Monster Girl Development Master

Page 66

Moreover, Falao Territory's greatest asset had already been taken over by Zhuang Sen—now, the Falao family is no longer the only sacred bloodline in the Falling Star Kingdom with the ability to [heal].

Of course, all of this is on the premise that the Starr sisters and Princess Celine are willing to help him testify, rather than expose him. This is also why Johnson didn't want to bring them along before, since he was planning an ambush, which would expose that he had actually anticipated this, and thus expose his conspiracy.

But what if he changed his plans and brought the princess and the noblewoman to visit? Eagle Cliff is a pretty good attraction in itself.

What if the three of them were actually willing to help by making an appearance?

Johnson was thinking too deeply, and Lysander and Princess Celine were also taken aback by Johnson's sudden 180-degree change in attitude, falling silent for a moment. Only the clever and lovely little Piper remained clear-headed.

She noticed Zhuang Sen's "troubled" expression, then cleverly looked at the unopened gift that was right in front of her.

So she reached out, took it down, opened it, and took out the scarf and gloves that Lisander had knitted by hand: "Johnson, look, your sister has prepared winter clothes for you, so you're definitely happy to have them~"

Lysander buried her head in her chest, her fair face flushed crimson, the color spreading down to her earlobes.

Chapter 157: Bullying the Arrogant One

As Princess Celine gazed at the shy Lisander with a "deeply affectionate" look, a strange bitterness welled up in her heart, making her feel extremely unwilling, and her hands unconsciously clenched. She wouldn't normally react so strongly, but the verbal sparring and subtle competition with Lisander had drawn her attention, and the draw only made her more resentful. Now, suddenly "losing," coupled with Zhuang Sen's current behavior, made her feel even more frustrated. Her original arrogance and confidence were shattered by reality, and the usually soft-hearted princess naturally revealed her vulnerable side.

Judy, who witnessed everything, felt a pang of regret and a sense of awe. The two sisters were attacking together, using such aggressive tactics; no wonder the princess couldn't win. Besides, she was still too inexperienced; she hadn't even thought to prepare a gift for the princess. She could only hope the princess wouldn't be too discouraged and lose confidence.

They still have a chance to turn things around. Go for it, Your Highness!

……

Johnson took the scarf and gloves from Piper, feeling quite strange. It wasn't the first time he'd received a gift; he and the monster girls often exchanged jewelry, delicate foods, and the like, and they always felt happy when they received them. But this feeling was different; it was more than just simple joy—it was mixed with a more complex emotion—if he had to describe it, it was probably surprise.

A handmade gift received before a relationship is even established is indeed more unexpected, more likely to spark imaginations and fantasies. If paired with a young girl's shyness, the feeling is even more unique. However, this sense of surprise didn't last long for Zhuang Sen. Looking at Lisander, he accurately spotted some inconsistencies.

Lysander's shyness was genuine; Johnson had seen it many times before, and it was certainly real. Her right foot, slightly raised and almost stomping through the floor, indicated her embarrassment was real as well. Judging from the force she exerted, she desperately wanted to run away—but something was preventing her from doing so.

Zhuang Sen didn't think it was because of love. If it were love, the shy girl would have run away immediately. Something else must have suppressed the girl's shy heart and instinctive reaction, and it shouldn't be because Piper was still in Zhuang Sen's arms.

So either Lisander's reactions are all fake, and she's actually a wicked woman with superb acting skills, trying to seduce Johnson, or she has a reason that makes her stay, even if it's against her girlish instincts...

Zhuang Sen couldn't immediately determine which type Lisander was, but recalling the tension that had flashed across Lisander's face earlier, and her open and covert struggles with Princess Celine—behaviors that seemed out of character—Zhuang Sen put down the scarf and gloves he was holding.

Regardless of Lysander's plans, taking her to witness the "Faraw family's evil conspiracy" tomorrow is a pure profit. After all, the Bloodline Order is now his "partner," so why would he refuse such a small favor? Moreover, he can take this opportunity to test whether Lysander is the former or the latter... The method is simple: just observe her relationship with those people in the Bloodline Order.

