A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 388: The Tightening Coils of the Serpent - II

Ansel and Ravenna, having disguised themselves with cognitive spells, strolled through the slums' streets.

The area was barren and dilapidated, permeated with an unpleasant stench. The ragged attire and disheveled appearance of each person embodied the very essence of poverty.

Yet, their spirits mirrored those Ansel and Ravenna had encountered in the marketplace earlier.

It was an authentic eagerness emanating from within, as if a flame ignited in their hearts, spreading throughout their bodies, imbuing them with a vitality that was not scorching but warmly vibrant.

"…Father," Ravenna whispered, "you said that mere satiety is a hundredfold more potent than the so-called hope."

"Do you still not comprehend?"

"No… I do."

Miss puppet lowered her head, recalling her recent response to Ansel about 'revolution,' while gazing at the filthy, chaotic streets beneath her feet.

"To them, everything I once considered is far too remote."

She murmured softly, as if enlightened, and lifted her gaze once more to the impoverished souls ahead.

"Ideals, beliefs, even dignity… are all too distant for them; what they require is sustenance, the means to survive."

"Beyond that, any lofty proclamation is, to them, a trampling."

"..." Ansel, with a slight bow of his head, watched Ravenna as emotions swirled in her eyes, his own narrowing slightly.

Among the four heroes, the most adored was indisputably the brave one of utmost virtue and bravery.

Yet, adoration and respect are not necessarily synonymous.

Of the four heroes who forged a new era, Ravenna Ziegler was the one most respected.

For she was a genius, a true prodigy—not only in her revolutionary contributions to etheric studies but also in her unparalleled aptitude for perceiving, assimilating, transforming, and understanding the world. This talent was evident in her insightful deconstruction of Ansel's psyche and plans.

Thus, even though Ravenna's choices in this unfamiliar domain seemed naive and even clumsy, her comprehension was deepening… at an astonishing pace.

The revolutionary army, needing Ansel as the architect of a new world order, had once coerced Seraphina into suicide, revealing their far-sightedness and intense desire for someone with such talent.

So, in the unchanged future that Ansel had envisioned, who would have taken on this mantle?

—The answer lay with the genius sorceress, Ravenna Ziegler, who, after the fall of the Tower of Babel, walked the earth for years, discerning the twisted knots of the world. Enjoy more content from m-v l'e|-NovelBin.net

In that future, she truly discovered the [Truth] that could establish a new world.

Her current understanding and insight were but glimpses of this.

Too swift, dear Ravenna, this is not the gift I intended for you.

Ansel embraced Ravenna's waist with a smile and whispered in her ear:

"Helen, the places of opulence and clamor are but illusory facades; it is the realms ruled by destitution and hardship that represent the true face of this world."

"And within this reality, you have accomplished such remarkable feats."

In this era, the very notion of ensuring that everyone is well-fed is utterly inconceivable, even in the imperial capital where people die of starvation.

Even in that world Ansel had seen, with a more complete and rigorous social structure, hunger still brought an unstoppable death.

Yet, the power of the extraordinary, as an entity that defies all norms, could theoretically shatter any "law" within human comprehension.

Now, it has been achieved. A bustling major domain city flourishes without a single person going hungry; even the impoverished can sate their physiological needs.

Ravenna instinctively responded, "This isn't my doing—"

"Shouldn't you rejoice in this?" Ansel interrupted her, "Isn't this the vision you yearned for?"

"..."

Silence fell upon Ravenna as she gazed upon the scene before her: children in worn clothes frolicking joyously on the dilapidated streets, and gaunt adults, despite their sallow complexions, wearing smiles filled with hope for tomorrow.

The usually cold expression on her face gradually softened, and her noble, exquisite purple eyes began to shimmer with tenderness.

It was no grand achievement, merely the simple satisfaction of hunger, which to them, signified immense happiness.

And she, from the Tower of Babel, had the capacity to bestow upon them even greater joy; the world could evolve into a more perfect form.

