A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines - C.265: The Indomitability Represented by the Snake - III

Marlina brought her fingertips together and calmly stated:

"Authority." freeweɓnovel.cѳm

Bang!

In the increasingly tense moment between Rodent and Vulture, Hyena abruptly plunged a dagger into the table, standing up with a fierce and wildly sinister grin.

"The fact that Hyena has forcefully swept through the slave markets is established; Vulture and Rodent now face two choices: retaliate or accept Hyena's terms."

"If it were me," Marlina began, smiling as her fingers touched, "I wouldn't inform them that I've found a new backer. I'd let them believe this is a desperate final stand before madness... unless truly cornered, businessmen are loath to engage in a fight to the death with a madman."

"Promises of unequal benefits to the splitters."

Rodent and Vulture stared at the gem on the table, silent.

"A thunderous strike without the slightest reaction."

Who could have predicted that someone, seemingly without support and no options left, would suddenly, in a fit of madness, target the slave markets?

"The brutal authority of a madman."

The dagger, nailed to the table, reflected Hyena's fearless, cruel, and arrogant smile.

Marlina exhaled slowly, feeling her blood surge and her heart pound with a tide of pride and satisfaction.

"This is my answer."

The young girl turned to Ansel, her smile radiant as she said, "I have carried out your command, Mr. Ansel. Have I won?"

"Very well, exceptionally well, Marlina."

Ansel clapped his hands with pleasure: "You've exceeded my expectations, achieved perfection... You lack much information, such as the personalities, dispositions, and behavioral patterns of Hyena and the other leaders. Yet without asking me, you've constructed a sufficiently useful profile in your mind. Did you confirm it during your conversation with Hyena?"

"Yes, judging by his appearance, physique, speech, choices, and accomplishments... Mr. Hyena seems to be a person of meticulous thought and precision, yet not without ruthless tactics and a resolve to burn his bridges. As for the other leaders... I can only assume they are not fools."

Experience adventures on m _v _lempy _r.

Marlina smiled shyly: "I was just lucky to guess correctly."

"This is not luck, but the result of accumulated learning and growth... I've said it before, Marlina, you possess remarkable talent."

Ansel smiled, patting Marlina's head, causing the usually composed and graceful girl to squint her eyes in happiness.

"However..."

His next words caused Marlina's expression to stiffen slightly.

"Next," the young Hydral continued, "it's my turn."

"Mr.Ansel..."

"I've said it, this is a game between you and me. Since you've made your choice, it's time for my response, isn't it? I have no intention of letting Mr. Hyena have an easy time of it."

Ansel chuckled: "Although it's my turn now, in reality, it was much earlier..."

In the conference's images, the disheveled Rodent and the malevolent Vulture locked eyes, and then… to everyone's surprise, a smile slowly spread across their faces, soon erupting into a scornful, full-throated laugh.

As Vulture and Marlina were still trying to comprehend the situation, the slave markets, which were under the control of Hyena's underlings, simultaneously underwent a shocking upheaval.

Assassins, as if they had been lying in wait from much earlier, suddenly sprang from the shadows, effortlessly overpowering the unsuspecting Hyena's subordinates. Even those with the strength to fight back due to their main force status were gradually overpowered and ultimately forced to flee in disarray.

"How..." Marlina watched the scenes unfolding on the screen in disbelief, "How could this happen? Hyena... Do I have a traitor in my midst, and he's one of my confidants? Has my entire plan been exposed?"

The true advantage lay not in plunging one's adversaries into conflict but in establishing a fait accompli that would allow Hyena to dominate the slave market through proactive strikes.

Even with the support of the Duke of Luminaris, he had failed to consolidate all the slave markets; thus, it was unreasonable to expect a change with a mere "Faust" as his backer. The only opportunity... lay in a gambit so audacious that, coupled with the right incentives, it was sufficient to make Vulture and Rodent stand down.

The cunning of this devastating blow lay in its unexpectedness; no one would have anticipated Hyena to dare such a move. Conversely… if the plan were to become known, it would not only be rendered pointless but would also lead to the decimation of Hyena's vital forces.

Ansel waved his hand dismissively, a light-hearted chuckle in his voice, "No, it's not that you have a traitor; this is merely a..."

"Coincidence."

With a snap of his fingers, an unremarkable man appeared before Marlina.

"Remember him?"

"That's... the seller of that fake gem!"

"After he changed his face and inexplicably began to follow us, I kept an eye on him and took the liberty of reading his mind."

"In essence, as a fence, he was ostensibly working under Vulture. After being astounded by your discernment, Marlina, he sought to win me over, to recruit a client for Vulture, thereby securing a personal profit... And then, he watched as we walked right into Mr. Hyena's slave market."

As Ansel spoke, Hyena, with a visage twisted in disgust, abandoned the precious gem and departed.

"He did not wish for Hyena to grow too powerful, for I might be a person of significance, and thus sought to engage me quickly, to introduce me to Vulture. However, my conspicuous behavior at the auction made him wary of the risk of exposure, and he refrained from doing so."

"Until..."

"Until Hyena, until I arrived," murmured Marlina.

"I was too impatient. The thought of a legendary adventurer arriving here made me determined not to miss the opportunity, so much so that I didn't even invite Mr. Ansel to my office or any other suitable place for conversation. Instead, we spoke directly in the private box, and outside... was the auction hall filled with bidders."

The young girl clenched her fists slowly: "The use of magic for eavesdropping might go undetected, and even if discovered, might not be traced back, provided one has the audacity..."

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