……

The story above is a long one, but actually, not long after, Zhuang Sen patted Piper's head, and the previously a little nervous Piper immediately puffed out his flat chest triumphantly: "Hehe~"

“Miss Lisander, thank you for your gift, I love it,” Johnson said. “As for tomorrow’s tour, I plan to take you both to Eagle Cliff. It’s the border between Leon Territory and Farau Territory, a beautiful cliffside landscape. It’s said that giant eagles live on the cliff top.”

Piper responded with high emotional value: "Oh~ that sounds amazing~ are there really giant eagles?"

“I don’t know either. We can try to look for her tomorrow.” Zhuang Sen calmed Piper down, then looked at Lysandra, whose face had softened a bit, and casually probed, “By the way, I need to send a letter to Count Cameron about this, lest he suspect that I’ve abducted Miss Lysandra and come after me—well, and maybe there will be some good news.”

Lysander controlled her expression well, but under Johnson's careful observation, he still caught a fleeting moment of wavering and joy in her, as if she was happy that Johnson had negotiated with Count Cameron to keep them, like she had suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

She said, "Then I'll have to bother you, Your Excellency."

The elegant and natural conversation made Princess Celine feel extremely uncomfortable. Although Lisandra reverted to the more unfamiliar "Countess," the ease and shyness in her tone were too obvious to ignore, not to mention the hidden meaning beneath this simple exchange.

It wasn't too late yet, more than enough time to return to Starry Night City from Radiant Manor, but Johnson insisted on "sending a letter to Count Came to explain the situation," which was an implication of inviting the Starr sisters to stay overnight. Lysander's response of "I'm sorry to bother you" indicated that she had agreed to the invitation—this was too lewd!

Princess Celine's delicate side exploded with a sharp, resentful rage. While she was filled with resentment and discontent, she also devised a plan to break the deadlock—why not stay the night herself? She refused to believe that the Starr sisters and Johnson would dare do anything lewd in front of her!

But her pride prevented her from asking Zhuang Sen to "ignore" her, and she couldn't bring herself to ask him to stay the night. This contradiction made her very anxious, which manifested on the surface as her expression becoming somewhat hostile as she stared directly at Zhuang Sen.

Judy, who had secretly observed everything, shook her head and made a decision that went against the code of the Guardian Knights. She raised her hand and spoke to Zhuang Sen in a light tone: "Count, would you mind adding two more people to tomorrow's tour? My master would like to discuss the matter of the Red Dragon bloodline with you."

A competent guardian knight should be silent, loyal, and obedient, never making decisions for his master without authorization, never disobeying his master's wishes and commands, and never tarnishing his master's reputation—but Judy's words almost completely undermined all of that.

But what can she do when her princess has such an awkward personality? If she doesn't help, Her Highness will be completely crushed by the Starr sisters in a two-on-one fight that has no honor whatsoever... Hopefully, Her Highness has really taken a liking to this young count, otherwise she will become a disgrace to the Guardian Knights.

However, this count is extremely attractive in every way. His age, appearance, strength, and status are all quite good. Although his rank is a bit low, he is only sixteen years old and has plenty of time to rise. It is better than a sixty-year-old marquis.

Judy was lost in thought when she heard Zhuang Sen's reply: "Yes, I was just about to invite Her Highness. I hope you won't mind."

Princess Celine gave a soft hum but didn't speak, which made Zhuang Sen burst into a pleasant laugh—the nervous expression on this proud and beautiful girl's face was really quite amusing.

……

That day, the raven brought a letter from Count Came, along with a letter from the Grand Duke. Although the two letters were not about the same thing, they conveyed the same meaning—agreement.

Chapter 158: Lysander's Confession

That evening, Johnson handed Count Cameron's reply to Lysander: "It seems that His Excellency the Grand Duke is very open-minded, Miss Lysander."

After quickly reading the two short replies, Lisander was somewhat dazed. She hadn't expected that what she had tried so hard to get rid of and what she had painstakingly tried to achieve would ultimately only require her to stay put. This made her feel both amused and relieved, but when it came down to it, all that remained was a sigh.

"Should I call you husband now, Your Excellency?"

The slightly aggressive words slipped out, and Lisander immediately regretted them, not out of fear, but out of guilt. She knew perfectly well that everything she worried about had nothing to do with Johnson; on the contrary, her lucky escape, and the fact that she had even managed to take Piper with her, was all thanks to Johnson. However, for a fleeting moment, her mind had become somewhat unbalanced, and she couldn't control her emotions. It was as if some long-suppressed feeling had suddenly been released, so much so that her brain couldn't stop it before uttering these ungrateful words.

