A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 404 : The Only Color - One - I

Within the Tower of Babel, in Hendrik's office, Evora idly toyed with an exquisitely crafted puzzle that Hendrik had left on his desk.

Opposite her, Ravenna bowed her head in a humble posture, remaining silent.

"You desire the return of those potions..."

The Elder Princess, propping her cheek with one hand, glanced over the petite miss puppet and suddenly let out a scornful laugh, "What could you possibly offer in exchange?"

"...Whatever you require, I shall endeavor to provide, Your Highness."

"Such bold words. Would you dare speak thus to Ansel?"

The sharply defined mechanical puzzle twisted at Evora's fingertips, seemingly a complex, interlocking brain teaser that had long surpassed the category of mere toys. It was a mystery why such an item would adorn Hendrik's desk.

Ravenna could not answer Evora's question, which provided the capricious and malevolent princess with a pretext for trouble. Her lips curled into a smirk, yet her voice was cold as she said:

"Do you not comprehend my words? Who granted you the privilege of silence?"

With a casual flick of her wrist, the woman incinerated the toy, leaving not even ashes behind. She leaned forward abruptly, seizing Ravenna's hair and yanking her from the ground. Observing the other's pained and disheveled appearance, Evora felt a deep, visceral pleasure that made her want to moan with delight.

To torment someone Ansel cared about brought Evora immense euphoria. Although Seraphina had received too much of Ansel's attention and affection for Evora to touch, the current victim was another matter...

The tyrannical Elder Princess looked at the puppet she dominated and tortured at will, thinking contentedly—

Ansel, this plaything destined to be ruined by you, I shall indulge in it first. It's not too much to ask, is it?

"I apologize... Your Highness, I meant no disrespect."

"Hmph."

Evora carelessly tossed Ravenna to the ground and slouched back in her chair, "I grow weary of this banter. Agree to two conditions, and I shall return the potions to you."

Ravenna, rising meekly from the floor, bowed her head submissively, "Please, enlighten me."

"Firstly, my accursed sister has commissioned you to create a data system, correct?"

Evora's tongue glided over her upturned, crimson lips, her smile as vivid as flames, her malice unmistakably evident.

This was the very purpose of the charade she and Ansel had agreed to play out, to avoid direct conflict with Ephesande, she needed a more circuitous method to dismantle Suellen's arrangements.

Ravenna almost instantly grasped what Evora intended to do. After a moment of silence, she responded softly, "If it pleases you, I can embed a flaw within Princess Suellen's data system that only I would be able to detect."

"Hmm..."

Evora tapped on the desk, her initial intention was to have Ravenna simply destroy that nonsensical contraption, but planting a flaw that could be exploited against Suellen at any moment... seemed appealing.

To watch her believe she has achieved something, only to have it all go up in flames... wouldn't that be more delightful?

"Very well, let's proceed with that."

Evora's smile grew even more radiant, her unrestrained laughter was captivating on her purely beautiful face, and even the scar on her profile could not detract from her stunning allure. However, those who had witnessed the cruelty and tyranny beneath that beauty could never harbor any improper thoughts towards her.

For Ravenna, the first request was exceedingly simple, so much so that it hardly constituted a cost to her.

If there was any cost to speak of... it was merely a moral failure to uphold the pact with Suellen and the potential danger if Suellen were to discover it afterward.

But it was clear to anyone that once Her Majesty died, Suellen would not only be unable to pose a threat to others, but it was also uncertain whether she could even maintain her own human status.

Yet, Ravenna did not believe that this supremely self-centered and insatiably greedy woman would so easily hand over the potions.

The second request was likely the crux of the matter.

"As for the second request..."

Even though she was prepared, Ravenna was momentarily stunned by Evora's words.

"Mechanical armor."

Evora, propping herself up on the desk, stood up, the yearning in her eyes was chilling, "That object, I want you, no... I want the entire Tower of Babel, to exert all efforts to forge it for me."

Why would Evora… desire mechanical armor?

Ravenna could not immediately comprehend the answer to this question, but still managed to reply, "If that is what you require, I will do my utmost—"

"And what I want is not the pile of scrap metal produced by the Etheric Academy."

It was this statement that truly left Ravenna dumbfounded.

"Do not presume that I am unaware of the true creator of that device, Ziegler," Evora leaned forward, her shadow completely engulfing the petite Ravenna, the Elder Princess released her oppressive aura without any attempt to conceal it: "The Etheric Academy? Ha... It is clearly your and Ansel's creation."

"What I want is not the toy that Ansel has fooled those old fools at the Etheric Academy with, but a more powerful weapon that I can wield with all my might!"

Watching Ravenna's expression grow increasingly rigid, Evora, like a predator on the hunt, bared her fangs:

"Give it to me, and I will return your little trinket to you."

How could Evora… possibly know these things?

The mechanical armor was a joint development by Ansel and Ravenna, an unquestionably powerful creation in terms of military might.

Designed to explore the perilous Zero Realm Enigma, it was divided into three stages based on current knowledge, technology, materials, and the overall level of alchemists.

The first stage, also known as the "Black Knight" produced by the Etheric Academy, was like forging a weapon, creating a "powerful independent entity" for someone to wield. Made primarily from strong and rare materials, Ansel named it Material Armament.

This first stage was already nearing the limits of current alchemical technology.

The second stage of mechanical armor was not about creating a controllable independent entity from a mass of precious materials but rather emphasized the ultimate enhancement of the user's own abilities. According to Ansel's concept, this device would greatly amplify the user's control and mastery over ether, as well as their understanding and dominion over essence.

In other words, the second stage of mechanical armor was not a powerful weapon that ordinary extraordinary beings could use, but a device that allowed those who already possessed immense power, even those at the pinnacle, to cheat further in terms of pure martial might!

It was called... Ether Armament!

This stage of mechanical armor could only possibly be forged by the most elite alchemists in the entire empire, who could be counted on one hand. The requirements it placed on all aspects of an alchemist's skills were terrifyingly high, and at least the Tower of Babel did not have the capability to produce it.

As for the third stage of mechanical armor, it had already surpassed the limits of existing alchemical technology. In the entire empire... and even in the thousands of years to come, only one person could create it.

That was Flamelle of Hydral.

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