If Ansel's assistance were at hand, it would not be mere fanciful talk, but rather... like the events currently unfolding, the reality she was witnessing, tangible and within reach.

Ansel...

Miss puppet turned to say something to Ansel, but he, smiling once again, spoke first:

"So, that's no longer an issue, right?"

"...What?"

"I mean, those farmers,"

Ansel gently patted Ravenna's head: "Since Helen is so content with the current state, then those farmers, they are expendable, aren't they?"

"If they are, indeed, expendable."

His voice was so gentle, so calm, as if discussing a trivial matter: "Then their problems are no longer problems, are they?"

"..."

Ravenna's mouth opened slightly, the recent scene flashing through her mind.

The quarrels, the violence, and beneath it all... despair.

A farmer, unable to sell any grain while his daughter lay gravely ill, must have felt such despair. But as desperate as he was, it was no justification for killing a rival; this... precisely reflected one thing.

He had gone mad in his despair.

He knew it wasn't just these three days he couldn't sell his grain; it was that from now on, he would never be able to sell any at all.

"There are more ways to survive… than just one."

Ravenna uttered instinctively, yet found herself lost in confusion.

Are there truly numerous ways to live...?

Do they indeed have so many options, so many choices?

No, no, that's not right, they shouldn't—

"I'm merely inquiring whether they can be deemed expendable."

A gentle "concern" interrupted Ravenna's thoughts, as the venomous serpent cradled her cheek, peering into her purple eyes: "You've done this countless times before, Helen. Why hesitate now?"

"I..."

[You've done this countless times before.]

To forsake, to sacrifice, even to unjustly use others as offerings, you've done it time and again.

Her heart was tumultuous, telling her there must be another choice, another way, but those cerulean eyes before her froze everything stirring within her.

This isn't... reality.

This was Ansel's game, a game whose beginning, end, and ultimate outcome were all decided by Ansel.

She had no extra room for choice, no room for thought; whatever Ansel dictated, she had to comply.

"...Yes."

Ravenna's gaze instinctively fell, but as she caught the smiles of the impoverished in her peripheral vision, she looked up again, locking eyes with Ansel.

On that battlefield akin to a meat grinder, where she resolved to sacrifice all her soldiers just to keep the Tower of Babel standing, she had never been as resolute as she was now.

Because compared to that unknown possibility, the youth before her had shown her a tangible transformation.

So, if necessary, sacrifice it shall be.

"They can be deemed expendable, Father," Ravenna responded.

"Then, taking it a step further... what if they sought to hinder, or even destroy your vision?"

Ansel's smile grew brighter, yet his words carried a chilling undertone.

"...They, destroy?"

A foreboding feeling began to rise in Ravenna's heart, but faced with Ansel's smile, she found herself unable to speak.

Since Ansel had said he wouldn't intervene in any aspect of this game, Ravenna was willing to believe that Ansel wouldn't stoop to such a lowly lie.

He surely couldn't be planning to intervene, so that means... he foresaw something?

Did he foresee the farmers destroying... everything as it is now?

But how could that be possible, do they have the capability to do so?

"Helen," Ansel spoke once more, allowing no moment for Ravenna to gather her thoughts in tranquility, "Answer my inquiry."

Miss puppet paused briefly, then, locking eyes with Ansel, declared, "Should anyone seek to destroy the present state of affairs…"

"I shall employ every conceivable method to eradicate them."

Imagining such a vision, Ravenna responded with a tone as cold as ice.

Pleased with this response, Ansel nodded in satisfaction, "Such resolve is characteristic of you... Excellent. Now, do we return, or shall we linger a while longer in Greenridge City, perhaps to explore a bit more?"

"Let us... stay a moment longer," Ravenna suggested, gazing into the distance.

Her eyes traveled from the dilapidated streets of the slums to the exquisite buildings standing proudly at the city's heart.

She gained a bit more insight, pondering that to change the world, extraordinary powers might only be one of the key elements.

What, then, could the other keys be?

-->