A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 673 CrossRoad · Without Her - II

"I'm merely stating facts. If you don't wish to hear them, Miss Seraphina, then so be it," Marlina replied, her tone unchanging.

"According to the original plan, after this riot, the gang elements in the lower district would have faced severe repercussions. The civilians would have gained confidence and courage from this struggle. From a long-term perspective, it was undoubtedly the best choice."

"The best choice... the best choice?"

Seraphina, losing control of her emotions, began to laugh loudly. She pointed out the window towards the still chaotic streets and exclaimed:

"Tell me, how is this the best choice when so many are homeless, so many have lost their loved ones, so many are resorting to theft and looting?!"

"I've said, it's because you, Miss Seraphina, caused the plan to lose control—"

"Your damned plan shouldn't have existed in the first place!"

Seraphina roared, her anger peaking. "Your duty was to do everything in your power to bring them a better life, to let them live happily and peacefully. Not to force them to face things they shouldn't have to for some vague notion of confidence and courage... Damn it, Marlina! What gives you the right to decide what they need? What gives you the right to make decisions for them?

What do you think they are? And who do you think you are... The Empress? A god?!"

"Because this is exactly what they need, Miss Seraphina," Marlina's gaze grew colder.

"These are the necessary conditions for becoming a person, for being human. Living conditions can be changed at any time for extraordinary beings, but a person's sense of self... how many chances are there to start over?"

"They must live with dignity. They can be humble, they can be weak, but they must never view this humility and weakness as inevitable, without considering the possibility of change."

"This again... always this!"

The dangerous aura emanating from Seraphina was already beyond what an ordinary person could bear. Aether, slightly out of control due to her turbulent emotions, scattered about. Crimson currents flowed erratically through the office, flashing like electric arcs.

But seconds after this violent aura appeared, Seraphina fell silent. She and Marlina had argued about this topic many times before.

They couldn't reach a consensus then, and now... it was equally impossible to find common ground.

"...So, this is your reason for allowing them to be oppressed by gang members, for causing the deaths of so many people yet remaining unmoved?"

Seraphina no longer felt much anger. She only felt deep fatigue and... numbness.

"This is Ansel's purpose too, right? If it's him, with all his knowledge and unique pursuits in this area, different from most people, it would make sense."

Her exhaustion and numbness stemmed from this realization. If Marlina had acted on her own, Seraphina's anger wouldn't have subsided so easily. But Seraphina knew her sister too well - Marlina would never go against Ansel's will, let alone act so arbitrarily without rules.

Everything that happened in the lower district must have occurred with Ansel's tacit approval.

Realizing this brought Seraphina pain, though less intense than before due to her shifting perspective.

However, Marlina's next words made Seraphina's pupils constrict sharply.

"Why do you assume Mr. Ansel was involved in this, Miss Seraphina?"

"What... did you say?"

"Is it so hard to understand?" Marlina tilted her head slightly.

"Everything in the lower district was my decision alone, made without Mr. Ansel's knowledge. He has many responsibilities and wouldn't waste energy here. Most importantly, he trusts me... just as you did."

"Mar-li-na!"

Seraphina crashed into the desk, grabbing Marlina's collar across it, nearly toppling the entire piece of furniture.

"Ansel doesn't need you at all."

After saying this, she looked at Marlina, whose breathing had noticeably quickened, and sneered:

"Stop staying by Ansel's side. You're nothing but trouble for him, with no use whatsoever."

"Seraphina! How could you, how could I possibly—"

This was once the most fitting evaluation for Seraphina, but now she had placed it on Marlina's head.

These words suddenly enraged the usually calm Marlina. Seraphina was stunned for a moment, then shook her head, and after a final glance at her sister, said nothing more and silently turned to leave.

Everything that needed to be said had been said. Now, Seraphina... didn't want to stay with Marlina for even a moment longer.

After Seraphina left, Marlina silently knelt on the ground, trying hard to collect the tattered remains of the plan book. She appeared to have no reaction, but the trembling of her hands as she gathered the pieces was impossible to conceal.

Power.

Seraphina had brutally shattered all designs with the most forceful method.

How could someone confident enough to speak of dominating the entire world with Ansel lack the ability to destroy all schemes and machinations with their own power?

Absolute confidence, unmatched sharpness, and... power to match.

In this world, power speaks loudest. All that logic and theory ultimately can't compete with raw strength.

But... Marlina had a chance too.

She once had a great opportunity to earn the qualifications to become extraordinary.

Becoming like Seraphina was absolutely impossible, but transforming that power into an asset could have brought immeasurable improvement. Yet Seraphina destroyed this opportunity.

— She boasted to Marlina about the importance of power, yet personally destroyed Marlina's hope of obtaining it.

Marlina's hands trembled as she pieced together her plan book bit by bit, clutching tightly what Seraphina had called meaningless.

Am I truly useless to Mr. Ansel?

No, impossible. I must be helpful to Mr. Ansel. It's just as Seraphina said, what I can do now is... too little.

Power... power. I must, must become extraordinary being, no matter the cost, I have to—

As Marlina thought this, slowly raising her head, her breath caught.

Because she saw a pitch-black crow standing on the windowsill.

Its deep eyes seemed to say:

You should know what choice is the right one to make.

*

In truth, neither the ideological arguments nor the destruction of her chance to gain power had truly caused Marlina to lose emotional control.

The only thing that made her unable to control herself, that filled her with anger and panic, was actually just one sentence —

"Ansel no longer needs you."

*