A Villain's Way of Taming Heroines

Under the stunned gaze of many extraordinary beings, Ravenna's performance was not over yet.

"Scan and construct a model."

She calmly instructed, lifting her glasses towards the podium.

Swiftly, a three-dimensional projection of the podium before her appeared on the screen, accompanied by text:

Composition: Ninety-two percent of Birch Wood, eight percent of common metal.

"This is merely the tip of the iceberg of the many functions of this data system."

Ravenna stated, folding up the screen and putting her glasses back on, her face expressionless as she looked down at the audience below.

Her petite figure, which was hardly imposing, commanded silence in the room, not through any physical presence, but through the enigmatic... data system.

"Some may argue that all these tasks can be accomplished by spells, albeit more laboriously — that is precisely why this system exists," she continued.

"More efficient information gathering, more efficient route adjustments, more efficient mathematical calculations, the deduction of alchemical steps, simulations, trial and error, data storage... This data system can eliminate many unnecessary repetitions, enabling a leap in the simplification of the entire alchemical process."

"I know there will be those who question the source of the information data, whether the effects of the many functions are correct. You can input the information yourself, make adjustments yourself. This is where the freedom and flexibility of the data system lies -— anyone can design their data system to meet their needs."

"..."

Backstage, Barnes squinted slightly, "This thing..."

To an experienced sorcerer like him, the data system that Ravenna was talking about seemed impressive at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it seemed worthless.

Because the truly strong don't need such an "assistant". Do high-level alchemists need this thing to calculate success rates, look up recipes, scan objects in front of them, and need all these miscellaneous functions?

No! Because they themselves can already use ether to achieve "omnipotence", this thing, upon closer inspection, is just a child's plaything.

But upon further reflection... it's not quite that simple.

Because the fourth and fifth stages in this world are after all a minority within a minority.

The third stage, as the backbone of the extraordinary, is incredibly numerous, and the number of first and second stage beings struggling to ascend is countless. Who dares to say that this data system... is of no help to them?

Moreover, if its flexibility is really so strong, why would it be limited to the field of alchemy?

Not just alchemists, if it is promoted and has the possibility of "mass production", all the middle and low stage extraordinary beings in the entire empire will receive the infinite grace of the Tower of Babel!

And...

Sharp intuition told Barnes that the petite woman on the stage was still hiding something … about this data system!

The use of this thing is definitely not limited to this, but the shackles and limitations of the world, the times, and thinking make him unable to think of what else this thing can be used for.

However, even if he doesn't know, the function that this data system is showing now is already... terrifying.

"Ravenna... Ziegler."

Barnes muttered Ravenna's name in a low voice.

"So that's it, Eileen's descendant, inheriting the madman's will... Do you like to throw your sights to the weak? It really is a family tradition."

This data system will be a powerful weapon for middle and low stage extraordinary beings, and it can bring incredible help to their path of ascending.

"Hmph, but you're much more sober than your grandfather, knowing that even if you help the weak, you should help the weak among the extraordinary, not the mortals."

Barnes suddenly laughed, he turned his head to look at Ronger, "I miscalculated, you, no... she indeed gave me an unexpected surprise, not only did not lose face, but actually added weight, although it's far from Ansel... but it's better than nothing."

"I think we can reconsider cooperation."

He slightly lifted his chin, "As long as that thing is handed over to—"

"In the beginning, I called you mediocrities, fools."

Ravenna, who had concluded her demonstration, stood in the center of the podium, her tone devoid of any fluctuations, "Because I indeed possess the qualifications to look down upon you."

"...But."

As she uttered these words, Ansel, who was in another hall, tilting his head and resting his eyes, suddenly opened them, a slow smile spreading across his face.

"But, this data system is not something I created."

Under the stunned gaze of everyone, including Ronger, Ravenna also raised the corners of her mouth slightly, as if challenging someone, yet also as if... satisfied with making the right choice, she proudly declared:

"This is the work of Ansel of Hydral."

"I was able to create it, to achieve what I have today..."

"It all depends on Lord Ansel."

At that moment, when Ravenna was caught in a desperate dilemma, she suddenly realized something.

