A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Unless truly cornered without options, Ansel was reluctant to use that power on himself again... Fate's gambit ultimately hinged on constraining Ansel's current capabilities.

Ansel possessed the ability to help the Western Lands weather the dragon calamity and, barring unforeseen circumstances, the power to rescue Evora from that mysterious force. Yet, frustratingly... he couldn't achieve both simultaneously.

Though potent, the God from the Machine had glaring limitations—it wasn't a power Ansel could wield frivolously. The current Ravenna couldn't sustain it long. Given the impending dragon calamity's intensity... even wielding the God from the Machine, prioritizing the Western Lands' protection would inevitably plunge him and Ravenna into a grueling battle.

If Ansel now had the power to effortlessly sweep away all dragons, he wouldn't face this predicament... Or rather, when Ansel truly attained such power, Fate would be the one at a loss, not him.

Seraphina hadn't grown to that world-dominating level yet. Her involvement in the dragon calamity now... would only lead to self-destruction. Ansel knew all too well what Seraphina, acutely aware of his current predicament, would do.

And now, he couldn't conjure a sufficiently powerful force out of thin air—not just fifth-stage, but overwhelmingly strong. At least on par with those thirty extraordinary beings who could easily threaten Ansel, and whom he couldn't handle if countless coincidences aligned.@@novelbin@@

...In retrospect, that too was a trap.

Had even half of those thirty remained, Ansel wouldn't be in such a dilemma.

This cold, interlocking calculation was familiar to Ansel. He'd long since ceased feeling extreme hatred or regret for not detecting issues earlier. But now... unbidden thoughts surfaced.

Like when he instinctively questioned Ravenna upon seeing the sky-blanketing dragon tide and crimson rift appear simultaneously.

—Have I erred in many decisions?

Yet Ansel couldn't truly label it an "error". If this were an error, it undoubtedly meant rejecting change, rejecting... Seraphina and Ravenna.

Rejecting something perhaps truly from his heart, yet something he had to abandon.

Those things he'd finally had a chance to reclaim, which he couldn't carelessly discard again.

"...Now's not the time to dwell on such matters."

Leaning back in his chair, Ansel sighed softly. "Even if I could directly summon a sufficiently powerful fifth-stage extraordinary being, it wouldn't change the tide of battle. It seems I can only—"

Knock, knock, knock—

For some reason, someone was knocking on the conference room door.

"..."

Ansel had expected to see an anxious Seraphina, but as he looked up, he realized his guess was wrong.

"...Come in."

Why would she... seek me out at this time?

Ansel felt a hint of confusion as he watched the frail girl in the wheelchair slowly enter from behind the door.

"Mr. Ansel, I apologize. I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"You are, in fact."

Though Ansel wasn't pressuring Nine, his expression wasn't particularly gentle either. Right now, he just wanted to think alone about how to win this nearly impossible game. He didn't even want to interact with Ravenna or Seraphina, let alone Nine.

In the past, Nine would have anxiously excused herself upon hearing such words. But now, she chuckled softly, speaking in a gentle voice, "Then I should make amends for my mistake, Mr. Ansel."

Ansel hadn't intended to let her say much. If Seraphina and Ravenna couldn't help him with this problem, Nine certainly couldn't... Although she was special enough, no matter how unique, she couldn't be of much help to Ansel now.

What Ansel needed now wasn't a vessel, but a decisive force.

However... due to Nine's extremely special "talent", Ansel decided to listen to her thoughts.

He wasn't sure whether he wanted to get effective advice from Nine, or just... an affirmation.

"Please give me the ring representing the Head of Devouring."

Then, she uttered these bewildering words.

Ansel stared at the smiling Nine for a long time, then tilted his head slightly. "Do you know what you're saying, Nine?"

"I do, Mr. Ansel."

Nine spoke softly: "I know what your biggest dilemma is right now. I understand the root of what's preventing you from making a choice, and I know how to truly help you."

"So you're asking me for the power of the pact head now?"

"Not asking, Mr. Ansel," Nine answered very seriously. "It's about letting it have the most suitable wielder when you need this power the most."

At this point, Ansel could have asked Nine to leave.

Anyone else would think she had gone mad, was talking nonsense, or had been overwhelmed by an insane desire. In any case, they shouldn't continue listening to these worthless words.

But after seeing Nine's utterly serious gaze, after hearing her specifically mention the "Head of Devouring", a possibility suddenly arose in Ansel's mind...

"You presume... you're worthy of wielding it." Ansel of Hydral fixed his gaze upon Nine's pitch-black eyes.

"Yet, are you aware that an extra Head of Devouring offers no respite to our current predicament?"

"You're mistaken, Mr. Ansel," Nine replied, her voice soft as she gazed at him from afar. "What you gain is not merely an extra Head of Devouring, but I, who can truly offer you power."

Her words were convoluted, laden with inexplicable meaning.

"Are you suggesting that the power you offer could shatter our present impasse?"

Ansel chuckled, as if mocking Nine's naivety, yet his expression and eyes... betrayed no such derision.

In the depths of those sea-blue eyes, recently clouded with bewilderment and weariness, a flicker of darkness ignited – a sinful fire long absent from view.

"I can, Mr. Ansel," Nine stated calmly, her hands resting placidly on her knees. "And I alone possess this capability." Stay tuned with My Virtual Library Empire

"Mr. Ansel, because—"

As her wheelchair inched forward, an urgent voice pierced the air from the conference room's entrance.

"Ansel! I can't stay here alone! I must help..."

Hearing the voice behind her, Nine bowed her head slightly, exhaling a soft sigh.

"How regrettable, Mr. Ansel. I have much more to convey to you. Should you permit, I shall return later... I'm confident in my ability to persuade you."

"For now, I shall take my leave."

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