A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Chapter 727 Judge the Disloyal - II

Due to the abyssal corruption, Nine's body had succumbed to an incurable weakness. Unless she drew power from Ansel, she would likely... be confined to a wheelchair for the foreseeable future.

Although the power Ansel could bestow upon Nine was not without cost to himself—whatever he gave her, he would lose—he didn't mind sharing enough to allow her normal mobility. For him, it was a negligible sacrifice. Yet Nine steadfastly refused to accept.

Her words had been: "Even a millionth of your power, Mr.Ansel, would serve a greater purpose if left with you than if given to me."

Only when absolutely necessary would Nine borrow Ansel's power; otherwise, she refused to accept even the slightest amount, deeming it wasteful.

This excessive self-deprecation left Ansel at a loss for words, compelling him to acquiesce to Nine's wishes.

Despite repeatedly confirming that Nine had become his greatest disappointment, Ansel occasionally found himself wondering over the past three days if she might have some hidden agenda.

Deep down, he still struggled to believe that the girl he had once acknowledged could have fallen so far.

Yet, as this thought crossed his mind, Ansel could only mock himself.

Wasn't he, in his past as a devil, the very architect of Marlina's current state? Wasn't it his present demonic self who had deliberately pushed her into the abyss?

His feelings of regret and pity seemed hypocritical and laughable in light of this.@@@@

"Regarding the empire's recent situation and future prospects," the frail girl in the wheelchair spoke softly, "I have some thoughts. Would you spare a moment to hear them?"

Ansel set down his quill, fixing his gaze on Nine's pitch-black eyes for a long moment before giving a slight nod. "Go ahead."

"You may not need to exert yourself over the entire empire, Mr. Ansel."

Nine began, her hands folded neatly in her lap, her voice still gentle.

"In the Southern Territories, your authority is absolute. Both the nobility and supernatural organizations hold you in great reverence. It's the least likely region to experience significant upheaval, so it can be set aside for now."

"The Eastern Harbor, with its three grand ducal families' thousand-year legacy, has long established a refined system. It won't descend into excessive chaos merely due to the absence of family heads. Their internal strife will remain within reasonable bounds, and such conflict... will actually facilitate your future control over the region.

She smiled sweetly. "You're merely guiding them onto the right path, aren't you? Those who refuse to follow your righteous path are rebels. Slaughtering rebels isn't massacre—it's justified execution."

The roles seemed to have reversed. Nine was no longer the pure girl led astray by a devil's temptation, but rather... the very incarnation of a devil herself.

She spoke gently and sweetly, subtly tempting Ansel to commit evil acts.

"The difference between slaughter and execution lies not in the target, but in the extent."

How could the past real Devil be easily tempted? Ansel responded calmly, looking at the seemingly frail Nine.

"Killing is not the goal, but a means. Don't confuse the two, Nine."

"Yes, I'll remember that, Mr. Ansel," Nine replied, lowering her gaze submissively.

— Her plan was actually correct and indeed aligned with the important task Ansel was about to have implemented.

The Western Lands were already in a state of near anarchy, with four grand dukes fighting among themselves and allowing adventurers and supernatural beings to act with impunity. After their deaths, these hyenas, barely influenced by the empire's order, would throw the West into chaos. Discover hidden stories at My Virtual Library Empire

Nine's single word "kill" succinctly cut to the heart of the matter. Ansel did need sacrificial lambs to swiftly establish his authority, and these adventurers were unlikely to fall in line. Most of them held little value... their only worth perhaps being their contribution during dragon calamities.

But even during the grand dukes' conflicts, they had managed dragon calamities, viewing them as grand hunts. Once Ansel took full control of the Western Lands and reestablished order, dealing with dragon calamities would naturally become effortless.

For the West to be reborn, it needed to be broken down and rebuilt. And to break it down and rebuild... bloodshed was indeed necessary.

"Nine."

Ansel was no longer surprised by Nine's ability to precisely articulate his thoughts. He asked her a question that he had received many answers to before, yet still held some lingering curiosity about:

"Regarding this proposal, do you have even the slightest consideration for the common people of the West?"

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