Volume 3

Chapter 37 : The Gradually Peeling Outer Layer

In the middle level of the Lower District, Marina stood in a room, looking down condescendingly through the window at the chaotic scene on the street.

Three or four tattooed fellows who looked ferocious were surrounded by some commoners. Those increasingly indignant shouts could be heard even here.

“Seemingly…… still not enough.”

The girl, with her arms crossed over her chest, tapped her arm lightly with her index finger, looking thoughtfully at the others, more others who were still watching, and murmured in a low voice:

“Even to this extent, it still won’t do?”

This situation was also within Marina’s expectation.

As long as the majority or even everyone was not indifferent, then these people in the Lower District could still be supported.

What she worried about most was that due to living at the bottom for a long time, these commoners’ hope and thirst for the “gift” of Transcenders had obliterated their last bit of bloody nature and dignity.

If that was the case…… then they, at least this batch of people, were completely hopeless.

At this thought, Marina took out the communication magic crystal and said calmly: “Continue to stimulate, provoke their anger.”

Then, among the blocked gangsters, someone suddenly roared loudly:

“Asking for death, is it! That brat dared to steal our money, this is the price! Don’t think you are fine just because you ran to the Upper District to submit a commission. I tell you…… it is impossible for them to help you with bugs forever!”

……Adventurers were really skilled at talking trash.

Whether it was the besieged gang members or the boy who was thrown down causing public anger, they were all idle adventurers Marina asked for from Mibaita.

The original bodies of the gangsters had already been disposed of, and that boy was arranged by Marina to be fostered by a family in the Upper District and simply didn’t want to return here.

For the time being, there was no need for anyone to sacrifice, but looking at this situation…… a bigger flame was needed to ignite the blood energy in the hearts of the commoners.

At that time, mere acting might not be enough.

Marina looked at the group of commoners who were obviously angered but dared not step forward, whispering in her heart.

“One week…… no, three to five days should be enough.”

The girl leaning by the window slowly finalized the subsequent plan.

“Continuously trigger real conflicts, unceasingly stimulate their hatred and anger. If they can collectively or mostly launch a counterattack, then we can continue.”

The order of the Lower District was no order.

Mibaita and other adventurers used this place as a tool for amusement, never really caring what it developed into.

There was no clear administrative system, no one had a position division, hence the situation previously controlled by gangs formed.

But the three biggest leaders had already been solved by Hit, so they had a certain confidence on this basis.

Plus, all commoners previously united to commission Transcenders to clear out the remaining gang members…… their awe for this group of original rulers should have reached the lowest point.

All Tier 1 and Tier 2 Transcenders in the Lower District were cleaned up.

The remaining gang members were actually just ordinary people.

If under this circumstance, they still didn’t have the courage to launch a resistance, then Marina could only abandon this testing ground, directly let Mibaita put on a false peaceful appearance for Hitana, and let her leave here quickly.

The subsequent focus would be on how to center on Strife Fortress, utilize Mibaita, [Whistling Legion], [Executioner], and even the Lapis Lazuli Grand Duke’s connections to spread a huge net across the entire West Kingdom.

This net would definitely be able to help Mr. Anselm.

Even if the forces of [Shadow Swamp] spread all over the West Kingdom, their main direction was concentrated on finding Ivora, so they would eventually have omissions, and I can fill these omissions.

After Hit’s trouble here is solved, I might be able to use this net to continue stabilizing her subsequent training. In this way, Rhine will have to ask for my help even more.

What [Shadow Swamp] can do, I can also do; what [Garden] can do, I can do even better!

Marina slowly clenched her fist, exhaled the breath that became somewhat hot due to excitement from her lungs, and continued to observe the scene outside the window.

More and more things had to be held in her heart, and the considerations in her mind became increasingly complex, but Marina instead became increasingly…… tireless.

She was like a young beast who had tasted blood for the first time and could no longer endure the dry taste of grass and leaves, but in the restless heart, an unusual calm self was entrenched.

Marina had never felt so clear-headed, nor had she ever felt so full of motivation.

On the street, the adventurers playing gangsters seemed to get interested.

They didn’t act according to the script Marina explained, but unexpectedly took the initiative to shout and shove the commoners surrounding them, and even after the other party fought back, directly punched the other party in the face.

Adventurers…… a pack of loathsome hyenas.

Marina’s eyes became somewhat gloomy.

At this moment, she really couldn’t agree more with Anselm’s words.

In the original script, as long as enough anger and resentment were successfully aroused, they should immediately “flee in panic”, letting these commoners reap the beautiful fruit of victory due to unity, instead of fighting each other like now…… Although deepening hatred wasn’t wrong, it shouldn’t be now.