That is... what was the purpose of Ansel deliberately setting up this situation, arranging this test? Was it to test whether she could make the right choice under pressure, to test her beliefs, to test whether she could really sacrifice everything?

No, none of these.

Because a variable had appeared in his brief conversation with Ronger and herself.

—That was how he addressed her.

Ansel had never used the name "Venna"—even in front of Marlina or even Seraphina, he had hardly ever used this name.

Just like three years ago, he had always maintained a distance from her in front of the outside world.

But today, he called her by such an intimate name in front of so many people.

Although there had been a foreshadowing—Ansel had said that he would call her this way in front of others in the future.

But it was this that made Ravenna overlook the biggest anomaly.

Why did Ansel insist on calling her by this name when he stood against the Tower of Babel?

And at that time, he also said a sentence—

"Indeed, Lord Soren's side is more important."

Important? What in the world is "important" to Ansel? What value does Soren have that is worth his investment? None! Ansel stood on Soren's side, purely to put pressure on the Tower of Babel, on her.

So, the meaning of this importance... is self-evident.

—The Tower of Babel, or rather... she herself, must bring out a value that can be called "important."

When her thoughts reached this point, Ravenna finally understood completely.

If the Tower of Babel does not bring out a creation like a firearm that can truly cause an earthquake, then it will always be just a dispensable toy for Hydral—because the "kindness" of the young Hydral has become the most lethal poison.

Ansel helped them get rid of the shadow of Evora, making them think that they could rest easy from now on, but in fact... even if Ansel really wanted to help them unconditionally, they could not accept it so blatantly.

She, must not accept it so blatantly.

Because this is not three years ago, the current Ansel is no longer playing the friend who is willing to give everything for her unconditionally, who shares the same ideals.

He looks down on her from a high position, and if she wants to receive his grace, she must show her value, she must... flatter him.

"So," Ravenna continued, "Without the guidance of Lord Ansel, I would never have conceived this creation. In this respect, I am equally... mediocre."

She was not lying, for this concept, abstract to the point of incomprehensibility, was indeed imparted to her by Ansel.

But at the same time, Ravenna was lying.

For all the products of her collaboration with Ansel, she had to claim that she completed them independently, but this one thing... was not required.

— Because Ansel never thought she would make it. When they first met at the Hydral Manor, Ansel had expressed surprise.

The countless collaborations between her and Ansel were mostly led by Ansel, but this one, a creation that completely transcended the era...

It was completed independently by Ravenna, relying only on Ansel's extremely abstract concept.

But at this moment, Ravenna abandoned her pride, abandoned her dignity, she would rather call herself mediocre, and attribute the credit for creating the data system entirely to Ansel.

Because at this moment, she finally broke free from the illusion that Ansel had once given her.

Ravenna Ziegler realized that the only correct thing to do was to look up to Ansel.

But at the same time... there was no anger in her heart, but a very strange feeling arose.

Because she couldn't possibly just realize this simple fact now — the talent and greatness of Ansel Hydral, she knew better than anyone.

It was all because of Ansel's attitude towards her three years ago that led her into this mistake.

However if, if she really didn't feel any need to look up to, to bow down to, to be humble, to flatter Ansel at that time.

Does that mean that Ansel really considered her a friend, he might not have lied, just like Marlina said...

What did he have to give up?

However, just as Ravenna was thinking about this, there was a loud "boom", and a steel puppet four or five meters high actually fell straight down from the ceiling!

"Hehehe...hahahaha! Great, Tower of Babel, Ravenna, great!"

The mad laughter came from the steel puppet: "To be able to bring out such a thing, and with the cultivation of Lord Ansel, you are going to take another step forward, unlike me, a dog who has lost everything... completely different."

"Why!"

He roared in rage and madness: "Why can you, a bitch, have everything, why did all of mine get destroyed because of that little oversight... Tower of Babel, Ravenna, don't you think..."

"I will let you have it easy!"

The steel puppet attacked with a bang, and Ravenna, who was stunned, didn't have time to react.

Because she recognized the voice in the puppet.

It was the most outstanding genius of the Etheric Academy, and also her... former opponent.

— Conrad of Luminaris.