Lysander immediately straightened her posture and apologized to Johnson: "I'm sorry, Lord Johnson, I..."

Zhuang Sen waved his hand and walked to the window. Night had fallen, and the full moon hung high in the deep sky, casting its light into the window and making it appear cold and silvery. "It's alright, Lysander. I think I understand your reaction just now, but let's not talk about that for now. Can you tell me why you want to escape from Grand Duke Starr? I remember that the Grand Duke treated the Golden Daughter very well. Judging from Piper's expression, it doesn't seem like a false rumor."

The moonlight stopped at the bed curtains, and young, sleepy Piper was already fast asleep, his chubby little face full of smiles, not at all like someone who had been persecuted.

Lysander pursed her lips, her gaze lingering on Johnson and Piper for a moment before she made up her mind: "Lord Johnson, you are right. Father... Duke Starr has indeed provided excellent treatment to us adopted daughters. Each of us, regardless of our past, lives like a true duke's daughter. In that respect, I need to thank Duke Starr, although I still can't forget my biological parents who refused to sell me and Piper to the duke, and died suddenly the next day."

Zhuang Sen blinked and rummaged through the wine cabinet, pulling out a bottle of red wine and two stemmed glasses: "So, you were specially selected?"

Lysander took the glass and skillfully sniffed the aroma of the wine: "No, I don't know, and I dare not inquire whether the other 'sisters' have the same origin. I only know that each Golden Daughter has her own unique growth experience."

Lysander gazed at the transparent glass, the crimson liquid obscuring the full moon, the cold moonlight radiating from its rim like a haughty, indifferent gaze from above.

“Every single one of the Golden Ladies must receive a noble education, but the standards required of each person are different. For example, Piper and I. I am required to be standard and elegant. Even if it is just a slight muscle movement when I smile, I have to keep practicing and correcting it. But Piper can sneeze on the food at the table without being scolded by those old-fashioned spinsters.”

"Even the requirements for me are still within the normal range of aristocratic etiquette. Some of the other sisters are even more outrageous, demanding that the swaying of their clothes and the deviation of their hair be done to a certain standard when they move, even though those old maids themselves could not do it unless they used their magical inventions—sorry, I've gone a bit off-topic."

Lysander raised her glass, bringing the remaining wine to her lips. Her already rosy lips appeared even more alluring under the wine's shimmer: "In short, after realizing all this, I began to observe my sisters more frequently, especially Piper. And so I came to the conclusion I mentioned before: each of the 135 Golden Daughters, including myself, has different standards of conduct, or rather, different limits of tolerance, than the other sisters. It's as if their growth paths have been deliberately defined, and when they become Golden Daughters, it's already predetermined what kind of person they will become."

Zhuang Sen finished the rest of his drink and picked up the bottle to refill the two glasses: "It sounds a bit strange, but it doesn't seem like a bad thing... Maybe it's just Duke Starr's preference and expectations for different people. After all, I can't bear to scold little Piper either."

Lisander shook her head, knowing that Johnson didn't really think that way, he was just trying to liven up the conversation. She picked up her wine glass again and said softly, "That's right, I thought so at first too, and even thought it was reasonable. After all, adopting so many girls must have a goal, just to cultivate the talents you need. There's really no need to criticize it. Until one of my sisters got married, I found a brooch in the hunting grounds behind the castle. It was a wedding gift I gave to that sister, given to her before the wedding. Even if she didn't like it and wanted to throw it away, she couldn't possibly go all the way to the mountains behind the castle to throw it away at the wedding. And the nobleman she married was far away from our Golden Castle, she never came back."

Zhuang Sen raised his glass: "So, it's more likely that she never left at all?"

Lysander shook her head: "I don't know. I only know that since then, I often 'coincidentally' find things belonging to the sisters who left, and without exception, almost none of them have returned to Golden Castle. It's like some kind of blatant hint, some kind of very direct temptation, as if inviting me to uncover this secret, but I didn't dare to continue... What confuses me is, is this kind of retreat and confusion what they want?"

Zhuang Sen raised an eyebrow slightly: "But you now..."