“Do you want to be torn to pieces by Lady Indote?”

Marina spoke into the communication magic crystal with a soft and pleasant voice: “If you have this thought, then continue.”

Even from a long distance, Marina could see the adventurer, who was riding on a commoner waving his fist with a joyful expression, suddenly stiffened.

He could only stop. Other adventurers also dared not continue, preparing to escape honestly.

And just at the moment when Marina breathed a slight sigh of relief, put down the communication magic crystal, and prepared to turn and leave…… in the mid-air of the middle level district, a roar of extreme shock and rage suddenly sounded.

“Bastard things…… Are you looking for death!”

That roar was like thunder booming.

Even a storm really whistled and swept over, stirring up a violent gale of anger, merely from that violent figure falling like a meteor.

Boom boom boom boom——

Huge roaring sounds and dust rose on the street.

The terrifying extreme speed tore a visible cavity in the air, while the immense force crushing everything plowed a deep trench on the whole road.

At the end where the dust dissipated, the tall girl with a tyrannical expression slammed the adventurer’s head onto the ground with one hand, forcefully using his head to plow out this long crack trench.

Judging from that unlucky fellow’s occasional twitching movements, he probably only had one breath left.

Hit…… why is she here?

Marina knew Hitana would affect this plan because she couldn’t sit by and watch someone bully commoners, so she specially made arrangements before the action to transfer Hitana away.

So why would she appear here?

Marina’s pupils shrank sharply.

She couldn’t gamble on whether this group of adventurers without any integrity to speak of would confess that this was just an act, confessing her hiding behind the scenes…… Although even if they said it, Hitana probably wouldn’t believe it, Marina did not accept this kind of accident.

What to do…… with Hit’s power, she definitely could hear the sound of the communication magic crystal. Now threatening this group of adventurers was too late.

They might even expose their identity as Transcenders.

Although Hit probably couldn’t think of anything strange, if it became like this……

Watching the eyes of the commoners gradually shifting towards admiration and even worship, Marina’s tightly clenched fists trembled slightly.

There were many ways to divert Hitana’s attention.

Firstly, after Marina led various affairs, she no longer bothered much with people’s livelihood, concentrating most of her energy on training every day.

Often, there was no need to deliberately divert.

Secondly, thanks to this journey, Hitana has become more mature and responsible.

As long as it was a task given to her by Marina, no matter how she couldn’t understand policy planning, no matter how painful it was to the point of scratching her ears and cheeks, Hitana would still sit on the chair and endure to get the answer.

Marina used this method to temporarily send Hitana away.

But why…… Hit, why would you appear here?

How many times have I said, don’t, don’t give them hope with your power.

I taught you so much, did so much work, why can’t you understand even now?

Marina’s mind was now not even on whether the adventurers would confess about her.

Biting her lip, her eyes changed constantly, and her hand squeezed the gripped window frame until it creaked.

When can you stop that self-righteous——

The girl’s thoughts stopped abruptly.

Her face pale, she took a step back, her body swaying involuntarily.

“Wrong…… Marina, how can you think like this.”

“That is Hit, that is her uncompromising goodness and integrity, not some self-righteous thing…… what were you thinking just now?”

In this instant, Marina felt panic for the dark thought rising in her heart.

But she quickly calmed down again, making herself not think about things unrelated to the current situation.

“To save their lives, they will definitely confess about the acting…… Although Hit isn’t smart and won’t think of the problem in the first place, she may not fail to realize it later. Preparations must be made in advance.”

“To further accelerate the oppression plan on the Lower District commoners, Hit’s situation is a bit wrong, and control over her must also be strengthened…… Is there any method to temporarily shift her gaze away from the Lower District?”

The girl whispered to herself, unraveling the chaotic ball of thread before her eyes at an inconceivable speed.

Her eyes gradually brightened, seemingly having found the subsequent path.

“A bit troublesome, but ultimately not a problem. Fortunately, Mr. Anselm helped me gain control of Strife Fortress. Fortunately, I held [Executioner] hostage immediately.”

Marina exhaled gently, left the window, no longer looking at those few useless pawns, and at the same time changed the communication target to the adventurer who pretended to be the boy thrown down at the beginning.

“Magic Frog, where are you now? Leave the Lower District quickly, that girl is very dangerous, don’t blame me for not warning……”

“……Magic Frog?”

The communication was clearly connected, but no one responded.

There were no other Transcenders in the Lower District, and those commoners definitely couldn’t understand the usage of the communication magic crystal, absolutely unable to connect.

Hit was here again.

If excluding the possibility that Magic Frog was bold enough to risk being torn apart by Indote to joke with her, then only one situation remained.

