A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines - C.254: The Snake Who Hates Sheeps - II

"Miss Seri, if the black market had the same rules as a regular market, it wouldn't be called a black market~"

Lawrence crossed his arms, "What goods can be sold, what bargains can be picked up, it's all up to the seller and buyer. If you can't spot the problem... then you can only be slaughtered."

"What kind of business is this!" Seraphina was furious, "How can such a market continue!"

Thinking about how she was foolishly about to spend a hundred thousand gold coins on a fake worth two hundred... Seraphina wished she could hang the guy on the city wall.

"The foundation of the black market is built on various ill-gotten goods and shady sellers,"

Ansel's gaze swept over the items being sold in the shops and stalls, explaining to Marlina, "Barbaric tribes decide everything by force, civilized societies constrain everyone with rules... but whether it's force or rules, they are all a form of order."

At this point, he looked at Marlina and asked with a warm smile, "So... Marli, what do you think order is?"

"It's a set of rules that suit the current environment and are generally accepted by most groups, young lord,"

Marlina responded softly, "Many goods circulating in the black market have unknown origins, and the sellers are mostly unscrupulous. Only chaotic rules are suitable for chaotic places, the order under the light is not suitable here."

She took over from Ansel and lectured Seraphina, "Seri, you should understand that you can't survive in a big city with the way you live in the village, right?"

"...Alright."

Seraphina reluctantly said, "I think I understand, but I just can't swallow this."

"Then you can go back and beat him up," Ansel suddenly said.

"...Huh?"

"I brought you out to relax, to unwind."

The young Hydral smiled, "We are following the rules now, also for better relaxation. If maintaining the rules ruins the mood, isn't that putting the cart before the horse?" discover-stories-on-MVLeMpYr

He gently pinched Seraphina's cheek, "You never had to follow the rules, Seri."

This intimate address made Seraphina's heart skip a beat, although it was just a change of address to prevent revealing her identity, the girl's heart was filled with sweetness and joy.

"That's what you say..."

The anger and annoyance in her chest were thrown out of the clouds by Seraphina, she leaned into Ansel and giggled, "But I'm not that unreasonable... ah, I'm not saying An... master, you're unreasonable, just think it's unnecessary, ahem, after all, it's my own stupidity, I can't tell the real from the fake, let's let him go."

As she said this, she looked at Marlina with admiration, "Marli is amazing, she could tell the real from the fake at a glance... it feels like she's become a different person, so smart, even though it hasn't been long."

"Just like you practice every day, Seri, I'm learning every day too."

Marlina smiled, "Aren't you also amazing to the extent that I can't even imagine, Seri?"

"Well, I'm not really practicing every day... hehehe."

The girl with snow-white hair falling to her waist, quietly watching her giggling sister, no longer had any dark emotions rising, she just smiled helplessly, keeping her sighs to herself.

Even at this position, being trusted and employed by Ansel as an ordinary person, Marlina hardly left any spare time for rest.

Politics, economics, extraordinary knowledge, even the various etiquettes and rules she learned to prevent Ansel's demeanor and majesty from being damaged, and a bunch of flashy but "valuable" things in the eyes of the nobility...

"For the nobles, gems are a must-talk topic," the girl said with a light laugh, "So I learned some gem appraisal knowledge... the real Tear of Deep Blue is not like that, it becomes crystal clear under the sunlight, looks like a miniature glacier inside, and its implication is not loyalty or love... it actually has no implication at all."

"So that guy was just bullshitting because he thought I was easy to fool..."

Seraphina gritted her teeth, "... Damn it! I almost fell for it, thank goodness I have no money!"

"Why did you want to buy it, Seri?" Marlina asked curiously, "You're not interested in gems."

"Because... because..."

The girl was shy for a moment, then whispered, "Because that gem reminded me of the master's eyes, they're just as beautiful... no, the master's eyes are even more beautiful."

Upon concluding her words, Seraphina and Marlina almost simultaneously directed their gazes towards Ansel's eyes.

Reflected in Ansel's azure orbs were the masked visages of the two young ladies; the one donning the wolf mask averted her gaze the moment their eyes met, while the one with the bird beak mask tenderly held his gaze for a moment before gracefully dipping in a curtsy and withdrawing her attention.

Perched on Marlina's shoulder, Lawrence couldn't help but marvel — truly befitting of my young lord! Merely a glance was enough to delight the ladies so... If only the boss possessed half the young lord's charm, he wouldn't be so thoroughly oppressed by ma'am, indeed... Hm? Where is the young lord off to now? freewebnσvel.cѳm

Ansel suddenly halted before a shop that boasted a rather stylish decor, craning his neck to study the signboard for a moment before pushing the door open and entering, with a slightly puzzled Marlina and Seraphina following close behind.

The shop offered an array of rather ordinary items, including antiques, jewelry, and plenty of peculiar trinkets.

The middle-aged man behind the counter, reclining in his chair and engrossed in the newspaper, didn't bother to greet the newcomers, seemingly indifferent to his own business.

Ansel approached the counter and rapped lightly on the surface, inquiring, "Sir, have the goods?"

The shopkeeper spread the newspaper out in front of him, slightly lowering his head and allowing his glasses to slip down his nose as he scrutinized Ansel.

"It appears we have a distinguished young lord here," he chuckled suddenly. "Adorned with such a mask, why not peruse the finer merchandise within, instead of visiting my humble place?"

"I merely inquire whether you have the goods," Ansel repeated.

After a long, penetrating gaze, the man set aside his newspaper, lit a cigarette with a leisurely air, and asked, "What do you want? Sugar? Water? Or perhaps something more potent?"

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