Following Ansel's orders to assist Seraphina, Marlina had been constantly thinking about how to continue serving Ansel, yet she hadn't contacted him and was unaware of his next moves. Thus, she had no idea he would cause such a commotion at the start of the Dispute Tournant.
Why did Mr.Ansel suddenly kill soone? Who were the two people killed by Inothea? Why did the Duke of Azuregold remain indifferent to Ansel's provocation?
Provocation... Ansel... Faust...
In that instant, all the problems and doubts that had plagued Marlina were obliterated like dust struck by a thunderbolt.
"Inothea should not be dead, but this ti she will surely be convinced."
"The Duke of Azuregold... the Duke of Azuregold... even if he discovers the truth about Milo, as long as he knows that Mr. Ansel is the one controlling Milo, he may not take action. He is a businessman, and there is no enmity between Faust and him. His first reaction will undoubtedly be to do business with Faust."
"So, Mr. Ansel's provocation is a probe... no, it is a hint! It is the release of a signal. This way, the Duke of Azuregold will not interfere in the affairs of Dispute Fortress, and Mr. Ansel will be able to take complete control here effortlessly."
Although she still lacked so information to fully uncover the truth, Marlina's speculations were largely accurate. Her delicate face, slightly dimd by fatigue, showed a sowhat unnatural flush. The girl clutched her chest, trying to calm her emotions, and breathed lightly.
"Mr. Ansel will be able to... will be able to..."
Her voice gradually trailed off.
"No... no, it's not Mr. Ansel."
Margarete's grip on the railing tightened, causing her veins to bulge and her hands to tremble. But this loss of control was not due to fear or panic, but rather... an uncontrollable excitent.
Her eyes, strikingly similar to Seraphina's but devoid of any wildness, glead with an eerie, ghostly light.
"It's... ."
With a trembling voice, Marlina weakly uttered these two words.
"Adventurer Faust has no interest in managing this city, so the true controller of Dispute Fortress is his servant, it is ... it is Marlina, it is ... Margarete!"
Marlina's limbs felt weak, not because of the power she now wielded, but because of… Ansel's efforts, Ansel's trust.
Did Mr. Ansel do all this for ?
The girl leaned heavily on the railing to keep herself from collapsing. She kept gasping for breath, looking at the departing figure on the screen. After a few seconds of dazed longing, her eyes gradually returned to their usual clarity and calm.
...No, don't overthink it, Marlina. Mr. Ansel did all these things, but not necessarily just for you. Think... think, if you weren't here, would Mr. Ansel still have done this?
If he did, then the purpose is—
It didn't take long for the girl, who had been lost in sweet love and fantasy, to pull herself out.
She felt the coldness of the railing against her palm, and an icy determination appeared in her beautiful eyes, unnoticed even by herself.
"Shadewell."
Marlina whispered softly, "Even without , Mr. Ansel would have had his reasons for doing this. Perhaps not in this manner, but Mr. Ansel would certainly have created an opportunity, by so ans, to allow Shadewell to secretly dominate Dispute Fortress."
With growing clarity, the girl lifted her head. The screen now showed adventurers hurrying to the three gates of the labyrinth, but her eyes saw a different scene entirely.
"Mr. Ansel intended to control Dispute Fortress from the very beginning. On his quest to find Evora, he also plans to transform the West. This place is Mr. Ansel's... is Faust's stronghold."
"If I weren't here, Mr. Ansel would have let Shadewell discreetly take control. But because of my presence... Mr. Ansel decided to change his approach."
Though it wasn't entirely because of her, the fact that Ansel was willing to alter his plans due to her presence moved Marlina deeply.
Do I hold so weight in Mr. Ansel's heart... perhaps, just a bit?
As Marlina was lost in these thoughts, a chilling presence behind her interrupted her musings. The girl imdiately turned around, seeing the tall, slender figure standing in the middle of the street.
"Miss..." Marlina exhaled softly, "You found ti to seek out."
She refrained from calling Nerilia by na in the bustling street, yet the latter seed unbothered, as if the passersby neither saw her nor heard Marlina's words.
"Lord Ansel told not to interfere with you."
Nerilia glided forward, her form seemingly ghost-like, allowing people to pass through her, while her cold, indifferent voice reached Marlina's ears without drawing any attention.
"But given Lord Ansel's actions today, I believe it's necessary to give you a warning, to prevent any inappropriate thoughts."
Marlina tilted her head slightly, "You an... the notion that Mr. Ansel did all this just for —is that right?"
Under Nerilia's briefly halted gaze, the girl smiled calmly, "I'm not that presumptuous, Lady Nerilia."
Having deduced that Nerilia must have used so sort of spell, she spoke more directly.
After a brief silence, Nerilia nodded slightly, "Indeed, you're not one to be oblivious of yourself."
"So, what would you like to say to , Lady Nerilia?"
This woman, who seed to live perpetually in the shadows like a specter, stared at Marlina for a long ti before speaking indifferently, "Do you think you can control Dispute Fortress?"
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"So that's the question."
The girl's smile grew even more radiant. "No need to worry, Lady Nerilia. I am confident in handling such a trivial matter."
"Trivial? You seem to be struggling just with managing the lower district."
"Oh? So, are you confident in completing his task without defying Miss Seraphina's will?"
"..."
After another mont of silence, Nerilia replied coldly, "You should also know that this task was ant to be carried out by Shadewell."
"And? " Marlina answered softly, "Are you planning to seize control of Dispute Fortress from ? How do you intend to do that? "
"By killing Milo and Inothea outright? Would you resolve the conflict between Shadewell and at the cost of ruining Mr. Ansel's plans? You wouldn't do that... Ah, I misspoke. In your and Shadewell's eyes, I probably don't even qualify to be in conflict with you."
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