A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

The Duke of Azuregold was well aware of this Faust. As soon as Milo detected the presence of this peculiar Faust, he knew.

Having received intelligence from Ansel, he was more invested in Faust’s appearance than anyone else, meanwhile… he understood better than anyone the true nature of the “Fausts” now frequently appearing in the Western Land.

—Because those were decoys he had secretly set in motion.

Though this Faust wasn’t acting under his orders, he certainly couldn’t be the real deal… So then, who was he representing? Or was he merely a fervent admirer of Faust?

And besides…

Watching the standoff between Faust and Inothea, the Duke of Azuregold’s smile widened slowly.

It seemed that Milo’s death was closely linked to this Mr.Faust.

Huh, did he intend to control Dispute Fortress with a fake Milo? Control Dispute Fortress… Hahaha.

The real Faust would never concern himself with controlling such a city managed by adventurers, and certainly not in such a roundabout, covert manner.

Would the real Faust need a fake Milo to secretly control Dispute Fortress? If this Faust were genuine, the Duke of Azuregold would hand over this city without hesitation… as long as they could reach some minor agreements.

A power capable of contending with the Duke of Wyvern was an absolute and supreme authority. Faust wouldn’t need any pointless schemes to manipulate these affairs.

“A negotiable party… indeed,” murmured Duke of Azuregold suddenly.

He was the Empire’s most distinguished merchant, and his finest merchandise was extraordinary beings.

Namo Azuregold prided himself on understanding extraordinary beings better than almost anyone else.

These individuals had no true faith or allegiance; if they did, it meant the price wasn’t high enough, or the power to persuade them wasn’t sufficient.

And the Duke of Azuregold lacked neither.

Regardless of which faction had sent this Faust to stir the waters of the Western Lands, as long as he could bring him into the fold…

“Milo,” the Duke’s shadow on the throne chuckled lightly, “Did you hear what I just said?”

Milo’s body trembled. He bowed deeply, his voice quivering, “I… I heard you clearly, Your Grace.”

“Good,” the Duke of Azuregold mused, resting his face on one hand, “It’s just as well that your brother has entertained some inappropriate thoughts. This Faust seems quite suitable, well…”

Across from Faust, Inothea appeared somewhat… hesitant?

Her fierce and brutal demeanor was unmistakable, as the deceased was a man stationed in Dispute Fortress, primarily responsible for gathering intelligence on extraordinary beings—the very target of the Revolutionary Army.

Yet, despite her savage display, as the current strongest force in Dispute Fortress, Inothea did not take even a single step toward Faust, appearing somewhat… comical.

“Nothing to say?”

Faust frowned slightly, growing impatient. “If not, then get lost.”

Such arrogant words elicited another gasp from the crowd. Those residing in Dispute Fortress were well aware of Inothea’s ruthless methods. Anyone who dared speak to her in such a manner typically ended up as a smear on the ground.

The man, with his blade hanging at his side, didn’t even glance at Inothea as he turned to leave.

The lioness, her chest heaving, blood boiling, and brown skin flushing dark red, locked her eyes on Faust’s back. A flash of resolute malice crossed her gaze, and in an instant, her form transformed into a thunderous bolt of daylight, tearing a fissure in the ground as she surged towards Faust’s back like a hunting tiger.

A warrior with the ferocity of a beast, her aura and demeanor were truly intimidating.

Yet, if one were to speak of a “beast”…

Adventurer Lord Faust had personally trained a creature even more beastly than any beast. In the art of taming wild creatures, he had a wealth of experience.

Without turning his head, the black blade at his waist instantly transformed from a compact sword into a chain blade. Like the bones of a serpent, countless sharp edges shot out from the ends of the sword’s skeleton. Inothea, charging at Faust, was swallowed by this swirling black cloud of blades.

In the blink of an eye, the bloodless edges reattached to the sword’s frame, as if nothing had transpired.

Inothea, who had attacked with the force of thunder, her powerful and agile form brimming with strength, suddenly seemed to collide with an invisible, soft wall, gradually slowing to a halt.

As her movements grew sluggish, her steps became unsteady and faltering. Yet, Inothea’s expression remained one of violent resolve, seemingly unaware of the changes overtaking her body.

Under the horrified gaze of onlookers, her legs finally gave way, and she collapsed to the ground.

The woman looked up in bewilderment at her trembling hands, her eyes suddenly catching sight of a glaring red wound.

Then another, and another, dozens… hundreds, even thousands of cuts!

Pff—!

Inothea’s skin and armor shattered together, among the dense cut, her blood, driven by the fierce power coursing through her, sprayed out from myriad wounds like water from a pump!

Under this onslaught of a thousand cuts, the once brutal woman who had just ruthlessly slaughtered members of the Revolutionary Army was reduced to a fountain of blood, collapsing with a thud.

The perpetrator of this carnage had already vanished without a trace.

*

“You brazenly slaughtered members of the Whistling Legion, turned that woman into a flayed corpse, and provoked the Duke of Azuregold… It won’t be long before the entire western kingdom knows you as Faust,” Ravenna said, arms crossed and frowning.

“So what do you plan to do next?”

“Everyone knowing I am Faust doesn’t mean everyone believing I am Faust, Venna,” Ansel tapped the hilt of his sword thoughtfully.

“There are always many clever people in this world, aren’t there?”

“Clever people…”

Ravenna, well-versed in Ansel’s ways, rolled her eyes slightly.

“You mean the kind whose every thought and action are under your control?”

The young Hydral couldn’t help but laugh at the deep-seated resentment in her tone. “It seems our dear Miss Ravenna speaks from experience.”

She responded by kicking the side of Ansel’s face with her bare, snowy foot.

“So…” She withdrew her leg and paused, “Who is it this time? Which self-assured ‘clever person’ is thinking exactly what you want them to think?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“The Duke of Azuregold? What do you want him to think?”

Ansel smiled. “What kind of person do you think Faust is?”

“… How should I know?” Ravenna frowned slightly. “You didn’t exactly take me along on your adventures.”

“Well then, do you think they know what kind of person Faust is?”

“…”

Ravenna, catching on without further prompting, said, “No matter how they see it, what kind of person Faust is… in the end, is for you to decide. I see.”

Ansel tilted his head and smiled at Ravenna, extending his hand. “The greatest enemy of clever people is—”

“Hubris.” ×2.

Their hands met in a light clap, both speaking the word in perfect unison.

Having grasped Ansel’s intent, Ravenna felt a deeper confusion.

“But what is the point of shaping a Faust… in the Duke of Azuregold’s eyes?”

“Well, there are many purposes, but the most important one right now is not for me to achieve.”

“…What do you mean?”

This time, Ansel didn’t answer Ravenna’s question. Instead, he gazed into the distance, towards the direction of the lower city.

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Marlina, I have set the stage for you.

With a heart full of unspoken thoughts, the transforming serpent lowered its eyes and whispered inwardly:

Don’t disappoint me again.

*