“Yes, I’ve taken action now, I’ve made a decision. Do you know why?” Lisander downed the remaining half-glass of red wine, her slightly tipsy eyes losing some of their former fierceness and gaining more of their delicate beauty. “Because since I came to Leon Territory, since that banquet, I’ve noticed that those spinsters who came with the group, those strict nuns, are no longer watching me every second. I tried to overstep my bounds a few times, and no one cared at all. So I knew that my destined day had arrived.”

Zhuang Sen swirled his wine glass: "Are you afraid of disappearing too?"

“I was afraid that Piper would disappear with me, and even more afraid that they were going to do something I wasn’t prepared for.” Lissandra put down her glass, her bright, deep blue eyes moving closer to Johnson as she took a step. “But what really made me decide to act was that I finally found the person they feared and revered. It was your presence that gave me the courage.”

She bent her knees slightly, lowering her tall frame to meet Zhuang Sen's gaze: "Are you satisfied with this answer, my dear... husband?"

The strong aroma of alcohol carried the fragrance of a young girl, and the blush on her spirited cheeks was indistinguishable between drunkenness and shyness. The girl, kneeling on one knee, had a burning gaze and was deeply intoxicated.

Zhuang Sen placed the wine glass on the chair beside him, extended his right hand adorned with the [Dwarven Rings], the runes-encrusted rings gleaming in the moonlight, causing Lysander a pang of pain: "I understand, Earl... mmm mmm."

His azure pupils dilated, but only Zhuang Sen's fair face was visible in them. His chin was gripped with an irresistible force, and his wine-stained lips were being roughly yet gently ravaged. His instinctively closed lips were of no use as they were forcibly pried open and entered.

After a long while, Zhuang Sen left satisfied. His lustrous silver hair slowly stretched in the moonlight until it separated at the last moment. The moment of separation left Lisandra feeling lost, and her already swollen red lips felt a sudden heat.

“Just call me Johnsen from now on. It seems a bit too early for you, darling.” Johnsen grinned mischievously and pointed behind Lysandra. “At least not today. We can’t set a bad example for the little girl.”

Lysander turned around and saw her little sister, Piper, blinking her big eyes and looking at her with curiosity. Her pretty face turned completely red to her collarbone, and she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Goodnight, Lisander.

Zhuang Sen helped Lisander up. "Sweet dreams. By the way, don't hit the child tonight."

Leaving Lysander's room, Johnson glanced casually at the room next door, Princess Celine's room, and muttered, "It's too late, let's forget about it."

Then he turned and walked towards his room. A moment later, his figure disappeared at the end of the corridor. Princess Celine pushed open the door and snorted.

The author says:

Author's Note: I'll add an extra chapter if I get enough donations~ This chapter took a lot of brainpower to write. Lysander's romantic development is basically a subplot. Foreshadowing can be seen in the changes between Piper and Lysander when they first met, and their different reactions when Johnson flirted with her later. I hope everyone won't find it abrupt, although some of my romantic storylines were indeed written in a rushed style ( ). As for Piper, because she's too young, I'll introduce her a little later~ Final update: Monthly tickets 24/50, urging tickets 25/50, donations 500/5000

Chapter 159: Ambush - Part 1

next morning.

Last night, Zhuang Sen, who had gone to bed very, very, very early, held the lovely Nia tightly in the swaying carriage. The tall and voluptuous Dantalian hugged him tightly, using her ample breasts to sandwich his head on both sides. Even through the heavy nun's habit, the perfect shape of her breasts was completely exposed by Zhuang Sen's advances.

Fortunately, besides Johnson and his two companions, only Lysander, Piper, and Princess Celine were inside the carriage. The incompetent guardian knight, Judy, had been driven away by the still-angry princess to drive the carriage. Therefore, this beautiful scene didn't attract any strange looks—because all the strange looks were directed at Johnson.

For the first time, Lisander showed a hint of dissatisfaction in front of Johnson, as if she were complaining about him. Piper, her round face puffed out, slid her big eyes over Johnson's hands that were around Nia's breasts, it was hard to tell if she was envious of Nia's figure, her treatment, or perhaps even disgusted by Johnson's behavior. Princess Celine, however, was much more direct, clearly expressing her disdain for Johnson's lewd behavior—it was too much!

