time... the Alchemy Association would undergo such a change."

Parla followed Ansel's gaze, saw the various firearms framed as exhibits and hung on the wall, and shook his head:

"We were originally seekers of truth, but now we have become the source of violence... What's more important is that even I can't resist."

The old man stroked his scepter and sighed deeply, "I can't resist this world-changing wave."

The Alchemy Association is loose, but it is still an organization.

No organization can resist the huge benefits. Although the firearms workshop does not have to operate day and night, the alchemy bullet workshop is operating non-stop. The wealth brought by firearms is like a waterfall of gold coins, washing everyone's bottom line.

Alchemists often live in the duality of poverty and wealth, and these two gold mountains have made many alchemists in the Alchemy Association live in a state of… excessive wealth.

Now, the alchemists in the Alchemy Association are used to living on a pile of gold coins, and the entire Alchemy Association can no longer leave this industry. Parla alone can't change anything.

What's more... there are even more terrifying things driving all this.

That ambitious Elder Princess, who actively wants to push this violence to maturity, is even more beyond Parla's control.

"That prodigious young lady," Parla thus spoke, "I marvel at her innate talent, yet lament the path she has chosen."

Over these three years, Ravenna's reputation has grown increasingly prominent, yet the source of this fame is a series of terrifying and dangerous weapons, from the most primitive etheric firearms to various modified versions of the same.

The failure of the first generation of floating cannons did not deter her from this violent path, but instead led her to create the second generation of floating cannons, the Hummingbird, which once again shocked the empire — Now, this weapon, which is several times, even dozens of times more terrifying than etheric firearms, will be placed in the production chain of the Alchemy Association for mass production.

Upon hearing Parla's words, Ansel remained silent, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"How wonderful it would be if she could apply her talent to something closer to the truth. I would even be willing to recommend her to my teacher, but alas... Ah, I apologize, Ansel, for my ramblings as an old man."

Parla led Ansel to a door, shaking his head with a wry smile, "I suppose I can only talk about these things with you and my teacher."

"No, I quite enjoy hearing about these things, and..."

Ansel's eyebrows lifted slightly, "If I remember correctly, this is not your office, is it?"

"There is a guest in my office, it's not suitable to entertain you there."

"Hmm? Isn't it also inappropriate to leave a guest behind?"

The young Hydral said this, smiling at the old man standing at the door, who seemed slightly taken aback:

"Lord Parla, how could I let you commit such a discourtesy?"

His scepter tapped lightly on the ground, his voice gentle, yet it seemed to carry an irresistible command — even if the old man opposite him was a fifth-stage extraordinary being, his father's student, and an old acquaintance of many years.

"Please, take me to see her."

"..."

After a brief silence, a helpless smile appeared on Parla's aged face: "I should have guessed, this is the reason for your visit, Ansel."

He led Ansel to the room across the way, waving his hand lightly, and the heavy wooden door opened automatically.

Ansel stood at the door, waiting politely for the old man to enter the room first.

"Lord Selcius, you—"

In this office, a sweet girl's voice rang out, reminiscent of a mountain stream, a singing bird, yet also carrying the elegance of a tulip blooming under the moonlight.

The girl's words stopped halfway.

Because she saw the blond young man standing at the door, smiling at her.

"It seems this is our first meeting."

Ansel bowed slightly in a gentlemanly manner, and when he raised his head, he said with a smile to the girl sitting on the sofa:

"Hello, Princess Suellen."

At this moment, Seraphina was in a state of stupor.