The girl’s taut heartstrings relaxed bit by bit.

While fate created a big trouble for her, it also brought a better helper.

“Sorry…… An, Mr. Faust.”

Marina’s voice was soft and sweet: “I didn’t think of dragging you into this. Very sorry to have caused you trouble.”

There was still no speech from the other end of the communication magic crystal, but when Marina turned her head to look out the window again, the crowd on the street suddenly exclaimed.

Because a figure shot up into the sky from the bottom of the mine pit and landed not far from Hitana.

“Ah——You!”

Hitana, who was still stepping on the half-dead adventurer, almost shouted out his name after seeing that figure. Fortunately, she changed a syllable from the address to a scream in time.

“You…… cough um, aren’t you that Faust.”

Miss Wolf crossed her arms over her chest, trying hard to put on a haughty posture.

Fortunately, she didn’t reveal her tail at this moment.

“What, suddenly running here to me, something up?”

“Your matter hasn’t been solved yet?”

Faust emitted an indifferent and cold voice.

“……Huh?”

Hitana appeared somewhat baffled——this clear confusion completely from the heart was absolutely not faked.

“I lent my servant to you to use, to let you quickly end your boring justice game.”

The black-haired young man rested one hand on the sword hilt, his tone carrying a bit of impatience: “You, haven’t played enough yet?”

“Play?” Hitana’s eyebrows slowly rose, “Who told you I was playing? Let me tell you, even if you are…… Faust, oh wait……”

Only at this time did Hitana somewhat realize that Anselm seemed to have some other intention.

The girl scratched her head somewhat at a loss: “You are Faust, um…… Faust……”

Miss Wolf, not knowing what she figured out, suddenly shouted loudly:

“Ha!”

She struck a pose, one hand on her hip, one hand pointing at Anselm: “So what if it’s Faust? Does Faust have the qualification to point fingers at me? Why don’t you look at your own——”

Boom——!

The pitch-black sharp blade at Faust’s waist was like a living creature, wriggling and extending dozens of meters away, slashing at Fenrir’s head with one sword.

Clearly a cutting sharp blade, yet it smashed out a roar like a landslide, showing how terrifying its force was. At the same time, it also explained……

In front of that blade that severed everything, someone withstood this slash.

“Huff…… huff……”

Excited, blazing panting sounds like a beast rang in the dust.

That Miss Fenrir, who had already made the name of Wicked Wolf in the West Kingdom, slowly raised her head, her dark red eyes flashing with joyful bestial light.

And the one who withstood this slash was not her herself, but a…… ferocious and cruel wolf demon shadow like a demon god rising from her back!

Fenrir’s tall figure could already make her stand out like a crane in a flock of chickens in the crowd, but under this wolf demon shadow, Fenrir actually appeared somewhat petite, enough to see the hugeness of this demon shadow, as well as the terrifying oppressive feeling it brought to people.

Only the upper body of the wolf demon shadow crossed its claws, blocking this slash.

That pitch-black sharp blade like a living creature seemed stuck in its claws that were cut halfway, unable to continue cutting down.

“Only like this?”

Fenrir, whose figure began to slowly expand, with fluffy ears gradually poking out from the top of her head and a burst of swelling and wriggling at the tailbone, grinned.

The provocation and expectation in the smile had no deliberate feeling at all, completely out of instinct.

“Don’t underestimate me, Faust, I am——”

“Roar!”

Fenrir’s pupils suddenly constricted to the extreme.

She didn’t have time to say any harsh words or any domineering declaration.

That roar just now was even less a vent of bloodlust.

But a roar of demise.

She only spoke halfway, and that fiend-like wolf demon shadow was instantly strangled by the sharp blades burst out from the living creature demon blade.

That suddenly appearing massive cluster of sharp blades was like the mouth of a pitch-black giant beast, swallowing the demon shadow in the blink of an eye, leaving not a trace.

And in this instant, the supreme ominous weapon from the alchemy domain had already placed a sharp blade in front of Fenrir’s neck.

“Guess.”

Faust slightly raised his chin: “Just now, did I use force or not.”

amidst the silence, the black-haired young man retracted that terrifying black sharp blade, hanging it back on his waist.

He looked down condescendingly at Fenrir, who was split to a half-kneel by his sword, his voice indifferent:

“You possess talent that interests me quite a bit. End your little game as soon as possible. If you can become the last person standing on the ring above.”

“I give you a chance to make me serious.”

Faust, who had already turned around, tilted his head slightly to glance at Fenrir who was panting differently.

While speaking in a majestic and solemn tone, he gently winked one eye.

The original face of the bad guy also flashed by at the same time.