Under a certain gaze, Johnson casually nuzzled little Nia's cheek, initiating a conversation. With his deliberate manipulation, the atmosphere gradually warmed up. Piper stopped paying attention to Johnson's large hand, snuggling into his arms and seriously discussing toys with Nia. Lysander's reproachful expression faded considerably; though not entirely gone, its meaning seemed to have changed. Judging from her frequent glances at Piper, it appeared to be related to her dear sister.

Princess Celine, though still haughty, at least started discussing business with Zhuang Sen—it seemed she was close to getting the Red Dragon Lady, so giving her sister-in-law a little something extra wasn't unacceptable. After all, it wasn't free; she was being paid for.

……

While Zhuang Sen and his companions leisurely traveled, enjoying hotpot and singing, Ange, Lydia, and Lady Lia had already arrived at Eagle Cliff. It was a towering, massive cliff, just as its name suggested. Its rough, fractured surface, like a divine punishment, severed the sprawling forest, and below lay a bottomless abyss. Gazing at it, one might even feel an urge to jump.

On either side of the cliff lie the territories of Falau and Leon, each with a winding mountain path leading to the top and connecting them to each other. However, this place is so treacherous that few people travel here; only merchants and explorers attempting to evade checkpoints appear, so the road conditions are not worth worrying about.

Fortunately, Ange and her companions did not need to climb the high cliff. They stopped the carriage on the Leon territory side, set up camp in a clearing in the woods below the cliff, boiled water, and brewed the superior's fine black tea.

"Angie, take a rest. Don't worry about anything. They're all old hands I know well, so there won't be any problems." Lady Lia sat upright on a cushioned stool, smiling as she greeted Angie, who was holding an account book. "Once we settle this grain account, Leon Territory will be completely stable. Then you won't have to run around so much and keep talking about Zhuang Sen all day long."

"Mom~" Angie playfully put away the account book and ran to Mrs. Liya's side to pour her tea. "I don't nag about Zhuang Sen all the time, at most five... six times a day..."

Lady Lia smiled at Ange, making the shrewd businesswoman pout. She lowered her head, smiled, picked up her teacup, and took a sip: "Alright, did you think you could hide your affair from everyone? Dantalian, Nia, Mira, Hana, and Lydia, who can't see it? Sit down and let's close this deal."

"Yes, Mother~"

Ange seemed overjoyed, even addressing Lady Lia with a respectful title. For a moment, the small camp seemed incredibly warm and harmonious. However, in Lilith Farau's eyes, it was nothing more than an old viper and a young viper spitting venom at each other.

Lilith Farau, concealed in the forest using her ability, blinked her golden pupils, deactivated [Eagle Eye], and her gaze returned to what was close at hand. Hundreds of armored soldiers stood in neat rows, hidden in the forest, their mounts quietly beside them. Sweat dripped from their strong muscles under the midday sun, yet neither man nor horse uttered a sound.

Conversely, those bloodline members closer to Lilith Farau, clad in plate armor and wielding magic iron weapons, couldn't help but whisper amongst themselves, their conversation naturally revolving around Lady Lia and Angela in the distance. They found it hard to accept that Lady Lia would frame their nominal daughter, practically their daughter-in-law, and a capable minister in their own camp, all to monopolize their own son.

Indeed, Lilith Farau directly informed her elite troops of Lady Leah's plan. Some soldiers may have even overheard their superiors' discussion, which was unbelievable to them, but it also gave them a sense of psychological superiority and moral satisfaction regarding the ambush. Lilith Farau felt no shame for her leak. To deal with Leah Farau, this treacherous, despicable, vicious, shameless, short-sighted, hypocritical, and arrogant woman, one should completely tear off her disguise and expose her true colors!

Lilith Farau was convinced that this was perfectly normal for Leah Farau, so when she heard Colm Farau's message, she immediately agreed—and she wanted to go further; she wanted to take down Leah Farau as well! Lock her in her dungeon, watch her, and torture her!

Oh, of course, she wouldn't underestimate Lydia Farau, that cunning and vicious woman. That woman dared to propose such a plan, so she must have been prepared to escape—and it seems that it should be her guardian knight, Lydia Ston, who was lucky enough to awaken her bloodline.

According to intelligence, the eldest daughter of the Ston family should have some kind of death-attribute bloodline, which is rare in the Fallen Star Kingdom. Normally, protecting Lady Lia to escape would not be a problem. Even if Colm, a level three bloodline user, came, he would prioritize targeting Ange Leon, which would be more than enough for her to evacuate in advance.

