A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

According to the man's introduction, Marlina learned their specific identities.

The woman was named Nerilia Voulp, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Marsh Serpents under the rule of Hydral. The man was named Malver de Faval, hailing from a well-off merchant family.

Both were evidently in the service of Ansel, though they seemed to belong to different departments.

Malver was more approachable, his demeanor gentle and courteous. However, Marlina, having experienced so much recently, could easily discern that Mr. Malver's behavior was a flawless, impeccable display of social grace and rhetoric, much like her own usual interactions with outsiders.

On the other hand, Ms. Nerilia, who appeared to hold a significantly higher position than Malver, was excessively cold and even harsh… Marlina did not feel anger or even slighted by her attitude, as she was accustomed to dealing with intelligent people and believed that Nerilia must have another motive.

Testing? Assessing? Warning? Regardless, anyone serving Mr. Ansel could not possibly be mediocre.

Under their guidance, Marlina traversed numerous streets… They seemed to have no clear destination, merely wandering aimlessly, which made the young girl somewhat wary.

Suddenly, Nerilia halted at an intersection.

She turned her head, her eyes, shadowed with black eyeliner and somewhat unsettling, fixed on Marlina.

"Do you know the way to the Grand Plaza of Flowers?"

"..." Marlina was momentarily stunned. After pondering for four or five seconds, she calmly replied, "From here, head east for two blocks, then north. In that direction, you will see the most prominent Tulip Clock Tower. Walk to the base of the tower, and from the direction it faces, you can proceed straight to the Grand Plaza of Flowers."

The young girl smiled gently. "Of course, the most convenient method is to wait for a rickshaw. Based on the distance, it should cost... hmm, five copper coins."

Nerilia said nothing more, merely nodded and continued walking.

Watching the tall, mysterious woman's back, Marlina felt a slight confusion.

Was it merely a test of my knowledge of… Hydral City?

Not only was she familiar with the layout of the city's buildings, but she also knew the entire underground structure of the city. She could even identify the exact drainage line beneath her feet. The positioning of buildings was a trivial matter for her.

Marlina did not believe that Nerilia's test would be something so simple. Malver's reminder indicated that the "colleagues" she was about to face… were anything but ordinary.

Even so, the young girl's smile remained composed and unflustered.

Being recognized by Ansel was the greatest honor of her life and the source of her unbreakable strength.

Even if she had to face geniuses with backgrounds and resources far superior to her own, Marlina was confident she would stand out.

After Marlina provided the directions to the Grand Plaza of Flowers, it seemed that Nerilia was following that route. Her pace was unhurried, giving Marlina the opportunity to observe the real Hydral City, beyond what was in the records.

Whether it was the spirit of the common people or the city's infrastructure, everything stirred a passionate excitement in Marlina, who was already deeply familiar with Hydral City.

This was a sight she had never seen in the Red Frost Territory... no, not even in the Imperial Capital.

The construction of Hydral City does not feature significant elevation differences, nor does it have high walls separating the inner and outer, upper and lower districts. Although there is always a stark contrast between the bustling and ordinary districts, it does not exhibit the appearance of being completely divided into two worlds like other cities.

The transition from the mundane to the prosperous is very natural and smooth. Before she knew it, Marlina had already entered a more bustling district, giving the impression that the outer ordinary districts would eventually become more prosperous as well.

From the moment she stayed by Ansel's side, Marlina had been learning and improving herself every day. To this day, she still could not reach the heights of Ansel's thoughts. Every time she thought she understood the purpose of one of Ansel's decisions, she would always find something new and unexpected in Ansel's subsequent notes.

However, Marlina was never discouraged by this. She only felt that she needed to improve more and more. Her shortcomings never brought her frustration, only an ever-growing desire.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"That place," Nerilia directed her gaze towards a flower shop with various fresh flowers displayed at the entrance.

"Miss Marlina, do you know what that shop used to be?"

"..."

Marlina followed Nerilia's gaze and searched her memory for information. It didn't take long for her to find the answer.

"It used to be a hideout for a violent gang," Marlina replied. "I remember it clearly because it was the first time Mr. Ansel led a team to clean up the 'filth' in Hydral City. He was just over eleven years old at the time."

"What do you think should be done with those who disrupt the order of Hydral City?"

Nerilia asked nonchalantly.

Marlina was momentarily stunned. After a moment of contemplation, she cautiously replied, "I believe they should be brought to court and judged according to the law."

Upon hearing this, Nerilia and Malver displayed two completely different expressions. The former sneered, her disdain and contempt evident; while Malver, dressed in a neat uniform and always behaving properly, showed a gentle smile.

"It seems you haven't seen the records of how the master dealt with them at the time," Nerilia said indifferently, her hands in the pockets of her coat. "A rule-abiding girl... huh."

Nerilia's undisguised contempt made Marlina hesitate, but Malver's gentle expression quickly calmed her down.

It seemed that Ms. Nerilia and Mr. Malver belonged to two different factions... two different departments, perhaps?

From the current situation, the latter seemed more likely.

With this thought, Marlina had a better understanding of this "test."

She looked at Nerilia's back and, surprisingly, took the initiative to speak: "I don't think following rules is a bad thing, Ms. Nerilia. Moreover... you seem to have misunderstood the 'rules' I follow."

"... Hmm?"

Nerilia stopped and fixed her intimidating gaze on Marlina.

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