Fenrir suddenly clutched her heart, as if suffering some huge trauma.

And that mysterious and unpredictable legendary adventurer also disappeared without a trace.

In the room not far away, Marina leaning against the window panted incessantly, her face flushed.

She really wanted to pour out her gratitude and attachment to Anselm into the communication magic crystal, but didn’t want to make herself look like a little girl worshiping an idol.

Anselm’s appearance directly solved all her immediate problems.

How to divert Hitana’s gaze one hundred percent?

Give her a goal, give her who always pursued strength, a sufficiently clear goal that she would definitely regard as everything.

In this way, she could act wantonly in the Lower District.

At the same time, Faust shattered Fenrir’s invincible image in the hearts of the Lower District commoners with matchless power…… Although worship was still inevitable, at least it was much better than Hitana suddenly appearing to solve that group of adventurers and then harvesting all the worship.

Of course, all the above could not compare to one point.

That was, Anselm understood her thoughts, and Anselm approved of her efforts.

Otherwise, how could Anselm take the initiative to provide help?

——I am walking on the path Mr. Anselm himself also expects. Now perhaps I am just following, perhaps I still need Mr. Anselm to give a pull, but one day…… I will walk side by side with him.

Thinking of this, Marina’s heart was filled with strength.

“……Marina Lansmarlos.”

In the communication magic crystal, a woman’s voice suddenly came, mature, indifferent, unreasonable.

Marina of course knew who that was, so the joy in her heart briefly turned into confusion: “Miss Mingfuluo…… what happened?”

Since the communication magic crystal was in Anselm’s hand, it wasn’t strange for it to be held by Mingfuluo, but why did Anselm have nothing to say to her, and instead Mingfuluo was speaking?

“According to the news obtained from that adventurer pretending to be a child.”

Mingfuluo’s voice was still indifferent. Most of the time, this indifference was not directed at anyone, but this time…… it seemed to have some meaning directed at Marina.

“You seem to be plotting something very bad.”

Marina paused slightly, then said softly: “Just some small matters.”

“Are you sure pretending a young boy was thrown to death in public is a small matter?”

“……”

The smile on the girl’s face slowly faded.

She gently rubbed the windowsill, staring at the scene in the distance where her sister was surrounded by commoners like stars holding the moon.

“If You do not agree with my ideas and plans, I am very sorry, Miss Mingfuluo.”

Marina’s tone was very steady, gentle: “It is my lack of ability. Under the circumstance of being unable to satisfy You and Mr. Anselm’s requirements simultaneously, I can only satisfy Mr. Anselm first.”

“So you think doing this is helping Anselm?”

“If not.” Marina smiled, “What was Mr. Anselm doing just now?”

“……So that’s how it is.”

Mingfuluo’s even colder voice came from that end: “You are proud, proud that Anselm is helping you, indulging you, so you think you are right, is it?”

“I don’t care about objective axioms, Miss Mingfuluo.” Marina, however, maintained that gentle and quiet tone, “I only care about Mr. Anselm.”

There was a sudden sigh after a brief silence on that side.

“I don’t know whether it is his problem or your problem anymore…… Marina, have you ever thought, you actually have more choices?”

“Choices?”

“Although I don’t know what you are doing, at least, with Anselm’s help like this, you can always have more and better, even if you can’t completely erase the negative effects, you can more or less avoid most of the terrible choices.”

This didn’t sound like something Miss Mingfuluo, who could weigh the lives of two territories on a scale, would say.

She was also changing…… but the span shouldn’t be so large. She didn’t have that astonishing harsh requirement on morality like Hit, so what were these words of hers for?

For…… Mr. Anselm?

“You are working for Anselm, you also think so, right.”

“Yes, Miss Mingfuluo.”

“Then you wouldn’t refuse Anselm becoming better no matter what, right?”

“……You are right.”

Marina had vaguely sensed Mingfuluo’s intention.

Better…… more choices? Miss Mingfuluo meant, let Anselm be more…… kind?

Combined with Anselm liking to do some commissions for commoners during this time, Marina wasn’t surprised why Mingfuluo suddenly had such an idea.

Moreover, Miss Mingfuluo inherently indeed had characteristics of moving towards goodness, so her thinking like this wasn’t——

……Wait.

Only at this moment did Marina react.

She reviewed somewhat blankly, somewhat puzzledly, weighing her own plan.

I……

Am I committing evil deeds?

Marina Lansmarlos, from the moment the plan started until now, had never considered this matter.

Pushing, plotting, manipulating, dominating…… These things, to her, were as natural as breathing.

She even vaguely felt that she didn’t deliberately not consider it.

Just purely…… I didn’t care, that’s all.

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