Unfortunately, Lilith Farau also came.

The sunlight slanted across the clearing in the woods. Lilith Farau paused her post-victory reverie and gestured with her chin toward Colm beside her: "Let them through. The rest of you, get ready to make your move."

Colm nodded and personally approached a slightly overweight woman: "You heard everything. Proceed according to plan. This is a plan personally devised by your Lady Leah, so you'd better not mess around."

“Of course, Lord Colm.”

The woman picked up her backpack, dusted herself off, and walked normally toward Lady Lia's position. Behind her on both sides, the soldiers of the Farau family were slowly getting up, climbing onto their warhorses, and pulling down their visors.

Chapter 160: Ambush - Part 2

The luxurious carriage traversed the steep slope, the golden autumn forest shimmering under the sunlight. The beautiful scenery attracted the attention of the Starr sisters and Princess Celine, but only for a moment, they were surprised to discover, beneath the golden leaves, a gleam of cold steel.

The soldiers of Farau launched an attack on Lady Lia and Ange, who had just made contact with their "informant".

The iron hooves shook the leaves, crushing them. Their superior horsemanship and prior knowledge of the terrain allowed them to accelerate even through the woods. Their sharp lances were leveled, their target the hastily assembled guards. Because Lilith Farau intended to capture them alive, there was no hail of arrows. However, behind the 110 cavalrymen, even more heavy infantrymen marched in orderly formation, banging their shields as they surrounded the mere 20 or 30 guards.

Lilith flew through the air, looking down with a smug smile. In terms of numbers, strength, and training, the soldiers of Farau Territory were far superior to those guards. Even if those guards were well-equipped, they were no match for the bloodline warriors who formed the vanguard of the cavalry, not to mention that there was a traitor among them.

Lilith has already seen the ending!

"You scoundrel! Step back!"

A sudden, loud shout rang out. The cold, ruthless voice seemed to carry the scent of death, striking the soldiers, who had been so arrogant and ready to bully the weak, with a blow to their heads. An indescribable "fear" rose from their hearts, gripping their usually resilient and iron-willed minds, leaving them in a state of panic and chaos.

Some were better off simply standing still, but many more screamed, dropped their weapons, and turned to run in different directions. Some even collided with each other, then, driven by fear, began to fight. These were the infantrymen at a distance; the cavalry at the front fared even worse. Their once orderly wedge formation shattered instantly. The cavalrymen panicked, and many, misjudging distance, collided with each other—a death sentence in the high-speed charge. Those cavalrymen who were lucky enough not to collide weren't much better off. They themselves might have retained a shred of reason, but their horses lacked such resolve. In sudden terror, they reared up, neighing, and the unsuspecting cavalrymen, unable to calm their companions, were thrown to the ground! Once on the ground, these cavalrymen were either trampled to death by other horses or, with their legs still caught in the stirrups, dragged along by their frenzied steeds, their fate unknown.

Even those with the same bloodline were no exception. Although their warhorses were superior to those of ordinary cavalry, they were still just horses. Under the intense fear, they also went mad and threw them off their horses. The only difference was that perhaps one or two managed to stabilize themselves by relying on their physical strength or ability, but they also lost their momentum to charge.

A valiant and determined charge by an elite army was turned into a farce by Lydia's [Fear Cry].

This is the dominance of those with bloodlines on the battlefield. Unless it is a large-scale battlefield with thousands or tens of thousands of people, those with bloodlines are almost impossible to deal with unless there are other bloodlines of the same level.

However, there's a reason why ordinary soldiers still exist. The simplest reason is that their presence forces enemy bloodline users to reveal their abilities and deplete their bloodline power, making it easier for their own bloodline users to react and avoid "first-encounter kills." For example, Colm and Lilith, trailing behind the troops, were prepared for Lydia's [Fearful War Cry] and cast the [Eagle's Arrogance] ability on themselves.

Even an eagle hunting a rabbit will exert its full strength. Although Lydia is theoretically at most a level three bloodline user who has only awakened once, Colm and Lilith were still well prepared. In fact, if they hadn't discovered that Ange had already reacted and was preparing to use "Shadow Raven's [Shadow Step]" to escape, they would have continued to send those low-level bloodline users who hadn't been dealt with to test Lydia and Ange's abilities. But now they had to act.