A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 364: A Game in which Nobody Hurts - II

"..."

Both Ravenna and Falcon fell silent, the latter expressing confusion after a couple of seconds, "Is this... a form of amusement between you and her, young lord?"

Ansel, already seated on the falcon's back, reached out his hand to Ravenna while smiling, "You could say that."

Ravenna was silently pulled onto the falcon's back and naturally drawn into Ansel's embrace. Falcon spread its wings and gently replied:

"I understand, little miss, please hold tight."

This address made Ansel burst into laughter, "Little miss... Falcon, where did you learn that?"

"Lawrence and I once discussed the matter of your offspring, although we don't believe we'll live to see that day, it doesn't stop us from having some interesting fantasies."

In an instant, the impoverished streets before Ravenna's eyes turned into a clear azure sky. Discover worlds on m-v le-mpyr

Yet she felt nothing, not the rapid ascent of the wind... she didn't even feel the sensation of rising, nor any sensation of spatial teleportation.

"Hmm... you indeed seem to have a much happier life than Toradon and the others."

"Hehe, even with wisdom, it's hard to reach your and the master's heights. For us, satisfying some basic needs is enough—do you need me to deliver you immediately, young lord?" the falcon softly replied.

"There's no rush; I still have some things I'd like to ask you," Ansel said, stroking Ravenna's hair.

"The item my father asked you to find, have you found it?"

"Almost," the falcon replied. "The unstable Zero Realm Enigma is difficult to probe, but it cannot escape my eyes. I have seen its flowing essence, and it won't be long before I can deliver it to the master."

Its voice became somewhat excited and jubilant, indicating the importance of this mission to Falcon.

Ansel spoke softly, "You've been searching for the related materials since six years ago, haven't you? Although I don't know what father is making, everything was found by you. You've worked hard."

"It is me, Falcon's duty, as well as the reason for my flight, young lord."

Falcon's ethereal voice was soothing, "To be able to contribute my strength to the master and you, I feel very fortunate."

This natural, soul-penetrating loyalty and affection left Ravenna, in Ansel's arms, silent.

This is... a pact head of Hydral.

Merely dedicating strength and finding happiness in it.

Is this feeling of seemingly abandoning oneself... really okay?

Ravenna rarely, one might say almost never, concerns herself with the paths others choose, but this time, she inexplicably pondered this question.

"Speaking of which, your 'daughter', young lord," Falcon suddenly mentioned, "She is quite interesting."

"Do you think so too?" Ansel responded with a smile.

"In your eyes, it might be for different reasons, but I find it interesting... from what I have seen."

This made Ravenna's heart momentarily uneasy. After hesitating for a moment, she softly asked, "Is there... something wrong with me?"

Without Ansel's permission, Falcon of course would not say much, and Ravenna did not expect it to provide any answer. However, Falcon, whose voice was ethereal and not as fierce as its appearance suggested, replied:

"It's not a problem, but interesting, interesting in... your indeed close relationship with the young lord."

Then, it said something quite perplexing, "The young lord rarely seeks help from the master, the more difficult and complex the matter, the less willing he is to seek the master's help."

"Falcon," Ansel slightly raised his eyebrows, signaling it should not continue.

"I have overstepped, young lord, my apologies."

Falcon, soaring in the sky, responded warmly, but the exchange between the man and Falcon seemed, in any light, like a double act.

Under normal circumstances, Ravenna would not be swayed by such a simple act, but today, with so many things happening in such a short time, her confused mind couldn't begin to analyze.

Was Ansel deliberately trying to confuse me? No... did he know I would think this way, so he deliberately spoke the truth? If that's the case, then what does his seeking help from Flamelle … have to do with me?

Ravenna tried hard to think, using thought to avoid that question. When Ansel didn't force her to confront the terror of the void directly, at the beginning, before that terror fully seeped into her thoughts, Ravenna would naturally choose to avoid it.

Ansel was very kind to give her room to escape, even thoughtfully bringing her new, ponderable questions.

"The Spirity Lake territory, we've arrived, young lord. Where would you like to go down?"

"Find a poorer domain town," Ansel replied. "Ferdinand brought his people here not long ago, and it's just starting to recover—be more discreet, don't land directly on the street like before."

"Understood."

Falcon, carrying Ravenna and Ansel, dove down, its massive form enveloped by air currents. The pedestrians on the street continued their way, unaware of the terrifying giant hawk landing on a building.

"Young lord."

Falcon lowered its head, speaking softly to Ansel, "If you need me again, please blow the whistle at any time, and I will come to your side immediately."

Ansel patted its head, "Go do what you need to do."

The unbound wind sighed softly, then shot into the clouds, instantly disappearing from sight.

The young Hydral looked down at the streets below, his tone reflective:

"The Spirity Lake was only recently incorporated into Hydral's territory. Some people have moved to other domain towns, while others... under Ferdinand's leadership, they plan to start from scratch and build their own city."

"With my support, the construction of the new city isn't difficult, but he doesn't want to accept too much help, hoping to rely on his own and the original inhabitants of the Spirity Lake's strength to build their city."

He nodded slightly, "So, after some domain towns were built, I temporarily stopped the aid. Their conditions... are slightly better than the city we just saw, but only just a little."

Ravenna's gaze also fell on the streets below, not much different from the domain town they had just seen. If the previous place was somewhat barren, this one was quite plain, equally not affluent, very poor.

But every person on the street seemed to possess an unmatched vitality and spirit, something the previous domain town couldn't compare with.

And in Ravenna's mind, that persistent nightmare once again sneered eerily.

With the help of alchemical devices, could the people of this domain town also quickly live a better life?

Why haven't I considered this more deeply and meticulously? Why is it always Ansel telling me?

Why...

"I told you, we're going to play a game, right?"

As Ravenna's body began to tremble faintly, Ansel suddenly spoke up, once again pulling her out of the void... Ravenna was completely at a loss as to what Ansel intended to do.

"...Yes."

She could only respond wearily and helplessly, allowing Ansel to manipulate her like a true puppet.

"Look, the Watson territory and the Spirity Lake territory, these two fates intertwined domains... each has a domain town in similar current circumstances."

Ansel spoke softly, "Our empress has inspired me, I want to make them participants again, ah, don't worry, I won't use such brute force methods as Her Majesty, nor am I interested in watching people slaughter each other."

"On the contrary... I want to give them a great opportunity."

He took Ravenna's hand, lifting it towards the ground below: "Look, there are so many... so many places that can be transformed, improved with practical alchemical tools, the same goes for that domain town."

"How about..."

The devil whispered in the ear of the puppet, murmuring an irresistible temptation:

"Let's start here, from these two domain towns."

"I'll help you fulfill your wish."

Ravenna's pupils dilated slightly, and after a brief buzzing in her ears, she first heard the intense beating of her heart.

What did Ansel… just say?

"Don't worry about extraordinary beings exploiting those devices, tools."

"I'll ensure they are definitely used on every commoner, I'll ensure the commoners can have autonomy, I'll ensure... everything goes according to their wishes."

The young Hydral spoke such pitifully kind words... almost bringing one to tears.

"As for the outcome of the game, it's simple. It's to see which of the two sides, starting almost from the same point, can develop better."

"No harm, no pain, only the change you're looking forward to, the future... you're looking forward to."

Ansel cupped her cheeks, his face's innocent smile becoming even more radiant:

"Dear daughter, would you like to play this game with me?"

*